By Pastor Dennis Lee
We live in a world that’s quickly becoming filled with bitterness and hatred. Joy for life and living is fading, and is found mostly today in pills or in a bottle.
But God wants us to be joy filled, and He knows that this joy can only be found in relationship with Him.
Jesus reveals this in His analogy of the vine and the branches. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing … These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:5, 11)
If we want to be successful in our life and relationship with God, or what is called being fruitful, we need to have this abiding relationship with Jesus.
To abide is to be in a state of connectedness, a fixed state of being and dwelling with or in something. Jesus said this state of connectedness, this state of abiding in Him is vital because outside of this relationship we can do nothing, that is, we bear no fruit and can do no meaningful work producing eternal worth.
Also, when we’re in this connected relationship with Jesus, there is joy, and isn’t a joy filled life what we all want? But what’s really neat is that this isn’t a one-sided relationship. Jesus is also filled with joy when we’re in such an abiding relationship.
For our lives to be filled with joy we must remain and maintain this relationship, this connectedness with Jesus, and Jesus gives us the way by which this relationship is maintained, and that is through our obedience to God’s word.
“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)
Therefore, when we come into this born again relationship with Christ, God’s joy will overflow into our lives.
Dennis Lee is the senior pastor of Living Waters Fellowship located at 211 West 1st South, behind ACE Hardware. Sunday morning service begins at 10 a.m. either in-person or online. All services and teachings, including Sunday 6 p.m. service, are available on our YouTube Channel, “Mesquite NV Living Waters Fellowship.”To find more about Living Waters Fellowship visit, “mesquitelivingwaters.com”
