LEARNING DAILY

John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”

I know! I know I wrote on this not too long ago. However, Pastor Ed Newton is on a series where Jesus said, “I AM”; he spoke on this topic this weekend. He had some interesting perspectives that I want to share. The target statement for the message found on the Listener Guide is: “The life you have always wanted is found in staying connected to Jesus, drawing from His strength, and allowing His life to flow through you.”

Pastor Newton began by making sure it was understood that the “vine” is the root and the branches are what are seen above the ground. “The branches receive nutrients from the root – the vine; Believers get nourishment, abundance, fruitfulness from the ‘true vine’” (Pastor Newton). He continued, “The Jewish people [Jesus was talking to] had placed their faith in nationalism, not in God. Jesus was telling them they would not go to heaven because of their Jewish heritage.” These people were not bearing fruit and the warning given by the prophets in the Old Testament (about the judgment of God) was applied to them as well.

Pastor Newton made a point about the word “prune” that I found very interesting. He said, “Every person connected to the vine – those connected to Jesus and not connected by religion – that did not bear fruit would be pruned”.  The words “takes away” in verse 2 is from the Greek word “Airo’ which means “lifts up and washes”.  Pastor said, “Those branches who are not bearing fruit (but are in Jesus, not in religion), He lifts up and washes the dirt of the world off of them in order that they bear fruit.” Consider that statement for a minute. That means that Jesus loves me, loves you, so much that he washes the dirt off me that is keeping me from growth; Jesus cleanses you and me in the form of discipline, removing “stuff” from my life. Have you experienced that discipline, that cleansing in your life in order for you to produce fruit? Again, referring to the narrow way, that is part of the difficulty Jesus said would come with walking the narrow way.

Pastor referenced Hebrews 12:11, “Now, no chastening seems to be joyful for the present; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained for it.”  “Pruning removes what hinders us from producing fruit. It changes one’s desires, so they produce fruit, the evidence that one is in Christ” (from the Listener Guide and Pastor Newton). Experience has shown me that this may be a painful time.

The last point that Pastor made is about “abiding in the vine (Jesus)”. Read John 15:4. To “abide” “means stay connected, dwell in, and to rest in Christ. My relationship to Jesus is not to be just on Sunday [when I go to church], but in every moment of the day and in every aspect of my life” (Pastor Newton). He asked the question: Do you want to produce more fruit? If you do, then spend more time abiding in Jesus. The fruit produced by an individual is directly proportioned to the amount of time abiding in Him” (Pastor Newton). Here are ways to abide in Christ as listed on the Listener Guide. Know your identity is found in Christ (Galatians 6:14). Your identity is shaped by Scriptures (Psalm 1:2-3) [read/study/meditate on God’s Word daily]. Be constant in your prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5;17). Be obedient to Christ (John 15:10) [as you walk the narrow way]. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) [The Holy spirit is the One who produces the fruit of the Spirit in you]. Walk in community (Hebrews 10:25) [That is associating with other Believers in Christ]. Be kingdom mined (Matthew 6:33) [The Believer’s home is in heaven and their focus should always have heaven in mind.].

The final thought is that those who do not abide in Jesus, those who walk in their flesh and seek the worldly recognition, are “thrown away”. For those not connected to the vine, “hell is real” (Pastor Newton).