Abiding In Christ Part 2

 Abiding In Christ 

Part 2

This is Chuck Rapp with a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

In my last message I shared about the necessity of our abiding in Christ.  We are the branches; He is the vine.  He provides nourishment as well as the strength and stability of the root system. As we receive His sustenance, we do what comes naturally; we produce fruit.   

Here again is John 15:4-8.  “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Notice with me the theme of “fruit” here.  First, Jesus says “fruit” and then a bit later he says “much fruit”.  You see, our purpose is to not just produce fruit, but much fruit.   I would encourage us to consider two aspects regarding much fruit.  Firstly, there is the fruit that we ourselves produce.  This is a good start.  But, in order to produce much fruit, we must engage, equip and empower others.  This is the key to multiplication in Village Church Planting.  This is the responsibility of leaders.

Also, do not confuse work and fruit.  There may be a good deal of work for Christ that is not the fruit of the heavenly vine.  Seek to avoid these distractions; they end up being pruned, thrown into the fire and burned.  1 Corinthians 3:12-14 has more to say about this. 

Lastly, the life of the branch is a life of close communion with, and surrender to, the branch.  We are to abide in Christ 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.  Our close personal relationship with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity for our daily life. (More on this next time.) 

What does this surrender to the branch look like?  I would suggest that it means that we take the mindset we are completely surrendered to the vine, and the vine can give us as much or as little sap as it chooses. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.