Abiding, Praying, and Bearing Fruit in Christ

One of our primary aims at Glory of Christ Fellowship in 2016 is to become a more fully developed house of prayer for all peoples. To help stoke the fires of this vision and this way of life, we will be providing weekly devotionals on prayer and faith based on, or written by, some of the great prayer warriors of the last couple of centuries.

For this week, though, let’s sit at the feet of the Master Intercessor and listen carefully to what he has to say in John 15:7-8. Jesus said to his disciples, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

I see several important aspects of Jesus’ words:

· The Promise: Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

· Condition 1: If you abide (or remain) in me.

· Condition 2: If my words abide in you.

· Purpose 1: The glory of the Father in answered prayer.

· Purpose 2: Visible proof that we are abiding in Christ.

· Implication 1: Let us search our hearts – are we abiding in Christ?

· Implication 2: Let us search our hearts – are his words abiding in us?

· Implication 3: Let us learn what it means to pray without ceasing.

· Implication 4: Let us live for the glory of God in all things.

Prayer Focus: Pray that Jesus will teach us what it means to abide in him, pray to him, and bear fruit in him for the glory of his name and the joy of our souls. Pray that our Father will shape us into his house of prayer.

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