LEARNING DAILY

John 15:1-2, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Pastor Jonathon Moore is beginning a series where he uses a clip from the series The Chosen to introduce what his message is about. This week he selected Jesus’ analogy about the vine and the branches from John 15. This is given during the time He spent in the Upper Room with His disciples to explain what is about to happen and encourage them for the days ahead. Jesue told the disciples “They would always be together – even though He would not be with them physically” (JM). Pastor Moore emphasized that Believers may not always see or understand what God is doing in their lives, but they can know that He is always present with them.”

Pastor Moore said that verse 2 may seem difficult to understand, “every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” God as the vinedresser prunes the branches that are not bearing fruit. Believers are the branches, Jesus is talking about and He wants believers to be bearing fruit. Pastor said that those branches that are not bearing fruit “need to be lifted up because they are laying on the ground.”  God, as the vine keeper is not going to cut off anyone or anything that is abiding in Jesus Christ; “He is going to lift up a Believer who needs to be useful (but laying on the ground) and connect him/her to other branches in the vineyard to produce again.” The enemy will lie to you, telling you if you are lying on the ground, you will no longer be useful to God” (JM).

Here is what the Word of God says about being lifted by God. Psalm 3:3, “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 145:14, “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” All Believers are branches and are to produce fruit.

Pastor gave three thoughts that he called “Branch facts”. “People see the Branches [Believers] before they see Jesus [the Vine].” If you would drive by a field where grapes are being grown, you would see the branches and produce; you would probably not be able to see the vine. Yet you would know the vine was there due to the produce seen. What do people see when they see you? “The fruit in your life is proof of your roots. Where your roots are is what you produce. Stay connected to Jesus.” (JM). Let people see the peace you have with Jesus when difficulty comes.

“Fruit follows Faithfulness.” John writes the words, “abide”, “Remain” (depending on the Bible version) in Christ repeatedly to emphasize that sanctification [growth as walk the narrow way] takes time. “Remain fruitful and stay faithful, stay connected to the Jesus; fruit does not come when you are not connected to the vine” (JM). He gave an example of 160 hours in a week – 1/3 of those hours is spent sleeping, 1/3 of those hours is spent doing what we do (working, school, etc.), the rest of the time is everything else we do. That rest of the time is the amount of time spent with God – for a great number of Christians that is 1 to 1 and ½ hours with God (church on Sunday). “That is not what God had in mind when He said remain, abide in Him. He wants to invade every area, every place, all Believers do so we produce fruit.

Lastly, “Every Branch that does not Produce Fruit, He Prunes.” “This is not punishment! It is cutting out the unhealthy ‘stuff’ in the believer’s life. It may not even be sinful, just the distractions and things that waste time. He prunes the branches to produce more fruit for Him” (JM).

What are people seeing in you?