Without Me you can do nothing

26/06/2009 16:13

   (John 15:5) Jesus compares us to the branches of the vine. He says, He alone is the true vine and we are His branches. Now, if we are connected to a different vine, then we become the branch of that vine. The vine you are connected to, produces in you the fruit, because life flows through the vine to the branch.  A good tree will produce good fruit as good life flows to the branch. A bad tree will produce bad fruit and bad life flows to the branch. So, the vine you are connected to will result the fruit being good or bad in you (Matthew 7:17).

 

Notice, a tree with branches of various sizes and shapes, all connected to the trunk(vine). The life needed for the branch to live flows from the roots, through the trunk(vine) to the branches. The vine does not bear fruit. The branch bears fruit. If the branch is cut away from the vine. The branch dries up and withers away. The branch dies, as soon, as it is dis-connected from the vine. The fruit is the direct result of the life flowing from the vine to the branch.

When we(the branches) are connected to the vine(Jesus), we must bear fruit. Jesus does not bear fruit. We bear the fruit. When we are connected to the Holy Spirit of God, we bear fruit. When our spirit is connected to the Holy Spirit, our spirit bears fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Notice, the singular term used for fruit. Here, the spirit is not the Holy Spirit but, our human spirit. When our human spirit connects to the Holy Spirit through prayer, our spirit bears fruit. Our fruit will be seen by all. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will be evidently seen by one and all. You may not want to show it but, you cannot hide it either.

(John 15:5) When we abide (greek word 'meno') which means (to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure) in Christ, through His word, fellowship with Him and percecution, we bear much fruit. Not just bear fruit, but bear 'much' fruit. Apart from Jesus we cannot do anything. Now, in regular sense, we do many things without asking or consulting Jesus, so when He says, without me you can do nothing: He speaks about bearing fruit, doing greater things, growing spiritually.

When we bear fruit, the Father is glorified through us, through our fruit (John 15:8). So, we cannot bear fruit, unless we are connected to the vine, because apart from Christ we can do nothing. When we bear fruit, we are called Christ' disciples.

 

The result of connecting to the vine through God's Word is this: (Psalm 1:2-3) When we delight and meditate on God's Word continually, we become fruitful trees. We bear fruit in season and we do not wither away. Whatever we do prospers. Connecting to the real Vine(Jesus) will make us fruitful and prosperous.

Apart from Jesus and obeying His holy Word, we will wither away. Without Jesus, we can do nothing.

 

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