FREE FROM FEAR PART 21

The question that I left you with yesterday was, is it truly a reality for a person to live inside the spiritual realities of God all the time? Yesterday I told you that the answer was yes. Correctly answering this question explains why Christianity works for some and not for others, why some people experience the power and glory of God, and others don’t. Before Adam and Eve fell, they lived wholly enveloped in the love of God. It was not something they added to their life, but rather it was the entirety of their life from which all else flowed. The misconception of many in the church is that God and his amazing life can be added to their life. This is a great misnomer! This is why so many who claim Christianity don’t experience the wonder and beauty of what Jesus has made possible for us. 

Jesus tackled this subject by using an analogy of a grapevine. Here’s what he said: 

John 15:4-11 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me, you can do nothing. 6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be d and one unto you. 8 In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, shall you be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Have you ever cut a branch from its stock or vine? I have. I am always amazed at how fast the leaves of the cut branch begins to wither! A branch cannot live being in the vine only here and there! The branch must be firmly connected and abide in the vine if it is going to survive and bear fruit. The vine is not an “add-on” to the branch’s existence, but rather the entirety of its life! The vine is the complete source for the branch. Without the vine, the branch will wither up and die! 

So how does this relate in real-life? It comes down to what is a person’s source for every day, minute-by-minute, second-by-second living. What is your source? Where does your help come from? What makes you feel safe? How do you feel right about yourself? What makes you feel like you can succeed in life? What makes you feel loved? What fulfills the cravings of your soul? The person who abides in the vine (Christ) lives their life relying upon God for all these things. The person who does not abide in Christ depends upon the things of this world, human effort and personal performance to feel right about themselves. This is so important! It is the difference between failing or succeeding as a Christian! It’s really the difference between life and death! It is the difference between loving your existence and feeling complete or always feeling like you are being weighed in a balance and found lacking. A person whose source is not God will always feel never good enough, afraid, and disillusioned. God has great things in store for you! You are not reading this by accident! It’s time to go higher! 

Don’t miss tomorrow because we will be uncovering more secrets to accessing God’s abundant life that is… 

FREE FROM FEAR

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