Abide in Christ and Be Fruitful!

By Kamal Latham, Author of Your CEO Potential: Realizing Your Calling, Equipping, and Outcomes in Christ Jesus

Follow Kamal on LinkedIn here

In John 15:4, Jesus said “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (New King James Version)

Jesus, the Word of God who came in the flesh, was crystal clear. We cannot bear fruit without abiding in him. There is no counsel or wisdom greater than God’s Word. It is the pure truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Jesus is recorded saying “abide in me” five times in John 15:1-7. When we abide in him and his words abide in us, we bear much fruit and glorify God (John 15:7-8).

What does the word “abide” mean?

According to Merriam-Webster.com, “abide” can be defined in the following six ways: 1a) to bear patiently; 1b) to ensure without yielding; 2) to wait for; 3) to accept without objection; 4) to remain stable or fixed in a state; 5) to continue in a place.

According to BibleHub.com, the Strong’s Lexicon indicates that the Greek word “menó” in John 15:4 is translated as “to remain, to abide, to stay, to continue, to dwell, to endure.”

BibleHub also indicates this Greek word “primarily means to remain or stay in a given place, state, or relation” and “conveys a sense of persistence and continuity.” ???

This truth must be very important since Jesus said “abide in me” five times. All believers must persist in living and walking like him, no matter the cost. Christ always demonstrated the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

According to Galatians 5:22-23, “the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,?gentleness, and self-control.” (New Living Translation)

The world's distractions and temptations want us to do the complete opposite. They want us to live and walk in hatred, despair, frustration, impatience, hostility, evil, unfaithfulness, harshness, and recklessness.

When we abide in Jesus and his words abide in us, we bear much fruit and glorify God (John 15:7-8). This is an important truth that has implications for our careers and businesses.

What do the words “bear fruit” mean?

According to Merriam-Webster.com, the phrase “bear fruit” means to “turn out as planned or desired”. Simply put, it means success.

According to BibleHub.com, the Strong’s Lexicon indicates that the Greek word “pheró ” in John 15:8 means to “bear, carry, bring, lead.” The Greek word “karpos” in John 15:8 includes the meaning of “fruit, deed, action, result, profit, gain.”

What does this all mean?

When we combine the above-mentioned insights, we see Jesus explaining how to win in this world while simultaneously pleasing God. Jesus, who worked as a carpenter, was a complete success in everything he did on earth.

Since the Lord said deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me, we know he called us to be like him (Matthew 16:24). It is possible to live and walk as he did over 2,000 years ago. However, we must be Jesus-centered and not self-centered.

When we examine the meanings of the words “abide” and “bear fruit,” we can possibly restate the phrase “abide in me and bear much fruit” as follows: Be persistent and steadfast in walking in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and you will produce much profit.

Imagine going to your job or business daily knowing that profits are driven by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,?gentleness, and self-control.

Imagine going to your job or business daily knowing that losses are driven by hatred, despair, frustration, impatience, hostility, evil, unfaithfulness, harshness, and recklessness.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated by Jesus' thoughts, words, and deeds, brings success to people and glory to God.

God is not opposed to our prosperity.

In fact, he takes pleasure in it. Psalm 35:27 says, “Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And tell them continually, “Let the?Lord?be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (New King James Version)

If God is pleased when his servants prosper, he certainly must be pleased when his sons and daughters prosper. God wants us to succeed in everything we put our hands to personally and professionally.

Households, marriages, families, careers, and businesses will have good outcomes and great successes when people are Jesus-centered and not self-centered.

We must abide in Christ and bear fruit, giving glory to God, not ourselves. Even if we can fool man, we cannot fool God. He knows our motives.

He sees everything.

Love God and seek his kingdom first. It is the best way to live and walk.

You can reach Kamal at [email protected].

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