You Can Do Nothing

John 15:1-8

Message No. 0784 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

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Have you ever seen anyone who dresses very well and goes to a function, claiming to represent the chairman of the event? Yeah, this is possible, however, he or she only needs to be asked one or two questions before the truth is revealed. Just as no one can be an engineer without receiving training, neither can we work for God without abiding in Christ. This week, we examine the importance of Jesus’ instructions to His disciples in John chapter 15, verse 1 to 8. God bless you as you read.

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Sometimes aquatic animals make mistakes by jumping out of bodies of water, and they are saved by animal-loving people who pick them up and throw them (or push or do something to guide them) back into the water. The reason is simple; without help to go back to their natural abode, they will die. It’s the same situation when a human being or other terrestrial animals which cannot swim find themselves in bodies of water that are large enough to swallow them. They drown if there is no rescue, because they are unable to breathe inside water.

In John chapter 15 verses 1 to 8, Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to abide in Him, without which they could do nothing. In verses 4 and 5, the Bible says:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, 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, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Why do Christians need to abide in Christ? The reason is well captured in the scripture above. Without Him we can do nothing. A classic example of people attempting to do things outside of Christ occurred in Acts chapter 19, verses 13 to 16. The Bible says that having watched Paul heal and cast out devils from people, some Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, come out! This stupidity was carried out by seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva. According to verse 15, the evil spirit simply asked, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The Bible says that the evil spirit prevailed against them and they fled the scene naked and wounded. 

It is dangerous for anyone to be so zealous as to attempt to do the work of God without the empowerment of the Owner of the work. God’s work is not mechanical, and what He did through person ‘A’ may be different from what He does through person ‘B.’ If God works a miracle through brother John, this does not mean that He will work the same miracle through all brothers named John. This lesson was learned too late, many years ago, when a brother named Daniel jumped into a zoo occupied by lions, as he thought to prove to onlookers that his name was Daniel, and that God would tie the mouths of those lions and he would not be hurt. He basically donated himself as food to the lions.

You may ask, how do I abide in Christ? This is a good question, and the answer is, by maintaining an active and continuous connection with Him through obedience, Bible studies and prayers. As the branch connected to the tree draws life from the tree, so does a child of God draw life by remaining connected to Jesus. To grow spiritually and remain qualified to do His work, we must remain connected, for without Him, we can do nothing. 

Are you attempting to do the work of God and failing to see results? Please take a step back and rededicate your life to Him. He wants His work to be done, but through people whom He has empowered, so the glory can continue to belong to Him. We may be very zealous to work for Him, and that’s a good thing, but the Bible says in 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 9, that He will guard the feet of His saints, because by strength, no man shall prevail.

What to Do?

Rededicate your life to Christ and ask for His power to do His work, for without Him, we can do nothing.