My Dear Friend,

In recent meetings, I have heard several dear Christian leaders making statements to the effect that Christians cannot live a fully spiritual life. Sin runs so deep that, try as we may, we simply cannot escape its power. We are sinners. We will sin. We must sin.

Strictly speaking, this is partially true. All born-again Christians still have a sin nature, and that troublesome Adam life may rear its ugly head at any moment if we do not stay near Christ, full of His Word and Spirit, and obedient to His call and guidance. No argument is necessary to prove this all-too-obvious point.

My problem with the negative statements above is not so much their substance but their spirit. They exude doubt, weaken faith, and strengthen unbelief. They subtly instill the thought, "Oh, well, I'm going to stumble and fall. So, what's the use of trying so hard to live a sanctified life - studying my Bible, praying, worshiping, fellowshiping, receiving God's correction, serving as He wills, and so forth?" This is carnal thinking and it is spiritually crippling. It devastates healthy Christian optimism. It weakens our resolve to, as Paul charged, "work out" our New Testament faith (Philippians 2:12).

Even worse, it contradicts Jesus' teaching! In John's Gospel, after declaring He is our Vine and we are His branches, Jesus declared, not once but three times, "Abide in me" (John 15:4, 5, 7). This notion of "abiding" - remaining in very close, unbroken fellowship with Christ, living spiritually connected to Him at all times - made such a strong impression on the apostle John that he stated this central Christian theme twice in his epistles.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning [the truth of the gospel]. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. (1 John 2:24)

And now, little children, abide in ["remain in fellowship with," NLT] Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (John 2:28)

In the latter text, the apostle of love issues a warning. He plainly tells us any Chrisitan "not" abiding when Jesus appears will be "ashamed," while those still abiding will have "confidence" (1 John 2:28). This prompts three simple, logical questions.

First, if we cannot abide closely connected to / in Christ, why did Jesus issue His Vine / Branch message? Was He misleading us?

Second, why did the superbly Spirit-filled, Spirit-led apostle, John, reiterate this over sixty years later? If abiding was not possible, surely John would have known it by AD 95. And if so, was he, too, being less than truthful?

Third, why did God inspire all the other exhortations to godly living throughout the New Testament epistles, not to mention the many Old Testament passages calling us to godly living (Psalms 15, 101)? Were these hundreds of statements also false?

Clearly, they were not! Therefore, Scripture establishes beyond a reasonable doubt these three closely related facts:

1. We can abide close to Jesus daily.
2. We do not have to live in a spiritually or morally substandard condition.
3. The presence of Christ's nature, Word, and Spirit within are enough to enable us to live a fully victorious Christian life, not one habitually snared in sin of one kind or another. All this, "His grace," is, as Paul wrote, "sufficient" for us.

With these facts firmly planted in our minds, let's explore (a) what happens when we stay closely connected to Jesus, and (b) how we do so?

When We Abide . . .

When we "abide," remaining closely connected to Christ, the divine nature implanted in us at New Birth is steadily infused with a sustained flow of the Holy Spirit - the same divine, all-powerful Spirit that: filled Jesus by the Jordan river; sustained Him daily during His super-busy, unbelievably-stressful, 3-year ministry; gave Him thousands of timely teachings for the people; enabled Him to work thousands of science- and reason-defying miracles to relieve the suffering masses; and gave Him grace and strength to endure being demonized by the highest, most respected religious leaders of His nation without resentment and with an amazing desire to help even them see the errors of their ways.

The omnipotent Holy Spirit also: gave Jesus grace to lead, counsel, and correct many hundreds of disciples, especially His most intimate students, the twelve; imparted special strength, wisdom, and grace so He could calmly endure the vicious denunciations and mockery of the Sanhedrin - the highest, most revered court in His nation; inspired Him to carry His personal "cross" of rejection by His own half-brothers and hometown synagogue; carried Him through the brutal physical abuse of the Roman guards and the pitiless, flesh-ripping lashes of a Roman lictor; strengthened Him to bear the unimaginable horror, indignity, and pain of crucifixion; reanimated, glorified, and raised His battered dead body to life again the third day; and, finally, caught Him away bodily to heaven in the sight of His disciples.

Pause and ponder for a moment just how powerful the Holy Spirit was in the man Jesus of Nazareth. Then pause and ponder, again, that this same Holy Spirit is in you, if you have been born again of the Spirit. And He fills you if you have been baptized with the Spirit by Christ! Finally, pause and ponder the fact that, when we abide closely connected to Jesus, this same amazing, dynamic, miraculous Spirit can, and will, manifest in us regularly, if we believe this and obey Him. Regularly. Daily. Hourly!

This makes our mission impossible possible! As we remain connected with Jesus, the Holy Spirit's Christlike perfections, not our unchristlike imperfections, manifest steadily. His graciousness, not our old gracelessness. His moral strength, not our old propensities to sin. His gentle humility, not our touchy pride. His merciful, patient love, not our hasty indifference to our fellow human beings. These traits of spiritual maturity are the "fruit" of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). They are manifested in us when, as we live closely connected to Jesus every day, His Spirit is having His way in us. Let's also consider the other side of this equation.

As these manifestations of the strength and grace of the new Christ man flow within us, the troublesome, un-Christlike characteristics of our old, fallen nature or, the "works of the flesh" are quenched. Things such as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries, and so forth (Galatians 5:19-21).

"Quenched" means they are stopped. Halted. Denied manifestation in our mortal-but-now-Spirit-filled bodies! Bodies that are no longer shrines to our pride of life and the lusts of our flesh but are now sanctified temples of the Holy Spirit and members of the mystical worldwide body of Christ. How amazing. Delightful. Glorious!

How Do We Abide? Connectors & Disconnectors

Carefully note we are discussing not things that cause us to lose our relationship with Jesus but those that impair our fellowship with Him. Though we are still saved by grace, these things enable or disable our closeness to Jesus - permitting us to draw near Him or preventing us from doing so. Scripture tells us how to "abide," or maintain our spiritual link to Jesus. We do this by knowing and using spiritual connectors and understanding and avoiding spiritual disconnectors.

Spiritual Connectors

The connectors are all those things that keep us close to Jesus and His nature in us infused and reinfused with more of His endless divine life and power.

God's Word

God's Word, which is inspired by and infused with His Holy Spirit, keeps us connected as we: read devotionally to feed our hearts with timely Bible texts; study our Bible broadly and deeply, prayerfully examining all its books in a systematic way and diving deep into biblical culture, historical facts, word meanings, passage themes, spiritual principles, commentaries, and specific texts and topics as our primary Teacher, the Holy Spirit, leads; practice sustained meditation on Scripture portions so they become more deeply rooted in our minds and daily living; have long, meaningful conversations about Biblical passages with pastors, teachers, and other committed believers to share our insights, and ponder theirs, to sharpen and strengthen our souls; and do anything else that in some way helps fill our thoughts with God's thoughts (logos).

Prayer

Prayer is a primary spiritual connector. We should pray at set times and all times. Paul's advice is simple: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He added that we should pray "always," with our mother tongue and "in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18), as he himself did often (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 14, 18). Praying "always" and "without ceasing" means we should pray: in our prayer closet, and outside it; as we go through our day; as we travel; everytime we meet new people, and old friends; in the early morning and at night; whenever and wherever any need, especially one threatening to stress or worry us, arises (Philippians 4:4-6, 19); and until such matters are resolved.

We should also actively fulfill our calling as believer-priests. This means praying not just for ourselves but for others. This includes not just people on our prayer lists but also everyone we meet daily. While we may make many different requests for them, one sure one is that the Holy Spirit will draw them into, or restore them to, this wonderful, spiritually lively connection with the Vine in which we are learning to live.

Praise and Worship

Praise and worship in whatever form is a key connector. We may simply thank the Lord, aloud or silently, in "every" situation or circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Though the Lord is already present wherever we are, offering thanks enables Him to "manifest," or make His presence known to our bodily senses, in our situations (John 14:21, 23). This transforms how we see our circumstances, how we react to them, and how we discern His wise guidance: "In all thy ways acknowledge him [His presence, control, guidance, Word, will], and he will direct thy paths [guide you]" (Proverbs 3:6).

Or we may sing privately to the Lord: in the morning, or at night; in prosperity, and in adversity; when we sense God's presence, and when we don't; in rejoicing, and in sorrow and grief. David committed himself to praise and worship God "at all times," or "continually" (Psalm 34:1). He vowed, "I will sing . . . unto thee, O Lord, will I sing" (Psalm 101:1). You can do the same, just where you are, while reading this piece.

As we do this, life remains the same, but we change. Drastically! Every morning, we "come before his presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2). Or, as one paraphrase puts it, "Sing yourselves into His presence" (The Message). There we reconnect with the divine, re-subdue our fallen nature, and release the supernatural, life- and fruit-giving river [and artesian well] of God's Spirit to flow into and through us (Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 4:10-14; 7:37-39).

Once this habit of private praise and worship is firmly established, it alters our experience of congregational worship. Our congregational worship then becomes an extension and enhancement of our private worship. From then on, whenever we praise and worship God "in spirit and in truth" with other true worshipers (John 4:23-24), we experience an exponentially powerful reconnection with the Vine. And with His other actively abiding branches. He anoints us with fresh oil. His Spirit bears witness with ours that He is pleased, present, and powerful. What a joy!

Fellowship

Fellowship is also a very helpful connector. Sharing in common with other committed Christians all the various elements of abiding in Christ - God's Word, prayer, praise and worship, fellowship, self-examination, love - helps keep us tight with Christ. Specifically, spiritually minded conversations on the things of God and biblical counsel, including correction offered humbly in love. These interactions with those who genuinely love Christ - His "disciples indeed" (John 8:31-32) - help strengthen our bond with Christ Himself. They significantly sharpen and strengthen the spirit and depth of our developing character. "Just as iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17, CJB).

Self-Examination

Self-examination is a crucial, indispensable yet often despised spiritual connector. Most Christians don't want to keep an eye on their own spiritual life; they prefer to watch, often obsessively, other Christians' lives and critique them constantly. These are practicing examination - but of the wrong person!

When in vulnerable moments we slip and fail, in some way disobeying or coming short of walking in biblical godliness, our reaction is crucial.

If we do nothing about it, the sin interrupts our fellowship with the Vine. Disconnected, we immediately begin despiritualization. That is, we lose the fullness of the Holy Spirit and begin experiencing the slow but steady process of, as Oswald Chambers put it, "spiritual leakage." The longer this continues, the more spiritually dry, weak, useless, and fruitless we become. If this spiritual decline is not checked, sin increasingly hardens our hearts and we run the risk of being "castaways," Christians disapproved for service, as Jesus and Paul warned (John 15:2, 6; 1 Corinthians 9:27).

If, however, we quickly "confess our sins," and truly repent - turning firmly from our disobedience and returning to faith and obedience, Christ faithfully "forgive(s) us our sins" (1 John 1:9). He then immediately and fully cleanses us by His blood and reconnects us in full fellowship with Himself, the Vine, and with other abiding Christians. His life then refills us and flows again with the same wonderful steadiness as before.

Love

Jesus' great commandment is that we "love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34). He condensed all the Old Testament commands into two: that we love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

Paul called love - caring for others before ourselves, doing to them exactly what we would want them to do for us, seeking their highest good in life and in God's eternal kingdom, acting and speaking in gentle kindness - as the "bond of perfectness," or the "glue" of spiritual unity (Colossians 3:14).

Truly, every time we choose to love others as Christ commanded, especially when they do not suit our personal affinities, that very thought, word, or act of love binds us in a closer unity with Christ and with those to whom we have shown His love. He is pleased and draws near, tightening the connection between us; and those we have chosen to love are blessed and, sooner or later, respond by drawing closer to us.

Spiritual Disconnectors

Spiritual disconnectors consist of a whole host of despiritualizers. Sin, or any disobedience to the known will of God, disconnects us. This may be failing to obey God's Word, His call to ministry, the leading of His Spirit, or the Spirit's conviction sent to correct us. His conviction may touch one of many areas.

His conviction may remind us we have wronged another person in some way and have not confessed this to them to try to restore fellowship (Matthew 5:23-24). Or we may be holding ungodly attitudes, such as, envy, unforgiveness, judgmentalism, impatience, condemnation, or simply unkindness. It may be we have been dishonest, or listened to or spread slanderous rumors. We may be walking in pride or hypocrisy - pretending to be what we are not and have no intention of becoming. It may be we are guilty of sins of omission, failing to do what we know we could and should do. Others may have witnessed these sins or they may simply be hidden in the privacy of our own mind.

In either case, all these things, and any other sin or coming short of obeying the truths we have learned, will disconnect us from the Vine - until we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and make restitution, if due, to those we have wronged. Then we may resume practicing the various spiritual connectors mentioned above.

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As we use spiritual connectors faithfully and faithfully avoid spiritual disconnectors, we grow spiritually. And steadily. And bear more and more fruit. Until we are thriving. And spiritually mature. Rarely, if ever, will we step aside from abiding, or fail to quickly get right when we sin or come short of Christ's righteousness. Why? Concerning sin and spiritual leakage, we have been there, done that, and felt the painful consequences of a dry, spiritually disconnected soul! Now, because we have learned our lessons, the fear of the Lord rests on us. We are fully convinced, and thus strongly determined, to not repeat our folly! Can we still sin? Yes. Will we occasionally stumble? We may. But will we steadily walk in any sin and carnality? No!

In this life-educated, God-fearing, humbler-and-wiser frame of mind and discipline of life, we become overcomers. With David we gladly and freely pursue spiritual excellence, declaring and demonstrating the spiritually immoveable life: "He who does these things shall never be moved" (Psalm 15:5, ESV), or "shaken," or moved from closeness to Christ. Or His will. Or His calling. Or His kingdom labors. In the place Christ has chosen for him. Such overcomers are spiritual rocks, because the supreme spiritual Rock, Jesus, is not only living in them but also flowing through them.

These firmly linked branches in the Vine are easy to recognize. Their works of the flesh are steadily quenched and their fruit of the Spirit steadily growing. They are mature men and women of God, who are "complete, thoroughly prepared unto every good work," and ready for the Master's use any time He calls upon them (2 Timothy 3:17). Even at a moment's notice. Why?

They are firmly established in The Connection! You can be, too!

Connected,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES