John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
In the vineyard there are many rows of vine’s bearing grapes. Let’s say that each of those vines represents Christ. The branches of course will represent the believer. Not just any believer, but a believer who believes in and adheres to the Word of God. One who desires to produce fruit. When a farmer finds a vine that he thinks will create a healthy and successful vineyard he duplicates that vine, and plants that vine into the soil that he has prepared, cultivated and watered faithfully. That is what the father did with Christ. He took all the ingredients of himself, deposited them into his Son, prepared the earth to receive Him and then deposited him into the earth in Mary’s womb. She was the fertile soil(the vessel) that the Lord found favor in. Once Christ was placed in Mary’s womb he began to grow and grow until the time came where Mary would have to give birth to the vine that was deposited in her. As Christ came into this earth, so does the vine break forth out of the soil. Initially, a vine does not bear fruit, it takes years and years of faithful commitment, patience (through storms and seasons) and persistent work to bring it to the point of manifesting the fruit. Once the vine has been established and it’s roots are strong and it has it’s own foundation, it begins to give birth to the branches which are simply a continuation of itself. (I say this because, that even Christ did not produce fruit immediately, he had to wait until his early thirties to birth his ministry to the public.)The branches must grow strong and prepare to create it’s own fruit. In the right season of life the branch will produce the fruit it was created for.
There are many different types of wines; with different scents, colors, bodies, qualities and textures. The reason I say this is because there are many different types of believers and although we have come from the same vine, we will bear the fruit that has been intended for us. We are not to create the same sample of wine, that would defeat the purpose of being an original. The fruit we bear has been cultivated by faith, watered by grace, and grown with love. Our fruit was not made for us, but for those that were assigned to us that they may come to know the vine through the fruit (John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples).
The farmer’s role is to oversee the production of the vine and the branches and to see to it that it bears much fruit. The farmer is the one who cultivates the soil, waters the grounds, and prunes back the branches and removes the branches that have not beared fruit. (2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.) Jesus makes a distinction here between two kinds of pruning: 1-separating and 2-cutting back branches. Essentially anything that hinders our growth and spoils the vine is not needed for our ministry like our attitudes, mindsets, emotions, and sins. These attributes will infect the rest of the branches and destroy the fruit that is good and so it is removed and thrown away. On the other hand when we are producing fruit, God will cut back or prune to help promote growth and build our character and faith.
Jesus tells us that we are to remain in Him. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remaining in the vine isn’t difficult to do when life is good, but do you remain in Him when circumstances present themselves and you find yourself on your knees, crying out to God and asking Him to remove the burden that has plummeted into your lap, or better yet, your heart. When your heart if filled with grief, and you feel as though you can’t breathe or you won’t make it, and you just want to give up, what is your recourse at that moment. I’ll tell you what it is. You stay on your knees, you continue to cry out to God, you glorify Him, you praise Him, you declare victory at the beginning of that situation, you declare that He is Jehovah Raffe “My God who heals!!”, my God who delivers!, you declare that he is Jehovah Mekeddeshem “My God who sanctifies (who separates me from the enemy), You declare that he is Jevohah Nissi “My banner, my protector, my strong tower”, You declare that he is the God who prepares a table before you in the midst of your enemies and then at the end of your cry after you have done all you can, you STAND and you watch the Lord see you through. Remain in Him, Stand in Him, Praise Him, Glorify Him, Rejoice in Him, Bless His Holy Name, for He is the Lord your God who will fight for you, who says there is not a fight that he doesn’t like to get into, who says the battle is His, Vengeance is His, Leave it in the hands of the Lord and watch Him work all things together for your good. Why do u have to remain in Him???? Because he is Risen, He is seated at the right Hand of the father, and everything that is under His feet is now under your feet, because you have victory in Christ Jesus, The name alone will set you free, and because the father desires to give His children good gifts.
~~~~Evangelist Nadia Marinaccio~~~~~
REMAIN IN THE VINE
No comments:
Post a Comment