The Vine

Read John 15

I am the vine, you are the branches. 

 He who abides in Me, and I in him,

 bears much fruit,

 for without Me you can do nothing.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, 

he is cast out as a branch and is withered,

 and they gather them and throw them into the fire,

 and they are burned.

“If you abide in Me, 

and My words abide in you, 

you will ask what you desire,

 and it shall be done for you.

                                                                               John 15:5-7
Jesus makes it clear, once again, that He is the true vine, and that it is only by abiding in Him that we bear fruit.
The Gospel is all about bearing fruit.  The Bible is about God’s relationship to mankind.  God’s love for mankind.
If we love God we should love our fellow man.  We should want to do the will of the Father, more than anything else.  It should be our desire to serve God, more than anything else, if we are truly part of the church.
Verse 7 states:

“If you abide in Me, 

and My words abide in you, 

you will ask what you desire,

 and it shall be done for you.

I think all too many people use this verse selfishly.  They take it to mean, if I ask for a million dollars I should get it.  Not so.
God knows what we need and when we need it.  He knows who can handle a million dollars, and who can’t.  There is a need for millionaires in the church, and history tells us there were some in the early church.
Having lots of money, is not wrong.  It is the “love of money” that is the root of evil.
What this verse is saying, you are the branches the same sap that is flowing through Jesus, flows through his followers.
So if God’s Word is abiding in you.  Your desires will be the desires of the Father.  They wont be selfish desires but rather filled with the love of God to save one’s fellow man.
Something to think about
God doesn’t necessarily need a million millionaires. He needs soul winners, teachers and people from every walk of life. People who are willing to go out and work for him. Be they are rich or poor is of no worry to God he Just wants willing people whom he will equip and whom will give Him the glory.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us a model prayer:
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
  Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come,  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  
                                                   Amen
The Lords prayer as we know it is an unselfish prayer that we should all take note of. It gives the glory for all things to God. Something we should always be doing.