If Ye Abide

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7)

The reason the Vine and its branches are such a true parable of the Christian life is that all nature has one source, and breathes one spirit. The plant world was created to be an object lesson to man. It was to teach him his entire dependence on God, and his security in that dependence. He who clothes the lilies will much more clothe us. He who gives the trees and the vines their beauty and their fruits, making each what He meant it to be, will much more certainly make us what He would have us to be.

The only difference is, what God work in the trees is by a power of which they are not conscious. He wants to work in us with our consent. This i the nobility of man - he has a will which can cooperate with God in understanding, approving, and accepting what He offers to do.

If ye abide. Here is the difference between the branch of the natural and the branch of the spiritual Vine.  The former abides by force of nature. The latter abides, not by force of will, but by a divine power given to the consent of the will. Such is the wonderful provision which God has made. What the power of nature does in the one case, the power of grace will do in the other. The branch can abide in the Vine.

If ye abide in Me ... ask what ye will. If we are to live a true prayer life, with the love, power, and experience of prayer marking it, there must be no question about the abiding. And if we abide, there need be no questions about the liberty of asking what we will. There need be no doubt about the certainty of its being done. There is the one condition: "If ye abide in me." There must be no hesitation about the possibility or the certainty of it. We must gaze on that little branch and its wonderful power of bearing such beautiful fruit until we truly learn to abide.

And what is the secret? Be wholly occupied with Jesus. Sink the roots of your faith, love, and obedience deep down into Him. Come away out of every other place to abide there. Give up everything for the inconceivable privilege of being a branch of the glorified Son of God in heaven. Let Christ be first. Let Christ be all. Do not be occupied with the abiding - be occupied with Christ. He will hold you; He will keep you abiding in Him. He will abide in you.

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you. This He gives as the equivalent of the other expression: I in you. If my words abide in You." That is, abide not only in meditation, memory, love, and faith - all these are needed - but above all, abide in obedience. If these words enter into your will, your being, and constitute your life - if they transform your character into their own likeness, and you become and are what they speak and mean - ask what you will; it will be done unto you. Your words to God in prayer will be the fruit of Christ and His words living in you.

Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Believe in the truth of this promise. Set yourself to be an intercessor for men. Be a fruit-bearing intercessor, always calling forth more blessing. Such faith and prayer will wonderfully help you to  abide wholly and unceasingly.

If ye abide. Yes, Lord, the power to pray and the power to prevail must depend on this abiding in You. As You are the Vine, You are the divine Intercessor, who breathes Your Spirit in us. Oh, for the grace to abide simply and wholly in You, and ask great things! Amen

~Andrew Murray~