In John chapter 15 Jesus spoke:
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “
The vine provides life, nourishment, and healing to the branches in order that the branches produce good fruit. Our nature is derived from Jesus Christ thus our walk should reflect HIS Divine Intent of Love. We are to live an abundant life as we embrace our connection to The Vine- Jesus Christ. In John chapter 10 Jesus spoke:
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I have heard many speak against abundance but typically they are among those who are not living life abundantly so they rationalize why these Words of Jesus don’t apply to them or us. The thief thrives on scarcity whereas abundance prevails in the Kingdom. If we are not fruitful, we must look in the mirror and accept the reality that we are lacking in some area. We must not let our ego justify our insufficiency but instead let us repent and move forward IN CHRIST. It is the abundance of life that gives healing, strength, energy, and sufficiency in all things. Why challenge the Words of Jesus and FATHER? Let us turn away from our unbelief and embrace the Word. Let us mediate on HIS Word until It becomes infused in our being.
Let not worry, fear, and doubt consume you. By THE SPIRIT Peter wrote in his first letter, chapter 5:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
As we cast our cares upon FATHER, HE will remove the worry, fear, and doubt plaguing us. As a result of walking in Love, faith, and hope, HE will exalt us and HIS Life flowing through us will minister to others. Let us walk above and independent of circumstances by embracing HIS reality above all else. FATHER is against anything that negatively impacts us which includes both sin and sickness. The flow of life is meant to deal in both areas and so let us receive life in it fullness rather than a minimum portion. FATHER laid both sin and sickness on Jesus in order that we no longer be subject to either. Take time to dwell and consider this reality. We must cleanse ourselves of unbelief by the washing of HIS Word. Let us no longer be as sheep who have gone astray but let us respond to HIS Words of life and restoration.
What happens to a diseased or dead branch which does not yield good fruit? In John 15 Jesus continued:
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. “
As we mature we will expose areas of weakness preventing us from excelling in other areas. Those areas we are not called to will use up resources which should be directed to our calling. As we pray “THY Will be done” in our lives, FATHER closes the doors to those perceived opportunities which are in fact distractions. Our focus must center on producing good fruit for the Kingdom. If we are only consuming without giving then we are not producing fruit. FATHER expects us to increase our fruitfulness with time and maturity. Fruit trees are meant to produce year after year, not “one and done”. Jesus continued:
3 “You are already clean because of the word which 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.”
Jesus makes it quite clear that we receive life by abiding IN HIM. Those who do not renew their minds with the Words of Jesus Christ will become dull in hearing and their fruit production will subside. Instead of revelation they will resort to logic and reasoning. This logic and reasoning will not sustain life for it has no life-giving nourishment. Jesus emphasizes this point:
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. “
Without Jesus Christ at the center of our hearts and consciousness, we can do nothing. If what we are studying and pursuing does not directly exalt Christ in our lives then we must ask if it is a waste of time and energy. As we abide in Christ and His Words, we can expect our desires to be fulfilled:
7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
If we want to glorify FATHER then we should focus on bearing much fruit. You cannot deny these Words spoken by Jesus. There is no hidden meaning to look for in an attempt to redefine His directive to us. Let us accept His Words at face value and simply pursue a life of producing good fruit by being a fruitful branch. Let us inspect our fruit. Is there any? Is it good fruit?