Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
“When you have entered into this deeper realm of experience with Jesus Christ, what should be your response to circumstance, to outward events? Simply remain faithful in this state. Rest quietly before the Lord. Let this simple, quiet rest in Him always be your preparation for everything. You must keep this in mind: Your only purpose is to be filled to overflowing with the divine presence of Jesus Christ and, deep within you, to be prepared to receive from Him anything that He chooses to bestow upon you.”
Jeanne Guyon in “Abundance” chapter 13 of Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Sargent: Seedsowers, 1975) 68.
As the GTP team starts our journey together at the ECFA offices today in Winchester, VA, we must see ourselves as empty cups whose purpose is to be “filled to overflowing” with Jesus. Only then will we be able to minister from a place of abundance.
The same is true for anyone who desires to live generously. Because our ‘being’ precedes our ‘doing’ we must abide in Christ so that we produce much fruit. We see this later in John’s Gospel in this pointed teaching from Jesus on abiding and abundance.
Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. John 15:4-8
Let us show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus by resting and abiding in Him. Only then will our generous giving and service flow from His abundant power at work through us. Whether He supplies much or little, we resolve to remain faithful.