The branches of a vine “abide” by just remaining connected to the vine. Permanently. Consistently. Day after day, week after week, year after year. They simply rest in their position, allowing the sap of the vine to flow freely through them. They exert no effort of their own. The fruit that is subsequently borne on the branch is actually produced by the life-giving sap within.
To abide in Christ means to remain connected to Him so completely that the “sap” of His Spirit flows through every part of your being, including your mind, will, and emotions as well as your words and deeds. The “fruit” that you then bear is actually produced by His Spirit in you through no conscious effort of your own. If you and I want to be fruitful, we do not concentrate on fruit-bearing; we concentrate on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
[Be] patient in tribulation.
It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him. § For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. § The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. § Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?
Jesus wept. § A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. § Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives … Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. § Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. § In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Rom. 12:12; 1 Sam. 3:18; Job 9:15; 1:21; 2:10;
John 11:35; Isa. 53:3; 53:4; Heb. 12:6, 11; Col. 1:11; John 16:33
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.
Have faith in God … Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. § Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. § [Abraham was] fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? § With God all things are possible. § “Increase our faith.”
Rom. 4:20; Mark 11:22–24; Heb. 11:6; 11:17–19;
Rom. 4:21; Gen. 18:14; Matt. 19:26; Luke 17:5
Noah took one-seventh of all of his flocks and herds and offered them in an extravagant sacrifice to the God of his salvation! Surely the sacrifice was one
of praise to God for His faithfulness and greatness,
of thanksgiving to God for His grace to save himself and his family,
of repentance from anything that would not be pleasing to God,
of rededication of his life to the One Who had saved it.
Noah must have been totally overwhelmed by the awareness that out of all the people who had been living on Planet Earth, God had saved him. Why? It was just God’s grace! Noah had been righteous and blameless as he had walked with God, but he knew that did not make him worthy of salvation. His heart must have felt ready to burst with the intensity of his gratitude. There could be no other way to express what was in his heart than to give back to God the life that He alone had saved. How can you and I do less?
Then comes the end.
Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is … And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! § The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. § The coming of the Lord is at hand … The Judge is standing at the door! § Surely I am coming quickly.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. § Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
1 Cor. 15:24; Mark 13:32–33, 37; 2 Peter 3:9; James 5:8–9;
Rev. 22:20; 2 Peter 3:11; 1 Peter 4:7; Luke 12:35–36
Brethren, pray for us.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him … And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up … Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
[Pray] always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. § Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thess. 5:25; James 5:14–18; Eph. 6:18; Rom. 1:9; Col. 4:12
Have you based your faith . . . on what someone else has told you God wants to do for you? on what you have seen Him do for another person? on what you think is fair or loving? on what you think would be in the best interest of those involved? on a doctor’s recommendation for treatment? You and I must pray in faith, or our prayer will not be pleasing to God. If your faith as you pray is based on anything other than faith in God’s specific promise given to you in His Word, then your prayer is on a shaky foundation. So ask God to give you a promise from His Word on which you can pray in faith.
