John 15:7-17

Flourish

We all want to flourish in our lives. It's a word we are used to in day to day life. We want to feel alive and productive.

What Jesus is talking about here is how we participate in true life, about what values and character that matter to Him and to God in order for Christians to flourish as people of God.

Jesus says with authority that He is the source of this flourishing, full life. A close relationship with Jesus is where we get these principles and character from.

Dependence

We as people who put our trust in Jesus are cleaned and restored to the Father. From that place all we need to do is ask and depend upon Him in order to be fruitful and to flourish.

Asking results in flourishing. Being dependent on Jesus is a prayerful relationship where we ask Him to work in our lives. This is what we should be longing for. We pray out of a place of friendship.

Being centred

This place of dependence is a place of intimate love where we can remain and find Spiritual power to do Jesus' work. This is a place that centres our entire life. That pure, eternal love spills out into all areas of our life. If we find that place we can live, work, pray, and grow out of that place.

Friendship

Like we have thought about already, this place comes from a deep relationship with Jesus. He lives us like a friend. We are friends with Jesus and that should model our relationships with other Christians. We learn how to love our friends from Jesus loving us in the same way.

From friendship comes a knowledge of God's plan and His working. We know what He is doing, and so we can be fruitful in doing the same work.