John, chapter 15

This is the day that the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it in the name of Jesus, amen. Thank you LORD.

Jesus says in John 15:1-4 (NKJV)

1. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3. You are already clean because of the Word that I have spoken to you.

4. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself; unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Amen, thank you LORD.

In yesteday's post, I shared on faith in the name of Jesus for whatever we ask God, the Father in Jesus' name, He will do it (John 14:13-14). In this chapter, Jesus is sharing the importance of abiding in Him. In John chapter 14, it is almost as if Jesus starts with the end result that is, that whoever would believe in Him, His works would do greater works than Him because He goes to the Father (John 14:12). However, in John chapter 15, Jesus demonstrates the path to these greater works and it is abiding in Him. First Jesus shares a relationship that takes place between a vine and a branch and the vine dresser. A vine is a tree, the branches are a part of the tree and the vinedresser is the person who watches over and takes care of the whole tree. Jesus is saying, He is the vine, the tree in which we are grafted into as branches. He then speaks of a cleaning that takes place by the Word that He has spoken. Salvation which is believing in your heart unto righteousness and confessing with your mouth that Jesus was raised from the dead by God (Romans 10:9-10) is the cleansing that takes place after one receives the spoken Word of God.

Jesus then says, abide in me and I in you for the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine and He specifically says to His children neither can you unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4). Abiding in Jesus is part of your new creation identity make up as a child of God. Jesus is reminding us here that as a child of God, it is not something that a believer has to work towards because just like you are the branch and Christ is the vine, the vine and branch cannot be separated from each other.

So what does abiding in the vine look like?

Knowing the truth and walking in the truth of God's Word. James 1:25 says it is not hearers of the Word of God that are blessed but the doers of the Word of God that are blessed. When you know the truth of God's Word and walk in its truth and continue to keep it in your heart by doing what the Word of God says, you are abiding in the vine who is Christ. As you abide in the vine, Christ, you will become that branch that bears fruit. Then based on the kind of fruit you are bearing, the Father God comes as the vine dresser, to prune so that you will be able to bear more fruit (John 15:2). God made you for fruitfulness and today Jesus reminds us that fruitfulness, increase and multiplication are all found in Him when we know and walk in the truth of the Word of God, amen.

I'll end with Jesus Word found in Revelation 2:25 (NKJV)

"But hold fast what you have till I come."

Prayer: LORD Jesus thank you for the grace we have received to abide in You as the vine and we as the branches. Thank you Father that You are prunning every fruit that bears fruit in us so that we are able to bear even more fruit for Your glory in the name of Jesus. Thank you for the grace to know and walk in the truth of Your Word and may we hold fast to what we have until Your coming in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: The greatest gift that God gave the world will always be His Son, Jesus. If you would like to receive eternal life and have personal relationship with God through His Beloved Son, Jesus. I invite you to say this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

GLORY TO GOD, You are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!

If you have not already, I encourage you to read chapters 1-15 of John's Gospel! GOD BLESS YOU