Tag: Sacrificial Love

Abide In Christ And Bear Fruit

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439
 

Abide in Christ — The Source of Life, Power, and Transformation

Introduction

Many believers live with a gap between the blessings Scripture promises and what they experience in life. They understand salvation, believe in Jesus, and even apply themselves to pursue good works — yet still experience inconsistency, striving, and lack of spiritual power.

Jesus did not describe the Christian life as strained, inconsistent, or self-protective. He described a life that is humble, faithful, dependent, peaceful, loving, bold, fruitful, and victorious—a life not produced by human effort, but by remaining connected to Him.

At the center of that life is not self-preservation, but sacrificial love—a life that is willing to lay itself down for God’s will and the good of others.

Jesus did not call us to merely believe in Him or do work for Him — He called us to abide in Him.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine… I am the vine, you are the branches… for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:4–5 

Abiding is not an advanced concept for a few—it is the central operating system of a transformed Christian life.

This post will help you understand what it means to abide and give you practical steps to actually live it. When you Abide in Christ, everything else will begin to align — identity, authority, transformation, and impact.

What Is Abiding?

Abiding means to remain in a continuous state of union with Jesus — connected, submitted, dependent, and responsive to Him.

It is not a feeling.
It is not a one time event.
It is not a religious activity.
It is an ongoing state of being.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” – John 15:1–2

The Vine Model (Spiritual Structure Reality)

Layer Meaning
Christ (Vine) Source of life
Believer (Branch) Dependent vessel
Connection (Abiding) Life flow maintained
Fruit Results, not effort

Abiding is not passive connection—it is active participation in the life of Christ.

Jesus defined abiding as remaining in His love through obedience, and that obedience is expressed through sacrificial love. To abide is to stay connected in such a way that His life becomes your life, His desires shape your desires, and His love—demonstrated through laying down His life—begins to flow through you.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love… Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:9–10,13

Operational Definition

Abiding = Remaining in conscious, yielded, dependent union with Christ, allowing His life to flow into you and through you.

It is:

Relational → ongoing close personal relationship in fellowship, not an isolated or occasional or distant connection
Positional + Experiential → you are in Christ, you live from Him, and He flows through you to others
Dependent → you do not operate independently, You yield to Him, You trust Him, You lean on His power to do things
Sustained → not a one time event or an occasional event, but continuous presence as you walk through life

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” – Colossians 2:6

Why Does It Matter?

Without abiding, everything becomes self-powered religion.

“…without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

With abiding, everything becomes Spirit-empowered life.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” – John 15:7

What Happens Without Abiding

    • Striving replaces grace
    • Behavior modification replaces transformation
    • Fear replaces confidence
    • Religion replaces relationship

What Happens With Abiding

    • Life flows instead of effort
    • Transformation replaces striving
    • Authority replaces helplessness
    • Fruit becomes inevitable

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” – Galatians 2:20

Strategic Reality:

The enemy’s primary objective is not just to make you sin—it is to disconnect you from abiding, because everything flows from that connection.

Abiding Replaces Self-Centered Love with Sacrificial Love

At the root of the fallen life is self-centered love—protecting self, elevating self, serving self.

At the center of abiding is Christ-centered love—laying down self to serve God and others.

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life…”John 10:17

Key Insight:
The Father delights in the Son because He lays down His life—and as we abide in Christ, that same pattern becomes our life.

Without abiding → self-preservation dominates

With abiding → sacrificial love becomes natural

How Does Abiding Work? (Spiritual Mechanics)

Abiding operates as a flow system, not a performance system.

Flow Model: Union → Yield → Obedience → Sacrificial Love → Flow -> Fruit

    • Union — You are joined to Christ
    • Yield — You surrender self-direction
    • Obedience – You obey HIs Word
    • Sacrificial Love – As You Obey You Practice Love and Lay Down Your Self Interests
    • Flow – — His life and Spirit move through you
    • Fruit — Outcomes manifest naturally

As you yield to Christ, you begin to obey. As you obey, you begin to love. And as you love, you inevitably lay down your life—your rights, preferences, and self-centered desires—for a higher purpose. This is the life of Christ flowing through you

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”  Colossians 2:6

Critical Principle:

You do not produce fruit by trying harder. You produce fruit by staying connected in submission.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” – Galatians 5:22–23

How Do You Do It? (Practical Steps)

Abiding is deeply spiritual—but it is also highly practical and executable.

1) Start from Truth — Understand God’s Will

You must be grounded in who God is and what He has already done.

“…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” – Romans 12:2

2) Stand in the Righteous Identity Jesus Paid For

You are not trying to connect to Christ—you are already in Him.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

3) Yield Your Will (The Turning Point)

Abiding requires rejecting self-centered love and self-rule.

“…let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23

4) Stay Connected Daily

This is where most people drift.

      • His Word abiding in you
      • Ongoing prayer (true communion, not merely a ritual)
      • Awareness of His presence
      • Ask, Listen, Hear, Follow

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…” – John 15:7

5) Obey Promptly (Love Expressed Through Sacrifice)

Abiding is not passive—it is responsive obedience.

But this obedience is not merely rule-following—it is love in action, and it will often require sacrifice.

      • Laying down your preferences
      • Letting go of your rights
      • Choosing others above yourself
      • Saying yes to God when it costs something

 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” – 1 John 3:16

Key Insight:
You are not just obeying commands—you are participating in Christ’s love, which is inherently sacrificial.

6) Trust the Flow

Stop measuring your performance—start trusting His life in you.

“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do…” – Philippians 2:13

State Your Intentions – Make A Declaration

I am in Christ, and Christ is in me.
I do not live independently—I abide in Him.
I yield my will and reject self-centered love.
I lay down my life, reject self-centered love, and receive His love to flow through me.
His Word lives in me, His Spirit leads me, and His life flows through me.
I remain in Him, and He produces fruit through me.
Apart from Him I can do nothing
But in Him, I walk in life, power, and truth and anything is possible.

How Do I Know If I Am Abiding? (Self-Test + Recommendations)

Abiding in Christ is not abstract—it produces observable evidence in your inner life, decisions, and relationships.

Jesus taught that a tree is known by its fruit, and He defined abiding as remaining in His love through obedience—expressed ultimately in sacrificial love. This means abiding will consistently lead you to lay down self-centered desires for God’s will and the good of others.

This self-test is not for condemnation, but for clarity and realignment—to help you identify where you may be living independently and return to a life of dependence, love, and Spirit-led sacrifice.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” – 1 John 2:6

Abiding vs Not Abiding — Self Diagnostic

Area NOT Abiding (Flesh Indicators) Abiding (Spirit Indicators) Recommendation
Inner State Anxiety, pressure, striving Peace, rest, confidence Pause, reconnect through prayer and truth
Decision Making Self-driven, reactive God-aware, responsive Ask: “Lord, what are You saying?”
Desire Pattern Self-centered outcomes Desire to please God Repent of self-focus, realign priorities
Sin Response Justification or avoidance Quick conviction + repentance Respond immediately to conviction
Love for Others Conditional, limited Overflowing, sacrificial Receive His love → give it away
Word Engagement Occasional, intellectual Living, active, guiding Meditate, not just read
Prayer Life Sporadic, need-based Continuous, relational Shift from asking → communing
Love Posture
 Self-protective, self-serving, avoids cost Sacrificial, giving, willing to lay down self Ask: “Where am I protecting self instead of loving?” Then choose one concrete act of sacrificial love

Where Can I Learn More?

To deepen your understanding and application of abiding:

Scripture (Primary Source)

    • John 15 (core teaching on abiding)
    • Romans 6–8 (identity, Spirit, freedom)
    • Galatians 5 (flesh vs Spirit)
    • Colossians 2–3 (life in Christ)

Teachers & Resources

    • Barry Bennett — Identity, grace, healing, authority
    • Dan Mohler — Living from identity and union with Christ
    • Andrew Wommack — Spirit-led living, righteousness, grace

My Website / Blog Posts : My God In Motion

    • Walk in the Spirit
    • Walk in the Light
    • Authority and Identity in Christ
    • Transformation by Grace

Call to Action

Abiding is not something you study—it is something you enter into.

Abiding will cost you something—but what it costs you is exactly what is holding you back. You are not called to preserve your life, but to lose it for a greater one. As you lay down self-centered love, you make room for the life of Christ to flow through you in power, purpose, and love.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” – Luke 9:24

Right now, make the shift:

    • Stop striving
    • Stop trying to fix yourself
    • Stop living independently

Instead:

    • Yield your will
    • Acknowledge His presence
    • Trust His life in you

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 

 

Take Up Your Cross

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

What Does It Mean to Pick Up Your Cross? Learn from Jesus

Why Jesus Calls Us to the Cross

Jesus did not invite people into comfort, self-fulfillment, or religious status. He invited them into life—and He made clear that the path to that life runs through the cross. The call to “pick up your cross” is not metaphorical decoration; it is a defining mark of discipleship.
Understanding what Jesus meant by this call—and how He lived it Himself—transforms how we interpret suffering, obedience, and what it means to follow Him faithfully.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Matthew 16:24

What Is Sacrificial Suffering?

Sacrificial suffering is the willing acceptance of loss, pain, or disadvantage in obedience to God and for the good of others. It is not suffering for suffering’s sake, nor is it the result of foolishness or wrongdoing. It is faithfulness chosen when obedience costs something real.
Jesus’ call to the cross teaches us that Kingdom life is built on trust in God rather than self-preservation.

Picking up your cross rarely looks dramatic. More often, it looks like forgiving when you would rather withdraw, holding to the truth when it costs you, remaining faithful when obedience feels unrewarded, and trusting God when outcomes are uncertain. It looks like serving without recognition, loving those who misunderstand you, refusing compromise when it would make life easier, and continuing to follow Jesus when comfort or pleasure would suggest another path. These quiet acts of faithfulness are the everyday shape of sacrificial suffering in the Kingdom of God.

Relational and Emotional Examples

    • Choosing forgiveness when you have every justification to withhold it
    • Loving someone who misunderstands, misrepresents, or rejects you
    • Remaining faithful in a marriage or relationship when it requires patience, humility, and restraint
    • Absorbing offense rather than escalating conflict
    • Speaking truth in love when silence would be safer

Integrity and Obedience Examples

    • Refusing dishonest gain even when it costs you financially or professionally
    • Telling the truth when it risks damage to your reputation or advancement
    • Obeying God privately when no one else will know or applaud
    • Saying no to temptation when indulging would bring immediate relief or pleasure

Trust and Surrender Examples

    • Letting go of control over outcomes, timing, or recognition
    • Staying obedient when obedience leads to inconvenience or loss
    • Continuing to trust God when prayers are unanswered or delayed
    • Choosing faithfulness when circumstances feel unfair

Service and Love Examples

    • Serving others without expectation of recognition or return
    • Giving time, energy, or resources when you feel stretched thin
    • Caring for someone in weakness, sickness, or need over a long period
    • Putting another person’s good ahead of personal comfort

Mission and Calling Examples

    • Answering God’s call when it disrupts your plans or security
    • Remaining faithful to your calling when results are slow or unseen
    • Standing for truth in a culture that pressures compromise

Why Picking Up Your Cross Matters

The cross reveals how different God’s Kingdom is from the world’s systems.

    • The world seeks and rewards comfort, control, recognition, and safety.
    • The Kingdom advances through humility, surrender, obedience, and love.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jesus Showed Us What Picking Up the Cross Looks Like

For Jesus, “picking up the cross” was not a single moment at Calvary. It was a lifelong posture of trust, surrender, obedience, and love, expressed in many forms of sacrificial suffering. Together, these reveal what cross-bearing truly looks like.

1. He Left Glory Willingly

Jesus’ suffering began before pain or rejection—it began with humility. He willingly laid aside the privileges of divine glory to enter human limitation. This was not loss imposed on Him; it was loss chosen for love.

“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.” – Philippians 2:6–7

“In The Beginning Was The Word,… and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” – John 1:14

2. He Became Fully Human and Embraced Weakness

Jesus entered the full vulnerability of human life—hunger, fatigue, grief, dependence. He did not shield Himself from weakness; He embraced it so He could redeem it.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” – Hebrews 4:15

“Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” – John 4:6

3. He Lived in Poverty and Obscurity

Jesus accepted a life without wealth, status, or security. He trusted the Father daily for provision rather than building earthly safety nets.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9

4. He Endured Temptation Without Sin

Jesus faced real temptation—pressure to satisfy Himself, seize power, and avoid suffering. Picking up the cross meant resisting shortcuts and trusting God’s way.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.” – Matthew 4:1

“He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

5. He Was Misunderstood and Rejected

Jesus was repeatedly misunderstood—even by those closest to Him. Faithfulness did not bring approval; it often brought rejection.

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” – John 1:11

“Even His brothers did not believe in Him.” – John 7:5

6. He Was Betrayed by a Close Friend

Jesus suffered relationally. Betrayal came not from enemies, but from one He trusted and loved.

“He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” – John 13:18

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.” – Matthew 26:14

7. He Was Abandoned by His Followers

At His darkest hour, Jesus stood alone. Those who pledged loyalty fled. Picking up the cross meant continuing obedience without human support.

“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” – Matthew 26:56

“I am alone, because the Father is with Me.” – John 16:32

8. He Endured False Accusation and Injustice Without Retaliation

Jesus suffered unjust systems without retaliation. He trusted the Father to judge rightly.

“False witnesses came forward.” – Matthew 26:60

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.” – 1 Peter 2:23

9. He Accepted Mockery and Public Humiliation

Jesus absorbed shame rather than avoiding it. The cross included social and emotional suffering, not just physical pain.

“They mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” – Matthew 27:29

“He endured the cross, despising the shame.” – Hebrews 12:2

 10. He Suffered Extreme Physical Violence, And Then Forgave Them

Jesus’ body bore real pain. Love was not symbolic; it was costly.

“Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” – Matthew 27:26

“They pierced My hands and My feet.” – Psalm 22:16

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” – Luke 23:34

11. He Bore Sin and Guilt Not His Own

The deepest suffering of the cross was spiritual. Jesus carried the weight of humanity’s sin so reconciliation could occur.

“He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” – 1 Peter 2:24

“The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6

12. He Experienced Spiritual Agony While Trusting the Father

Jesus felt the darkness of abandonment yet did not abandon faith. This shows that faithfulness is possible even without felt comfort.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” – Luke 23:46

13. He Trusted God To The Point of Death and Beyond, in Faith Waiting for Vindication

Jesus entrusted the outcome fully to the Father. Resurrection was not forced—it was trusted.

“You will not leave My soul in Hades.” – Acts 2:27

“This Jesus God has raised up.” – Acts 2:32

Jesus picked up His cross by choosing trust over control, obedience over comfort, love over self-preservation, and faith over fear—at every stage of life, not only at death.

What Can We Learn from Jesus and His Cross

Picking up the cross teaches us that obedience precedes understanding, trust often comes before relief, and life emerges only after surrender.

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” – Hebrews 5:8

The Following table summarizes the various ways Jesus suffered in faith, why each matters, and how we should apply that learning to our lives.

 

How Jesus Suffered What This Involved Why It Matters Appropriate Response
Leaving Glory Leaving heaven to become human Shows God’s humility and nearness Trust God’s humility; reject pride
Becoming Human Weakness, limitation, hunger, fatigue God fully understands human life Bring your weakness to God honestly
Poverty and Obscurity Living without wealth, status, or security God values faithfulness over success Detach worth from material success
Temptation Experiencing real temptation without sin Jesus understands moral struggle Trust Him for help in temptation
Rejection Rejected by crowds, leaders, even family Faithful doesn’t guarantee approval Obey God without needing validation
Betrayal Judas’ betrayal for money Love does not prevent betrayal Love without controlling outcomes
Abandoned Disciples fled at His arrest God’s plan does not depend on loyalty Stay faithful even when alone
Accusation / Injustice Unjust trial, false witness God sees truth even when systems fail Entrust justice to God
Mockery / Humiliation Spitting, beating, ridicule, public shame God absorbs shame to restore us Release shame; value humility
Physical Suffering Scourging, exhaustion, crucifixion Love is costly, not theoretical Take sin and love seriously
Bearing Sin Taking upon Himself the guilt of others Sin has real weight and consequence Receive forgiveness; reject self-justification
Spiritual Agony Feeling forsaken while trusting the Father Faith persists even without felt comfort Trust God in emotional darkness
Death Willingly surrendering His life God’s love goes to the uttermost Die to self-rule; trust eternity

How Do We Pick Up Our Cross Today?

We do not seek suffering, but we do not avoid obedience when suffering comes.

Picking up your cross means choosing faithfulness over comfort in real, everyday decisions.

1) Humble Yourself

Like it or not, You are completely dependent on God; You can do nothing without Him. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15-5

2) Submit Yourself To God – Put Him First – Make Jesus Lord of Your Life

You have free will. God gives you the choice and your choice has consequences. God promises blessings and protection if we put Him first and follow His instructions and He make it clear there are consequences if we chose not to follow Him.

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. – Deuteronomy 11:26-28

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

3) Release Control and Entrust Outcomes to God

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:5

4) Love and Serve Without Needing Recognition

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” 1 John 3:16

5) Absorb the bad crap that happens to you and do not retaliate

One of the best ways I have learned to understand the cross came from Dan Mohler. 

His quote is “Don’t let sin against you become sin in you.” 

You need to absorb the bad stuff that people say or do and let it fall off you without you taking it to heart or adversely impacting your attitude.

 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:17-19

6) Obey God Even When It Costs You

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22

Are We Walking in Fellowship with Jesus and the Cross?

Use this table as a self-test.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” – Philippians 3:10

 

Aspect of Life Carrying My Cross (Following Jesus) Living for Myself
Core Motivation “I want God’s will more than my comfort.” “I want what feels best or benefits me most.”
Decision-Making Choose obedience even when costly Choose convenience, safety, or advantage
Response to Suffering Trust God; seeks meaning and faithfulness Resist, resent, or escape discomfort
View of Control Surrender outcomes to God Try to manage, manipulate, or protect
Use of Power or Position Serve others humbly Use power for self-protection or status
Handling of Offense Forgive; release vengeance Hold grudges; rehearses wrongs
Approach to Truth Embrace truth even when uncomfortable Avoid or redefines truth to feel justified
Relationship with Sin Actively resist and repent Rationalize, hides, or accommodates
Attitude Toward Recognition Content to be unseen by people Need validation, praise, or approval
Stewardship of Resources Use time, energy, and money for God’s purposes Use resources primarily for self
Love for Others Give sacrificially without return Love when it is convenient or reciprocal
Prayer Life Seek alignment with God’s will Seek relief, control, or outcomes
Faith Under Delay Remain faithful when results are slow Grow discouraged or disengaged
Fruit Over Time Peace, humility, endurance, usefulness Anxiety, frustration, emptiness
Eternal Perspective Live with eternity in view Live mainly for the present moment

Ask Yourself:

Which column most honestly describes my current posture?

Where do I most resist surrendering control?

What is one concrete way I can pick up my cross today?

Picking up the cross daily means choosing trust, obedience, and love over comfort, control, and self-preservation—again and again.

Where to Learn More

• Isaiah 52–53
• Matthew 16, 26–27
• Hebrews 2, 5, 12
• 1 Peter 2–4

Call to Action

Look closely at Jesus. Study how He trusted, obeyed, and loved through suffering.

Then begin to emulate Him—not perfectly, but faithfully.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  – 1 John 2:6