Good morning.
The image Jesus created in John 15:1-17 is one of Him being the centre, and those who love Him obtaining their resources from Him and using it to bear fruit. A fruit is something that contributes to health in a person, feeds them and contains a seed to reproduce itself, and that is what the Lord’s aim is for our works.
It is good to feed and heal people physically, but if they don’t change and have eternal value and hope, what have they gained? It is also of little use to just do religious activity all the time, but people don’t get equipped to reproduce themselves and make a difference in their environment (Ephesians 4:11-16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:11-16&version=NIV1984). If we want the world to change, it is imperative that we understand what Jesus tried to tell us through the illustration of the vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you,” (John 15:1-3).
There are a few keys in here.
1. Jesus mentioned that the branches are in Him. Are you in Him? We often hear someone say, ‘get out of my head’. When we got married, my wife and I became one – we know each other well, are aware of the other’s emotions, thoughts, interests, battles and hurts. The only way to be in Jesus is to be seriously interested in Him – to know Him, His way of thinking and feelings. As discussed previously Abraham, Moses and Elijah all knew the Lord so well that they were prepared to negotiate with Him. Do you spend enough time with the Lord so you can see what is in Him?
2. The Father cuts off branches that bear no fruit. The Lord is patient, but He is not going to nag us. If we want to draw the sap from the vine to feed our fruit so it could become nourishing to others, the Lord is available to give as much as we need. But if we are aloof and careless, we will remain dry and useless and will one day hear the words: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23) – being cut off. I don’t know about you, but when life gets tough the idea of having rewards in heaven appeals to me and motivates me, so I would rather stay in the vine.
3. The Father desires to remove obstacles that hinder the sap from the vine to reach the fruit - pruning. In the next sentence Jesus told the disciples that they are already clean because of His word spoken to them. The Word washes us clean. As we read the written Word (logos) we become aware of what need to change in us, but it is the power of the revelation Word (rhema) that affects change in us. Rhema is when the Lord speaks directly to us through His logos, the written Word and usually shakes us a bit. Prophesy is also Word from God and has a similar washing effect. Many years ago I struggled with the Lord in prayer about a sin I couldn’t overcome. That evening in church someone stood up and told the congregation that a person spoke that afternoon with the Lord about a sin, and the Lord said ‘if you don’t leave this sin, you will not get where I want you to be’. Needless to say, it was chilling. Later the Lord led me to make a covenant with myself: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,” (Philippians 4:8) – a rhema that brought faith and commitment.
If we cooperate with God’s pruning by seeking rhema Word to wash us and rid us from hindrances, our fruit will increase.
Thank you, Lord for speaking to me through your Word.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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