John 15:8-9 (NKJV) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
In John Chapter 15, Jesus uses His famous metaphor of the vine and the branches to illustrate our connectivity with Him, and the importance of abiding in Him for both individual believers and the church as a whole. Our purpose as Christians is to bear fruit—fruit of the Holy Spirit and fruit of our labour for Him. Now, this is not something we can do on our own; as Jesus’ parable shows, a branch can only bear fruit when it is connected to the main vine because without it, they lack the necessary water and nutrients to grow anything. It is exactly the same with the spiritual walk. If we try to live our lives without being guided by God and His Word, it will be to no avail. But if we live a consecrated and missional life, we will be endowed with grace, favour, provision, wisdom, and godly strength.
One can either be a carnal Christian or entrust themselves to God, living a consecrated life, one that is set apart for the Lord in holiness just as the Lord is holy, bearing much fruit and glorifying God. As we do so, we will find ourselves living a life of joy and contentment. To be connected to the vine is a choice where we learn to walk in His will by surrendering ourselves to Him and His Word in all things—our relationships, assets, and careers—and living a lifestyle that always causes us to seek the Lord for His will and direction for our lives.
John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Abiding in Christ is not just a prerequisite to answered prayers but also a deep relationship with God and hearing His direction. When we abide in God, and His Word is abiding in us, our minds will be open to the counsel of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to receive His guidance, which may come as an intuition or an idea that surfaces in our minds. He may reveal things to come and warn us regarding people with bad intentions or business ventures.
Moreover, Jesus Christ, Who is the Incarnate Word, has expressed Himself through the written word of the Bible. Therefore, the anchor of our faith and God’s calling for our lives will always be confirmed by His Word.
All of us, possessing different talents from God, have been chosen to bear fruit in our respective industries and fields, glorify God, and make Him known. In all situations and challenges, God will grant us wisdom and answer us so long as we abide in Him daily and consecrate ourselves to Him.
Sermon Series： Friends of God
常在基督里
约翰福音15:8-9 你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。“我爱你们，正如父爱我一样，你们要常在我的爱里。
在约翰福音第15章中，耶稣用祂著名的葡萄树和枝子的比喻描绘了我们与祂的连通，以及住在祂里面对于信徒个人和整个教会的重要性。作为基督徒，我们的目的是结出果实——圣灵的果子，以及我们为祂劳作所结的果子。现在，这不是我们凭自己能做的事情;正如耶稣的比喻所表明的那样，葡萄枝子只有当它与主枝干相连时才能结果，因为若没有主枝，它们就缺乏必需的水和养分，乃至什么也长不出。这与属灵成长是完全一样的。如果我们试图在没有上帝和祂话语的引导下生活，那将会是毫无果效的。但是，如果我们活出一个分别为圣的使命人生，我们就会被赋予恩典、恩惠、供应、智慧和敬虔的力量。
一个基督徒可以是属肉体的，也可以将自己交托给上帝，过一种分别为圣的生活，一种在圣洁中为主分别出来的生活–因为主是圣洁的，结出许多果实，荣耀上帝。当我们这样做时，我们会发现自己活得快乐而满足。与葡萄树相连是一个选择，我们通过在一切事情上——我们的关系、资产和事业——将自己降服于祂和祂的话语——并选择一种总能令我们寻求主的旨意和生活方向的生活方式，从而学会遵行祂的旨意。
约翰福音 15:7 你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求，就给你们成就。
住在基督里不仅是祷告蒙回应的先决条件，也是与上帝的一种深厚的关系并听到祂的指引。当我们住在神里面，而祂的话语住在我们里面时，我们的心就会对圣灵的忠告敞开，使我们能够领受祂的指引，它可能是一种直觉或我们脑海中浮现的想法。祂可能会揭示未来的事，并警告我们那些心怀不轨的人或哪里有商业风险。
此外，耶稣基督，祂是道成了肉身，已经藉着写就的圣经表明了祂自己。因此，我们的信心之锚以及上帝对我们生命的呼召总能得到圣经的确认。
我们每一个人都拥有上帝所赐的各样才能，都被拣选在各自的行业和领域结出果实，荣耀上帝，并让人们认识祂。不管光景如何，无论什么挑战，只要我们每天住在祂里面并将自己分别为圣献给祂，上帝就会赐予我们智慧并回应我们。
讲章系列：上帝的朋友
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