John 1: 1 – 2 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (2) He was present originally with God. (3) All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. (AMP C)
Not only is God Himself the source of The Living Word but The Living Word IS God Himself. God and His Word are One. You cannot separate God from His Word.
Hebrews 11: 3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. (AMP C)
Colossians 2: 3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. (AMP C)
Colossians 2: 9 – 10 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. (10) And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (AMP C)
John 1: 1 – 2 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (2) He was present originally with God. (Amp C)
Not only is God Himself the source of The Living Word but The Living Word IS God Himself. God and His Word are One.
You cannot separate God from His Word. Just as you cannot separate God from His Word you cannot separate man and his word, good or bad.
Matthew 12: 35 – 37 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. (36) But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. (37)For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.(Amp C)
God’s Word is Alive. God Himself Is Life. Since God and His Word are One then God’s Word Is Life. Absolute Life.
Proverbs 4: 20 – 27 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
(V. 20 Amplified Classic: consent and submit)
(21) Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; (22) For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. (23) Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
(V. 23 Amplified Classic: Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard)
(24) Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. (25) Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. (26) Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. (27) Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. (NKJV)
Our choices direct the path of our life for good and bad. Sometimes the choices that we make place us in circumstances that appear to be hopeless. One of Satan’s greatest deceptions is to tempt us into believing that we have no choice. No way out. But there is always a way out. We may not know what the choice is or how to find out but there is always a choice.
1st Corinthians 10: 13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it. (AMP C )
James 1: 4 (Amplified Bible)But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
Patience is a major key to our future. We all would like to be perfect and wanting nothing as stated in James 1: 4 above. Patience is a fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit as listed in Galatians 5: 22 – 23 (Amplified Bible) But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
Note the word let in James 1: 4 above. As a fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit these fruits including patient are already present in everyone that has received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As stated in 2nd Peter 1: 4 – 7 (Amplified Bible) Patience must be exercised in order to be developed in our lives. Exercising and developing patient and the other fruit of the Spirit in our lives will unlock the blessings of God in our lives.
If I was to ask you if you wanted to see good days, I would say that almost everyone would answer yes. Most people would call that question somewhat stupid. Everyone including myself that I know wants to see good days.
1st Peter 3:10 tells us how to do just that. Psalm 34: 12 – 15 also has the same message. Our words set our lives for negative or positive. Words are seeds for life. God designed it that way. It was His idea.
It was, is, and always will be His Way of doing things for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Even if I do not believe it works that way it still does. I cannot change it for it was designed by God Himself.
1st Peter3: 10 For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good–whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). (AMP C)
We all face problems, troubles, and mountains in our lives from time to time. Some are larger than others. Some last longer than others. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we will not have trouble in this life. No one is immune. Problems, trials, and trouble are just part of life in this fallen world.
If we focus on the circumstances, the problems, and the troubles more than the Word, the circumstances that we are facing will conqueror us and come to pass.
If we focus on and believe in the Word more than the circumstances, the Word will come to pass. The choice is ours.
Jesus said we would have tribulation in this world.
John 16: 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)
Jesus said to be of good cheer. In other words, do not focus on the tribulations and problems but focus on the answer to them. Focus on what the Word says. Focus and act on that, not the problems, trials, and troubles. Let the Word determine how you respond.
When we are going through problems, trials, and trouble in this life we need to know and be persuaded that we are in Christ Jesus, That God Himself is for me, and that He has already made me more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.
Romans 8: 31 – 32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?(32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?(NKJV)
Romans 8: 37 – 39Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.(38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)
1st Corinthians 15: 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
In Christ Jesus – We Are More Than Conquerors!
2nd Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
We are no longer separated or disconnected from God. We are now Sons and Daughters of God. We are in Christ.
1st John 3: 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (NKJV)
Galatians 3: 26 – 28For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.(27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
2nd Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ
Now that we are Born-Again and made Righteous or put in Right Standing with God, we have a part to play in the renewing of our minds or the Putting on of the New Man.
Ephesians 4: 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; (Amplified Classic)
Put off and discard. It stands to reason that if we are to put on something new, we must first take off the old.
Ephesians 4: 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], (Amplified Classic)
Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)
Ephesians 4: 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 3: 10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.(Amplified Classic)
We are all on a journey in our lives even if we never go anywhere. We are moving from one experience to another continuously. Each of us has a path in life to walk out. Only we can decide where that pathway takes us. We are on God’s path or Satan’s, one or the other. Both have definite destinations. You and I are the deciding factor.
God has made a bridge by way of the Cross for each of us if we chose to take it while there is still time to choose. All roads and all paths lead to the Cross.
No matter whether we believe in God or not all of us will encounter the Cross and the One who hung on it and paid our debt. Everyone will face the cross!
Everyone will face the fact that Jesus died for them.
Hebrews 2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (NKJV)
Everyone will face the fact that their freedom from Satan and damnation was purchased by the blood of Jesus.
2nd Corinthians 5: 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (NKJV)
1st John 2: 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (NKJV)
Everyone will face the great love of the Father and Jesus. Not everyone will enter in, but all will know. Every Knee will Bow.
Romans 14: 7 – 12 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. (8) For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (9) For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. (10) But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.” (12) So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (NKJV)
Some will bow their knees because of their great love for the Lord and as sons and daughter of God. Their hearts full of joy as they bow in reference to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
They choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior bowing their knee willingly of their own free will during their allotted time in the Earth. They and are now reaping the Glory and Joy of their New Life in Jesus.
Others will bow because they have to. They will have to bow as defeated subjected enemies of God. They will see their God Satan bow before the Lord. They will see him thrown into the pit and will have to follow him because they served him instead of making Jesus their Lord and Savior during their allotted time in the Earth. They choose darkness rather than light.
The real key questions to your eternity are, how committed are you and to whom? The jail door is unlocked and open, but you must walk thru the door to your Freedom.
Two things we must know. God loves you and me unconditionally. God hates sin not the sinner. He loves the sinner and paid the sinners debt on the cross so that the sinner could go free if they desired to do so.
If you are asking why the Cross? The answer is YOU and me.
We all, no matter who we are, have a path or road in life to walk out. We are all on the journey of life. Only we can decide where that pathway takes us. We are on God’s path or Satan path, one or the other. There are only two actual paths or roads in this life. Both have defiant destinations. They both meet at Cross.
All roads and all paths lead to the Cross but there are two separate destinations at the cross. One to eternal life with our Loving Heavenly Father. The other to an eternal hell separated forever from the Loving Heavenly Father. Our Choice and only our choice.
You and I, and only you and I, determine which path or road we are on and our destination.
You and I are the determining factor.
God has made a way for us if we choose to take it while there is still time. He has provided a bridge for us by way of the Cross to eternal life with God.
No matter whether you believe in God or not, all will encounter the Cross and the One who hung on it and paid our debt. He literally paid a debt He did not owe.
Everyone will face the Cross. All Roads Lead to the Cross.
Jesus IS Absolute Lord!!!
Whether you believe it or not He IS still Absolute Lord!!!
To adjust your eye, a lens, a TV, or similar item to produce a clearer image.
To fix or settle on one thing; to concentrate.
To focus one’s attention on a specific subject or question.
One of the main tactics that the enemy uses is to try and keep our focus on the wrong thing. He works hard at drawing our focus away from God and His Living Word.
Throughout Scripture we see people who had their Faith and Life focus on God and His Living Word. In order for their Faith to work they had to be Focused on Love, the Word, and Faith. Faith works by Love. Faith is applied to the Word. They corrected themselves, their emotions, and the way they responded to the circumstances of life based on God and His Word. Their life focus was their relationship with God.The same should be true of every Christian.
Psalm 25: 1 – 2 UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life. (2a) O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 27: 1 THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? (Amplified Classic)
What in your life do you focus on the most? What is Your Life Focus? What we focus on the most becomes who we are.
To be successful in any area of life we must be focused in that area. If we are not focused, we will not be successful.
We must decide where our focus should be. What we focus on goes farther than just being successful in this life. Our life focus will determine our destiny in this life and our eternity that follows.
God gave man the right to choose. He will back our choice. The choices we make determines our focus.
Romans 8: 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (NKJV)
Matthew 6: 33 – 34 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. (Amplified Classic)
Our Life Focus must be on God’s Living Word first of all.
Colossians 3: 1 – 3 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (3) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
We place our trust in our families, friends, people we know, our government and leaders, Police, Fire Dept. Doctors, our jobs, money, the vehicle we drive, the chair we set in, etc. Trust is involved in every area of life.
We need to remember that while we are placing our trust in family, friends, and all the other areas of life, they are placing their trust in us. Are we trustworthy? Are we? Can they put their trust in us? If so, we must be people of integrity. “Relationships have to be built on trust.”
In the dark times that we are living in today we may find that some if not all of what we have put our trust in is now failing us. We may be at the place where we do not trust anyone or anything.
The one major question that we all must ask ourselves is do we really trust God and His Living Word? Do we? This is a moment-by-moment decision. Most of us would say yes, we Trust God and His Living Word. But our words and actions do not agree with that.
To properly understand trust, we must understand that Trust cannot be earned it must be granted. A person can position themselves to be trustworthy, but they cannot earn trust. No matter what a person does to become trustworthy that trust must be granted it cannot be earned.
When we truly trust God, we trust His Living Word. God cannot lie. God and His Word are One. God’s Living Word is ABSOLUTE TRUTH. It is ABSOLUTELY Trustworthy. Our trust in God and His Living Word must be on a higher level than our trust in anyone or anything else. Do you really trust the Lord? Do You?
Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)
David knew this and declared his trust in God. We must have the attitude that David had.
Psalm 25: 1 – 2a UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life. (2) O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. (Amplified Classic)
We must trust God no matter what takes place or what we may think or feel.
Psalm 37: 39 – 40 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.(NKJV)
Our focus must be on God and His Living Word, not on the circumstances. We must make a quality decision to always trust in the Lord no matter what the circumstances are.
Psalm 56: 3 – 4 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (4) In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (NKJV)
NOTE: Satan cannot do anything to us apart from fear, any more than God can do something for us apart from faith.
1st John 5: 18b… he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (NKJV)
Faith moves God because faith is in God. Fear moves Satan because fear is in Satan. Fear does not come from God. There is no fear in God for God Is Love. Fear comes from Satan for Satan is Fear.
1st John 4: 16… God is love (NKJV)
1st John 4: 18… There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (NKJV)
2nd Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
(Amplified Classic) [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
Isaiah. 54: 14 – 15 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. (15) Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (NKJV)
God Is Love, Light, and Faith.
Satan is Hate, Darkness, and Fear.
What is faith? What is fear? Faith is a Spiritual force. Fear is a Spiritual force. They are directly opposite each other. Both are governed by Spiritual Laws.Faith is governed and works by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Fear is governed and works by the Law of Sin and Death.
Romans 8: 1 – 2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJV)
Romans 8: 5 – 6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (NKJV)
Our knowledge of the Word, how it works, how and when to use it, is of extreme importance and value to us if we are to be victorious overcomers and successful in our Christian walk.
God’s Word is involved in every area of our lives. Our lack of knowledge, faith, and action determines our level of success or failure.
Meditation in the Word builds knowledge of the Word.
Meditation in the Word builds the inner image of the Word in our hearts. Meditation in the Word builds a capacity for faith which is the activator of the Living Word.
Meditation in the Word causes the Living Word to abide in our hearts.
Joshua 1: 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. (Amplified Classic)
Psalms 119: 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.(NKJV)
Every word that we speak is a seed sown. The seed sown brings forth a harvest. If you do not want the harvest of your words do not speak them. Speak only what you want for a harvest.
All seed, good and bad, are sown by the words of our mouth.
Words are involved in every area of our lives. Just think about the number of words we say, hear, think, and see every day of our lives. Even when we are not aware of it, they are present and affect our very lives.
Words are involved and affect everything that we say, think, and do.
Words govern our life whether or not I believe that they do.
Anything that has life originated from a seed of some kind. All creation came from the seed of God’s Living Word spoken forth by God Himself.
Sowing and reaping are absolute laws that God Himself put in place.
Words are involved in everything God does and everything that we do. God and His Living Word are One.
John 1: 1 – 3 IN THE beginning [before all-time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (2) He was present originally with God. (3) All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. (Amplified Classic)
All things, no matter what they are, came into existence and continue to exist by and through the Word.
Colossians 1: 16 – 17For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. (17) And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). (Amplified Classic)
Genesis 8: 22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, and day and night Shall not cease (NKJV)
Galatians 6: 7 – 9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.(8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (NKJV)
All seed, good and bad, are sown by the words of our mouth.
Matthew 12: 35 – 37 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. (36) But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. (37) For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. (Amplified Classic)
We are walking in a very dark world. It has always been dark in this World since the fall of Adam of Eve. But Darkness was not God’s plan for this world. God Is Light. Darkness was allowed to reign in the World where it was not supposed to reign. God placed Adam and Eve in Dominion over this World, not Satan and Darkness. Adam was supposed to take dominion over Satan and cast him out, but he did not. Instead of casting Satan out Adam yielded to Satan’s deception disobeying God. Adam, with the encouragement of Eve, ate fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, disobeying God, yielding to Satan’s deception. Ever since that moment darkness has been allowed to reign in this World.
But God – so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3: 16 Amplified Classi
Praise the Lord – The True Light, Jesus, has come.
John 12: 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (NKJV)
John 8: 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (NKJV)
Because of the Blood of Jesus Christ, Satan and all the demons of hell put together cannot keep you from coming into the True Light Jesus Christ.
No matter who you are or where you are,
No matter what you have done or think you may have done,
No matter how far away from God you are or think you are,
No matter how deep in darkness you are or think you are,
You can still choose Jesus. You can move from darkness to the True Light.
God Himself gave all mankind the right to choose. God will not reject the one that comes to Him
John 6: 37 All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]. (Amplified Classic)
Your debt no matter what it is or how great it is has already been paid in full by the Blood of Jesus. Come to the One Who Loves You. Come into the Light.
The Heart Cry of God to all mankind, past, present, and future is “Come to Me”.That heart cry from the depths of God’s Loving Heart has been a continuous heart cry for thousands of years and will continue until Jesus’ final return at the end of the age.
Can you hear that Heart Cry from God’s Heart?
Please Come unto ME!!
Do you hear God calling you by name?
Our Loving Heavenly Father deeply desires for all of us to come to Him in every area of life no matter how big or small the problem may be. He deeply desires to walk and fellowship with us.
Can you hear the heart Cry of God? Are you answering that Heart Cry?
Matthew 11: 28 – 30Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.](29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.(30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. (Amplified Classic)
John 15: 1 – 12 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4)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. (5) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (8) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (9) “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (10) If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (11) “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (12) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (NKJV)
My Father is the Vinedresser (Husbandman or Gardener)
A Vinedresser (Husbandman or Gardener) is one who cares for, watches over, prunes, cultivates, brings to harvest, and harvest.
John 14: 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.(NKJV)
John 15: 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (NKJV)
Branch (Webster) The shoot of a tree or other plant; a limb; a bough shooting from the stem, or from another branch or bough.
It is the abiding Word that brings forth fruit. As it brings forth fruit it also brings refreshing.
Our union with God through His Living Word brings Life. That Life which flows from the Living Word brings refreshing. If we are not connected to the True Vine, there can be no life or refreshing.
We must be abiding in the True Vine for the Living Word to bring forth Living Fruit.
John 15: 1 – 12 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4)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. (5) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… (NKJV)
If Jesus is the True Vine then there must be a false vine.
Since Jesus said He was the True Vine singular then that would mean that there is and can only be one True Vine.
In order to be strong in The Lord, we must stir ourselves up. Note that I said stir ourselves up. That’s our job not God’s. There are many Christians asking and waiting for God to stir them up but according to the Word we must stir ourselves up.
He paid the price and gave us everything needed to stir ourselves up, but He will not do it for us. It must be our choice. He will teach us how and will strengthen us so that we can stir ourselves up, but it must be our choice to do so.
2nd Timothy 1: 6 – 7 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.(NKJV)
In order to stir ourselves up we must remove the things that hinder us from being stirred up.
As soon as we start to stir ourselves up the Holy Spirit within us joins in with us as we continue to stir ourselves up. He strengthens and refreshes us as we stir.
Restoration Ministries 