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John 15:5-7 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (KJV)
Life is all about choices and we are all one choice away from either walking toward an eternal life with Christ, or walking away from what is rightfully ours for the taking. God sent His Son so that you would be a partaker of His divine nature, the only one that will live for eternity. Romans 11:19-21 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (KJV) The natural branches being referred to are God’s original chosen people, the Jews. Many of them fell away from the tree of life and withered because of simple unbelief. The Church today needs to heed the same warning. Romans 11:22-23 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (KJV) God didn’t send His Son to die for mankind just to watch them ignore His plan of salvation, something He does take personally. Oh what a loving and just God we truly do serve and His goodness and mercy will last forever. However, it is your choice if you will embrace the truth and continue to abide in that goodness. Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (KJV) My exhortation, as well as warning for the Church today is that you grasp hold of the truth and continue in the faith grounded and settled, no longer being moved away with petty bickering of this world. The word ‘vain’ refers to empty or worthless; not a title that you want to be tagged with on the Day of Judgment. Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV) My prayer for all of God’s people is that you get your instructions firsthand from above through the Holy Spirit, and don’t just settle for man’s limited outward interpretations of it. If you truly desire to worship the Lord, then do so in the realm of the Spirit and according to His truth. Anything else is a waste of time, followed by an eternity to ponder what should have been. Isaiah 1:19-20 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (KJV) God bless dearly love, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:4-6 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. 5 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV)
Let’s look at salvation as a contract, a binding document that promises reconciliation between God and man; but do know that you need to read all the fine print of this document in order to keep the blessings in play. Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (KJV) Abide simply means to continue in. So as you read the contract God drew up between us and Him you will see the word “if” mentioned consistently throughout. So the end result should be that we show up blameless at His throne come the Day of Judgment. Do take note of the fact that the “iffy”part of the equation is on our end and not the Lord’s. Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (KJV) Without faith you re-enter the realm of impossible where you will no longer be pleasing to God. Many fall away by grasping hold of man’s doctrines instead of the Lord’s, which is nothing short of an insult to Him. As you can see, the end result will be burned. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (KJV) Spend some time reading all of chapter 28 because it clearly spells out what is available on both ends of the spectrum of salvation, the good and bad. Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (KJV) Again the Bible is specific to let you know all that is available to the believer in Christ, but only if you let the truth set you free. God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (KJV)
Today, right now, this moment you are considered clean in the Lord’s eyes. No, not by what you think you can do to impress Him, or by some outdated watered down ritual, but by the Word the Lord is speaking that is alive and powerful, showing you how to be cleansed from within. Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (KJV) The forecast today calls for showers, a downpour from above. However, most of mankind is not aware of this because they keep looking outward instead of within to see where it is truly taking place. The Lord also gave you a new heart, one of clay that He could mold and shape into the person He desires to see you grow up into. Clay works much better with some water added to it; otherwise it has a tendency to harden. Hebrews 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (KJV) Only living spiritual waters can get inside and cleanse that polluted conscience, that no matter what many may try, it can never find peace or justification through the flesh. 1 Peter 3:20-21 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (KJV) Some people look to the book of Acts and see that the disciples were still carrying out the outward baptism. However, Peter eventually realized, like you should also, that the time in which these things took place (book of Acts) was a time of transition, where God’s people were moving out of the old law and into the new realm of the Spirit. For all you traditionalists, do keep in mind that the disciples were still holding to the doctrine of circumcision also, so if you are going to put one part of the law into play, do you really want to deal with all of it? Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (KJV) John, who was still under the old law and the works of it, was now being considered outdated, giving way to something new and more effective. You have a choice today whether you are immersing yourself in the outward, or the new living waters from above. God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (KJV)
Jesus Christ came to earth to deliver words that are Spirit and life. You will not find this life in the outward realm; it only exists within. When you think of cleansing it’s time to rethink and look to the spiritual realm rather than blindly following man’s outward, vain interpretations and see what God considers clean in His sight. Titus 3:4-6 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (KJV) 3067 loutron (loo-tron'); from 3068; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), immersion, baptism: KJV-- washing. (Strongs Definition For Washing) So what kind of water are you immersing yourself in today and which one do you think will truly cleanse you, the outward carnal washings, or is the Lord looking elsewhere to see who is truly clean in His eyes? Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (KJV) Spiritual stains require spiritual water to remove them. Given the fact that we serve a Spiritual God we need to look beyond the carnal in order to be cleansed and truly show up clean in His sight. Malachi 3:1-2 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: (KJV) You now have access to living spiritual waters, and here is a spiritual bar of soap to go with it, now it’s time to clean up your act. 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (KJV) I spent time in the past in some pig pens of man’s limited fallen doctrines, though they appeared to look good on the outside, inwardly they were a mess. Once I concentrated more on the inward man, I was able to come clean before God. Dearly loved, come clean before God this day through His Son Jesus Christ. God bless and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (KJV)
This week we have talked about not only beginning our walk in the Spirit, but continuing in the Spirit so that someday we can receive a crown of life. The Bible clearly points out what it takes to stay in good standing with our heavenly Father, and what the true requirements are to be allowed access into His eternal realm. Matthew 5:28-30 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (KJV) Purging refers to pruning, cutting something off that is dead and flammable. As we see illustrated in the verses above, the things that are being cut off and cast away are spiritual in nature, and this is encouraged so that you can look at things the way they were meant to be seen. If there is something or someone the Lord is asking you to cut loose from your life, know that it is for your advantage so that it won’t cause you to be cut off from your source of life. Hebrews 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (KJV) The Lord’s surgical tool is the sharpest one available. It will cut fast and deep bringing healing quickly. Just like with a cancer in the body today, the surgeons will cut off the body part that will cause the cancer to spread if not dealt with. Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (KJV) The peace of God that you experience may not always jive with others. Just because you choose to accept the Lord doesn’t mean everyone else around you will be gung ho. This is where that sword cuts deep and close to home. Now you have a choice to make; will you be obedient to what the Lord is asking and continue bearing the fruit of the Spirit, or will decide to please man? Matthew 10:37-39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (KJV) God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me
that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (KJV) Salvation is a continual process; you begin a new life in the realm of the Spirit, and now you are required to continue walking in the Spirit to the end. Our Lord purges or prunes His branches and cuts off all the dead things that are still hanging on to it. What’s the saying, “no pain no gain”. Hosea 10:1-2 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. (KJV) Sometimes being a teacher in the Word is like playing good cop, bad cop depending on who you are dealing with. The Lord is very consistent throughout the Word to point out the positive effects salvation can have on a person as well as the negative effects on a person’s salvation if they decide to go back to the ways of the flesh. Mark 11:11-13 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. (KJV) How many of the Lord’s people are going into temples today seeking some truth, only to leave empty? The description we see above aptly describes many today who appear outwardly to look godly, but inwardly there is no fruit. Mark 11:14-16 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. 15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. (KJV) Two thousand or so years ago our Lord cast out all that nonsense that was taking place in what was supposed to be His temple. Today many have set up their tables again and are just like the empty fig tree not bearing any fruit. Verse 16 concludes with the fact that the Lord would not allow anymore of this nonsense into His temple, so why does mankind think they can get away with it today? Be sure, as you go about your day, not to allow this nonsense in either. God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (KJV)
Our Lord lived a life of obedience to His heavenly Father and demonstrated not only in talk, but more importantly in walk. Something we see lacking are those that let their walk do the talking for them. That’s the difference between the worldly preachers and those that are truly a part of the vine. Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV) At sometime in your walk you will experience the Lord asking you to take a close look at the company that you keep. Evil communications does corrupt your good morals intentions; and you will find that some of the friendly fire that you take on will take place in religious organizations. So in order for you to stay in the blessed column and continue to be rooted and grounded in the truth, you may find it’s time to put away childish things which can come in the form of man’s childish religious doctrines, and move on in order to please our Lord. Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (KJV) Our Lord’s desire is to see His people planted near the river of life so that they can drink the pureness of it. He does not want to see His people drinking the polluted watered down doctrines of man that will not bring life; and as you see illustrated in the verse above, our Lord desires for us to be instant in season and out of season, not fickle like mankind who limits Christianity to just Sunday morning services. Ezekial 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (KJV) We have been grafted into the tree of life so that we can bear the fruit of the Spirit. When the Lord comes your way today, will He find any fresh fruit growing in you? God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me
that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (KJV) (Williams New Testament John 15:1&2) 1. "I am the real vine, and my Father is the cultivator. 2. He cuts away any branch on me that stops bearing fruit, and He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more. When you accepted our Lord’s plan of salvation for yourself you tapped into a tree of life. This tree is Spiritual in nature, and so are all those that draw their strength from it. All scripture is given for you to profit from; and yes, sometimes besides just showing you the blessings the Lord will speak to you in the form of correction so that you can continue in the vine. Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (KJV) While watching a movie recently the statement was made, “my parents ruined the first half of my life and my children the second”. Well with that being said what kind of parents would not correct their child; and in the end, for those that have grown up in a godly home, are you not glad for the correction? The fact is that before your conversion in Christ you spent much more time in the realm of the flesh and were limited to just outward things that you thought would bring peace; and now for you to continue on this new found path of life you will find that the Lord’s ways and thoughts are so much higher than yours. It now means that you will have to learn to walk all over again, this time by faith. Hebrews 12:8-11 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (KJV) So do take it personal Church when going through changes in life; what may now be described as growing pains. You will find that the way you used to do things in the past will no longer work, but God will show you a better way. God bless and don’t let go of the Vine. |
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