We find a profound lesson in these short verses: no branch can support another branch! Is't that interesting? Every branch is supposed to bear its own fruit, and the produtction of fruit points back to the Source of that fruit and creates a desire in another branch to bear fruit as well. And when the fruit is recognized, and the Source of the fruit is also known, than another branch is grafted in and receives its ability to bear fruit from the same original Source as the other branches, which of course is not from another branch. Branches cannot support each other. Jesus went on in verse six, "If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." We've talked about this verse before, so we won't spend any time discussing it now.
Can we really ask for anything?
In verse seven we find the verse that we are going to focus on: "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, , ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you" John 15:7. These words, "Ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," are often quoted and taken completely out of context as a promise that can be claimed to cover a vast number of things.
If we carefully examine this verse, w will find that certain limiting conditions are connected with it. What might these limiting conditions be? The production of fruit? Whether one abides or not? Whether we abide in Him, or He abides in us? These are good responses, but it is important to find the right response, since we give so little thought to this promise that is so easily claimed.
It helps to consider the context of this verse--a parable about a Vine, and a branch whose sole purpose is to produce fruit. It also helps to remember that the branch merely functions as a channel through which the Vine produces fruit. Would it be fair to suggest then, that if the branch were to ask for something of the Vine, it would only be asking for one thing: to bear more fruit, which is the only thing a branch could do, and which, accordingly, is all it would be asking? It wouldn't be asking to build a house, or to take a trip, or to do anything else. Would it? The branch would not be concerned about any of these things. It would be saying, "Lord, Produce more fruit in me"--that would be its only request.
Do you see how logical this is? Would you agree that it would be foolish to apply this promise to anything and everything that might come into our minds? How foolish we are. We have stretched God's Word and attempted to make ie encompass everything. Many a preacher has quoted this verse and suggested that God will do whatever you ask, as long as you are sincere and ask in the right way. But God isn't in that kind of business, and neither is the branch. The branch is only going to ask for more fruit, and the Husbandman is going to respond by starting the only process that enables the branch to bear more fruit: purging.
That last sentence could be scary if I didn't know another verse that says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
So whatever the purging might be, there will never be put upon us a temptation that will be too hard to bear but will give us an escape from it. Isn't that like our God? So willing to make an escape from temptation that is too hard for us. So we can handle the purging, just need to ask God for strength to get through it and He will help us, that's His job, our job is to trust Him. Don't forget that we must trust Him all the way into His kingdom and we can make it through Him and only through Him.
Grandma Joan
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