John 15:4

John 15:4 says, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  Jesus left no doubt that the only way that we could produce fruit, which is to advance the kingdom of God, is if we abide in His will and the Holy Spirit abides in us.  This relationship should be so close that it is as essential as breathing.  Jesus didn't say that occasionally this should be the case, but we are to abide in Him and He in us.  That means to live in His will.  Verse five adds, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.  I have never really spent a lot of time caring for fruit vines, but I do know that as long as the main vine is alive, the branches can bear fruit.  It takes work to maintain the vine, and it takes work to maintain our relationship with God.  That is not saying we work for or to maintain salvation, but we must make sure that we are always firmly planted in the will of God.  Only then can we bring forth any fruit for the kingdom.  It is not a one or two day abiding in the will of God.  That would not be abiding but visiting.  We cannot just go to church, but we must take the church to the world daily.  Until we do, abiding in the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot expect to bring forth much fruit.  Without the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing.  Jesus didn't say we could do very little, but that we could do nothing.  I have heard plans and programs promoted as certain ways to reach the lost.  I have been told to just decide how many people I wanted to reach, apply the program, and success was assured.  I am not saying planning is wrong, but that Jesus is the key to salvation.  We often put more faith in our plans and abilities than in God.  Remember, without Him, we can do nothing.