Jon Augusta

More Than Just a Word, It’s Our Lifeline

A few weeks ago, a simple Instagram post about “aiding” sparked a deep dive into John 15:1-7. What I found was a powerful call to “abide,” a word we rarely use in our everyday conversations. We say “hang out,” or “grab coffee,” but “abide”? It felt ancient, yet incredibly relevant.

Today, let’s unpack John 15:1-7 and explore what it truly means to abide in Christ. We’ll look at:

• What does it mean to abide?
• How do we abide?
• Evidence of abiding

What Does it Mean to Abide?

“Abide” in John 15:4, from the Hebrew word “menō,” means to stay or remain in a place or with a person. Jesus uses the image of a vine and its branches. The branch must stay connected to the vine to receive nourishment and bear fruit.

We need to abide in Jesus, to stay and remain with Him, connected, growing, and bearing fruit. Andrew Murray beautifully puts it: “Abide in Jesus, the sinless One – which means, give up all of self and its life, and dwell in God’s will and rest in His strength. This is what brings the power that does not commit sin.”

Abiding is more than just a passive act; it’s a living, active relationship. It’s coming to God’s throne daily, throughout the day, for every need.

Let’s be real: we’re in a spiritual war. Our enemy is relentless, seeking any opportunity to make us stumble. To try and navigate this life without being plugged into God’s Word is foolish.

During a recent trip to Honduras, I saw firsthand the power of this imagery. Fruit trees, some bearing vibrant fruit, others with fallen, decaying fruit. The difference? Connection. The fruit on the vine thrived, nourished by the source. We must go to the source of our spiritual life and remain there to bear fruit.

John Piper reminds us, “Satan’s number-one objective is to destroy our joy of faith. We have one offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). But what many Christians fail to realize is that we can’t draw the sword from someone else’s scabbard. If we don’t wear it, we can’t wield it. If the Word of God does not abide in us (Jn. 15:7), we will reach for it in vain when the enemy strikes. But if we do wear it, if it lives within us, what mighty warriors we can be!”

How to Abide

So, how do we abide?

1. Meditate on the Word: Joshua 1:8 tells us to meditate on God’s Word day and night. It must be at the forefront of our minds.
2. Memorize Scripture: Psalm 119:9-11 highlights the importance of memorizing scripture. The enemy attacks when we’re vulnerable, and we need God’s Word readily available, just as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11.
3. Pray: Psalm 119:18, and the example Jesus set, remind us of the necessity of prayer. We need constant communication with our Father.

We must be in His Word daily, memorizing scripture, and constantly communicating with God through prayer.

Evidence of Abiding

The fruit trees in Honduras showed the health of the tree. When we abide in Jesus, we will bear much fruit. But what does that fruit look like?

Galatians 5:19-21 lists the “works of the flesh,” while Galatians 5:22-23 outlines the “fruit of the Spirit.” Our lives should reflect the latter.

Are you bearing healthy fruit, or diseased fruit that reveals the flesh?

John 15:6 warns that those who do not abide and bear fruit will be thrown into the fire. Conversely, verse 7 promises that when we abide in Jesus, He abides in us, and we have open communication with the Father.

We must abide in Jesus. The enemy is on the move, distracting us and keeping us from God’s Word. We need to prioritize our relationship with Him and bear fruit.