This is that...12.29.17
The Word of the LORD for 2018
“Meditate on scripture throughout each day and your year will be bright and full of the glory of the LORD...so you shall bear much fruit.”
Scripture meditation means to ponder, to think about, mutter to oneself...in the LORD. It is the foundation to walking in the Spirit and pleasing Father.
(See Psalm 1:1-3 and Joshua 1:8-9)
Let’s look at John 15:1-17
This passage of scripture is loaded with life and revelation knowledge. Jesus reveals Himself as the True Vine, the source of all life, and reveals His Father as the Vinedresser who prunes the branches. Those branches that bear fruit, He trims to bear MORE fruit.
Those branches that are unproductive or fruitless, Father takes away...to be separated and then burned.
“I’m trying to bear fruit for God. I volunteer at the mission every week and feed the poor. Every Saturday morning I clean the bathrooms at my church and vacuum also. But I don’t know why everything in my life seems so dry and lifeless. I guess I’m just in a desert place right now.”
How long have you been there?
“Oh, probably been feeling like this for a couple of years....”
Let’s look at what Jesus said in this passage.
“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.” (John 15:4)
THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF
“What exactly are you saying? Are you implying that I might not be bearing fruit even though I am volunteering to help others and cleaning my church every week?”
Did the LORD tell you to do these things?
“Well, no...not directly. My Pastor told everyone about these needs and I thought I would help out.”
If the LORD didn’t tell you to do this then you’re not actually bearing fruit in the Vine but merely doing good activities, kind of like the world does.
Abiding in the Vine
Do you spend time in fellowship with the LORD on a continual basis, preferably every day? Fellowship with Jesus means you’re reading/studying God’s Word, talking to Him and receiving knowledge, understanding, strength, and joy from Him. Just like a branch on a vine must receive life-giving nutrition in order to produce delicious tasting grapes, your good works must come from an inward inclination or a direct instruction from the One who is the Head of the Church.
Jesus Christ is directing each of His members in what needs to be done to establish His Kingdom on earth.
But how can a member obey if he doesn’t have time to hear?
Friend, if you’re in the desert it’s because you have gone down a road that the LORD did not tell you to go down, and that’s not good. Where there’s fellowship and obedience there’s the anointing of love and joy, and that produces fruit that shall remain. (John 15:11)
Dear heart, over the next few days, take a spiritual inventory of your walk with Jesus and make changes if necessary.
2018
As we get closer to the end of this age, how you spend your days, and what you are doing for the LORD, will become increasingly more important. 2018 is not a year to let go of what you know you should be doing to be playing around with the world. There will be unwanted consequences...
2018 is a year of glorious rewards for those who walk in the Spirit and are obedient to meditate on scripture.
This is that...which the Risen Savior spoke about...
“I know your works, your labor, your patience... and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored.... Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:2-5)
The Word of the LORD for 2018
“Meditate on scripture throughout each day and your year will be bright and full of the glory of the LORD...so you shall bear much fruit.”
Scripture meditation means to ponder, to think about, mutter to oneself...in the LORD. It is the foundation to walking in the Spirit and pleasing Father.
(See Psalm 1:1-3 and Joshua 1:8-9)
Let’s look at John 15:1-17
This passage of scripture is loaded with life and revelation knowledge. Jesus reveals Himself as the True Vine, the source of all life, and reveals His Father as the Vinedresser who prunes the branches. Those branches that bear fruit, He trims to bear MORE fruit.
Those branches that are unproductive or fruitless, Father takes away...to be separated and then burned.
“I’m trying to bear fruit for God. I volunteer at the mission every week and feed the poor. Every Saturday morning I clean the bathrooms at my church and vacuum also. But I don’t know why everything in my life seems so dry and lifeless. I guess I’m just in a desert place right now.”
How long have you been there?
“Oh, probably been feeling like this for a couple of years....”
Let’s look at what Jesus said in this passage.
“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.” (John 15:4)
THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF
“What exactly are you saying? Are you implying that I might not be bearing fruit even though I am volunteering to help others and cleaning my church every week?”
Did the LORD tell you to do these things?
“Well, no...not directly. My Pastor told everyone about these needs and I thought I would help out.”
If the LORD didn’t tell you to do this then you’re not actually bearing fruit in the Vine but merely doing good activities, kind of like the world does.
Abiding in the Vine
Do you spend time in fellowship with the LORD on a continual basis, preferably every day? Fellowship with Jesus means you’re reading/studying God’s Word, talking to Him and receiving knowledge, understanding, strength, and joy from Him. Just like a branch on a vine must receive life-giving nutrition in order to produce delicious tasting grapes, your good works must come from an inward inclination or a direct instruction from the One who is the Head of the Church.
Jesus Christ is directing each of His members in what needs to be done to establish His Kingdom on earth.
But how can a member obey if he doesn’t have time to hear?
Friend, if you’re in the desert it’s because you have gone down a road that the LORD did not tell you to go down, and that’s not good. Where there’s fellowship and obedience there’s the anointing of love and joy, and that produces fruit that shall remain. (John 15:11)
Dear heart, over the next few days, take a spiritual inventory of your walk with Jesus and make changes if necessary.
2018
As we get closer to the end of this age, how you spend your days, and what you are doing for the LORD, will become increasingly more important. 2018 is not a year to let go of what you know you should be doing to be playing around with the world. There will be unwanted consequences...
2018 is a year of glorious rewards for those who walk in the Spirit and are obedient to meditate on scripture.
This is that...which the Risen Savior spoke about...
“I know your works, your labor, your patience... and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored.... Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:2-5)