I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5 NIV
Wow! What a powerful statement. Jesus is telling a parable or an allegory which describes Himself as “the true vine,” His Father, “the Gardener” and us as “the branches.” [See John 15:1-16.]
During a very important conversation Jesus is having with his disciples only a few hours before he is crucified, he said the following:
“Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Do you know the power that you have when you abide with your Lord? You and I must stay close to our Lord daily. Your Lord is the vine, we are the branches. Even though it may hurt for a little while, your Heavenly Father, the Gardener, will prune us, the branches, to be able to bear fruit now and even more fruit in the future. You and I cannot bear or produce fruit, unless we remain with the Lord. How are you doing?
“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. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4
I hope you can relate this powerful scripture to what God’s principle is as in cutting back a rose bush or a hibiscus tree or any other type of bush or tree that you may have in your own yard. You must cut off the dead straggly branches and then shape it nicely to have beautiful flowers. God is wanting to do the same to us. He prunes away our branches by cleansing us of anything in our life that may hinder our walk with the Lord so that we grow and share the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to others. Then the Lord will have an increase into His Kingdom by our witness to others of our own personal life and testimony. The enemy does not want anyone to follow the Lord’s will for their life. Satan uses all different kinds of temptations to seduce you away from God’s will, way and His Word throughout your life. Where are you today? Are you growing in the Lord? Are you being obedient to His will and way in your? Are you putting Him first? Are you burdened about lost souls or have you become lukewarm in your walk with the Lord? As 2016 come to a close, I pray that you make a new commitment to bear fruits as remain in The Lord.
Abiding in Christ isn’t “extra” power for God’s work, it’s the ONLY power for God’s work. If you’re not abiding, you’re not doing God’s work nor growing in Him.