7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV)
-
John 15:7-8
-
Prayer to God Is to Prove Me
What is the purpose of prayer? Why ought we to ask God for things?
One answer to this question is that prayer is meant to prove me. This answer is found in John 15:7-8.
Jesus has been explaining to his disciples that he is going away, and encouraging them that this is actually a very good thing for them. One reason for this is that in the new arrangement, Jesus will be teaching them from within as he and the Father make their home in the disciples (and us) via the Spirit. The second reason that Jesus’ going away is for their good is found in the fact that he is going to the Father’s side, he explains. Returning there, no longer confined by the emptying of himself in taking on humanity, the Son of God (along with the Father) will sit ready to answer our prayers with sovereign power.
With that context (i.e. chapter 14), we meet this surprising and glorious purpose for prayer. As we abide in Jesus, we may ask God to produce fruit in our lives. Why? Because this is how God the Father is glorified, by us being proven true disciples through our fruitfulness. Or to put it another way, God’s glory shines forth as we are filled with Jesus’ joy (see verse 11). And so for this we pray!
Doesn’t sound like a bad deal, does it? Perhaps this is new to you, and perhaps not. Either way, please let me encourage you to stop and pray—i.e. now—for Jesus’ joy to fill you today, to the glory of God!
(This was originally posted on the Biblearc blog by Andy Hubert on June 22, 2014.)
-
@Mildred-Codilla It’s good to hear from you, Mildred!
Joy is seen in verse 11, actually, not in this arc. Andy is simply using verse 11 to help us interpret verses 7-8, because verse 11 reveals the purpose behind everything Jesus said in 15:1-10, including verses 7-8. In verses 7-8, Jesus tells us that we should glorify God by being fruitful; in verse 11, he reveals that this purpose is a joy-filled purpose!
As far as the connection between verses 7 and 8, let me flip this Ground relationship around into an Inference, to give us a fresh perspective: This passage is saying, “Our fruitfulness glorifies God; therefore, we need to cling to Jesus and his words, so God will answer our prayers.”
It seems to me that it is God answering our prayers that corresponds to fruitfulness. The “therefore” is showing what we should do because fruitfulness glorifies God. And the answer doesn’t use the word “fruitfulness,” but rather a holding tightly to Jesus that results in answered prayers. That shows us that fruitfulness is synonymous with having answered prayers, which will only happen consistently as we walk with Jesus in his written Word.
So our primary aim in clinging to Jesus through his words should be to glorify God, who desires to glorify himself through our prayers. If we want to bring glory to God’s name, we must fill our minds and hearts with his Word, and rely upon Jesus through his indwelling Spirit.
Does that help answer your question?
-
Please help me to understand what is the fruit mentioned in this verses 7 & 8. If the fruit is the joy coming from the Lord Jesus, how is it shown through the arc? Please help me understand brother.
Why does the Scripture connect verse 8 specifically “fruitfulness” to verse 7 “prayer and the Bible”? How to see the connection through arc?
-
@Brent-Karding said in John 15:7-8:
@Mildred-Codilla It’s good to hear from you, Mildred!
Joy is seen in verse 11, actually, not in this arc. Andy is simply using verse 11 to help us interpret verses 7-8, because verse 11 reveals the purpose behind everything Jesus said in 15:1-10, including verses 7-8. In verses 7-8, Jesus tells us that we should glorify God by being fruitful; in verse 11, he reveals that this purpose is a joy-filled purpose!
As far as the connection between verses 7 and 8, let me flip this Ground relationship around into an Inference, to give us a fresh perspective: This passage is saying, “Our fruitfulness glorifies God; therefore, we need to cling to Jesus and his words, so God will answer our prayers.”
It seems to me that it is God answering our prayers that corresponds to fruitfulness. The “therefore” is showing what we should do because fruitfulness glorifies God. And the answer doesn’t use the word “fruitfulness,” but rather a holding tightly to Jesus that results in answered prayers. That shows us that fruitfulness is synonymous with having answered prayers, which will only happen consistently as we walk with Jesus in his written Word.
So our primary aim in clinging to Jesus through his words should be to glorify God, who desires to glorify himself through our prayers. If we want to bring glory to God’s name, we must fill our minds and hearts with his Word, and rely upon Jesus through his indwelling Spirit.
Does that help answer your question?
I understand it now brother. Thank you so much for explaining.
