John 15:4-11 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.”
There are two definitions that fit for the word “abide”
2) not to depart
a) to continue to be present b) to be held, kept, continually
1) to remain as one, not to become another or different
Therefore what Jesus is asking is for us to remain continually in His presence and to be like Him. We do this by keeping our minds on Him. Read about Jesus, keep a running conversation going with Him throughout the day. Keeping a constant communication going with Jesus is the best way to make sure you will call on Him for help and doing things His way, instead of relying on one's own power and saying or doing the wrong thing. We cannot expect to live like Jesus unless we're living in Him and He's living in us. We also cannot expect to “bear fruit” or help others if we're not in connected with Jesus. Notice Jesus said, “for without Me you can do nothing.” Jesus didn't say things just to sound good or intelligent. He meant what He said. We cannot do anything without His help. We are the created. Jesus is the Creator. Without the Creator, the created cannot function well. Notice what Jesus says about those who do not abide in Him. Those who do not abide in Him are “cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.” Branches on a plant, that is no longer connected to the plant dies. It also has the potential to infect the good branches so they must be removed and burned. It is the same with people. Those who refuse to abide in Christ have a strong potential to infect others with their attitude and destroy those around them.
Verse 7 and 8 have a promise for those who abide in Jesus. “If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.” I don't believe this means that we'll get that nice car or house we want. I also don't think it's a promise for healing. What I believe it means is that by abiding in Him, our desires will be His desires and what we ask for will be what He wants for us. While healing is a noble and honest desire, there are times when not being healed is the only thing that keeps us close to God. That has been my personal experience. My medical problems keep me clinging to God, but when things are going well for a long time, it is too easy for me to get too busy for God. I would lose out on a precious relationship with God if I didn't have the difficulties I have. Yet, my difficulties do not prevent me from being used by God and living a full life serving Him. I asked him many time to use me and not let my life be worthless. He has done that. He has used me and by using me He is glorified. We all have the potential to have a fulfilling life serving God if we just give our life over completely to Him and let Jesus live in and through us. Nothing is too difficult for Him to work with.
In verse 9 and 10 Jesus promises His love for those who keep His commandments. If we keep His commandments we will abide in His love, just as He kept the Father's commandments and abide in the Father's love. Jesus asks us to abide in Him and to let Him abide in us. We do this by reading about Him, keeping in contact with Him, realizing our need for Him, and keeping His commandments. We are the created. He is the Creator. We need Him!