What Does It Mean To Remain In Jesus?

John 15:7 Meaning of If You Remain in Me and My Words Remain in You

John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Explanation and Commentary on John 15:7

As part of His final instruction to His apostles during what is known as the Last Supper, Jesus spoke this quotation.
Studies of the Last Supper have widely agreed that Jesus said these comments near the conclusion of it, while the apostles were in the upper room.
When Jesus spoke to His apostles before the Last Supper, He prepared them for His death by informing them that He would be betrayed by Judas, crucified, and raised.

Jesus was more anxious about the destiny of His apostles than he was about his own crucifixion, which was about to take place.As part of His promise to send the Holy Spirit, Jesus vowed to look after the apostles and assist them in remembering His teachings.He desired for His apostles to continue to be faithful to Him after his death.His desire was also for the apostles to continue His ministry even in the face of adversity.

During the Last Supper, Jesus utilized imagery to convey that He is the one and only real vine that bears spiritual fruit and produces spiritual fruit.
A ″vinedresser,″ sometimes known as a ″gardener,″ is someone who prunes branches on a vine in order to encourage them to bear fruit and grow in plenty.
The disciples who accompanied Jesus on his journey were the fruitful branches.
When Jesus reassured His disciples that those who remained committed to His message and obeyed it should expect God to answer their prayers, they were encouraged.
Faithfulness to His word and obedience are the two elements that enable us to continue as branches on His vine and to get answers to our prayers as a result of our relationship with Him.
James 4:3 explains that if our prayers are not answered, it is because we ask with selfish motivations, which is what we should do.

Who are the branches that aren’t producing?There are two main schools of thought when it comes to determining what ″unproductive″ or ″non-fruiting″ branches signify.Those who do not conduct a Christian life, according to one interpretation, are nonbelievers who pose as believers but do not live out their faith.Those who cling to the alternative viewpoint think that unproductive branches are Christians who fail to abide by God’s word and are thus chastised by Him.One thing we can be sure of according to the Bible is that God eliminates the unproductive branches in order for the energy of the vine to be directed toward the fruitful branches.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 15:7

1 ″If you want to remain in me…″ To remain in Jesus implies that we must remain connected to Him in the same way that a branch is tied to its parent plant.
The Bible serves as a direction for our ideas and deeds, and it helps us establish a connection with God.
It is when we believe Jesus’ word, when His word finds a home in our hearts, and when we obey it that we feel a connection to him.

2 ″…and my words will live on in you,″ To preserve His words in us implies that His words serve as a continual guide and monitor throughout our lives.The Word of God, when it takes up residence in our spirit, mind, and body, will mold our thoughts, words, and deeds in such a way that we yield fruit.This implies that we shall have a Christian temperament, Christian discussions, and a Christian way of life.3 As the saying goes, ″ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.″ Whatever you ask of the Father in Jesus’ name will be granted to you, according to Jesus’ teachings.

God is your heavenly Father, and he is always there for you.
In his teachings, Jesus teaches that the greater your faith and obedience, the greater the power of your prayers and the greater the fruitfulness of your life.
It has been promised to you that you would obtain happiness.
In the event that we remain in Jesus, and that His words remain in us, our prayers will be in harmony with God’s will and wishes.
We shall pray for things that are appropriate for us and that will bring glory to God.
Our prayers will contribute to the expansion of God’s kingdom and will not be only selfish petitions.

Bible Study on John 15:7

Expert Overview of John Ch. 13-21

Biblical Translations of John 15:7

If you stay in me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.
″NIV″ ″However, if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you have the authority to ask for everything you desire, and it will be given!″ NLT If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.″ ESV ″If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,″ It says in the King James Version: ″If ye remain in me, and my words remain in you, you shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done vnto you.″ If you continue to remain in Me, and My words abide in you, you will be able to ask for everything you desire, and it will be granted to you.″ Biography of the Author Natalie Regoli is a devout Christian, dedicated wife, and mother of two sons.
She is the daughter of God.

From The University of Texas, she earned a Master’s Degree in Law in 2007.Natalie has been published in a number of national magazines and has been in the legal profession for over 18 years.

What Did Jesus Mean When He Said to ″Remain in Me″?

″As long as you stay in me and my words remain in you, you can ask for everything you want, and it will be done for you″ (John 15:7).
When reading such a significant verse of Scripture as this one, the first question that springs to mind, and hopefully yours as well, is why?
Why is it so crucial to remember this passage, ″if you remain in me, and my word remains in you″?

There are two crucial factors to consider while considering this question.1.Living Power is a term that refers to the ability to live in the present moment.As a Christian, Christ is the source of your strength.

With or without Christ, there is no redemption, and with or without Christ, there is no living the Christian life.
As Jesus himself stated earlier in the chapter (John 15:5), ″without from me, you can accomplish nothing.″ As a result, in order to live a productive life, you will want assistance that is more than your own or your own abilities.
When you remain in Christ, you will receive that assistance.
2.
The Ability to Transform The second portion of the passage, ″my words stay in you,″ emphasizes the value of God’s written word, which is found in the Bible.
Put another way, the Bible instructs you on how to live, and Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, assists you in putting into practice what you have learned from the Bible.

God utilizes the word to alter your beliefs, your thinking, and, eventually, your actions and your way of living.Do you want to live a changed life that honors Jesus by becoming a good representative of him in this world?You must remain in him and enable his message to remain in you in order to do this.Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/Andrey Popov.

What Does This Verse Mean?

To remain is synonymous with to abide or to dwell.
Rather than implying a one-time event, it is implied that this is something that occurs on a regular basis.
Consider everything that is powered by electricity in your home.

It is necessary to connect the item to the power source in order for it to function correctly.No matter how well-made and well-thought-out the device is, if it lacks electricity, it will not function.You and I are both in the same boat.You will not be able to do the works of God, no matter how beautifully and wonderfully created you are, unless you are linked to the source of strength.

If you want to dwell or stay in Jesus, you must also allow his message to dwell or continue in you — the two are interwoven.
You cannot completely dwell in Christ until you are also immersed in his word, and you cannot genuinely dwell in his word unless you are also immersed in Christ.
It is natural for one to feed into the other.
In the same manner, if the appliance is not linked to electricity, it will not function properly.
Additionally, once the item is linked to electricity, it will not be able to refuse to function.
The two are connected and collaborate on projects.

The situation is very different if the appliance is not working properly, which will be the subject of another essay.)

How Does the Word Remain in Us?

Let us pause for a moment to consider a portion of this text and why it is significant.
It is possible if you stay with me and let my words stay with you.
How long does God’s word linger in your heart?

The solution is most likely something you are already familiar with.No matter how much individuals attempt to stray away from the fundamentals, they will always remain the core of your relationship with God.This is how you go about it: Read, concentrate, memorize, and follow the rules.″Keep this Book of the Law continually on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be cautious to do everything written in it,″ Joshua 1:8 instructs.

″Then you will be rich and successful,″ says the author.
The act of reading God’s word has tremendous power.
The act of focusing on God’s word has tremendous power.
The act of remembering God’s word has tremendous power.
At the end of the day, obeying God’s word has great power.
However, when you remain in Jesus, he will give you the desire to walk in accordance with his word.

This is wonderful news.Photograph courtesy of Getty Images /kevron2001

What Is the Context of John 15?

It is important to note that this section of John 15 is part of a larger discourse that began in John 13.
Take, for example, John 13:1: ″It happened right before the Passover Festival.
″ Jesus was well aware that the time had come for him to depart this world and return to the Father in heaven.

He had loved his own who were in the world, and he had loved them until the end of his days.″ From this point onward, through the book of John 17, Jesus instructs his followers on some last matters.He seemed to be trying to remind them of the most essential things to remember when he was no longer around, perhaps because he was aware of the approaching hour.Consider the following scenario: a terminally sick person has only a few days to live, and they have a chat with you about what is essential and what you should be concentrating on.There’s a good chance those words would have more significance to you.

Because these are some of the last instructions and encouragements that Jesus offered his followers, it lends even more significance to why they are so significant.
In the past, the words ″if you stay with me and my words stay with you″ were not lightly said, and they are surely not lightly spoken now.

What Does the Rest of This Verse Mean?

The first half of this poem has been discussed thus far, but there is a second aspect to it that we must analyze as well, and we must evaluate why it is essential.
″As long as you stay in me and my words remain in you, you can ask for everything you want, and it will be done for you″ (emphasis added).
Wait a minute – did Jesus just say that we may ask for everything we desire and it would be granted to us?

Even though you did read it correctly, additional background information is required.This is one another illustration of how these realities are interwoven with one another.If you actually think about it, this is a remarkable statement, so let’s have a look at how it works to find out more.Remember that when you remain in Christ, that is where your ability to life comes from, as we mentioned previously.

When God’s word stays in you, it is what God will use to alter your life and your way of thinking, according to the Bible.
When these two things are acting correctly and effectively in your life, you will be able to ask for everything you desire because it will be in accordance with Christ in you and the word of God in you, respectively.
Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/rudall30

Does This Verse Support a Prosperity Gospel?

This passage does not, and the reason for this is as follows.
Those who pray with improper, selfish, or greedy motivations will find that their prayers are not answered.
Take a look at these passages from James: ″Can you tell me what is causing all of your quarrels and fights?

Aren’t they the result of the wicked passions that are at battle within you?What you desire is something you don’t have, so you plan and kill to have it.You are envious of what others have, but you are unable to have it, so you battle and wage war against them in order to take it away.Despite this, you do not have what you desire since you do not pray for it.

Furthermore, even if you ask, you will not receive what you desire since your motivations are completely erroneous—you want just what will bring you pleasure″ (James 4:1-3).
When it comes to God answering your prayers, the motivations of those who pray are important.
Let me be quite clear: God has no trouble benefiting people; in fact, he takes pleasure in doing so.
The issue arises when individuals are more concerned with getting blessings than they are with the one who bestows them.
This is known as the blessings paradox.
Take note of the sequence of events in John 15:7.

To begin, the first step is to remain in Christ, where he serves as your source of strength and guidance.The second step is to enable his message to remain in you, so that your beliefs, thoughts, and actions are in accordance with what he intends in terms of your life.When you have harmonized your life in this manner, you will notice a difference in your prayers.They will be in accordance with his desires as a result of your decision to align yourself with Jesus and his teachings.When this occurs, God will respond to your prayers because they will be in accord with what he wishes to accomplish in your life at that time.

“ This is the assurance we have when we approach God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he will listen to our request.
If we know that he hears us—whatever we ask for—we may be certain that we will get what we requested from him″ (1 John 5:14-15).
As long as you are rooted in Christ and Christ’s teachings are embedded in your being, you will pray in accordance with God’s desire.

As long as your prayers are in accordance with what God wishes to accomplish, you may be certain in receiving the blessings you have asked for.You will only be able to reach this point, though, if you remain steadfast in Him and his teachings remain in you.Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/Moussa81

What Does This Verse Mean for Our Everyday Lives?

There is one word that this passage conveys to us in our daily life.
The word in question is fruit.
For example, consider the following previous words from John 15: ″Stay in me, just as I remain in you.″ No branch can yield fruit on its own; it must be attached to the vine in order to do so.

You will not be able to bear fruit unless you remain in me.The vine is me, and you are the branches of the vine.It is only by my presence, and your presence in my presence, that you will grow abundant fruit; absent from me, you can do nothing″ (John 15:4-5).It’s actually fairly easy, but it’s also easily overlooked at times.

Consider the following question: Do you desire to produce a great deal of fruit for the Kingdom of God?
If you answered yes, there is only one way to proceed: you must maintain your connection with the vine.
There isn’t any other option.
Your relationship with Jesus will become stronger the closer you are to his word in your life, and the more fruit you will yield as a result of your relationship with him.
To be quite honest, you won’t be able to prevent it because it will be a natural effect of the relationship.
Greater time spent remaining, more connection, more fruitful results.

It truly is that straightforward.

Fight to Remain in Him

The key to winning is to keep going.
The blessing is found in just existing.
The production and the fruit are still in the process of being harvested.

The problem of surviving, on the other hand, is significant.While abiding in Christ and allowing his teachings to remain in you is an easy concept to grasp, putting it into practice may be challenging.It is for this reason that you must fight for it.There will be numerous things that will try to divert your attention and drag you away from your place of rest.

You must stand up to them and struggle to save your position.
It’s important to remember that there is no power, no production, and no fruit outside of the vine.
It is my hope that you will take every step necessary in order to keep in touch with Christ and his message today.
This may necessitate you disconnecting from other activities, but I believe you will agree that the fruit you will bear and the life you will live will make any sacrifice you make worthwhile.
Credit: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez for the photo.

Six Things It Means to Be in Christ Jesus

Not because of our deeds, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he extended to us in Christ Jesus before the ages started, he has saved us and called us to a holy calling.
2 Timothy 1:9 (New International Version) Being ″in Christ Jesus″ is a mind-boggling fact of life.
Being linked with Christ is a breath-taking experience.

I am obligated to Christ.If you consider yourself to be ″in Christ,″ consider what this implies for you:

Grace was extended to you in Christ Jesus even before the world was formed. ″He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the beginning of the ages,″ says Second Timothy 1:9.
You were selected by God before the foundation of the world in Christ Jesus. God picked us before the creation of the world, according to Ephesians 1:4
in Christ Jesus, you are loved by God with an unbreakable love, according to the Bible. ″I am confident that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord,″ Paul writes in Romans 8:38–39. ″I am certain that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able
You were redeemed and pardoned of all your sins by faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:7, ″In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins.″ • In Christ Jesus, you are declared just in the sight of God, and the righteousness of God in Christ is credited to you. ″For our sake, he was made sin who knew no sin, so that in him we could become the righteousness of God,″ says Second Corinthians 5:21. ″For our sake, he was made sin who knew no sin.″ You have been transformed into a new creation and adopted as a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ″If anybody is in Christ, he is a new creation,″ says the Bible’s Second Corinthians 5:17. ‘The old has passed away, and behold, the new has here.’ According to Galatians 3:26, ″In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, since you have believed.″

I pray that you will never tire of investigating and exulting in the boundless privilege of being ″in Christ Jesus,″ and that you will never stop believing in him.

What Does it Mean to “Remain” in Jesus?

Question ″I am the vine, and you are the branches,″ says the Bible’s John 15:5-6.
Whoever continues in me, and I in him, will yield great fruit, because you can accomplish nothing if you do not remain in me.
Every one of my followers who does not remain in me will be cast out like a branch and wither; they will be collected by the thousands and put into a fire where they will be burnt.″ What does it mean to ″stay in him″?

Pastor Tom Goodman, a Deily member, provided an answer.A reader inquired about how one might properly ″stay″ in Jesus after reading Jesus’ exhortation for his disciples to ″remain″ in him in John 15.In John 15, this is a significant topic.The word ″remain″ or ″abide″ appears 11 times in the first 11 verses of the book of Joshua.

A grape branch only lives and fulfills its function as long as it is linked to the vine that it is growing on.
In the same way, Jesus argued that abiding in him would lead to the satisfying life we genuinely desired.
Knowing what it looks like can help us to better understand how to achieve our goals in the future.
The ability to abide in Jesus is the ability to be satisfied in Jesus.
Others seek to find self-worth and personal security in their work, their assets, their families, or the kind words that people will say about them at their funerals, among other things.
Many people engage in religious activities in the hopes of obtaining and maintaining the things that they truly desire.

It’s an unspoken agreement with God: we’ll do what God wants of us in exchange for his doing what we expect of him in return.Jesus did not plan to serve as a means to an end in and of himself.For as valuable as having a family, a solid career, or financial stability are in themselves, none of these things are adequate grounds for our sense of self-worth and pleasure.Jesus challenged us to discover our worth and significance in him.Jesus compared us to grape branches that must constantly take life-giving food from himself, the ″real vine,″ or else we shall wither and die, according to him.

If this is the most effective method of comprehending what ″abiding″ entails, how does one go about achieving it?
Those who were among the first Christians persevered in Jesus because they ″continued steadily″ in four practical things: the apostles’ teaching, companionship with one another, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
It’s still a smart plan of action.

In the first place, take time to regularly meditate on the apostles’ teaching, which has been gathered in what we refer to as the New Testament.In order to get encouragement and accountability from other Christians, second, fellowship with other believers is recommended.Third, participate in a corporate act of worship.

It is likely that the term ″breaking of bread″ refers to the Lord’s Supper, which is a major feature of collective worship.
Fourth, pray in all of its forms: praise, lament, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication are all appropriate.
Visit Deily if you’d want to learn more about Christianity or read more of Goodman’s observations.

What does it mean when it says we must “remain in Him”?

When it comes to salvation, there is no single text that states ″Once saved, always saved,″ but there are chapters like Romans 8:32-39 that in essence teach us this: ″He who did not spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all, how would He not also freely give us all things through Him?″ 33 In the end, who will file a complaint against God’s chosen ones?
What person or entity justifies others?
Who condemns others?

34 Who justifies those whom God has declared innocent?In other words, Christ Jesus is He who died and was risen, who is now seated at the right side of God, and who also intercedes on our behalf.35 Who is it that will be able to separate us from the love of Christ?What do you think will happen if you go through trials or anguish or persecution, or hunger, or adversity, or peril, or sword?

36 It is said, ″For Thy sake, we are being put to death all day long; we were treated as if we were sheep to be killed,″ and this is exactly what has happened.
37 However, we are victorious in all of these things because of the love of Christ for us.
38 Because, I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present or to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else created will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
39 Neither death nor life, angels or principalities, nor things present or to come, nor powers (Romans 8:32-39, New American Standard Bible) Nothing, according to this passage, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is shown in Christ Jesus.
And ″we ourselves″ must be included in the nothingness after we have placed our faith in the Savior.
The verses that talk of ″remaining in Him″ are not referring of our judicial status or connection with God; rather, these texts are speaking of communion with God.

When we are born again, or regenerated by the Spirit, we are welcomed into the family of God, and we are justified sinners because of the flawless merit and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Rom.5:1f).However, as God’s children, we must strive to maintain a close relationship with Him.This sense of fellowship is articulated, particularly by John, using the term ″abide″ or ″stay,″ which is the Greek word meno, which means ″to abide, dwell, live, or continue″ and means ″to remain in communion.″ Failure to abide in fellowship with Him implies that He will no longer be able to remain inside us, not only in the sense of His presence, but also in the sense of our closeness with Him as well as His power over and capacity to steer our lives.Amos 3:3 asks, ″Do two men walk together unless they have come to an understanding?″ Of course, the answer is a resounding no.

Among the questions presented by the prophet Amos in this chapter are those aimed at demonstrating how Israel’s sin had isolated her from God’s fellowship and would subject her to judgment or discipline as a result.
If I have a heart full of wrath against injustice, the Lord will not hear (listen) to me, according to the Psalmist.
The presence of known sin in our life quenches and grieves the Spirit, preventing us from enjoying relationship with the Lord.

Our connection with Him, on the other hand, is eternal.It seems to me that this is precisely the issue addressed in the book of 1 John.There are a number of tests in the book that I believe are not meant to be proofs of salvation, but rather to be proofs (tests) of fellowship, or of an intimate knowledge of the Lord, who, as light, seeks to shine into our lives and lead us to experience His life.

In this context, the author employs the terms ″abide″ and even ″know″ to convey his meaning.
Even while we can know God personally as our Savior, those who live rebelliously in sin are unable to know Him intimately in the sense of communion with the Father.
See John 14:8-10 for an instance of what I’m talking about.

This scripture has two instances in which the Lord use both of these phrases, but He does it in the context of intimacy.Although they were all familiar with Him, none of them knew Him as well as they needed to and would later in their relationship with Him, particularly following the advent of the Spirit (see John 16:12f).These topics are discussed in detail in the ABCs of Christian Development series.I would also recommend Joseph Dillow’s book, The Reign of the Servant Kings, which is available on Amazon.

Topics that are related include: Spirituality is important in one’s life.

What does it mean to “remain in Jesus? (John 15:5, 7).

What quickly comes to mind when reading such a significant verse of Scripture as this one, and perhaps what comes to yours as well, is why?
Why is it so crucial to remember this passage, ″if you remain in me, and my word remains in you″?
There are two crucial factors to consider while considering this question.

1.Living Power is a term that refers to the ability to live in the present moment.As a Christian, Christ is the source of your strength.With or without Christ, there is no redemption, and with or without Christ, there is no living the Christian life.

As Jesus himself stated earlier in the chapter (John 15:5), ″without from me, you can accomplish nothing.″ As a result, in order to live a productive life, you will want assistance that is more than your own or your own abilities.
When you remain in Christ, you will receive that assistance.
2.
The Ability to Transform The second portion of the passage, ″my words stay in you,″ emphasizes the value of God’s written word, which is found in the Bible.
Put another way, the Bible instructs you on how to live, and Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, assists you in putting into practice what you have learned from the Bible.
God utilizes the word to alter your beliefs, your thinking, and, eventually, your actions and your way of living.

How to Abide in Christ

1Recognize your dependence on Christ, as He stated: ″I am the vine, and you are the branches that support me. There is no branch that can produce fruit on its own.″ You must be ″willing to be made willing″ in order for Jesus to be able to assist you. Allow Jesus to work through you by humbling yourself to do God’s good and perfect will in your life. Humbling oneself is suggested in ″How To Be Like the Publican (in the Bible).″ 2Repent and alter your mind in faith, according to the book ″How To Be Like the Publican.″ Believe that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins so that people who put their confidence in him may have eternal life and be free from the wicked era in which we live- receive His free gift of redemption from the penalty of sin. Admit your wrongdoings to God and beg for God to transform your inner being and life as a result of your confessions. The only way to maintain a daily contact with your Heavenly Father is to turn away from sin and toward the immense love of God shown in Jesus. 3Pray is an advertisement. This is not just a significant opportunity, but also a critical requirement. We must have a continual connection with our Lord and Savior. While on earth, Jesus prayed, and he taught us how to pray as well. Why should we be surprised that Jesus felt the need for prayer, and how much more do we need to pray? God is concerned about you and everything that occurs in your life – from the simplest appeal to the most pressing need
what an incredible opportunity. He is constantly listening and aware of your needs, despite the fact that it may appear that He is not. It reads in Psalm 55:22 that if you ″throw your load on the Lord,″ he will ″provide for your every need.″ Prayer is both a communication with God about your life objectives and a request for him to transform you into someone more like Jesus. That is why you would be wise to seek God’s blessing before beginning to study Scripture.
4Read the book of Genesis. According to Psalm 119:9, ″What is the best approach for a young man to clean up his act? By paying attention to what You have to say.″ It is critical to set aside time every day for reading and studying the Bible. Try to keep your thoughts focused on it, and allow your heart to be grafted into Christ and shaped by him. When we look at the Bible, we see God’s message, and through it we see the story of God’s redemptive activity in our world! As you begin to understand your role in God’s story, you will begin to understand why your life is important and where it is headed. By reading the Bible, you train your ear to be more receptive to God’s voice. ″Sanctify them by your word, for your word is Truth,″ the Bible states in John 17:17.
Don’t forget to give gratitude and joy! God informs us in James 1:17 that ″every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, and no good and perfect gift is from within.″ That implies we have hundreds of reasons to express our gratitude to God! For breathing, for food, for work, for friends, for God’s family, for forgiveness of sins, for the ability to combat evil, and for many more reasons! We should always celebrate and thank God because, if we put our faith in Jesus, we shall be raised from the dead on the final day to live an eternal existence in the New Heavens and Earth, in which God will dwell with us. This is the most important reason to continually rejoice and thank God. There is no other alternative.
6 God delights in providing satisfaction to his children via Jesus! We can scream out to God and say things like, ″We yearn to know you more, to be filled with your Spirit, and to be free from the consequences of our sin! We desire Jesus, who is more satisfying than even the best cuisine!″ Fasting is a method of putting your faith in God rather than on your own bodily well-being. Churchgoers are supposed to fast, not because they have a religious responsibility to do so, but because knowing Jesus implies that we need to find contentment in him more and more every hour.
7 Ask God to provide you with the strength you need to follow His directions. ″If you fulfill My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s instructions and abided in His love,″ says Jesus in John 15:10, ″just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.″ No one is capable of accomplishing anything for God just on his or her own strength: God is our power. We won’t be able to do anything significant without him! It might be difficult to stay away from sin, but with God’s assistance and His grace, we can try our best. You may put your trust in Him. Realize that there is liberty in Christ Jesus, to live in the Spirit, to not be tempted beyond what you can bear, to no longer be a slave to self, as pride of life – putting away habitual deeds of the flesh, such as lust of the eye, envy, greed, judging others, prejudice, and hatred
and to not be tempted beyond what you can bear.

8 Examine the statements of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels.
Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as the books of Acts and Romans, and any other texts that you have time for.
Prepare yourself by being more alert to God’s quiet tiny voice, as described in the Bible.

7 Tips for Staying in God’s Word This Summer

There’s something carefree about summer, regardless of whether you’re still in school or taking time off from your job during the day.
Days are longer, schedules are more free and unstructured, and vacations disturb the regular pattern.
If you’re anything like us, remaining in God’s Word during the hot summer days by the pool might be challenging.

We thought we’d provide a few pointers on how to keep the Bible and your day planner in your daily routine.

Get up early in the morning. A little bit too soon, I think. Summer days are marked by the fact that the sun rises earlier in the day. Start by getting up 15 minutes earlier than you normally do—it may be helpful to use an old-fashioned alarm clock if resisting the desire to check your phone first thing in the morning is a strain. Make it a new summertime tradition by doing so. Try a new smoothie recipe, stretch for a few minutes to get your blood flowing, and then dig into God’s Word. This reading regimen, called Study on the Go, could be something you’d want to give a go. Take a Bible study with you while you’re going to the pool or traveling out of the city. On the aircraft, you can read or go on study problems. Whenever we go swimming, we always have something to read by the pool, and when traveling, why not read Scripture? If you wish to join us in Bible study this summer, you may do so by watching the God of Creation study videos with us from anywhere you have access to the internet. Learn more about how to participate in that study by visiting this page.
Include the children in the process. Your children will be even better equipped to study God’s Word with you if they do not have to complete homework every night. Choose a Gospel to read through as a family, go through a Bible study book as a family, follow along with the Family Time Calendar, or see 22:6 Parenting for more ideas on how to incorporate God’s Word into everyday life. The summer is an excellent time to establish new habits that will last throughout the year
for example, memorizing Scripture is a good idea. In order to commit a passage to memory, the summer is an excellent period. To take them to the lake, the road, or the back yard, print verses on index cards and laminate them before putting them in your pocket. Make a recording of yourself reading the poem on your phone and listen to it while hiking or driving. It may be worthwhile to challenge your small group or friends to memorize alongside you, and then to have a summer party at the conclusion of the season to rejoice and repeat God’s Word to one another. Consider using these Scripture art downloads as a starting point if you’re searching for some passages to work with.
Celebrate! This summer, gather a group of friends—your small group, parents from your children’s school, neighborhood buddies, or your coworkers—and challenge them to read a book or part of the Bible. Encourage everyone to keep a record of what God is teaching them via His Word, and then hold a celebration at the end of the summer to share and celebrate what they’ve learned.
Make use of your phone. Download applications to help you stay in God’s Word during the summer. You may pick from a number of different reading plans on YouVersion. First5 and She Reads Truth are two other resources that keep you in the Word on a regular basis. Podcasts of sermons are also available to listen to. If you have friends in another town who are enthusiastic about their church, inquire as to whether their church has a podcast that you may subscribe to. Don’t forget to include praise music in your plans! You’ll be singing God’s words back to Him while you worship Him since so many of the songs we sing are drawn from God’s Word. So take the strain off and enjoy yourself. Studying God’s Word might be difficult, but it should also be a source of encouragement. Our reading of the Bible is motivated by the fact that it is God’s Word to His people. It is through the reading of the Bible that we get to know God and develop in our love for Him and His Son Jesus. There will be days when we are unable to read even a verse from the Bible. Rather of simply checking a box, we should make a practice of being in His Word, soaking ourselves in Scripture, and enjoying hearing from Him at all times of the year.

What methods do you use to read Scripture throughout the summer? Please share any entertaining suggestions in the comments section!

How To Stay Connected To God At Home

The date is July 3, 2020.
Submitted by Daniel Johnson, Nexus ICA’s Director of Worship Studies As Christians, it’s critical that we pay close attention to how our religion is developing — are we growing in our beliefs?
Is this a healthy rate of growth?

In some respects, the present shift in routine has been beneficial, since life has slowed down a bit and you have been able to improve your sourdough bread recipe.Alternatively, you may be feeling stuck and as if your life and vitality have been drained from you.Whether you’re prospering or surviving, here are some tips to help you stay connected to God, the Bible, and your community no matter what you’re going through.The most essential thing I’ve discovered is that having your theology correct is really critical in this situation.

If we can truly grasp the meaning of what the Bible says about our connection with God, we will find that truth transformative in our lives.
These realities offer us the ability to freely pray to the God who is present among us.
Once the lights of these truths are turned on in your heart and mind, you will be able to find new ways to live in connection with God no matter what circumstances you are now experiencing.
1.
Recognize that Jesus is there with you.
It was the final thing Jesus said before ascending back to heaven that He promised to stay with us (Matt.

28:20).According to Psalm 23:4, Jesus is with us even though we are in the valley of the shadow of death.And here’s the thing: Jesus can’t possibly be at the wrong place at the wrong time.As a result, we may be perplexed and terrified, but Jesus is not.He is present with us.

He’s keeping an eye on us and strolling alongside us.
Although it may come out as ridiculous as a wedding reception for mice, Jesus is not socially excluding himself from us.
This was the first thing God revealed me when I was in lockdown, and it has helped me to stay strong.

*The concept of a psalm being about Jesus may sound strange at first, but if the entire Bible is about Jesus – he didn’t simply appear on the scene at Christmas – it makes sense.Read John 10:1-21 to have a better understanding of this.More on this concept will be discussed farther down the page.

2.
Recognize that you are in Christ.
‘Union with Christ,’ according to theologians, is a state of being.

That simply implies that we are ‘in Jesus,’ as the expression goes.In Paul’s letters, the word ‘in Christ’ is the most frequently used.What this implies is that we are connected to Jesus via faith in the same way that a branch is connected to a tree (John 15:1-17).All of His love, life, righteousness, power, and grace are present in us.

We are His temple.
According to Ephesians 2:4-6, we are alive in Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly realms.
3.
Recognize that you are secure in Christ.
Jesus promises us eternal life in John 10:28, and nothing or no one can ever take it away from us, according to the Bible.
The implication is that no matter what perils we are confronted with, we are secure in Jesus’ arms.

4.Recognize that God is at work in your life.We are told that God is on our side in the second half of Romans 8.Every aspect of His unwavering love, grace, power, concern, and life is working for us.God may not be doing exactly what you want Him to accomplish, but He is bringing all of His purposes and plans to fruition, even those that pertain to your life.

5.
Recognize that this planet will never be our typical life experience.
According to 1 Peter 2:11, we are strangers in this land.

Heaven is our permanent residence.
The way we see our lives and our connection with God shifts in the wake of this experience.
The Bible is considered to be the Word of God.
Eternal truths that reverberate from the heavens to the ground.
Despite this, we find reading the Bible to be a difficult task.

Even though we know that the Bible is light years superior than Instagram, it’s far more convenient to navigate through the app.
Here are some suggestions for keeping in touch with the Bible.
1.
Establish a base of operations.
It is said in Psalm 1 that someone who has planted their life in the Bible is like a tree planted beside a river, and that this is like a tree planted alongside a river.

Make the switch from thinking of the Bible as something you have to do to thinking of it as something you need to nourish yourself.
2.
Take a step back and consider the larger picture.

Luke 24:27 teaches us that the Bible is a tale about Jesus, and that this is the larger picture we should be looking at.It depicts the story of a world created by Jesus, and how God saved His people in ways that lead to Jesus as the ultimate rescuer.The priests and sacrifices of the Old Testament, as well as the monarchs, serve as markers and clues.It will make more sense if you begin to consider the way the Bible informs you about the person of Jesus.3.Learn from others.

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is the vehicle through which God instructs, rebukes, corrects, and trains us for virtuous life.Consequently, be certain that you are paying attention to the Bible being taught in sermons, preferably by your church’s leaders.4.Pray with the help of the Bible.Passages from the Bible can be turned into prayers by going over them.This is something you can do for every mood you are in.

Psalm 13 is one of the more honest and furious psalms, in which you can express your feelings toward God.
Psalm 103 is a completely distinct psalm, in that it allows you to express your gratitude to God for His goodness.
5.

Make use of available resources.
There are more resources available to you today than at any other moment in history to assist you in understanding the Bible than ever before.
A good place to start is The norms for social separation are always evolving, but life will not seem completely normal for a very long time.
God created us to be in fellowship with one another.

So, how do we maintain our connection?
1.
Connect with one another in spirit.
Paul informs the Colossians that he is not physically there with them, but that he is present with them in spirit.
This implies that we may recognize that Christians are united by the Holy Spirit, and this fosters a sense of community among us.

2.
Recognize and understand the metaphors.
A family (Hebrews 2:11), a body (I Corinthians 12:27), and a living temple (Hebrews 2:11) are all terms used to describe the church in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:4-5).
These are intentional portrayals of the Christian life, in which our sense of self is found in Christ and in one’s fellow believers.
I often hear from people who are not members of my church that they wish they had something like what my church has done to keep connected during lockdown.

3.
Connect whenever and however you are able.
Each of us must follow a particular set of guidelines.
However, they must be used with caution.
If you’re able to start meeting with folks, that’s fantastic.
Keeping the conversation going online is fantastic.

However, maintain contact and make it a priority.
4.
Be a source of encouragement for others.

When we are going through a difficult moment, it is natural to focus on our own needs, but investing in others is a wonderful way to benefit both them and yourself.
Others will feel alone as well.
Give them your whole attention and time.

Introduction

After the Last Supper, on the final supper of His mortal mission, the Savior taught His Apostles that He is the True Vine, and that His disciples are the branches of that vine. Because of their relationship with Him, He urged His followers to love one another and warned them of the persecution they would face as a result of their association with Him.

Suggestions for Teaching

John 15:1–11

Jesus teaches that He is the True Vine in this passage.
Preparation for class: Before class, put on the board the phrases successful, unsatisfied, joyous, dead, worthwhile, unproductive, fruitful, productive, bountiful and failed.
Discussion: Invite students to envision themselves looking back on their life 60 years from now, and to write about their experiences.

Which of the following terms would you use to characterize your life?Why?

On the board, draw an image of a grapevine to represent it. Alternatively, you may recommend that students copy the artwork and paste it into their class notebooks or scripture study diaries. Explain how Jesus utilized the metaphor of a grapevine to assist His followers comprehend what it means to live a fruitful, productive, and rich life in the Kingdom of Heaven. A student should read John 15:1–5 aloud to the class. Instruct the students to follow along with you, looking for the pieces of the metaphor that symbolize different things. Is there a symbolic meaning to the vine? (Write on the board, ″Jesus Christ,″ and explain what the vine represents.) What do the branches represent? In the case of Jesus Christ as the vine and us as the branches, what do you think the fruit represents? (Label the branches as Disciples of Jesus Christ.) (The fruit might be seen as representing the virtuous activities and actions that Jesus Christ’s disciples are expected to perform.) Righteous works should be labeled on the fruit.

In verse 1, point note the use of the word husbandman. What is the role of a husbandman? (An individual who looks after a vineyard.)
In what ways does Heavenly Father resemble a husbandman, according to verses 1–2? (Explain how God the Father planted the true vine, from which all other vines would receive nourishment.)

Exhibit to the class a little branch or twig that you have cut from a tree and describe how you are looking forward to the moment when you will be able to pluck some fruit from this branch and consume it.
Inquire with the class about when they believe you will be able to consume the fruit from this branch.
What is causing this branch to fail to bear fruit?

(Because it has been cut off from the tree, it will not be able to acquire the nutrients it requires to bear fruit.)

To begin, ask a pupil to read aloud from John 15:4–5. Invite students to accompany you as you search for the elements that the Savior stated are required for fruit to develop on a branch. What, according to Jesus, is required for fruit to develop on a tree branch? (The branch must ″remain″ in the vine in order to be effective.)
What does this branch have in common with someone who has been separated from or cut off from Christ?

In verses 4–5, ask students to consider underlining or highlighting each usage of the words abide or abideth.
Explain that the term abide, as used in these lines, refers to the act of being firmly and permanently committed to Jesus Christ and His Church (see Jeffrey R.
Holland, ″Abide in Me,″ Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 32; or a similar expression).

The effect of remaining in or being securely attached to the Savior, according to verse 5, is what you would expect.It is expected that the disciples of Jesus Christ will bear great fruit.

Create an incomplete statement on the board by writing it as follows: If we follow the commandments, we will be able to remain in the love of the Savior and…
Invite a student to read aloud the following statement to the class to help them better understand one way Jesus Christ assists us in keeping the commandments and remaining in His love: ″It is…
through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means.″ According to the Bible Dictionary, ″Grace″ is ″a supernatural helping power that enables men and women to lay grasp of everlasting life and exaltation after they have exhausted their best efforts on their own behalf.″ What are some of the ways that Jesus Christ empowers us to follow the commandments?

Provide a brief summary of John 15:6–8 by stating that Christ said those who do not remain in Him are like the branch that has been severed. Unlike the plant, which withers and dies, persons who remain in Jesus Christ generate virtuous actions that bring glory to God. What can we do to be rooted in, or to remain securely attached to, the Lord?

To begin, ask a pupil to read aloud from John 15:9–11. Instruct the students to follow along, keeping an eye out for what Jesus instructed His followers to do and what rewards they would get as a result. So, what exactly did Jesus instruct His disciples to do?
What role does observing the commandments have in our ability to remain in the love of the Savior? Explanation: While God’s love for us is flawless and eternal, observing His commandments permits us to enjoy the full measure of the gifts that He so desires to bestow upon us.
Specifically, according to verse 11, why did Jesus tell His disciples to dwell in Him and produce virtuous works?

Discuss with students how, in light of what they have read in verse 11, they would finish the incomplete statement that is now on the board as a principle.
(Fill in the blanks with students’ words so that the sentence on the board expresses the following principle: If we observe the commandments, we shall abide in the Savior’s love and be blessed with a fulness of pleasure.) What do you believe it is about abiding in Christ that permits us to enjoy a fulness of joy?

Instruct students to think of someone they know who is filled with delight because he or she has placed their trust in the Savior.
Invite a few students to speak about the individual who came to mind and to explain why that person is an excellent illustration of this idea in their own words.
You may also try allowing students to share their experiences of how being in Christ has brought them happiness.

Inspire students to consider methods in which they might maintain a strong connection with the Savior and, as a result, experience more joy.

John 15:12–17

To love one another is what Jesus urges His disciples to do.
The following remark from President Russell M.
Nelson of the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles should be written on the whiteboard.

(This statement may be found in ″The Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ,″ Ensign, April 2013, issue number 38, page 38.) The phrases devotion and emulation in the message on the board should be highlighted in red.Inviting pupils to clarify what the words in italics imply is a good idea.(Adoration is a strong feeling of love and respect, whereas emulation is the act of copying or imitating.) Why do you believe that imitating Jesus is the most effective method to demonstrate our love and respect for Him?

A student should read John 15:12 aloud to the class. Instruct the students to follow along, paying attention to the ways in which the Savior commanded us to emulate Him. What is it that Jesus has required of us? Student should be able to recognize the following fact using a variety of terminology: To love one another as much as the Savior loves us is a commandment from the Savior. This reality in verse 12 should be noted by pupils.
What, in your opinion, does it mean to love someone as much as Jesus Christ loves you?

Invite children to read John 15:13–17 aloud, focusing on the ways in which the Savior has loved them and each other. After a reasonable amount of time has passed, divide them into pairs and ask them to share their findings with their companions. After that, ask yourself the following questions: How did He display this sort of love, according to verse 13? What did the Savior describe as the greatest demonstration of love?

Invite a student to read aloud the following statement from Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Seventy to assist students gain a better understanding of what it means to lay down our lives: when He said, ‘Greater love hath no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,’ He was giving us the ultimate example of love. He later atoned for all of our sins and, at the end, sacrificed His life for the benefit of all of us. 74. ″We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them—giving of our time
being present in their lives at all times
serving them
being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those in our family and to all men—as the Savior taught″ (″Don’t Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today,″ Ensign or Liahona, November 2007). What, in the opinion of Elder Costa, are some of the ways in which we might lay down our life for others?
In what circumstances has someone sacrificed his or her life in one of these ways for you?

Students can benefit from hearing the following message from Elder Claudio R.
M.
Costa of the Seventy, which will help them learn more about what it means to lay down our lives: when He said, ‘Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,’ He was giving us the ultimate example of love.″ It was later on that He atoned for all of our sins and ultimately sacrificed His life for the benefit and salvation of all of us.

The Savior taught, ″We can lay down our lives for those we love not by physically dying for them but rather by living for them—giving of our time; always being present in their lives; serving them; being courteous, affectionate, and showing true love for those in our family and to all men—as the Savior taught″ (″Don’t Leave for Tomorrow What You Can Do Today,″ Ensign or Liahona, November 2007, 74).Specifically, what are some of the ways in which we might lay down our life for others, according to Elder Costa?In what circumstances has someone given up his or her life in one of these ways for you?

John 15:18–27

Jesus cautions His followers about the persecution they would face as a result of their testimony about Him.
As a follow-up to the lessons the Savior taught His followers about staying in Him and loving one another, He instructed them on what would happen to them as a result of their unique witness of Him and their obligation to share it.
Encourage students to read John 15:18–20 aloud to the class, and instruct them to seek for any teachings Jesus made regarding how the world will treat His disciples.

Explain that in these lines, ″the world″ refers to those who are immoral and who are in direct conflict with the will of God.When it came to the treatment of His disciples by the world, what did Jesus teach?

Consider informing students that, because ″the world hateth″ the Savior’s disciples, they will almost certainly come into contact with anti-Mormon and hate-filled media and websites during their studies.
Some children will be subjected to isolation, mockery, and intimidation as a result of their furious conduct, which may include cyberbullying.
Consider training students on how and where to discover solutions to hate-filled allegations leveled against the Church, if this is something that applies to them.

Apart from requesting assistance from trusted adults, students can access internet materials at mormonnewsroom.org, lds.org/topics, and seektruth.lds.org, among other places.Explain that Jesus Christ stated that people who hate Him also hate the Father, and that they will be held accountable for their decisions in John 15:21–25 by stating that In spite of the animosity and persecution that some have shown against the Savior’s disciples, Jesus Christ has created avenues for people all over the world to obtain a testimony of His existence.Invite students to silently read John 15:26–27, seeking for the witnesses who will bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the entire world.Who was it that the Savior claimed would bear witness to His divinity?

(Both the Holy Spirit and the Savior’s followers are mentioned.)

Instruct students to reflect on the ideas and facts presented in this lesson. Encourage them to go through what they’ve been feeling inspired to accomplish and to follow any promptings they may have gotten from the Holy Spirit in order to complete their tasks.

in all circumstances part 3: abide in the Lord

We are delighted to have you as a participant in our four-week Bible study via God’s Word!
Our discussion this week focused on the significance of prayer as a personal, purposeful contact with the Lord.
Talking to God is a two-way street, and He is always open to hearing what you have to say.

Through prayer, we may always find solace in God, no matter how difficult