Refiner – Part 6 – The Abiding Life
In John 15, where we will be spending our time today, we find Jesus explaining something very important to His disciples. He tells them the secret to the fruitfulness of the Christian life. We’re going to be in this chapter today exclusively, so if you have your Bibles, please turn to John 15. We’re going to be looking at verses 1-10 specifically today, and we’re going to see how staying connected to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit is the key to living in the grace that is sufficient for us (as Davis shared with us last week).
When we think of the branch abiding in the vine, we see that it is connected to it. So, the first thing that we must understand is that we must be like the vine.
Jesus asked the question, “Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” He is saying that the fruit that is born in the life of a person is dependent on two things:
First, the kind of branch they are. And second, the vine that they are attached to.
If we are going to bear fruit, and, as Jesus says later in chapter 15 have been appointed to bear LASTING fruit, then it means that we must be like the vine that we are attaching ourselves to. Simply put, we must be saved.
But getting connected to the vine and abiding in the vine are not the same thing. It is a good start, but not the same thing. While salvation answers the question, “Am I connected to Jesus?”, abiding in the vine answers the question, “How do I stay connected to Jesus every day?” Most Christians have settled first question but still struggle with the second.
The fact of the matter is that this idea of abiding is an intensely spiritual idea, and when Jesus talks about abiding, He’s not describing a technique, but a relationship. He’s bringing out the fact that this thing we are in…this life of the Spiritual that we are called to live out…it’s real, and it takes effort, but it is so worth it.
So, the next thing we need to understand about abiding is that it is not striving but remaining. It is not something that we just “try harder” to “get better” at. In fact, abiding is a spiritual state where we simply allow ourselves to realize the truth that surrounds us each day…that God is there, and He is always with us.
Brother Lawrance, a 15th century monk, found the extreme benefit of living life while “abiding” in Christ. In fact, as he states it in the book The Practice of the Presence of God,
“The higher a soul desires to reach spiritually, the more it is dependent upon grace. The grace of God is needed each and every moment because without it the soul can do nothing.”
Which sounds vaguely familiar, does it not, to the words Jesus just said in our Scripture reading this morning? “Without me you can do nothing.”
And the same is true as we talk about abiding in Christ. We can’t do it apart from the grace of God. One of the greatest definitions of grace that I’ve ever heard is this (and I’ve shared it with you all before, so if you remember this, I’m sorry): Grace is the POWER of God, at work in the PEOPLE of God, to do the PURPOSES of God.
If we are wanting to abide in Christ, it is only because of the grace that God gives us to desire this. But the truth of the matter is that abiding in Christ is something that is very foreign to us. Why? Because all our experience is wrapped up in the physical world. Our body, our family, our work…all in the physical. And the fact is that we are created “in the image of God”.
Now, please understand that I am not suggesting that we “break out of the physical world” to a “higher plane.” Because that would be very new age and weird. What I AM suggesting, however, is that we learn to recognize God all around us…that His presence becomes our practice…that God becomes more of our first thoughts than our last considerations.
That’s what abiding in Christ is all about. He becomes more of our first thought that our last consideration.
And this can only be done through the Grace of God, as defined here.
So, how do we abide in the presence of God?
Well, the first thing I think we need to do is acknowledge his presence. He is here right now, with us in this place. Sometimes He is felt in solitude. Sometimes He is felt in the reassuring touch of a loved one. Sometimes He is heard in the words of the Scriptures being read, or in the words and melody of a song. Sometimes He’s found in nature or a smile from a stranger.
The second thing we must do is interact with Him (we call this prayer). When we notice Him, let Him know that you see Him, or hear Him, or feel Him. If you ignored a friend, how long would they be your friend? Not very long, I’d assume. But God desires to hear you respond to the ways in which He tries to connect with you.
And understand that our prayer times don’t have to be formal, flowery prayers. They can be raw, gut-wrenching cries of pain and sorrow if that’s what we’re feeling. God doesn’t want us to be fake with Him…because He already knows how we’re really feeling. So, be honest with Him. Tell Him what is on your heart.
Finally, take time to listen again, and hear what the Lord tells you. This is the crux of a relationship with God, just as it is for a relationship with anyone.
So, let’s wrap this up by remembering one last thing, okay? While abiding isn’t about striving, it is also not something that is passive. So, I want to challenge you to be in God’s Word daily. Jesus in verse 7 of our Scripture Reading said,
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Okay, so that sounds promising, right? That sounds like if I learn the secret to abiding in Christ and in His Word, then I’ll get whatever I want, right? Well, yes, it is. But here’s the catch. If you are abiding in Christ and His Word is abiding in you, the things that you wish aren’t going to be things that you will consume on yourself. It is to bless you. It isn’t the bigger house, the bigger bank account, the nicer car, the better reputation, the better friends, and so on. No. The things you’ll start asking Him for are going to be the things that HE wants you to have…and He will ALWAYS say “yes” to those things.
So, what is the challenge for today? Well, I’ve already given you one challenge, and that is be in God’s Word daily. But another challenge that I’d give to you is to pray without ceasing. And yes, I know that’s Paul’s command to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, so it is completely biblical. But what I want you to do with this (because I think it’s what Paul had in mind in the first place) is talk to God about what’s going on as if He were right there with you…because He is!