To Be One in Christ: the Parable of the Vine and the Branches
“ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain 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.
"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. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. ” ( JOHN 15:1-17)
The notes of the explanation and analysis of the verses:
JOHN 15:1 “ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ”
(BACKGROUND)
In the Old Testament, the vine is often used to symbolize the Israelites, to show they are chosen people, to expect them to bear more fruits for God. However, they disappointed God for many times(Psa 80:8-19; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Eze 15:2-4;19:10-14). Therefore they are just a nominal vine.
(NOTES)
“I am the true vine,” :
in contrast to the vine (the Israelites) in the Old Testament, Christ is the “true” vine. Life is within Him (Joh 1:4). Therefore, He can fulfill the planting and growing will from God.
“my Father is the gardener. ”:
“gardener” is the person who work on planting and tending the vine, watering, digging around, fertilizing, trimming and so on.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) “I am the true vine,” symbolizes that Christ is the true fountain of life for us; all the grace and truth are from Him (Joh 1:17).
(2) “my Father is the gardener. ” refers to God Himself who do the planting and tending. Since our lives in Christ are taken care of by Almighty God with entire wisdom, what do we need to worry about?
(3) Christ and church are the core of the will of God predestined to ages everlasting, in accordance to His pleasure and will.
JOHN 15:2 “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ”
(BACKGROUND)
The vine has two kinds of branches: (1) One is growing-only branch. It absorbs large amounts of nourishment to grow big, but does not bear fruit; (2) The other is bearing-fruit branch. It can bear fruit, but might be more or less.
(NOTES)
“every branch in me that bears no fruit”:
refers to those who were reborn already such that they know Christ and are united with Christ already. However, they don’t live a Christ’s life. Although they are true believers, they failed.
The reasons that they are regarded as “true believers” are listed as the following: (1) “in me” is the word from LORD Himself, LORD absolutely will not take false believers as people in Him; (2) LORD said these words to his disciples (excluding Judas Iscariot who had left already and were not among the audience.). Also these words are beyond the stage of salvation, and are further teachings to those who are reborn already.
“cuts off “:
is because they lost the function of life and can not continue to get supply of life from the vine any more, the same as the fig tree without fruit that will be cut down if continue to bear no fruit (Luk 13:7-9).
(see Joh 15:6)“like a branch that is thrown away and withers” refers to if “anyone does not remain in me”, one will lose the supply of life, dry-up and wither, and lose the life of LORD;
(see also Joh 15:6) “such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” refers to the punishment in the lake of fire; (see also Mat 4:12) burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
“He cuts off every branch …”:
These branches being cut off do not refer to those false believers without rebirth, but refer to the believers belong to LORD. However, if one does not bear fruit, one will be cut off, can not get the supply of life from the vine any more, and become a withered branch. Therefore, “cut off” refers to cut off from the union of life in LORD.
Nowadays in the church, how many Christians are there “in the Lord that bears no fruit”? If one doesn’t wake up and be alert, one will be cut off and finally stay out of the kingdom of Heaven! Being a Christian, one must obey the commands and words of LORD carefully to keep oneself from being ineffective, unproductive and lazy to bear fruit(2Pe 1:8).
“every branch that does bear fruit”:
“fruit” refers to the appearance of the inner life. What kind of tree will produce what kind of fruit(see Mat 7:17); Christians who obtain abundant life from the true vine of Christ will surely produce fruit of holy life.
The “fruit” produced by Christians could be divided into several kinds: (1) fruit of life: refers to the nature appearance of the life of LORD. Others see him as if see Christ (see Mat 7:20; 1Ti 3:16; Phi 1:20); (2) fruit in life: refers to the nature appearance of the divine nature and characters. Show all kinds of goodness(see Gal 5:22-23; Eph 5:9; Phi 1:10; Jam 3:17:18); (3) fruit of work: refers to leading others to convert to LORD (see Rom 1:13); (4) fruit of lips: refers to give thanks and praises to God (Heb 13:15).
“he prunes”:
“prunes” refers to remove the redundant leaves, small branches etc. In another word, remove all the things that hinder the life growth and producing fruit.
“so that it will be even more fruitful.”:
shows the purpose of pruning is to let the branch produce more fruits.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) In the same vine, there are branches producing fruits while some others not. To produce fruit or not depends on what kind of branches they are. What kind of Christians we want to be? LORD let us make the choices.
(2) “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ” Pruning not only refers to cleansing it, but also refers to cutting and removing. Therefore, we need not only to wash all the sins away, but also to accept all the necessary trimming, in order to get rid of all the undesirable things -- things that make us can not produce fruit, or can not produce more fruit.
(3) The branches need to be pruned to be fruitful; the Christians also need to pay some painful price to be a useful instrument for God, and to be the testimonies for God. Only for those who are willing to being pruned and trimmed continually by LORD, they can continually to lead others to convert to LORD and to be saved.
(4) Producing fruit shows the life of the vine most, and also satisfies the gardener most.
(6) Being able to bear fruit is good, but not good enough. The more fruit to be produced, the better. “to be fruitful” should be the goal for every Christian.
(7) Our heavenly Father of all the spirits discipline us for our good so that we will be more fruitful (see Heb 12:10-11). Therefore, we should take the discipline from God joyfully.
(8) A vine needs eliminating the bugs, the mildew, and the fungus; a Christian also needs to get rid of all the undesirable things on oneself.
JOHN 15:3 “ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ”
( ORIGINAL MEANING)
“the word”: truth, God’s word and truth.
“clean”: pure, unstained.
(NOTES)
“clean” means that God forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (Joh 13:10; 1 Jo 1:9). This verse refers to the disciples and those who are saved through accepting the instructions of LORD.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) One is not purified by one’s deeds, but is made holy and gets cleansed by the washing with water through the word(Eph 5:26).
(2) After the believers were reborn, if we want to take off the old creation and grow up in the new creation, we must have the word in the Bible frequently so that it will show the function and power of cleansing us from inside.
(3) The word of God (the Bible) is the tool and media to cleansing people; is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Ti 3:16-17).
JOHN 15:4 “ Remain 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. ”
(ORIGINAL MEANING)
“remain”: to continue to stay.
(NOTES)
“ (you)Remain in me(LORD Christ),” :
“you” refer to the disciples; “Remain in me,” refers to the believers who are united with LORD through faith, accept the supply of life from LORD, and live in Christ as their life category.
There are difference between “in LORD” and “remain in LORD”: “in LORD” is about salvation, while “remain in LORD” is about communion. Once we were saved, we are in LORD. However, we must remain in LORD to commune with LORD closely.
“I(LORD Christ) will remain in you”:
is talking about that LORD continually work on, manage, teach and guide us from inside.
“No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.”:
The branches do not produce fruit by being united to the tree for only once or absorbing the nourishment from the tree for only once. Without the continuous supply from the vine, the branches can not even make a living, no mention about producing fruit! In the like manner, the believers must be united with LORD, and continually accept the supply of life from LORD. Thus, one can show the life of Christ and produce fruit.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1)“ Remain in me, ”, a Christian is already in Christ from in terms of status, that is where he belongs to. However, in order to remain in LORD Christ, one must obey the word and commands of LORD(Joh 15:10); and in every day’s life, keep on communing with LORD closely. We who are in Christ, by praying, reading the Bible, and obeying the word of LORD, communing with other members of LORD, can feel at every moment that LORD are united with us.
(2) “ No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” If the branch does not absorb the nourishment from the vine frequently, it can not bear fruit. In the like manner, if we do not remain in LORD, we will turn out to be the same.
(3) In fact, the fruit of life is not what we can produce. Therefore, we must keep the status, remain in LORD, keep on communing and being united with LORD. LORD are the fountain of all power, wisdom and life and so on. We must follow the will of LORD, rely on LORD to do the work. Whoever does not let God do the work, can not do work for God.
JOHN 15:5 “ "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. ”
(NOTES)
“I am the vine; you are the branches.”:
The relationship between the vine and branches demonstrates how close the relationship between LORD and us is, which must not be separated: (1) The vine without branches could not be as a vine; the branches without the vine will die right away; (2) Between the vine and the branches, there is a bonding of inner life; LORD is the supplier of our life, we are the shower of the life of LORD; (3) The vine and branches demonstrate that we are one in LORD; (4) All the branches have but one life, not two; we Christians in Christ have the life of LORD, and we are not differed from each other.
“apart from me you can do nothing. ”:
Apart from LORD, we can do nothing because the fountain of life is cut off.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) “I am the vine; you are the branches.” How the life, quality and power of the vine are shown from the branches; so the life, quality and power of Christ are shown from us.
(2) “I am the vine; you are the branches.” How the supplies of the branches are up to the vine; so our supplies are up to LORD Jesus. He is everything for us. Blessed are those being united with Him!
(3) “I am the vine; you are the branches.” How the vine is up to the branches to grow grapes; so surprisingly, LORD are up to us to bear fruit for Him. We rely on LORD; LORD also need us, He need us to show His life on earth.
(4) “you are the branches.” No matter how fragile and failing you are; no matter how deserted and lost you are, as long as you have been saved already, you are one branch on LORD and are united with LORD.
(5) “you are the branches.” The word of “are” is a very precious word. If we see that we “are” the branches, it will bring a great turn in our spiritual life. The founder of Chinese Inland Mission -- Hudson Taylor, thought hard for many days how he could live in Christ but figured nothing out; afterward, when he saw that he “is” the branch, he became a new Hudson from then on.
(6) “If a man remains in me and I in him,” We who remain in LORD will gain LORD in us. LORD live in us as our life, power, joy, peace and everything; so that through our experience in reality, we enjoy Himself and the abundance of His life.
(7) Preaching Gospel does not rely on one’s capability, but more rely on one’s life. What kind of life will produce what kind of fruit. One must have a good spiritual life that commune with LORD frequently to produce good fruit.
(8) The whole duty of the branches of the vine is nothing else but to produce fruit. Preaching Gospel is to produce fruit. Therefore, the duty of all the Christians in daily life is to preach gospel and save the sinners.
(9) It is not only that the branches live for the vine; but the branches should let the life of the vine flow through. The more you enjoy Him, the more you can do for Him. You, the branches, live more into the tree, then you will get more of the essence of the tree to be in you; let the fluid of the tree go through you, then you will bear fruit.
JOHN 15:6 “ If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ”
(NOTES)
“he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers;”:
The branch withers. It is because it can not absorb water and nourishment from the tree any more. Here, “withers” does not refer to the false believers because this whole parable is talking about true believers.
“such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”:
If the believers are not in LORD, they will be like the branches not on the tree and become dead branches, which are useless and finally have to be thrown into the fire. “thrown into the fire and burned.” refers to the eternal death and punishment in the lake of fire.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) If the believers do not remain in LORD and stop communing with LORD, they will lack the life that are operating, watering and flowing inside. It will even finally result in the death of the spiritual life.
(2) For those who do not remain in LORD; who do not pursue being united with Christ, they are like the branches that are away from the vine and then wither and become useless.
(3) “such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” The ending of the dead branches is “thrown into the fire and burned.” -- if one can not enter the heaven, only the lake of fire is left as one’s ending.
JOHN 15:7 “ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ”
(NOTES)
“my words remain in you” Every believer has the Holy Spirit of Christ dwelling-in, and Christ is also called “Word of God” (Rev 19:13). Therefore, “LORD’s words” can also be interpreted as Holy Spirit.
Literally, it can be interpreted as letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly with all wisdom (see Col 3:16), in order that the words of LORD are the principles of our life, the guidance of our thoughts, the motivation of our acts, the basis of our choices.
“ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ”:
“ask” refers to praying wholeheartedly. It implies that LORD know that the wish is in the will of God.
This verse means: when the believers are in LORD, due to the Holy Spirit, the words of LORD will also dwell in them. Therefore, they will know what LORD want from the words of LORD, and they will also know what LORD do not want. For such people, what they wish for, are also what LORD wish for. They pray according to what from inside -- of course in the will of God. Therefore, whatever they wish, it will be given to them.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) One who remains in LORD will not lack the enlightenment from the words of LORD (Holy Spirit).
(2) Right prayers of Christians come from right recognition on the words of LORD.
(3) From this verse, we can see that the condition that our prayers get fulfilled is that we remain in LORD and commune with LORD. Our prayers should be in the will of LORD and then they will be fulfilled by LORD. To make our prayers in the will of LORD, we must remain in LORD and commune with LORD so that we know the mind and will of LORD.
(4) The knack that prayers get answered is: God have a will, He anoint His will in people’s mind. People pray in this mind, and God will fulfill them.
(5) A prayer that can be granted by LORD is based on two things: one is that we remain in Him; one is His words remain in us. Therefore, praying is accompanied with reading the Bible. For a regular Christian, reading the Bible and praying are both indispensable.
(6) Here, firstly is the words of LORD, then is asking; while in the PSALMS, firstly is waking up and crying out, then is looking to and pondering the words of LORD (see Psa 119:147-148). Sometimes, we read the Bible first and then pray; sometimes, we pray first and then read the Bible. Reading the Bible and praying should walk together and be accompanied with each other.
(7) When you are reading the words of God, the words of God will enlighten your inside. The words of God turn into the guidance and burden of prayers. Such a prayer is a prayer from God and is easy to be answered by God.
(8) If one learns to commune with LORD and live in LORD, the words of LORD will dwell in him. A person who reads the Bible properly should be one who remain in LORD.
(9) A man of praying should be a man who lives in LORD. Living in the front of LORD might seem OK, however, you and LORD are two separated ones, LORD is LORD, and you are you. Only when you remain in LORD, you and LORD can be one. Only then, you can say to LORD, LORD, I am praying here, not me alone, but you and me, I and you are praying.
(10) If a prayer does not affect my life, neither makes me produce more fruit, that is not a real prayer.
(11) Remaining in LORD, that is the knack of a successful prayer. The more close we are to LORD, the more we will have in one mind of Christ. The more who know Him through His words, the more of His will we will understand. The more close our wish is to His will, the more confident we are that our prayers must be answered.
(12) The most spiritual prayer is the prayer given by LORD inside us -- His will becomes our will, His words become our words.
JOHN 15:8 “ This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ”
(NOTES)
“ This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, ”:
“glory” is the appearance of God(Exo 40:34). “bear much fruit” is to show more life of God. Therefore, God is shown through the believers’ bearing more fruit; that is the glory.
“ showing yourselves to be my disciples. ”:
means “bearing more fruit” is the evidence that the believers belong to LORD.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) The Father gain glory through the work of the Son (see 13:31-32) and He also gain glory through the fruit that the believers bear. In fact, the fruit that the believers bear are the accomplishment from the work of LORD.
(2) No matter to show the life of God or to multiply the life of God, the ultimate goal of our life is to glorify God. To glorify God is the goal and meanings of our existence.
JOHN 15:9 “ "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ”
(NOTES)
“ "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. ”:
LORD love us in the same way as the Father love the Son.
“ Now remain in my love. ”:
“remain in the love of LORD” means to accept the love of LORD, and the encouragement, promotion from the love of God. Let the love of LORD be the motivation of our daily life.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) We should know and feel the love of LORD and enjoy this love in our life.
(2) For Christ's love compels us, those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him(2Co 5:14-15).
(3) Only when remain in LORD, we can love others with the love from LORD.
JOHN 15:10 “ If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ”
(NOTES)
“ If you obey my commands, ”:
When the believers remain in LORD, the words of LORD remain in us (see Joh 15:7). The words of LORD are the commands of LORD that we must obey and follow.
“ you will remain in my love, ”:
The motivation to obey the commands of LORD is because of the love from LORD. Only remaining in the love of LORD will give us the strength to obey the words of LORD. Only those who obey the commands of LORD can please LORD and remain in the love of LORD.
“ just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.”:
These words show that: (1) LORD Jesus set an example to obey Father’s commands; (2) He proved to us that who obey the commands will remain in the love; (3) It is possible to obey LORD’s commands; (4) The love of LORD is precious.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) Without obeying, there is no love. To obey and to be in love can not be separated.
(2) A life being united with LORD is a life being in charge of by love; it shows our obedience to the commands of LORD so that His love is shown from us.
(3) How Father love Christ, so Christ love us.
JOHN 15:11 “ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ”
(NOTES)
“ I have told you this ”:
“this” refers to the words of the previous 10 verses (Joh 15:1-10) which are about “remain in LORD” and “remain in LORD’s love”.
“ so that my joy may be in you ”:
Note that here “my joy” refers to “joy of LORD”. This points out: (1) those “remain in LORD” and “remain in the LORD’love” bring joy to LORD; (2) The joy from LORD can be kept in us, so that we also can have the joy from LORD (see Joh 17:13).
“ and that your joy may be complete. ”:
This means: (1) The joy of Christians depends on whether we keep the joy of LORD in us or not. Without the joy of LORD, there is no joy for us; (2) Only the joy from LORD will make our joy complete.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) The joy of LORD is heavenly joy and won’t be affected by the environment.
(2) Love is the fountain of joy. If we want to taste the joy, we only need to soak us with the love of LORD.
(3) The road of a Christian should never be covered by the thick cloud of worrying for LORD are willing to make our joy complete.
JOHN 15:12 “ My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ”
(NOTES)
“Love each other ”:
“love” refers to the holy love, a love of sacrificing oneself; the love of the believers for each other should be different from the worldly love.
“ as I have loved you. ”:
The love of LORD is the good example and standard to the believers to love each other.
“ My command is this: ”
In another word, if we are in the following scenario, we disobey the command of LORD: (1) do not love each other; (2) The love of us for others is not the same as the love of LORD for us.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) Love summarizes all the commands; it is also the greatest commandment (see Mat 22:37-40).
(2) We show that we love God by loving others. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen(see 1Jo 4:20).
(3) The believers should love each other: We love each other in one life of LORD; We love each other in one love of LORD; We love each other in one mission of LORD.
JOHN 15:13 “ Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ”
(NOTES)
“ that he lay down his life for his friends. ”:
“his friends” refer to those whom are loved by LORD Jesus.
“ Greater love has no one than this, ”:
Sacrificing one’s life for what one loves, that is the greatest love.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) The love of Christ is not only in words and tongue, but also in His sacrificial death; we should not love only with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1Jo 3:18)
(2) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:7-8)
JOHN 15:14-15 “ You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
(NOTES)
“You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Obeying what LORD command, one will remain in the love of LORD (Joh 15:10). This is the duty and condition to be the friend of LORD.
“because a servant does not know his master's business.”
A servant usually only does what his master commands him without knowing and understanding his master’s purpose.
“I have called you friends,”
The relationship of friends is based on trusting and loving each other; with no secret in between, sharing the feeling and thoughts with each other without keeping anything; no matter on big manner or small manner, having a discussion with each other.
“for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”:
means that they are led by LORD to know the will of God already and receive the sacred truth and teachings. To receive grace in such a way never happened before.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) “I have called you friends,” LORD call us as “friends”, on one hand, show how humbly He lower Himself to have the same status as us; on the other hand, tell us that He help us, deal us gently, care us in everything even lay down His life for us (see Joh 15:13).
(2) People usually desire to be the friends of LORD, but few desire to be His servant. Actually, one must be the servant of LORD first before being a friend; if one are not willing to be the servant of LORD, one won’t be the friend of LORD. The true servant of LORD is the true friend of LORD.
(3) We should be both the servant and the friend of LORD; Not only we work together with LORD in one mission, but also have one mind and one attitude of LORD, live together and walk together.
JOHN 15:16 “ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
(NOTES)
“ You did not choose me, but I chose you”:
For Jews, the disciples usually choose the rabbi they want to follow; however, the disciples of LORD Jesus are different, for it is LORD to choose them.
“ and appointed you to go and bear fruit”:
After being chosen and before working for LORD, one will be “appointed”. “go” means leave here to there. Therefore, “bear fruit” here refers to the fruit of work -- leading others to LORD, but not the fruit of characters.
“fruit that will last.”:
The deeds and works of the believers will follow them forever. (Rev 14:13). The fruit of leading others to LORD lasts forever (Luk 16:9).
“in my name.”:
in the name of LORD is in LORD. Therefore, in the name of LORD implies in LORD, being united with LORD and drawing the power from LORD.
“Then the Father will give you whatever you ask”:
Note that usually we expect to have a nice life of prayer first so that we may bear more fruit, but here, it is inverse. Firstly, LORD Jesus make us be able to bear fruit; then Father answer our prayers.
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) We follow LORD is not accidentally by chance, but because LORD choose us.
(2) Not because we have better insights than others that we choose LORD; but LORD choose us on His own initiative with His everlasting love. For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. (Rom 11:29)
(3) Not only we should go to lead others to LORD (“go to bear fruit”), but also we should take care of and feed the new believers so that they will not fall.
(4) Praying in the name of LORD is the praying of us being united with LORD to be one; the business of LORD is also our business, our business is also His. Only praying in this way will be in the will of LORD and will be easily answered and granted.
(5) We can’t come to God to pray on our own for we do not please God. We must pray in the name of LORD, that is, we must pray in LORD, and then will be answered by God.
(6) If we pray in the name of LORD, we must commune with Him closely; otherwise we can not understand the will of LORD. The closer we are to LORD, the better we know His will.
JOHN 15:17 “ This is my command: Love each other.”
(LIGHT IN WORDS)
(1) Love is the source of the power to obey the command of LORD; love is the condition to fulfill the mission of LORD.
(2) Only when the believers love each other, they can: bear fruit that will last; get prayers answered.
(3) LORD ask their disciples to love each other. It is because they are hated by the world(see Joh 15:18). Therefore, love is the testimony of the difference between us and the world.
This message is edited and compiled under the guidance of Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glory be to God!
Reference:
1. Jiale Huang: “Christians’ Digest of the Scripture Analysis Series”.
