Abiding Fruit..Craig Denison Ministries

 Abiding Fruit

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview: 

The absolute, most important single act of the children of God is making space to encounter our heavenly Father in the secret place. Abiding in God is the foundation on which every other aspect of the Christian life finds success. It establishes roots which enable us to receive all that we need to bear the fruit of the Spirit. It guides us to constant refreshment and revival in God’s presence, thereby supplying and sustaining the abundant life God intends for us. My prayer is that you would be marked by wonderful, satisfying, and fulfilling encounters with the presence of God as we look at John 15:1-17 this week. Make room in your heart and mind to rest in the love of your heavenly Father as we look at the different ways we are to abide in true vine of God.

Scripture:“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” John 15:16

Devotional:    

You have been chosen and appointed to bear eternal and impactful fruit. John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” God created all of us with a longing to make an important and lasting impact with the intention of satisfying that longing in him. He has a plan for your life that doesn’t belong to anyone else. You alone can accomplish the works set before you, and you won’t find true satisfaction until you do. Your heavenly Father has placed desires in you which he has plans to satisfy in magnificent and joyful ways. He knows for what purposes you were created and longs to lead you into a lifestyle of good works that will fill you with all the abundance of life available to you through Christ.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” You were created to live a lifestyle of good works. It is not outside of your nature to accomplish amazing things no matter how you’ve lived your life up to this point. God takes what the world has deemed broken and useless and transforms it into the very likeness of his son, Jesus. He has plans to transform you into his disciple: ready, equipped, and useful for every good and fruitful work. Believe today that God would use you and discover the wealth of plans he has set before you. Surrender to the truth that God has better plans than you can ask or imagine in store for you if you will follow him. Come before him with expectation today, ready to receive all the he would guide you to. Let’s dive wholeheartedly into God’s word and presence as we learn from him how to live the fruitful life he has appointed for us.

In order to bear the fruit God has set before us we must abide in him. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit without the nutrients the vine provides, we cannot bear fruit without being connected to our only source of true life, our heavenly Father. God leads us into the plans he has for us as we spend time in his presence and his word. Psalm 1:1-3 says,

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

It’s in God’s presence and word that we are molded, refined, and transformed. It’s only in spending time with him that we become nourished and ready to bear fruit. Just as a tree must be pruned in order to bear more fruit, we must allow God to tear away parts of our life that are keeping us from the good works he intends for us. We must spend time in God’s presence being fashioned, healed, and transformed.

In order to bear the fruit God intends, we must learn to allow the Spirit to work in and through us. God not only transforms us as we spend time with him and his word, but empowers us through the Holy Spirit to do good works we could never accomplish in our own strength. It’s only through God working in us that our weaknesses are turned into strengths so we can truly love one another. And it’s only through the Spirit that hearts are changed and drawn to our heavenly Father. God longs to give you his heart for people. He longs to empower you to speak and work with his authority. He longs to do works through you that can’t be explained except by his reality. If you will choose to humble yourself before God and allow him to work in and through you, you will begin to bear the very fruit of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. The disciples had no great gifts or power on their own. It was only by the working of the Holy Spirit that Christianity exploded in size and influence and changed the world. Co-labor with the Holy Spirit in all that you do. Allow him to move and work in every part of your life and experience all the incredible ways he desires to use you to bring the kingdom of God to earth.

Spend time abiding in the true vine of God today. Open your heart and mind to his word. And allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how he desires to work in and through you. May the amazing plans God has for you bring peace, purpose, and joy to your life today.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to produce important and lasting fruit through your life.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” John 15:16

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

2. Spend time in God’s presence allowing him to nourish and empower you for good works. Ask him to reveal what he has set before you to accomplish for his kingdom today. Ask the Holy Spirit to work in and through you.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

3. Commit to following the leadership of the Holy Spirit today as he guides you to producing good fruit. Choose to love others as God has loved you. Choose to live a lifestyle of agreeing with the Holy Spirit in every way that he leads you.

How vast is God’s love for us that he would not only save us, redeem us, and set us free, but he desires to use us, a broken and needy people, to change the world. God desires to anoint his people with his Spirit to accomplish his work. May your life be marked by the wonderful and lasting fruit of a child of God surrendered to and in love with our heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Romans 8

God Is Always in Control..Dr. Charles Stanley

 God Is Always in Control

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 45:5-7

I admit that I often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so, I believe that God has a purpose for everything He does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Ps. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours.

When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to “cause all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).

Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours.

As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isa. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin.

What if the Next Big Step God Wants You To Take Is Small?..LYSA TERKEURST

 What if the Next Big Step God Wants You To Take Is Small?

LYSA TERKEURST 

“in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 (NIV)

It was a hot day inside and outside at the orphan village in Liberia. Twelve boys inside, practicing choir music, found their eyes wandering over to the soccer field, where the promise of fun and the cheers of their friends tugged at them.

They were feeling the pull of wanting to go outside and play soccer. But these boys determined the choir was worth the sacrifice.

Years earlier, Liberia had been ravaged by a civil war that left more than 25,000 orphans to be cared for. So to raise money and support, an a cappella boys’ choir was formed to travel throughout the country of Liberia and perform in churches.

Two of the teenage boys in that choir, Jackson and Mark, had been orphaned as babies when their parents and most of their siblings were killed by rebel forces.

Night after night, these boys knelt beside their makeshift beds and poured out prayers of thanksgiving and hope that one day they’d hear six simple yet life-changing words: “You are my child — welcome home.”

God had a perfect design for their prayers to be answered and worked miracle after miracle to bring the boys’ choir to America. But little did I know my family would be part of the answer to Mark and Jackson’s prayers.

Life was already busy and full, as I was a mom to three little girls. So you can imagine my surprise that the night I went to see The Liberian Boys’ Choir concert at our church, I was stirred to consider adoption.

As I sat in the concert, God whispered to my heart that two of those boys singing were mine. No, I thought. Not me.

I felt like sticking my fingers in my ears and singing, La, la, la, la, la … I’m not listening to You, God! But the stirring in my heart wouldn’t stop.

I decided to try a new tactic with Him: Lord, I just came here tonight to bring my girls. I’m not looking for a major life change. Life is already very full with work, speaking, writing and home-schooling. Besides, all my friends would think I was crazy.

But God wasn’t discouraged by my response. His directive in my heart became more intense as the evening went on. After the concert, I asked the coordinator of the event which of the boys still needed homes. He told me eight of the boys still needed to find families and encouraged me to walk into the reception area where they were. If God intended for some of these boys to be part of my family, he was sure I’d know it.

Reluctantly, I walked into the reception area. In a matter of seconds, Jackson and Mark walked up to me, wrapped their arms around me, and called me Mom.

I was moved and terrified at the same time.

What began as a small heart prompting had turned into a very big decision.

I cried out to God, desperate for His guidance and wisdom as I pondered every aspect and wrestled with this decision deep in my spirit.

Still, doubts and questions flooded my mind.

One day, I called a friend and poured out my heart. She patiently listened without much response as I asked, “Why me?”

Then, quietly and prayerfully, she answered: “Because God knew you’d say ‘yes,’ Lysa.”

I was stunned. I think that was the highest compliment I could have ever received. My heart was filled with joy as my mind was filled with memories of the years of small steps God had me take to reach the place where I could be prepared to take this much bigger step.

Now, many, many years later, I think back to sitting in that church pew, just going about my ordinary life when God’s extraordinary invitation burst forth. I could have so easily walked out of that church and ignored God’s stirring. I’ve done that more times than I’d like to admit. But look at everything I would have missed out on had I done that.

Hear my heart: I’m not saying everyone is called to adopt. Honestly, the next big step God wants you to take might actually be small. But we’ll never know what that next step is if we don’t “submit to him” everything we do, as Proverbs 3:6 instructs us.

Each day, we can look for His invitation to leave our plans behind to join Him in His wondrous work through small steps of obedience.

Dear Lord, today I will embrace what You have for me. I will step out in faith because Your ways are higher than mine! Open doors only You can open. Close doors only You can close. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Placing Our Confidence in Christ..Ashley Moore

 Placing Our Confidence in Christ

By Ashley Moore

"Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God." - Psalm 146:3-5, NLT

Has someone ever disappointed you? For example, did you get married on the promise of perpetual happiness, but as the years pass, your marriage is more a source of frustration than joy? Or perhaps you started having children hoping that seeing them grow would bring you ultimate fulfillment, but instead, you've found yourself worried sick over them more often than you'd like to admit. Or maybe you have this one difficult family member, and you pray and pray that the Lord would change this person, then you could finally be at peace. But God doesn't seem to be listening. I've been there, and even though I know I shouldn't, I repeatedly return to placing my hope in outcomes and imperfect people. So here are two reminders for when we are disappointed with others.

People Will Fail Us
One time I landed a great position that put me in proximity to someone who, in my eyes, was very well-connected. They knew powerful and resourceful people and were well-liked. I just knew working with this person would help me to reach my goals. And I even wrongly thought God had allowed me to make this connection for this purpose! But things went sour for multiple reasons, and I felt God was asking me to step away. The transition out of the situation held many lessons, but the greatest was that God would fulfill His purposes with or without this connection. I had mistakenly put my hope in a human relationship, but God was prompting me to return to Him.

My pastor says, "God sometimes allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves." This means sometimes God may allow our hopes to be dashed so that we can renounce our misplaced devotion and trust Him more. And by doing so, we will have more joy because God never fails! Certain relationships and outcomes may not pan out how we expect them to, but we can trust that our hope is safe when we look to God as our source of hope and assurance. 

Jesus is Better
After a lingering disagreement with a family member, I pulled back from my small group gatherings. The leader sensed something was off and reached out to me to see if everything was okay. I caved, admitting everything was far from okay. I spewed the details of my dilemma to this trusted friend. And after intently listening and assuring me I was not alone in all my feelings, she reminded me of a simple but profound truth. She said, "Even if this situation were perfect, something would still not be quite right! Jesus is better." And she was right. 

We can hope in Jesus because, unlike people, he doesn't change. He is exactly who Scripture says He is, yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). He knows us intimately. He loves and cares for us more than any other relationship we will ever experience (Psalm 139:15-16). People won't always make us happy, but God fills us with unending joy when we put our hope in His mighty and gentle hands. 

We will inevitably end up disappointed in our relationships with others at some point. They won't act the way we think they should or won't fulfill our needs for love like we hope they would. So, we need to remind ourselves and each other of these two truths: people will fail us, but Jesus is better! The Bible reminds us our help doesn't ultimately come from limited human beings who will eventually turn to dust, no matter how powerful they are on Earth. Instead, we can experience unending joy when we look to God for help and place our hope in Him (Psalm 146:3-5). 

Intersecting Life and Faith:
Do you have a relationship or circumstance where you place your hope? Journal a few verses about who God is and why He is the safest place to put your hope. 

Further Reading:

• Hebrews 1 

Praying for Open Eyes..Brent Rinehart

 Praying for Open Eyes

By Brent Rinehart

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” - 2 Kings 6:17

You’ve probably heard the saying that someone “can’t see the forest for the trees.” It’s often used to describe a person who is so involved in the details of a project that they are unable to view the situation as a whole. Put another way, it’s when present circumstances shield the bigger picture. Thinking about this concept spiritually, sometimes the hardships we are facing can cause us to be blind to how God is moving in and through them.

I love this story about Elisha found in 2 Kings 6. The king of Syria was aiming to invade and take over Israel. His massive army surrounded the Israelite camp, and Elisha's servant was alarmed – with good reason! He didn't know what to do, so he ran to the prophet Elisha. Elisha said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16).

Elisha then prayed for God to open his servant’s eyes, so he could see the same thing Elisha could see. “So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v. 17).

I take great comfort in this passage, for it reminds me of a couple of key principles. First, it shows that God is still working even when we can’t see it. Second, it reminds me that sometimes, God may give us vision if it's His will to do so... if we ask Him.

It may seem like the enemy is all around. It may appear like the odds are stacked against us. This world brings all sorts of trouble. From health scares and financial woes to job loss and relationship struggles, sometimes it feels like the world dishes out more than we can take. We can feel like we are fumbling around in a dark room trying to find the Light. But, we can rest in knowing God is in control. Remember, greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). He’s working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

Even more, this passage shows us God’s willingness to give us His vision. We can ask God to open our eyes and open the eyes of the ones around us. When I can’t see God moving, I should pray for open eyes to see what He’s up to. When the ones I love around me can’t see God moving, I should pray for God to open their eyes so they can see the big picture. God may not always let us in on His plans, but I believe the process of asking Him reminds us that He is at work and we can trust Him.

What are the circumstances in your life blocking your view of how God is moving? What hardships are you facing that are keeping you from fully trusting God? We can ask God to give us His eyes. Whether or not we ever see the mountain full of “horses and chariots of fire,” we can trust and have faith that God is good and He’s working in and through our difficult circumstances.

A Prayer during National Unrest..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer during National Unrest

By Emma Danzey

“That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” - Ephesians 1:20-21

Politics seems to rock any nation. They are very important. We in America have the right to vote, have opinions, and the freedom to speak and live. However, it appears the enemy can wreak havoc easily through political parties and cause us to miss the main leader we follow as Christians. I am not saying we should be passive about political issues. However, with the climate of such strong division and hate, we, as Christ followers, are called to represent Jesus in all things and to love and lead in ways that honor Him. 

We need to ask, "Do I care if that person on that side of the voting line goes to heaven?" Do we hate other people? Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them. If you or I consider someone in the opposing political party an enemy, then we are commanded by God to love them and pray for them. Matthew 5:44 says, 

“I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

We are not called to agree with them but to love them like Jesus.

Let's Pray:
Jesus,

Please help us. You tell us in Mark 12:17 to give the government what is theirs and what is Yours to You. We pray for the Spirit's strength to honor You and be respectful. Please provide us with discernment. Help us to be aware of how the devil is working. Where there is genuine concern for our nation, open doors to voice opinions and solutions in a Christ-honoring way. Where there is division and uncertainty, give us Your peace and awareness. We know ultimately that You are on the throne, and we can trust in You. Help us to honor You above all else. Psalm 29:2 says to give You the glory due to Your name and to worship You in the beauty of your holiness." You are above all. We trust in You.

Father, we pray against deceit, fraud, abuse, and greed. We pray for honest leaders, people of integrity, and those who value You to be strong. We ask for the believers in offices to represent You well. Help them to stand firm and be a light in this dark place. Keep them pure from the saturation of evil. Give them the boldness to speak the truth in love. 

We pray against the unrest and the evil our nation is constantly facing. We ask for help navigating these things. Father, bless us with physical safety and guard our hearts and minds. We pray for any radicals to be stopped ahead of time before doing anything dangerous or harmful to others. Send your angels to block their attacks. We pray for justice and equality across the board, for accountability for illegal and sinful actions on all sides. God, we pray for better morals. May this lack of respect and kindness reveal the evil human heart and our sin-filled world, pointing to the need for You, Jesus, our Savior. 

We pray for leaders who do not know You to accept You as Savior and Lord. Please send the gospel message to them and open the eyes of those who do not have you. You say in Romans 5:8, "There is no sin that is too much for him to forgive. His grace runs deeper than your sin." We know that no one here on this earth who is ever too far gone from Your forgiveness and grace. Thank you for not giving up on us. Help us not to give up on others. Move the hearts in our nation back to You, Jesus. Reveal where we have turned away. Show us how we can live for You and love well. Amen.