John 15:4- “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. “
As i was reading through John 15, God revealed to me some thoughts, particularly about the word “Abide,” and what it means to abide in the vine, and what it means for us to abide in God.
To “Abide:” (to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) to dwell, to endure, to be present in, to stand, to remain.
A branch cannot bear fruit unless it stays in that given Place, State, Relation, and Expectancy to the vine.
-It has to be positioned in the vine correctly to receive what it needs to produce fruit.
-It has dwell in a state of being able to receive from that vine, acknowledging what it is and where its life source actually comes from. Knowing where its place is in the vine. Acknowledging the vine being whom and only whom it gains its life source from, not the other way around.
-It has to be in relation with that vine. It has to be in continual contact and relation with that vine to receive from it, otherwise it is distant and can’t receive what it needs to produce fruit.
-There has to be an expectancy and surety that the vine is going to give the branch exactly what it needs to produce fruit.
After these things happen simultaneously, the branch will be able to produce fruit.
In the same way, as Christians, to produce fruit, we need to position ourselves to receive from God. Our state of mind has to be one of which we acknowledge that God is our source of life, and it is only through Him that we can gain fulfillment in life. We have to be in constant relation with Him, daily receiving what He has for us, being informed and updated with his agenda, and just gaining His thoughts and His heart for the things we endure. And we have to be in constant expectancy, knowing that God will move in every situation and provide for us all that we need on our journey of producing good fruit.
This is just a thought about what it means for us to Abide in God. After these things happen, we are now our way to producing the best fruit that we possibly can for Him.
Chris!
Words of Life 
I was just wondering.. One can be attached to the vine and still not bear fruit. The whole idea of being constantly spiritually fed but not doing anything with it. Do you reckon that you can really be attached to the vine and not bear fruit? I’m just wondering about this in general…
I suppose we can be into the things of God without knowing the heart of God. But then, that means we’re not really connected to the vine. Coz the vine can’t mean the things of God but God Himself. So really, if our heart is not for God Himself.. that is, love and His love for the lost, then we’re not really tuned into the vine?
Hmm.. I don’t know. Thoughts?
I think you are right saying that if our heart is not for God, then we are not truly tuned into the vine. It is very possible for one to be attached to vine and not produce fruit. but for one to truly abide in the vine, to the fullest extent is a process and a journey. With the fruit you produce, the greater on the journey you are. It is a cycle that feeds of itself.
But if one is not producing fruit, are they truly abiding in God? are they truly abiding in the vine, connecting with that vine, feeding off that vine in order to produce?
If Abiding in the vine = Fruit
Then does No Fruit = Not truly abiding in the vine?
I think that some people can go on a journey to produce fruit for God, but get stuck on the way, focusing on a spiritual feeding, rather than what the are meant to do with what they have been given. If a river gets blocked and turns into a dam, then the water gets filthy. in the same way, we have to be flowing. Receiving and pouring out. Otherwise what is inside of us will get filthy and won’t last, being no use to anyone.
And I believe that it is one thing to have a ‘love’ for the lost, and another thing to do something about it. Those branches who do not produce fruit will get cut off (John 15:2). God doesn’t hand out those kinds of burdens to just anyone, but to those who earnestly desire have his heart, and are prepared to act upon it, laying down their life for the cause.
We are expected to produce fruit that remains (John 15:16). And i believe in the same way, that we are to remain producing fruit. Always. And if this continually happens, then once we start, we should never stop.
What better life to live than one of abiding in the true vine, producing fruit for the Kingdom that lasts, and fulfilling our God given destiny!
Chris!