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| Separation from THE VINE |
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15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every `branch' that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. 15:5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
I have a big Pecan tree in my back yard. I see it through a window every time I sit down at the family computer. When Tropical Storm Faye blew through town I had a very large limb fall down. It is much too big for me to move, and I will have to get a chain saw and cut it up in pieces and haul it away. I would tie a rope to it and tie it to the back of my Jeep and try to haul it but the over sized limb is wedged tightly in between other limbs.
It has been about 3 weeks now since that limb has fallen and day by day I have watched this once large limb with green leaves turn to a shriveled up brown piece of mess that has ruined my view in my back yard! As I look at this severed limb it has become a vivid reminder of what it means to be separated from the Vine. Jesus said, "apart from Me you can do nothing." As long as the limb was attached to the trunk it received nourishment and it was healthy, vibrant and produced a lot of fruit (in this case nuts). However, as it has become separated from it's trunk it is unable to sustain life or produce fruit on it's own. In fact this large limb is useless now except to be cast into the fire.
When we cease to remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ we become like that limb in my back yard. We become fruitless, barren, and good for nothing. When we live in rebellion to the Father, when we choose not to pray,when we neglect to gather together with the saints, not to serve one another in love, fail to read our Bibles and worship our LORD we start to become stale, stagnant, and lifeless. This will result in becoming separated from the Vine and without Him and His divine love, power, and grace flowing through our lives we can do nothing. Meaning our spiritual effectiveness, fruitfulness, and power will cease to exist for our strength, vitality, and fruitfulness only comes through the True Vine Jesus Christ. |
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| To add a comment to "Separation from THE VINE" |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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There's even a Sermon in the storm. Who could have looked at a broken tree branch and saw that scripture...You.
Blessings |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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| Thanks Brother Todd...I don't want to be a brown shriveled up piece of mess...apart from Him we truly can't florish, grow, and produce good fruit...and that's how we are identified...by our fruit...many blessings and thanks for the Word... |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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I believe that there is a spiritual lesson in everything we just don't always look for it! That's awesome how you saw it! God bless ya! |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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Great message........ without Him we are nothing and can do nothing!
Now, don't you go gettin' rid of that limb......like a true southerner, you keep some of it.......it's called smoking......pecan wood gives awesome flavor to meats, hehehehe...... |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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| Amen Todd, well said! |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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| Very nicely said. It is amazing how nature tells us of God's truths. |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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| This was a good blog1 |
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| September 06, 2008 |
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| That's a scary place to be Brother Todd. A lot of people won't even be bothered by Jesus' rejection of them. Others will wonder what they did wrong. All along God had been trying to reach out to them. Then there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. |
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| September 07, 2008 |
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| Excellent brother! |
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| September 07, 2008 |
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| What an illustration! Dude, you have a gift! |
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| September 07, 2008 |
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Brother Todd being separated from the vine is a terrible place to be....It is the Fathers desire that we ALL bear MUCH FRUIT....that is how the Father is glorified...
15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
But on the flip side of that...
15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
If we don't bear any fruit...or don't abide in Him....we are good for nothing but to be burned...and burn many shall..even in the Lake of Fire...This is serious business Brother Todd..that's why we cannot afford NOT to stay connected to THE VINE...Jesus Christ....We MUST Stay in His Word....Stay In Prayer...and Stay In Fellowship with the Most High God...We are nothing but Stewards over His Vineyard...and when He returns I want to hear Him say....Well Done ..Thou Good and Faithful Servant...You have been Faithful over a FEW Things...enter into the Joy of the Lord ;o) That's why every now and then...I don't mind the pruning process...Sometimes it hurts....I may have to cry....Sometimes friends will walk out and leave....but that's OK....I'm being pruned to bear MORE FRUIT for the Kingdom of God...Excellent Blog!!!!! |
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| September 07, 2008 |
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| Good blog, Todd. Thank you for the encouragement to stay connected! |
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| September 08, 2008 |
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| Awesome blog Brother Todd... |
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| September 08, 2008 |
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| "apart from Me you can do nothing." |
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| September 10, 2008 |
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| Amen. Great blog |
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