Extensions of the Vine

You will note that this promise begins with the word, “IF.” Jesus promised that, “IF we abide in Him, and HIS words abide in us, THEN, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” Well, if the words of Christ abide in us – which means His Truth is living in us – then what will we ask Him to do? We will ask from out of His words that abide in us. All of our asking will be the by-product of our fellowship and life in Christ. We will therefore be asking according to the will of God.

The saint who knows Christ is going to ask Him to do HIS will, rather than our will. Would we seriously want to ask God to do something He does not want to do? Do we actually think that we know the beginning from the end, such that we want God to do our will? Would we actually want Him to answer that? The saint wants God to do HIS will, and only HIS will. And we will likewise want God to give us HIS MIND on any matter.

The purpose of God here is clear: We, as a branch, are to grow to where we are extensions of the Vine. As extensions of the Vine – or we might say members of His Body – we are going to grow to where we know Him and have HIS MIND, and then, out from that, ask Christ to do His will. Indeed, we will grow to where we BECOME His will.

To, “ask,” comes out of a readiness and desire to embrace. Genuine ASKING is the result of having my will swallowed up in faith in God. And God will do His will because He always desires to do His will – that is WHY it IS His will. There is no picture of struggle here. It is a branch growing to be so much one with the Vine that the Vine can do His will in and through the branch. The branch will become the will of God and be an extension of Him.