April · branch and fruit · Branch and fruit · Christian. · Spring --Vine Branch Fruit · Vine · Vine

Fruit

The vine and the branch produce fruit.  I think sometimes when we think about fruit in regard to Christianity we think of conversions of non believers to believers.  But looking at Jesus words on fruit and Paul’s definition of fruit of the Spirit, I think fruit is about our lives and our actions.  Do we live our lives in Christian righteousness?  Do we live a life that demonstrates the love of Christ?

Matthew 7:

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Fruit is a direct result of the Spirit in us.  The fruit creates a sweetness in life that others see as pleasant. A Christian filled with the Spirit lives a life different from the world.

Galations 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

April · branch and fruit · Branch and fruit · Christian. · Vine · Vine

Branch

John 15:I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The tender growth are the branches that grow from the strong solid vine.  The eventual fruit of these vines will grow from these tender, well tended, branches.  The branch has several purposes, but without the vine, it does not have the nourishment or stability to create fruit.

We are to be one with Christ. God provided the Holy Spirit to be that force inside us which connects us to Jesus and to the Father.

John 14:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Tomorrow we look at the fruit of the vine; then we can focus on gardening.

April · Branch and fruit · Christian. · Spring --Vine Branch Fruit · Uncategorized · Vine · Vine

The Gardener and the Garden of Pleasure

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman

Check out the word husbandman and it is translated the farmer.

Our God gardens.  Look at his first project.

After creating the world; he created a garden.
He chose a place east of Eden.  The word eden means delight or pleasure.  There the Lord planted a garden.  The world was created with plants and animals.  He created a man and then he created a special place for him to live. A place so wonderful it’s name was The Garden of Pleasure.  We treat the word pleasure like it is nasty, but pleasure should be pure.  Pleasure comes from enjoying the delights God has given us in the setting He provides.

So what did God plant in the Garden?

Genesis 2:8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Then God brought the living animals He created to Adam so He could name them.

Genesis2:19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

Then God created the woman to be in the Garden with Adam.

Our Creator loves to fashion what is beautiful.  And in the evenings, God came and spent time one on one with Adam and Eve.

Genesis3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:

Now Jesus in John 15 tells us God is gardening again.  Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and the Father tends the vine to produce fruit.