You Are a Branch in Need of a Vine

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

John 15: 1-4

Commentary:

Are you dried up, or are you moist with the Holy sap of God’s word in you? Are you going about spreading the nourishing Word of our Lord? You must be purged.The old life must fall away so the new self can bring forth fresh fruit? We must put our self in God’s hands so He can reshape us, to place us in fertile soil so we can  be fruitful.

Cut away the old self , if not, then you will not bear anything that will be acceptable to God. If you are a follower of Christ, then you are a fruitful branch, and a true believer. Who by our living unions with Him will produce much fruit.Those who are unproductive, those who turn their back from following Christ after making superficial commitments, will get cut off from the vine and cast in the fire. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine? If not, you are missing a gift He has for you.

Let God Give You A New Heart

Scripture: Ezekiel 36: 25-27

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Scripture Commentary: God can give you a new heart to follow Him

In these verses Ezekiel felt that he was preaching to dead people. It’s the same today when people in and out of churches hear the Word but do not listen to what the Word is saying.

We look for things on our terms and time. Jesus told his disciples in John 8: 47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

God is telling Ezekiel if he will give the people a new heart, not only physically but also spiritually. With a new spiritual heart you will truly follow God and not man.

If you become so callous in your ways, then you have lost all sensitivity to sin. Why try to patch your old self?  Let God make you new again.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 36
John Chapter 8