IN CHRIST

Yesterday was a blast. Great time in Sunday school, praise and worship was amazing. Then to cap the day off we had a great time of fun and fellowship as our LIFEgroup (LG) and David Cottingham's LG. I also heard great reports from Stephen West and Jimmy Pate's LG. I want to expound a little more from my message yesterday. Jesus said I am the way (John 14:6). I think most of us come to God looking for different spiritual blessings such as joy, peace, hope, etc. Now, that is good but the key question is how do you find those those things. Here is what we have to learn. We find all these in Christ. John 14 is followed by chapter 15 with the teaching about the vine and the branches. 

John 15:1-5

 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Everything comes in Christ. So how do you find Christ? Here's a start. 

When you read the Bible ask two questions. 

1. What is this scripture teaching about Christ?
2. How can I apply what I am reading to my life?

Here is an example:  read John 15:1-5

John 15:1-5

 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

1. These verses are teaching that Christ is the vine. God looks after the vine and seeks to make it more fruitful. If the disciple remain in Christ and Christ remains in them they WILL bear fruit. If they try to do it on their own they will find they can't. When the connection is made by abiding fruit happens. Apart nothing happens. 

2. I put myself in the disciples place. I am to abide in Christ. God is going to do His part to make me fruitful.  If I seek to do it myself nothing is going to happen. I CANNOT bear fruit in my own efforts. If I abide in Christ FRUIT happens. Joy shows up. Peace enters my heart. Insecurity disappears. Etc..

The key word is abide. What does that mean? It means to stay in, be grafted into. Keep your mind on Christ. 

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you. Because He trust in You." Is 26:3