At the Last Supper, Jesus taught His disciples about our spiritual relationship with Him. Our Lord used the branch and the vine to illustrate our complete dependence upon Him. He explained that the branch can bear no fruit without the constant flow of life from the vine. Jesus said to them:
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit...If a man does not ABIDE in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and BURNED." John 15:5 RSV
ABIDE is from the Greek "Meno." It means to remain in, to stay, to dwell.
"If you keep My commandments you will ABIDE in My Love." John 15:10 RSV
The church of today is empty of true spiritual strength and bears little resemblance to the church of the first century because it refuses to ABIDE in God. The scriptures plainly teach that the Father promises to answer only the prayers of those who ABIDE in Him and obey His law:
"If you ABIDE in Me, and My WORDS abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7 RSV
"And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS." 1 John 3:22 RSV
"If one turns away his ear from hearing THE LAW, even his prayer is an abomination." Proverbs 28:9 RSV
A thousand may pray until their knees are bloody, but if they are not keeping His commandments, God says their prayer is an abomination to Him. Yet the prayers of only one man who abides in Him can change the lives and circumstances of many:
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16 KJV
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right, is righteous." 1 John 3:7 RSV
God's word is painfully clear. If one does not keep His commandments, one does not ABIDE in Him. If one does not ABIDE in Him, God does not answer his prayer; and he will become like the withered branch, cast forth, thrown into the fire and burned.
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