THE MESSAGE NOW
VOL 3, NO 25; MONDAY 18TH JUNE, 2018
JOHN 15 : 1 – 17
ABIDING IN CHRIST
Christ is the Vine and God is the Vinedresser who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ.
The fruitful branches are the true believers who by their way of life in Christ produce much fruit but the unproductive followers will be separated from the vine (Jesus Christ). The unproductive followers are as good as dead and will be cut off and tossed aside.
What does it means to abide? and the reward of abiding in Christ Jesus.
To abide simply means “to remain”, “to tarry”, “to wait for”, “to bear patiently”.
-Abiding in Christ mean; believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God (1 John 4 : 15)
-Abiding in Christ means receiving and trusting all that God has for us in Christ Jesus (John 1: 2)
-Abiding in Christ also means doing what God says, believing in his word (1John 3: 24)
-To Abide in Christ is to be in the “spirit mode” and not in the “doing mode”.
How do I mean? The doing mode in relation to Christian walk is related to the normal things we do, which are : going to church, praying, reading the bible,fleeing from sin, witnessing etc.
However, if we are doing all these things just because we are supposed to or we are doing them by our own strength, we will not have victory and we will miss out having an intimate relationship with Christ. 1 Samuel 2:9 says “for by strength no man shall prevail” but when we are in the “Spirit mode” we establish an intimate relationship with the true vine, we enjoy his presence, we have joy because joy comes from consistent fellowship with the vine and we bear much fruit as related in Galatians 5 : 22.
John 15 :7 clearly demonstrated the reward of Abiding in Christ. Just as the Lilly blossom, prayer is natural to the those who abide in Christ Jesus and whatsoever they request for shall be granted unto them. (Psalms 37:4, Mark 11:24)
John 7: 38 gives us the assurance of the Power of Holy Spirit when we abide in the true vine.
John 15 : 6 – we won’t be a cast away but will be saved.
John 15 : 8 – we will bring glory to God and we will be called his disciples.
John 15 : 11 – the joy of Christ will remain in us and be full.
John 15 : 15 – The true vine will no longer call us servant but friend.
IN THE END AS CHRISTIANS, OUR LIFELINE IS OUR CONNECTION TO THE VINE, WHO IS JESUS CHRIST. IF WE ARE NOT UNITED WITH HIM, NOTHING OF ANY LASTING VALUE WILL COME FROM US.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counselling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com or 08098198155.Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the work of Christ by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other facebook page or account is counterfeit; the pastor of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly facebook pages or accounts. Be informed also that there is only one medium for soliciting donations and that medium is via our weekly magazine – The Message Now through our facebook page.
ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
Hymn: Deeper Deeper in the school of wisdom
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father grant me the Grace to Abide in you.
2. Holy Ghost, help me to do away with those things that hinder me from abiding.
3. My Father and My God help me to enjoy to the fullest all the benefits of abiding in you in Jesus name.
4. Father make me fruitful in all areas of my life.
5. Father let your fire burn to ashes every evil power working against my fruitfulness in the Jesus Name
6. Father every hidden enemy of Express Image Glory Ministries, be disgraced in the name of Jesus
7, Father every weapon fashioned against Pastor Mike shall not prosper in the name of Jesus.
OLATORO OLAWUYI
