Talk Tuesday-The Abide Series, Pt. II- ABIDE IN THE SPIRIT

Last week we discussed what it meant to ABIDE in Jesus from the perspective of abiding in the Word. This week, we are looking at Jesus' command to ABIDE in Him from the perspective of ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT. In John 15 Jesus says:

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love" John 15:10. 

ABIDE IN THE SPIRIT. Jesus reminds us of the importance of 'abiding' in His Word, and allowing His Word to abide in us. The result is that our lives will bring glory to God as we bear much spiritual fruit. So, how are we to abide in Him?

1. Walk in obedience. This idea of obedience and love, while repeated in John 15:10, actually appears in the preceeding chapter. In John 14:15-17, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to us if we walk in obedience. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” The promise to ABIDE goes both ways, as we abide in Him, He will abide in us! “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” John 14:23 
2. Abide/Walk in the Spirit to produce much fruit. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” Galatians 5:16. The branches of the grape vine cannot produce fruit unless it remains connected to the vine. It is the vine that takes the nourishment from the soil and feeds it to the branches. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” Galatians 5:22-25. 
3. Abide in the Spirit to bring Glory TO GOD – John 15:7-8 outlines the threefold blessing of ABIDING in Him; we receive whatever we ask, we bear much fruit which glorifies GOD, and we show ourselves to be His disciples. In the epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul reminds us, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” Romans 8:9.

As we ABIDE in His Spirit, we can rest in His promise of eternal life. "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" Romans 8:11. What does it mean to you, to ABIDE in the Spirit? Please click on the comments link below to share your thoughts with us! We look forward to hearing from you!

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LAST WEEK FOR  THE WRITING CONTEST !!! 

If you have a knack for writing, and a heart for ministry, we are calling you to write a 300-400 word article that is scripturally based and edifying to the Body of Christ. All entries must be emailed to joinus@biblegrouponline.com by January 31st, 2012. A panel of four judges will select the three most outstanding submissions. They will be posted on BGO on Tuesday February 14th, where our readers will be encouraged to vote by simply commenting on the entry of their choice. Only comments made between February 14th and February 29th will be counted. The winner will be announced on March 6th, 2012. The prize is the outstanding DVD of the movie 'Courageous,' which will be mailed to the winner. The first runner up will receive a Hillsongs DVD. The winning submission will be featured as a special 'Talk Tuesday' post.