Remain in me, and I will remain in you. John 15: 4 Do you feel settled? Are you settled? When we remain in God, we will feel settled. What does remain mean? In the Greek text, the word remain is meno. It means “to stay, to continue with, to abide.” Now, look at the Latin word for maneo. It is the root word for the English words mansion and home. So why is this important to know? Well, when Jesus asked us to remain in Him, He was inviting us to settle our souls into His life-giving presence as a permanent resident. This is where we get to live forever.…
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Pruned and Purified
You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” John 15:1-3 Do you think that gardening takes time? Or patience? How about waiting? It sure does. So does our life when God is pruning us. Stop and think about when the seed is first planted when you get to pick the fruit of that plant? You wait months for the plant to produce fruit. This is how it can be in our very own lives. It can take a while for the spiritual fruit to blossom for others to see. There are two things mentioned in John 15:3. Pruning and purification. In pruning by God,…
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No Producing Fruit Or Producing Fruit
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit, so they produce even more. John 15:1-3 Pruning! I think this would be the hardest part of gardening. I have plants, I have learned that the dead leaves are to be removed, and the plant will be healthy again. Sometimes I wonder if I am pruning my plants right. I wonder if God feels the same way when He has to start pruning in our lives? What is His motivation for pruning in our lives? Why is it so…
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Jesus The True Grapevine
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1-3 How much do you know about vineyards? I know nothing about vineyards. In ancient times it was common in Palestine to have vineyards. The people would even ornately the temple with grapevines. In the Old Testament, God used the vine as imagery to describe Israel. Read Psalm 80:8-9 As we know, the Israelites became a wild vine because they wandered away from God’s covenant relationship with God. God makes a few comments, referring to His people as the vine and being planted. Look at verses Jeremiah 2:21 and Isaiah 5:1-2. When we are not abiding in God,…
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The Gardener
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” John 15:1-3 Do you know God? Do you know who He is? Do you know what He is like? Jesus uses two metaphors in these first three verses. These metaphors reveal important things about who The Father and Himself are. Jesus states that He is the TRUE grapevine. Why do you think it is important that He states that…
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The Bride of Christ
“For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 Are you ready to be the Bride of Christ? Jesus is communicating that He has a purpose of a special relationship of oneness with Him. Look at Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to…
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Advent: Day Fourteen
Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on stand forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:7 The zeal of the Lord Almighty. Do you know or even understand what this means? What does zeal mean? It means fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor. Wow! God has a zeal for us humans. Let’s break this down even further. Fervor means great warmth and earnestness of feeling. Diligence is a constant and…
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Advent: Day Eleven
So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to David’s house and line. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to marry him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. Luke 2:4-6 . A pilgrimage. Have you ever went on a pilgrimage. Leaving behind the familiar life that you know and venturing into the unknown?? Having to hold onto God as your provider! This makes me think of missionary life. Joseph and Mary were called on a pilgrimage. They left behind…
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Advent: Day Ten
In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. Luke 2:1-3 . Proverbs 4:12 promises that “when you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” God’s love ties us forward on the path He has ordained. Joseph and Mary were not planning on a trip to Bethlehem; however, God orchestrated circumstances in their lives to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah. God can make these promises to us because His…
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Gratitude Among Others
And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. Hosea 2:8 Have you ever done something for someone, yet another got the credit for it? Has God ever blessed you with a harvest of food, and you never gave him credit for it? Israel is not giving gratitude where gratitude is due. Year after year, God gives Israel plenty of harvest. Year after year, though, the Israelites offer what God gives them to Baal. A false god that doesn’t even exist. They honor Baal and not God.…