John 15:7,8

“If you dwell continually in me, and my words dwell continually in you, ask whatever you will and it will be done to you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so you will become my disciples.”

Note that He does not speak of dwelling in His words, but as dwelling continually ‘in Him' (compare John 14:20; John 14:23). So the disciples are to dwell continually in Him by prayer and response to His words, which they must cherish to themselves, continually meditating on them in responsive faith. That is why they can ask whatever they will, and it will be done to them. But as we have said before, this promise that they can ask what they will is said to men whose only aim is to further the work of Christ and to fulfil His words. Here it is strictly limited to them. They would not be looking out for their own interests but for His. This will result in fruitfulness both in preaching and in living, a fruitfulness which will bring glory to the Father.

We can compare His words in Matthew 5:16, ‘Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven'. This is in the end the proof of discipleship. If we live to reveal the Father's glory, men will be converted through the testimony of our lives even more than through our words.

‘Become my disciples.' They already are His disciples, but there is still weakness and failure within them. There is need for them to become more and more what His disciples should be, to become fully disciples. The Christian life is both instantaneous and progressive. From one point of view we are justified (put in the right with God), sanctified (set apart as His alone) and perfected immediately for ever (1 Corinthians 6:11 - aorist tenses meaning once for all. Compare Hebrews 10:14 - ‘He has perfected for ever those who are being sanctified'). From another we have to experience a continuing sanctification, growing continually more like Him. ‘This is the will of God, even our sanctification' (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Note the progression, bear fruit, bear more fruit (John 15:2), bear much fruit (John 15:5). The Christian life is depicted in terms of growth. In a living thing there must be growth. It may not always be visible to outsiders, but if it is not visible to God then there must be a real question as to the reality of the person's experience. Spiritual sterility is not a Christian virtue.

One way in which we too can enjoy His continual dwelling in us is through ‘His words' as revealed in Scripture ‘abiding in us'. As we meditate on them in a prayerful way, and let them speak to our hearts, they will make Christ real to us. But this must be in conjunction with a responsive faith. We must have a readiness to pray to, and listen to, and obey Jesus Himself as He speaks in our hearts through His word. Then as we live according to His words, rejecting earthly values, we too can ask whatever we will and it will be done for us. But this must be for the furtherance of His kingly rule not for the furtherance of ours.