Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

— John 15:16, NASB 

THE TESTIMONY 

In order to bear much fruit, we must make the most of our privileges and opportunities, becoming more and more spiritually minded. 

We must put away all commonness, all pride, all worldliness, and daily receive divine aid. 

The Holy Spirit breathes upon the soul who humbly rests on Christ, as the author and finisher of his faith; and from such a believer fruit will come forth unto life eternal. His influence will be fragrant. 

But how shall we know that we are in Christ?—We may know it by the character of our fruit. The fruit borne on the Christian tree is holiness of heart,—wholeness to Christ. God will be in the thoughts of the Christian, and he will love those for whom Christ has died. He will follow in the path of self-denial, and his life will be fragrant with the love of Jesus. He will delight more in contemplation of the love of God than in anything earth can offer. 

The Christian will be a savor of life unto life to others, although he may not be able to explain the mysteries of his experience. But he will know that when clouds and darkness compassed him about, and he cried unto the Lord, the darkness was dispersed, and peace and joy were in the temple of the soul.

He will know what it is to have the pardoning love of God revealed to the heart, to experience the peace that passeth all understanding, to have praise and thanksgiving and adoration welling up in the soul unto him who has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. 

One with Christ, his soul is filled with submission to his will, and heaven is enshrined in his heart while he is enfolded in the bosom of infinite love. Christians of this order will bear much fruit to the glory of God. 

— Signs of the Times, April 3, 1893 

THE RESPONSE 

Daily receive divine aid to put away all worldliness. 

Humbly rest on Christ as the author and finisher of your faith, the Holy Spirit will breathe on your soul and you will bear fruit. 

When clouds and darkness encompass you, cry to the Lord and experience His peace and joy in your soul.

Be one with Christ and in submission to His will.

Comments 

Therefore comfort one another and edify one another, even as you already do.  —1 Thessalonians 5:11.