Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 5 Do you know what is important to God? Here is a slight hint, it’s what he repeats. This is the time that you really want to pay close attention to these moments. Jesus wants us to understand something significant than an intriguing illustration. So let’s zone in a little deeper to the vine, the gardener, and the branch and see what the outcome is. IT is the fruit produced. The fruit is good for us. It gives us nutrients that our bodies need. And it tastes,…
-
-
Severed From The Vine
For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15: 4-6 Jesus is Truth. He will tell us the truth about our lives—even the things we can’t do. Read the verse above again. We are meant to bear good fruit in Jesus. Jesus will tell us and show us when we are not taking good fruit in our lives. When we severe ourselves from Jesus, we will not be able to produce fruit in our lives. We need to be Tending our connection with Jesus every day. Read Matthew 6:31-33, 14:28-31; Mark 4:19; Luke 10:38-42;…
-
Remain In Me
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.…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
My Father the Gardener
“I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener.” John 15:1-3 In the first verse of John 15, Jesus says that He is the true grapevine and that His Father is the gardener. Jesus says this, so we know who is the gardener in our lives. God the Father is the Gardener who cultivates our souls with a father’s tender heart. We know that God is our creator. He was the gardener since the beginning. Read Genesis 1: 11-12. Then skip to Genesis 1:29-30. It says that God planted a garden in Eden. Throughout scripture, God shows up in a variety of ways as the divine gardener. Read…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Presentation Of The Bride
“The King’s daughter is all glorious within; Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to Thee. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; They will enter into the King’s palace.” Psalm 45:13-15 Do you love to look at a castle or even go on a tour of one? My husband and I love castles. When I was 16, I went to Spain. The best part of the tour is going to all the castle and having a tour. Just think, when we go to heaven, we will be…