Abiding Fruit

Good morning sweet friends, we are 24 hours away from day of departure, though God has been at work in us already. As a prayer team, we have had a front row seat in seeing how He has and is going before us with specific answers to specific prayer. One sister we pray with commented that much of what has been coming in has been requests for our heart attitudes, and spiritual freedom, even as the needs are physical. This is very encouraging. As a body we are desiring God to be at work in our hearts as much as we desire relief from physical ailments. Hallelujah.
 
Our reading today is entitled Abiding Fruit.
 
I Chose You, and Appointed You, That Ye Should Go and Bear Fruit, and That Your Fruit Should Abide—John 15.16
 
There are some fruits that will not keep. One sort of pears or apples must be used at once; another sort can be kept over till next year. So there is in Christian work some fruit that does not last. There may be much that pleases and edified, and yet there is no permanent impression made on the power of the world or the state of the Church. On the other hand, there is work that leaves its mark for generations or for eternity. In it the power of God makes itself lastingly felt. It is the fruit of which Paul speaks when he describes the two styles of ministry: “My preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstrations of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” The more of man with his wisdom and power, the less of stability; the more of God’s Spirit, the more of a faith standing in God’s power.
 
Fruit reveals the nature of the tree from which it comes. What is the secret of bearing fruit that abides? The answer is simple. It is as our life abides in Christ, as we abide in Him, that the fruit we bear will abide. The more we allow all that is of human will and effort to be cut down short and cleansed away by the divine Husbandman, the more intensely our being withdraws itself from theoutward that God may work in us by His Spirit; that is, the more wholly we abide in Christ, the more will our fruit abide.
 
What a blessed thought! He chose you, and appointed you to bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide. He never meant one of His branches to bring forth fruit that should not abide. The deeper I enter into the purpose of this His electing grace, the surer my confidence will become that I can bring forth fruit to eternal life, for myself and others. The deeper I enter into this purpose of His electing love, the more I will realize what the link is between the purpose from eternity, and the fruit to eternity: the abiding in Him. The purpose is His, He will carry it out; the fruit is His, He will bring it forth; the abiding is His, He will maintain
it.
 
Let everyone who professes to be a Christian worker, pause. Ask whether you are leaving your mark for eternity on those around you. It is not your preaching or teaching, your strength of will or power to influence, that will secure this. All depends on having your life full of God and His power. And that again depends upon your living the truly branchlike life of abiding—very close and unbroken fellowship with Christ. It is the branch, that abides in Him, that brings forth much fruit, fruit that will abide.
 
Blessed Lord, reveal to my soul, I pray Thee, that Thou hast chosen me to bear much fruit. Let this be my confidence, that Thy purpose can be realized—Thou didst choose me.
 
Let this be my power to forsake everything and give myself to Thee. Thou wilt Thyself perfect what Thou hast begun. Draw me so to dwell in the love and the certainty of that eternal purpose, that the power of eternity may posses me, and the fruit I bear may abide.
 
That ye may bear fruit. O my heavenly Vine, it is beginning to dawn upon my soul that fruit, more fruit—much fruit—abiding fruit is the one thing Thou hast to give me, and the one thing as branch I have to give Thee! Here I am. Blessed Lord, work out Thy purpose in me; let me bear much fruit, abiding fruit, to thy glory.
 
Lord, let us walk in belief of this truth, that it is not in our preaching, or teaching or our own strength of will or power to influence through which fruit will bear in our lives. Nor Abba, is it the lack of any of these! It is not our personalities that will cause others to know You, or will give us purpose or position. O God, it is as we rest in You, as we abide in You, as we gaze upon You through Your word and the meditation of our hearts and You work these things out in us through Your Spirit, that You will bear fruit. Abba, any of us who have placed our faith in You, can bear eternal fruit, because it is You who has chosen and appointed us to do it. What a promise O God! And how our hearts are free when we believe the truth that it depends not on us, but upon You to produce it, as we believe You and abide in You, as we believe You and abide in Your love. Teach us again the difference between believing IN You, and BELIEVING You. Oh God, You must make the connection for us in our hearts. The work You have given to us is to prevail in prayer, to abide, to believe by faith. None of it we can do without You giving us the ability, and yet we must act on the belief You have given to us. O empower us through Your Spirit to act upon the very thing You want us to do… to prevail in prayer, to rest in You, to abide in Your love. In Jesus name, amen.