KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:11 KJV” These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

The Lord reveals a very important truth in our key scripture. He said all that He told them, has caused His joy to remain in them, and also that their joy might be full. God’s word is loaded with life as well as the tonic to make man whole. James 1:25 calls God’s word, the perfect law of liberty. It liberates from sin, sicknesses, demonic power and anything that holds man captive. It makes the heart glad when one wholeheartedly accepts and submits to it. John wrote that in the word is life, and this life is the light of men. It is in the light of these things, that, the Lord says, His word has filled them with His joy.

Dear child of God, is your life a stressful one? Are you always fatigued with issues that burden your mind so much that, you seek relief from all the wrong places? The solution is just beside you, if you have God’s word with you then that holds the keys to your freedom. Many read the scriptures yet they do not receive any changes in their lives. This is so because such people do not receive the word of God. It is one thing listening or even hearing the word of God, and it is another thing to receive the word. To receive is to believe what is said. When the word takes its place in the heart of a man, it will naturally ease the pressures of this life and gladden the heart.

King Solomon, through the grace of God, shows us how to do these things in Proverb 4:20-21,

 “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart”.

It says;

1. Give Attention to the word of God

2. Incline your ears, or humble yourself to what is said

3. Let them not depart from your sight

4. Keep them in your heart.

If you would do this it would be life and medicine to all your flesh.

You would have the joy of the word in your heart.

THOUGHT: GOD’S WORD IS THE JOY OF MEN’S HEART WHEN TRULY RECEIVED

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 66:5 KJV Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV” Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 15:10 KJV” If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

God is love, and God is almighty. His love drives Him to do His best for all men. His mighty power makes His generous heart desire to see the peace, and security of men very possible. Sadly, most men picture God as one who does not want them to be free to do what makes them happy. This has developed a level of dislike for God among certain individuals. Men have forsaken God, only to realise, that peace and inner stability are non-existent in that state.

In Luke 15:11-32, the Lord Jesus gave a parable about a wealthy father of two sons. The younger  Son asked the Father to give him his portion of his inheritance. The father did, and this son left for a far country, wasting every fortune on riotous living. In the end, he became poor and miserable that, he had to feed pigs. He had even wanted to eat the husk of the pigs. This son came to his senses and came back to the father, who lovingly received him.

Many people are in that life of misery because they have left the love of the Father and are going after material things. In this life, you are truly living, if you abide in the love of God. God who created us placed in man a principle that would only be satisfied if man lives under God’s love. Neglecting God to have a happier life, is like trying to grow maize, without using the soil; you would fail.

Living in God’s love is to love God and do what He tells you. Do you love God? Do you do what His word says? In our story, when this prodigal son came back home, the Father run to meet him, he washed off his dirt, received a new garment, a new ring, and a party thrown for him. God has so much to do for you, yet you are too far to experience His love. Repent today and come back home.

THOUGHT: THE JOY OF LIFE, IS NEVER FOUND IN GOING AFTER THINGS, BUT GOING AFTER GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isa 48:22 KJV” There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.”

Rom 8:6 KJV” For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:10 KJV” If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

In John 15:9 the Lord stated that, just as the Father loves Him, so has He loved us. He then asked us to continue or abide in His love. He shows us how to abide in His love in the next verse. He said if we keep or do His commandments, we would abide in His love.

What is the love of God? God’s love is His unreserved expression of favour towards men. The truth is God is never partial. He is favourably open towards all men. Unfortunately, it is not all men who are abiding in His love and so, do not enjoy that overwhelming expression of goodness and power He shows to all.

We would consider two characters in the scriptures. King Saul and King David. God’s love for these Kings of Israel was the same yet in each of their lives, we saw different experiences, that appeared God was favourable to one and despised the other. God loved both men the same, but Saul did not abide in His love whilst David did.

God appointed Saul from a very humble background and lifted him to be king. Saul was self-centered and kept pleasing himself. The following is how God expressed it. 1Sam 15:23 KJV “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” King Saul neglected God’s word and the Lord called that as being witchcraft and idolatry. It was very impossible for God to relate to such conditions, so as a matter of principle, had to reject him, for what he had chosen to become. Saul walked out of God’s love although God was very favourably exposed to him. There are many who have walked out of God’s love.

David was also taken from a very humble background and when he became king, he kept his humility towards God. He was ready to admit his faults when he erred; he never shifted blame for his mistakes. Even at the time, God’s judgement came on the people, when he numbered the Israelites. David said, it is he who sinned and God should punish him instead (2nd Samuel 24:17). This is a selfless man. David abode in the love of God and kept seeing the love and power of God throughout his life.

You can abide in God’s love and power if you would humble yourself to His word. God is not partial, He gives out the sun, the air and rain freely to all men. If any man refuses to come under the sun or closes his nostrils to the free oxygen; that is not God’s fault. ABIDE IN GOD’S LOVE.

THOUGHT: TO ENJOY GOD’S PEACE, POWER AND PROVISION; IT IS ALL BY YOUR CHOICE, BELIEVE HIS WORD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 1:19 KJV” If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:”

Deut 28:1 KJV ” And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:8 KJV” Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”.

God seeks adoration from men. He created us, so we would bring Him pleasure by adoring Him. One terrible thing that a man can do against Himself is not to honour God; that is, to spite Him by the wrong ways He may live. When a man pleases God, he allows everything in him to receive life, because God blesses him. When he opposes God his system or body loses that approval from God, and so lacks the peace that his body or being desires (Rom 2:8-14). In our key scripture, the Lord said He is glorified when His disciples bear much fruit. Bearing fruits makes men adore and praise the Lord for His great works through us. It is the honour and admiration of His works men give Him, because of us, that brings glory to His name.

Fruits are an outward revelation of what a thing or who a man is. Everything is known by its fruits. When children of God bear fruit, they reveal the one who is at work in them. The Lord Jesus said, Let your light so shine, that men would see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. The Lord also said, the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit and it also demonstrates that we are His disciples or His children.

What kind of fruit are we to bear? Apostle Paul said in Gal 1:15 that God separated him from his mother’s womb, to reveal His Son, through him. To reveal the Son is to manifest what the Lord stood for. He fully demonstrated the fruits of the Spirit. We must show it in an increasing measure. It is the fruit or works of God when we manifest the power of God, to heal, deliver and bless mankind. All these will cause men to praise and therefore glorify God.

The cream of all these fruits is winning the lost. Winning a soul is the greatest joy you may bring the Father. I said earlier in this study that, God created us to bring Him pleasure. Rev 4:11 KJV” Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”. When a soul is won from the kingdom of darkness, that soul would live to glorify God. This fulfils God’s purpose in creating men. Winning more men is indeed the delight of God. Winning men is more than evangelizing them. Evangelism is introducing the Saviour to them, as well as inviting the sinner to come to partake of Christ. Winning the soul is helping him, become a follower of Jesus.

THOUGHT: WINNING SOULS IS LIKE BRINGING GOD’S LOST PEARLS OF PRICELESS VALUE HOME.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 15:16 KJV “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Luke 14:23 KJV “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:7 KJV” If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

God our Father desires that His children live joyfully. The bible says His ears are opened to the cry of His children Psalms 34:15 KJV “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” He states in our opening scripture that when we abide in Him, and His words abide in us we would ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. Consider the phrase’ what you will” He did not say ‘when you ask in line with my will’ Well the Lord made this statement, based on a condition. He said if you abide in me. This statement is talking about being committed and depended on the Lord.

We learnt in our last discussions that; we abide in the Lord as we fellowship with Him. This talks about developing a strong relationship with Him. The end result is a life committed to doing what He says. Such a person will have his thoughts and desires totally influenced by God’s word. His will will definitely be in line with the will of God. It is on the bases of such a cordial relationship that the Lord says, if such a person is to ask what he wills or desires, it shall be granted Him. A man or woman who is dedicated sincerely to the Lord will also trust the Lord in his or her request that he makes. Our prayers are always answered on the bases of our faith in God.

Dear one, if you wish to improve on your prayer fruits or be more effective in your prayer life, then you must also improve your relationship with God. He said in John 14: 21, that when we love Him, we would keep or obey His words and the Father and the Son would make their abode in us and manifest unto us. This aspect of manifesting to us is seen in the answers to various requests or demands that we make. The closer we are to the Lord the more He reveals His power through us. As we said the other time, if a man develops a consistent prayer life, he generates so much power that, he becomes a walking fire, and the Lord honours his desires or he receives answers to his prayers.

THOUGHT: YOUR DEVOTION TO THE LORD, BUILDS TRUST IN HIM, AND THAT INCREASES YOUR PRAYER FRUITS.

FURTHER STUDIES

Jas 5:17 KJV “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

1Jn 5:14 KJV “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:”

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 15:6 KJV” If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

The Lord says those who do not abide in Him become valueless to men. We learnt in our last studies that fellowshipping with the Lord is what keeps one abiding in Christ. Prayer and commitment to the word of God are the prime means of abiding in Christ. Please note that by our birth into Christ He has become our very life source. We live with His very life. Abiding in Christ is a practical way of expressing that union with Jesus.

The Lord says, if a child of God fails to commit to the Lord through fellowshipping, he would eventually lose the impact that Christ has saved him to be to the world. He would be of no use to the course of the gospel in the life of men. Men would likewise have no good use of him. The Lord used the term ‘they would cast him into the fire’. This thought expressed by our master Jesus reveals that, as a child of God you are in a position to play a very important role to the world. Rom 8:19 KJV “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The child of God is a symbol of hope to our world, and must not fail to bring that answer of revealing Jesus in his or her life. Prov 13:12 KJV” Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Please consider the following scripture. Rom 8:20 KJV” For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,” The world is in a kind of crisis and stress such that the true people to help are the children of God, manifesting their sonship. Our sonship is revealing the Christ nature and power to our world. It is when the child of God becomes what Christ saved him to be, that he becomes of real value to men. If he does not, he is of no value to the world and the world uses him any how it chooses. The Lord said, he is cast into fire. Dear child of God, how much are you committed to Christ as a person? This is what would determine your impact to the world, and how valuable you are to the world. In the light of what have been revealed in this study, every child of God needs to seriously examine his or her life in relation to his or her dedication to our Lord Jesus. If you find yourself wanting, then repent and turn totally to the master.

THOUGHT: YOUR VALUE TO THE WORLD IS DEPENDANT ON YOUR DEDICATION TO JESUS

FURTHER STUDIES

Mat 5:16 KJV” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Rom 8:19 KJV “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 15:5 KJV “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

We continue with our discussion on the Lord’s call on every child of God to be fruitful. The main reason why God saved us and allowed us to live on this earth was that we might be very fruitful.

In our previous study, we looked at the place of fervent consistent prayer, in helping us to be fruitful. We would also consider how a life of discipline to learn or know God’s word also assists us to be very fruitful. The Lord said, He is the vine, whiles we are the branches. As we abide in Him, and He also abides in us, we would bring forth much fruit. One way that the Lord abides in us is by letting the word of God, fill our hearts. Jesus remains in our hearts in the form of His words. Jesus is the word of God. John 1:1, Rev 19:13. According to Psalm 1:2,3, “The man that delights in the law of the Lord and in His law, does he meditates day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by the river, which yields its fruit in its season. It leaves does not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper.”

John 1:4 also reminds us that in the Word is life and that life is the light of men, which shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never overcome it. Taking in the word exposes one to a supernatural success ability, that cannot be understood by the senses. E W Kenyon said, ‘Meditating on the word is a visit with Jesus’ The man who reads, studies, memorises the word of God and does what it says, will make His way prosperous, and have good success. Joshua 1:8. We live in times that everything around us works to keep us from having time with the word. The mobile phone bringing social media to us craves all the attention. We need to be very disciplined not to be unduly attended to its demands . We must literally put it off at certain occasions we may be able to attend fully to the Word of God. 

Staying in God’s word keeps you plugged in to God, like an electrical gadget, plugged into  the source of electricity. So long as it is plugged in, it can be said to be abiding or remaining in the source of power, which would cause that gadget to function effectively. You would be certainly fruitful when you stay in God’s word. The moment you unplug yourself from the word, you break your life source.

THOUGHT: GOD’S WORD IS A STORE HOUSE OF LIFE AND POWER, STAY CONNECTED TO IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Jos 1:8 KJV “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

 Rom 8:6 KJV” For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:4 KJV” Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

To abide means to remain, or to tarry. It also means to continue to be present, to last or endure. The Lord says bearing fruits is directly related to abiding in the Lord. No one can be fruitful if he or she does not abide.

What does it mean to abide in practical sense? It means fellowship with the Lord. One very important aspect of fellowshipping is by prayer. Studying and meditating on the word are other aspect of fellowshipping with the Lord.

Many who have been very successful in making a great impact in ministry, attribute their success to their commitment to prayer. Elijah’s efforts turned the whole nation, back to God, through a consistent prayer life.1Ki 17:1 KJV “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” The phrase ” before whom I stand” speaks volumes concerning his abiding or prayer life. He had the audacity to tell the king that, by his word it will not rain for some years. Every word he declared happened exactly as he said it. The scripture revealed that although he had the same deficiencies like any of us, he was able to do so much for God that, God had to take him bodily to heaven.

A praying man would indeed be fruitful. The word abiding means to remain, and this suggests consistency. Being consistent in your prayer life generates such power over time, that you become a walking fire, generating results wherever you go. This thing is work, which works, yet you must work it out

THOUGHT: PRAYER IS WORK, WHICH WORKS, YET YOU MUST WORK IT OUT.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 5:17 KJV” Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

Mark 1:35 KJV” And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:3 KJV” Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

 The words of Jesus are full of life.  They have the ability to transform the heart of anyone who submits to it. The Lord said to His disciples that, the words they have heard has already made them clean. One of the symbols of the word of God, among many others in the bible, is water. Eph 5:26 KJV :”That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” As men wash themselves with water to keep clean and free from  dirt ,God’s word is the spiritual water to wash off wrong and all defiling ways.

There are many people struggling with all kinds of sinful and wrong habits, without knowing what to do. Please take some time to flood your soul with the word. Allow God’s word to flood your  mind and heart, and after a while that negative lifestyle world be history  to you. For a simple illustration, Let’s consider pouring tap water into a dirty cup over a good length of time. After a while, this dirty cup will become as clean as crystal. As the water Keep pouring into the cup and flowing off, the dirty particles would be gradually carried away, and the cup would be left clean. Stop worrying about your wrong and negative habits, but rather attend to the word and allow it to make you clean and whole again.

If the word has the ability to wash us clean, then when one is to store it in his heart, sin would not take root there in the first place. Psalms 119:11 KJV” Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” One of the ways to do this is to, spend moments meditating over the scriptures, till it is fully secured in your heart. If this approach becomes your normal way of attending to the word you would soon realise that, you are so filled with God’s word such that, sin is an impossibility.

THOUGHT: ATTEND TO GOD’S WORD TO THE POINT THAT, YOU BECOME IMPREGNABLE TO ERROR

FURTHER STUDIES

Pro 4:20 KJV” My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

Jos 1:8 KJV” This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:2 KJV” Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

God expects fruit from us. God blessed men from the beginning to bear fruits. What kind of fruits are we to bear? We are to bear first of all nature and of God He wants us to be truthful, loving, gentle, and kind. This is what the Lord Jesus calls shinning. Matt 5:16 KJV” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” In addition to shinning, is winning men and women to know Jesus. The next form of fruit is works that answer men’s needs. Bringing answers to men’s questions.

The Lord prunes those who bear fruit. God has various ways of pruning His children. To prune is correct, straighten, or discipline. The first choice of God in pruning His children is the word of God. 2Ti 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” He said when men are pruned, they bear more fruits. This is exactly what the word of God does. It corrects, rebukes, reproofs, and instructs in righteousness. God also prunes us by allowing trials our way. James 1:3 KJV” Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” He may be a discipline, that is going through correction by undergoing some painful situations. Please note, sickness is an oppression of Satan, (Acts 10:38) and God does not use that one.

The verse also said those who fail to bear fruit He cut them off and they are cast into the fire. Remember the scripture which says to those who have, more would be given to them, whiles those who have not, even the little they have is taken away. Those who do not bear fruit severe themselves from dependence on God and so, they lose His Influence over them. This is how people are cut off from the. Lord. In actual fact, they drift off as an unanchored canoe may drift off on the ocean. This is called backslidden. There are many in the church who have been cut off without knowing.

Signs of being cut off are;

1. Loss of meaningful worship

2. Less desire to fellowship with other believers

3. No desire to pray and study the scriptures

4. Lack of peace and an irritating temper

5.No urge to win others for Christ.

6.  Living with a besetting sin.

Repent today and the Lord would always accept you.

THOUGHT: FRUITFULNESS IS YOUR SURE GROUND TO SECURE YOUR STABILITY IN THE FAITH.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 6:8 KJV” But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Joh 15:8 KJV “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”