COME, FOLLOW ME—V

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself,

and take up his cross (daily) and follow Me.

...go and make disciples of all nations...

teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you....

Abide in Me and I in you, and you will bear much fruit.

Walk in the Spirit....Be filled with the Spirit.

You will bear much fruit—30,60, 100 fold.

Abide in Me and I in you, and you will bear much fruit. (John 15.5)

This is such a familiar verse that it stands in the danger of complacency, too much familiarity, and being taken for granted. Its reality, significance, and power is too easily neglected. Once the words are learned, they are too often ignored.

But their simple truth is the reality of the life of Jesus for us today.

The Greek term for “abide” in John 15. 5 and 7 is translated “continue” in John 8.32:

If you abide in Me, and I in you,

you will bear much fruit. much fruit.

John 15.5

If you abide in Me and My word abides in you,...

John 15.7

If you continue in My word,

you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

John 8.32

The idea and admonition of Jesus is incredible!

Those disciples to whom He first spoke these words were to “abide/continue” in and with Him by the Holy Spirit Who was sent from Christ to them after His ascension. The Holy Spirit continues the teachings of Jesus to those who continue to make themselves present to learn and live under His Lordship. The Holy Spirit does now for us what Jesus did then for them.

The Holy Spirit had the teachings of Jesus already in those disciples' lives. Very powerful works were accomplished through those who had this foundation!

And today?!?

The Holy Spirit has the same teachings of Jesus available every day to all who Come and Follow Jesus. 

All Jesus is, has, and does is available from the Holy Spirit for the asking, seeking, and knocking.

As Jesus directed every word, action, thought, motive, desire, and experience of the first disciples, so the Holy Spirit does for us today.

It is the Holy Spirit Who “makes all things work together” (Romans 8.28) for the good Jesus wants us to have. This is day and night, 24/7/365, as we like to say about “all things.” 

I have never looked them up, but www.blueletterbible.com lists over 800 “all” verses in the New Testament and over 3,000 in the Old.

All our God wants for us is ours in and with the Lord Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is

abide/continue—just show up.

Just show up! Amazing! How can we put these words into practice? We can't do them justice, but Paul says we can get better and better at living in, with, and for the Lord Jesus Christ through Christ Who strengthens us.

All we do is abide in Him, and He will abide in us, and we will walk daily with the Lord Jesus by His Spirit:

Walk in the Spirit....Be filled with the Spirit.