Jesus goes on in John 15 verse 7 to tell us what a privilege we have when we pray if we do abide in Him. We will be able to ask what we will and The Father will do it for us. Could that explain why many prayers aren’t answered? We are not abiding (keeping His commandments) in Him.

In verse 10 He goes on to explain “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” We learn what His commandments are by daily reading the Bible. 

Later in the same chapter Jesus tells His disciples that He had chosen them that they should go and bear fruit, and that their fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

What kind of fruit are we to bear for the vine. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are some of the fruits that we as a branch will produce.  There will also be answers to prayer and converts.

But remember it is not the branch producing the fruit. It is the vine, the Holy Spirit, producing the fruit through the willing and available vine. Allowing Him to live through us for His purposes. 

It appears from verse 16 that answers to prayer are, at least in part, dependent on our producing fruit. Isn’t that what it looks like? It may not be what we want to hear, but isn’t that what it says?

In conclusion, we have a purpose as members of God’s family. As a branch, He is living through us to accomplish His interests, His kingdom business.

Life isn’t about us. We don’t let the “me” culture affect us. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who gave His life for us. 2 Cor. 5:15  It is not about me, my dreams, my plans.

It is for His honor and glory, our lives showing what God is like. 1 Peter 2:9 says that “that you may proclaim the praises (excellencies) of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

The fruit is God revealed. O let’s be a people that accurately reveal what God is like by the fruit we bear. God will bless us with answered prayers as we abide in Jesus.