Life as a Branch

What does a branch do? Not much (Galatians 3:1-3). The roots, vine and leaves of a plant do most of the work. Without them, the branch will wither and die, and be pruned and thrown into the fire and burned up (Matthew 7:19).

Yet, securely connected to the vine, the branch will bear much fruit (Matthew 7:18). The vine is one long system with many branches flaring out from it. It uses rocks, other plants, trees or any viable support for growth.

The vine helps to fertilize the soil over which it spreads, holding in moisture needed by the branches to bear fruit. It colonizes and spreads quickly. When pruned, the branches bear even more fruit (John 15:4-8).

The vine always moves toward the light in order to position the leaves of the plant to access the most and best sunlight. The vine will even overcome walls, fences and ravines in order to spread. So like our spiritual walk.  

Vines stabilize the plant on which they attach as a support, and also help to hold soil in place and to cover parts of the earth that would otherwise be bare, parched soil.

A stem is stationary and remains in one spot, but a vine spreads out and up and around. Jesus could have used the word "stem" instead of vine in illustrating our connection to Him.

However, His use of the word vine shows that He is interested in spreading His gospel as quickly and prolifically as possible. The roots of the vine also spread out in the soil, offering stability and nourishment for the whole vine and branches.

Roots act like tiny straws, sucking up water and minerals from the soil. The little hairs sticking out from the roots help in this absorption process too. Roots anchor the vine much like God's Spirit anchors us in life.

Roots also store extra nutrients for later use, ensuring that the Vine and branches have the provision they need for healthy growth now and in the future.

The leaves on the branches join the roots in providing much needed food for the vine and branches. They use sunlight, water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air in photosynthesis to make a sugary energy drink for the vine and branches.

Living apart from God's presence, the nurturing of His Spirit and the Body of Christ, we cannot survive in this world (John 15:5). We would wither and die, be pruned and discarded.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for providing Jesus as the support for our life as our Vine. We are amazed at how You piece together the Body, the Spirit and Your presence to make us healthy, and a viable conduit of Your life in order for us to bear fruit for Your Kingdom.

Remind us that we are useless without You, Your Spirit and Your Body, because we could not bear fruit. We rely on You for everything we need for life and godliness (2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Peter 1:3). Use our fruit to feed the multitudes who come to gather in Your presence.

Thought for the Day

The symbolism which Jesus used of the Vine and branches is such a perfect picture of the Christian life; the fellowship, comradery, spiritual nourishment and support provided to us by Jesus, His Spirit and His Body is invaluable to our personal growth in Christ.

The Glory of the Lord

Moses saw the back of God’s form when he went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments from the Lord. The experience was so amazing that his face shone so brightly with the glory of the Lord that no one could look at him. His face was as dazzling as the sun itself. Today, authentic Born Again Believers have this same glory of the Lord resident within us by His Spirit.

The Law, which Moses delivered to Israel on tablets of stone, was a dispensation in God’s government. It gave mankind a chance to earn God’s blessings (2 Corinthians 3:7-8). The Law was very impressive, and it successfully instructed Israel for generations of time. Yet, Jesus eventually came to fulfill the law and to pay the actual penalty of our sin (Matthew 5:17; 1 Peter 2:24).

Jesus brought the glory of His Spirit in Him, which is even more glorious than what Moses experienced. Moses wore a veil so the Israelites could not see that the glory was fading away, just like the ministry of the law (2 Corinthians 3:9-14). However, we have the glorious Spirit of God dwelling within us now and for all eternity.

Nothing can deter us from serving God according to His perfect will for our life (Ephesians 2:10). We are filled with the glory of God each and every day. God removed the veil from our eyes and we can see Him face-to-face. He is our living, intimate God, and He has no desire for us to keep the dead letter of the law (1 Corinthians 3:15-16).

God is personally present in our life and sets us free from the spirit of the Law of Sin and Death by the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). We can never earn our own forgiveness or our salvation apart from Christ (Romans 2:8-9). In God’s presence, His glory in us gradually increases with our spiritual walk. It shines out of our countenance, and people know that there is something different about us (1 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Prayer:

Father God, the more we spend time in Your presence, the more we are transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). You are changing us from glory to glory (1 Corinthians 3:18). Remind us to make you the first priority in our life. Help those who know You superficially to come to a real, saving knowledge of salvation through Your Son (1 Timothy 2:4).

Thought for the Day:

We can love Christian songs, tee-shirts, bumper stickers, church services and fellowship; yet, never know Jesus in a personal way.

Blessings in Disguise

The cartoon about a man getting his foot stuck in a bucket, and then walking around with it stuck there, makes me laugh every time I see it! I can relate to this pitiful figure hobbling along with clanging steps. Sometimes an encumbrance hinders my spiritual walk, and I ignore it for so long it becomes a habit. Eventually, I attempt to free my self from this irritation. I grunt and groan with my effort, until I realize that God is the only one who can set me free.

Sometimes, God uses what I view as a detriment as a blessing in disguise. God assures me that when He finishes using this trial in my life, He will remove the awkward situation. In one cartoon, the man began crushing stones in his garden with the bucket stuck to his foot. He used this negative experience for a positive result. God always uses our spiritual impediments to help us to crush the stones of sin in our life, which would otherwise cause us to stumble.

When I encounter a hindrance in my life now, I no longer fight it or get upset about it. I live each day by following the advice of the Serenity Prayer. I pray for courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to I leave the things, which I cannot change, in the cable hands of the Holy Spirit. I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I do not depend on my own understanding. I seek God’s will for each moment of the day and He directs my steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Nothing is impossible or too hard for God to accomplish (Matthew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:17, 27). At His appointed time everything He predicted by His prophets will come to pass (Genesis 18:14). None of His Words will ever fail (Luke 1:37). He has the power to fulfill all of His promises (Romans 4:21). His mighty arm is not too short to reach any of His Saints. He works on our behalf, no matter how much trouble we get our self into (Numbers 11:23). God is mighty in His strength and firm in His purpose (Zephaniah 3:17; Numbers 23:19).

Prayer:

Father God, You love us so much. You never change (Malachi 3:6). You are the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). This gives us so much confidence in You. We even have faith in Your name (Acts 3:16). You will bring to pass the final exaltation of your Son, continual provision for Your Saints and the punishment of anyone who practices wickedness (Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 8:17; Proverbs 11:21). We lift up our voice to worship You for the awesome benefits You provide for anyone who believes in the name of Jesus (Psalm 103:2; Acts 16:31; Job 36:5).

Thought for the Day:

God can do anything, and no one can change any of His plans. - Job 42:2

The Word of God Speaks

 

In the beginning, the Word was with God and the Word was God. Of course, we know that Jesus is the Word of God, He is God and He was with God from the beginning of time. Jesus is the living Word (John 1:1). In the 6,000 years of time since creation, God also gave us His written word to guide and encourage His Saints through each dispensation of time. He did not leave us defenseless and without hope, but He gave us His living Word to live within us, as well as His written Word to guide us (1 Corinthians 15:2).

Human beings consist of a body (Romans 6:6, Romans 8:13, 1 Corinthians 6:13 and 6:19-20), a soul - our mind, will and emotions (1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 10:39), and a spirit (Acts 7:59, Matthew 26:41, John 4:23-24). We do not simply read the Word; we also live the Word (James 1:22). A true disciple of Christ uses our entire being to live according to His Word (John 8:31). His truth bears fruit in our life (Matthew 13:23) and provides power and authority against satanic attacks (Luke 4:36). His Spirit calms us with assurance from the truths in His Word (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

God’s Word sanctifies our life as we spend time in the folds of its pages (John 17:17). It imparts wisdom to us, and is a continual source of life to us, because His Word is pertinent and living even though it is centuries old (Psalm 119:93; Matthew 4:4). His Word illuminates our life with light and navigates us through the uncharted waters of our life (Psalm 119:105, 130). God’s peace floods our soul when we take time to read His Word. It securely positions us in a safe place in life (Psalm 110:165).

We grow spiritually by a continual habit of feasting on God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Eternal life comes from hearing the Word of God (1 Peter, 1:23; James 1:21; John 5:24). God’s power comes through the preaching of God’s Word and builds up our faith (Acts 10:44; Romans 10:17). Our conscience is clear when we rightly divide the Word of God (Philippians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 4:2). The Word divides the core issues of our soul from our spiritual walk, and helps us to live righteously (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that without You we are nothing, helpless, poor, blind and dumb. We do not want to neglect our soul or body, but we do want to emphasize spiritual growth. We want to put on the mind of Christ, so Your Spirit will transform us until we walk in Your divinity on this earth (Philippians 2:1-11). Help us to put on Jesus’ compassion, love and mercy in order to see all people, not as they appear in the natural, but as Christ sees them (1 Samuel 16:7).

Thought for the Day:

As the Pastor delivers His sermons, God’s Spirit uses the Word to minister to each individual need in the congregation.