Today’s Bible Verse
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
Abide
Abide means to stay, to remain, to continue, or to permanently abide. It gives the idea of something that lasts, remains, persists, or endures. It speaks of something that has “lasting power.” This is what we have in us in Christ. We have the abiding power of God to remain, continue, and be permanent in our walk with Christ (the Anointed One & His anointing power). When we abide in Him, we will bear fruit! We cannot bear fruit on our own, we must abide in Him in order to bear MUCH fruit.
We all face situations that will try to get us to run in shame, hide in pride, flee in fear, isolate in insecurity, or seclude in silence. This is detrimental to our Christian walk and the working of our faith. Jesus said if YOU abide in ME. Where we abide is who we will become. If we abide in fear, fear will be our lord. If we abide in shame, if we abide in pride, if we abide in arrogance, it will be our lord. Pastor Kuna shared a few months ago, “Jesus must be Lord every day, every minute and every moment of our lives”.
We have the power by the Holy Spirit to ABIDE: TO STAY, REMAIN, and CONTINUE so that we can bear MUCH fruit. How? By being HHOTA (honest, humble, open, transparent & accountable) with the Lord and with our leader. Always remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The easiest thing to do is run to the Lord, the Word, and your leader. Notice, I said the easiest thing to do. The devil tries to deceive us to think that it’s the hardest thing to do because he knows where you abide you will become. HHOTA is opening up and being thankful and grateful with a humble heart to the Lord, to our leader and to others. (Pastor Donalee Pang)
An Uncommon Life
The biggest deception to a Christian that has been in the church for several years is that being HHOTA is not for them. To be honest, there were times that I struggled with being HHOTA because of shame, fear, and pride. I thought I knew better, my faith will see me through, I know how to apply the Word, etc. However, I found myself at the crossroads of situations many times and not knowing why. I couldn’t put my finger on it: What is going on? Why is this still happening? Opening up to my leader has saved my life, my marriage, my family, and my ministry. We really don’t know how HHOTA we are until we have opportunities to not be HHOTA.
Just not too long ago, in a conversation with my leader, I realized something that I wouldn’t have been able to realize if I didn’t open up. I am so thankful and grateful because in that conversation the root was exposed and through the Word, prayer, love, compassion, correction, and redirection I was able to discover the culprit, conquer it and continue to abide in His Love, His forgiveness, and His power. I am still pressing into this HHOTA lifestyle. I have not arrived but I am committed to bear fruit for the Lord and in order to do that I must be HHOTA because apart from Jesus I (we) can do nothing.
Today’s Declaration
Father, I am determined to abide in You day by day, minute by minute and hour by hour (read aloud John 15:4-5 again). I am determined to stay, to remain steadfast, and to continue in You in order that I may bear much fruit in my life, my marriage, my family, and my ministry. Abiding in You gives me the power to bear much fruit. I am determined to win souls and make disciples by abiding in You and living the HHOTA lifestyle.
Today’s Bible Reading
- Old Testament: Deuteronomy 13-17; Psalms 66
- New Testament: Matthew 27:1-10; Romans 12:1-8
