Westhill Church - Auburn & Federal Way, WA

The WEekly Word

A Blog of Encouragement from our Pastors

weekly word – 8/21/2025

Hello @NAME,

Are You Connected to God?

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” — John 15:7–9 (NASB)

Jesus offers us an invitation to an intimate relationship with God. It’s focused on abiding—or dwelling—in Him. John 15: 7-9 is not just encouraging us to follow Him but is a call to an intimate relationship with Him, where we as believers are rooted in the life, the love, and the power of Christ. This passage opens a window into what it means to connect with God deeply and fruitfully.

How do we connect with Him?

We Abide in Him:

The word abide means to remain, to dwell, or to stay connected. Jesus uses a metaphor of a vine and its branches in verses 1-6 to illustrate the need to remain connected to Him. As a branch that has been cut off from the vine withers and dies, we wither and die when we’re separated from God. Abiding in Christ means that we maintain an ongoing, active relationship with Him—trusting Him, obeying Him, communing with Him, and depending on Him every moment of every day.

Not only should we abide in Him, but His words should also abide in us. Our hearts should be shaped by His teachings, our minds should be renewed by His truth, and we should live a life that reflects His commands. His Word is one channel by which we hear His voice and align our desires to His will. When His words dwell in us continually (Colossians 3:16),our prayers and desires begin to reflect His purposes.

Through Prayer and Fruitfulness:

These are the evidence of a Connection. He continues the passage, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”This is not a “Blank Check,” although it may seem like it, but when it is in the context of abiding, it’s a promise to those believers that are so intimately connected with Him that their will is aligned with His. The desires that come from a heart that is rooted in Christ are His desires for them—desires for righteousness, peace, joy, and taking His Kingdom to the world.

The natural result of abiding in Him is the “fruitfulness” we see in believers who are connected. He continues, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.” The fruit He is talking about is manifested in our character (the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23), our good works (Colossians 1:10), and the influence we have on others for the sake of the Gospel. A life connected to Christ cannot help but bear fruit, because the life of Christ flows through us, changing us from the inside out.

We need to remember that the fruit we bear does not glorify us; it glorifies the Father. God is glorified when we mirror His nature and show His grace to others. The goal is not self-improvement, but a spiritual change. The key to that change is connection—abiding.

Through The Love of Christ:

The Love of Christ is the power behind the connection. Verse 9 anchors the entire passage in love: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” Did you catch that? Let me share that again. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you.” Wow, that is staggering! The same love that exists between the Father and the Son—the perfect, eternal, divine love—is extended to us . . . That love is not based on our performance, but is based on His nature. To abide in Christ is to be secure in that love, and to recognize our identity and get our security from it.

Abiding in His love means knowing without any doubt that we are accepted, we are cherished, and we are continually pursued by God. It also means that we should obediently share that love with others. Verse 10 says: “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” His love is the means and the motive for genuine spiritual connection.

How Do We Abide? By:

Daily Devotions – We spend time in God’s Word and in prayer. This is not a duty, but a means of dwelling with Him.

Obedience – We live according to His Word, letting His teachings shape our values and decisions.

Dependence on Him – We acknowledge our need for Him in every area of life. We let His Spirit guide us.

Love – We rest in His love and extend that love to others, even when it’s hard.

Praying in His Will – We let our prayers be guided by the Holy Spirit, so our desires mirror His heart.

Takeaway:

John 15: 7-9 is more than spiritual encouragement, it’s a profound invitation to us. Jesus invites us into a relationship marked by abiding, by fruitfulness, and by love. We cannot earn this connection, but we receive it through faith in Him. When we live in that kind of relationship, we allow His Word and His Love to grow in us, and we become channels of His grace and vessels of His glory. Our lives bear fruit, our prayers are powerful, and the Father is glorified.

Where do you stand? Are you connected to God as Jesus says we can be? If you’re not sure, contact one of the Pastors or Elders. It is our privilege to lead the congregation in spiritual growth and encourage you to be connected. Let us talk with you. That’s what we’re here for!

Ed Johanson © 7/31/2025

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6/12/2025 – Isaiah 6:1-7 David

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