Message Preached on December 11, 2022 by Pastor Cynthia D. Bellamy
How are you clean? Are you clean by the shouting in church? Is it in speaking in tongues? There is nothing wrong with shouting/dancing in church; or with speaking in tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance. However, John 15:3 say we are clean through the Word of God. This is the only thing that can cleanse you, God’s Word.
Verse 7 tells us, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Oh the benefits that comes when you are connected to the Word of God. The condition is to abide in God. How can you ask God of things you desire yet are not abiding in Him? How are you desiring God’s benefits yet you are not doing His will? It takes something to obtain the promises and benefits of God. You must have a committed and surrendered life.
The scripture is telling us we can ask what you will, and it shall; the word shall is indicating that it is a promise. When you are in God, don’t ask things that are out of His will. Your desires change and only the things of God are desirable. The thing that Jesus did, providing us instructions to follow, is that He loved his Father’s commandments. Jesus continued to abide in God’s love. Therefore, if you continue to abide in God and keep His commandments, you will continue in God’s love.
One thing about our Father, He has made many things known to us because He calls us friends. As his friend, God is not withholding any secrets from us. Jesus did not withhold anything from His disciples. He needed someone to carry on what He was doing once he ascended. Now, Jesus did not simply pick anyone for such a task but he prayed not just once but twice, before appointing the Apostles that would carry on His work. He stayed connected to His Father in prayer.
Jesus is the true vine. The vine is the source of life. For branches, the vine provides water and nutrients. Fruits will not come if the vine doesn’t produces what it needs. The vine which is Jesus, is your lifeline and the branches connected to Him have to produce. If the branches are not producing, it will be taken from the vine and thrown in the fire. It is important for you to examine your life and ask yourself, ‘what are you producing?’
Are you in the ground connected enough to get your nutrients? Are you growing and producing fruit? Jesus is the vine, you are the branches, and God is the owner. God can do whatever He desires to make sure we are producing. You must produce in the season God has you in. Do notlet another season pass you by and your are not producing. For there is a function God has called you to. God has called you to make disciples and you have to produce at some point. Hence, when you produce, ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.
Be ready for the pruning, ready for a cleansing. Let every branch in you abide in Jesus. You cannot live without the source of the vine that gives life.
Stay connected.
