16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ~ John 15:16
Jesus told His followers that He chose them to go and bear fruit that would remain. So many of us in the Church today miss this part of the verse and only cling to the last of the verse. We only focus on and push that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus’ Name, He will give us. But that isn’t the whole Truth. That statement doesn’t stand alone. It’s a part of the requirement in the fruit half of the verse.
But here’s the catch. Jesus tells us that not only must we bear fruit, but fruit that remains. Fruit that withstands the test. Eternal fruit that will last forever and is a sign of the change of one’s heart. The change the Holy Spirit does within us, to make us more like Christ. More like His Image and Likeness. It is then that the Father will hear and answer our prayers. It is then that Christ’s promise is fulfilled.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Change Before You Ask.