I can certainly say without any fear of contradiction that the majority of emails I get goes something like this- “Frances, I don’t know what’s wrong! I don’t like my relationship with God, I don’t study my Bible as much as I should…”
What most of these sweeties don’t know is the fact that I don’t always have it all on top gear…sometimes (most times) I am also in such a situation. Yes, I’ve noticed that God mostly sends people who ask me questions about issues I am dealing with at the time…And as I speak, the words of wisdom I need come pouring out. (Side note, never turn anyone who needs help away, be it words of encouragement or monetary help..we mostly find our own help in helping others)
So as I was saying, most of the mails I get centre on how to achieve a higher/better relationship with God which I also struggle with too… yes, a day’s break in quiet time turns to two days and turns into a week.
As I begin to speak to people who ask me these questions and to myself though, I realize where the issues lie…
“Jesus answered, âYouâre off base on two counts: YOU DONT KNOW YOUR BIBLES, and you donât know how God works.”(Matthew 22:29)
If we would all spend more time with the word, we will be at a better place.
You see, God’s word is God himself, you may not see it, you may not even feel it but everytime you spend time with the word, you are spending time with God…and what better way to grow in your relationship with someone than to spend time with them? (I explained better on this in this post )
So I thought, since this issue with spending time with the word is a universal one (mine and yours) why don’t I do something about it?
Enter Rhema For Today every wednesday on this blog…
Jesus said in John 15:7
“If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”
Now, you have to read from the beginning of John 15 to understand what I am going to explain now…
Jesus says live in me and let my words remain in you, then you can ask whatever you will and it will be done unto you.
So what are we supposed to ask for when His words are in us? Anything we will…
But I want to explain better in the context of John 15:4&5.
“Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”
Now, a branch is joined to the vine and can of course, bring forth fruit by virtue of it being joined to the vine. The fruit and the branch are thus all connected to one origin, the vine.
Now, is this fruit money? Or academic excellence? That may all be imbeded in it but no, that’s not my focus here.
A branch and fruit are all made of the same specie as the vine so what the vine really expects is for the branch to bear fruits that are just like it.
So if we as branches abide in Jesus the vine, we can bear fruits of the same kind with the vine(Jesus) which fruits now have their roots and origin in Jesus.
We cannot do this though, if we do not live in Jesus and His words do not live in us.
Can we see that that quiet time we miss has more far reaching consequences than us? God’s word that is not in us would hinder many other fruits from sprouting up in the kingdom of God… So one way to look at this is that the fruits connected to us that should enter into God’s kingdom would not make it if we are not abiding in Christ-in His word…
Another sad consequence is John 15:6
“If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.”
That’s just so sad…
If we do not abide with Jesus-In His words, then we can be cut off.
Why?
Because a branch cannot live without it being fed, and when it dies, it cannot be left hanging lifeless from the tree. It would be cut off, gathered along with other debrises and burned.
So the word of God in any believer is actually the only thing that keeps us alive and in step with the vine.
And when there’s no word of God in us? Re-read the above consequences again.
So this is what Rhema for today on Wednesdays on this blog hopes to do…
We will be studying God’s word together as its revealed to me(as time goes on, readers can actually write in with anything they want to share)
We will be digging into the word of God and learning from each other.
It is my hope that this will be a virtual venue for all the branches to just dig into the vine by abiding in Jesus each wednesday on this blog.
This is just an introduction though and we will start in earnest from next week wednesday by God’s grace.
Prayer – John 17:17
“Make them(us) holy by your truth; teach them(us) your word, which is truth.”
Just a few things…
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Love,
Frances.
12 Comments
Maggielola
September 24, 2014 at 11:38 amFrances, you’re doing wonderful. I love what you’re doing….just keep asking for more AND giving more and watch God move. Your growth has been remarkable and you shouldn’t be flustered if/when people ask you for help or encouragement. Just keep sowing seeds because you don’t know…someone could be fed through you 🙂
Frances Okoro
September 24, 2014 at 12:24 pmMaggie…. thank you.i mean that. you’ve been awesome…
Chinomnso Precious
September 24, 2014 at 2:41 pm…’We mostly find our own help in helping other’… Wow! True words. God bless you with more wisdom, and may His grace continue to be sufficient for you. Amen
Frances Okoro
September 24, 2014 at 6:02 pmAmen Precious. Thanks for your prayers and I appreciate your stopping by..
Ewaoluwa
September 24, 2014 at 6:17 pmA mean twuld just be so rude to read this and not comment. I was tremendously blessed. Absolutely loving this. Greater grace dear. God bless you big.
Frances Okoro
September 24, 2014 at 6:45 pmGod bless you too Ewa… do check back time and time again as the study progresses.
Xoxo
Theresa Doghor
September 24, 2014 at 6:30 pmI am glad to be connected with you.
So so glad because I have not been reading my bible as I should or praying as I should.
Frances Okoro
September 24, 2014 at 6:54 pmI am glad to have connected with you too Theresa..you are doing great already(recognized the fact that you need to do better) … God’s grace is always enough, start getting back on track, little by little, the tiny drops will culminate in something big in due time…
Again, I am mega glad to have you here, I pray each word per week helps us all…
Tosin
September 26, 2014 at 8:46 amhehe! first time caller on the new blog o! ring the bell for me o!!!! wow! frances ,this is serious upgrade and am so loving it. Big CONGRATS
Frances Okoro
September 26, 2014 at 9:19 amHi hi hi hi Tosin!! Welcome! Glad to have you back here, thank you and do please stay…
Xoxo
Ugochi
September 26, 2014 at 1:28 pmGreat and true thoughts Frances! The Word of God is our every-moment sustenance and we cannot truly live without it.
Well done Frances, more of God’s grace!
Frances Okoro
September 26, 2014 at 6:30 pmAmen and amen ma’am.
Thank you very much for your kind words Aunty Ugochi.