In John 15:4-7 (KJV) the word abide is used 7 times. Jesus said “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (v5). He said we must abide in him; we can do nothing if we don’t abide in him. If we abide in him and he in us, we will be fruitful (v4). If his words abide in us, we can: “ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (v7).

To abide is to dwell, be present continually and to be rooted. Jesus abides in us in the form of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), the power of God (Rom 15:13). We abide in the vine as we walk in obedience and submission to God and are teachable (Matt 11:28-30; James 4:7-8).

As we press into the vine and read, study and meditate the word, it can abide in us more and more in knowledge and revelation; revealed by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). As faith is strengthened by the revealed word (Rom 10:17), this allows the power of the Holy Spirit to be manifested in our lives, meeting our needs, changing us (the fruit of the Spirit; Gal 5: 22-23) and pouring from us in power and anointing (the gifts of the Spirit; 1 Cor 12:7-11).

To be impacted, changed, blessed and used by God we need his word and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, change us and flow through us in: “rivers of living water “(John 7:38). Abide In the vine, press in, you’ll like it.

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