This is post #1 of a 5 post series called "Connect" - Connecting your life to the Vine!
John 15:5 says: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him,
he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."
A verse that is taught, heard, and repeated throughout Christian circles every single day. A verse that many people can repeat by the prompting of the first 4 words of the verse. A verse that has lost the power with which it was written. A verse that has no sting, no conviction, and no life-change anymore. A verse that has simply become a statement as stale as bread that was left open for a few days. But, a verse that should become the very basis of all Christian life!
Upon studying/reading this verse recently the conviction and power of it flooded my life all over again. Like a new employee that didn't know anything of his new job is overwhelmed, as was I. Why? I had read that verse hundreds of times before, and even heard countless sermons on it...why was it just now hitting me? Because the power of God was convicting life-change within me in this scripture. The power of connecting my entire BEING to this verse. In fact, I'm currently working on my newest book on this very topic. Since this is a blog, this will not be as extensive as all the studying I have done, so I will list verses at the end and hope you will go study on your own.
I believe there are 4 areas that drive every life, control every action, and fill every thought. As we grow older we have much more to consider. I believe there are 4 areas, that we MUST connect to The Vine if we intend to lock into the promises and blessings that come from The Vine! Family, Finances, Faithfulness (ministry), and Friendships when connected to The Vine will bring a life of Fruifulness in integrity.
Here's the deal with John 15:5 - A branch not connected to the vine becomes a stick. A stick is useless. It can be used of nothing, and is often disposed of because of its useless nature. However, if it is connected to The Vine it becomes a source of fruit, blooms, and life. It becomes a source of providing consistency in life. A branch can produce many things, but one thing it cannot produce is uselessness... because it is connected to The Vine!
It is also stated in this verse that we will "Bear Much Fruit..." what a promise! What a guarantee! God promises us MUCH fruit if we connect ourselves to Him! Imagine... if we connect our FAMILY, our FINANCES, our FAITHFULNESS, and our FRIENDSHIPS to Him...what kind of fruit will He produce through the branch? I know there are many times in my life I wonder why these areas of my life are not bearing much fruit...why my integrity, my success, my life is not bearing MUCH fruit... it's bearing fruit, but not MUCH fruit. (think of the word "much" here...it's a word of abundance. God is not the God of lack!) And I've been convicted to understand, I've allowed these areas of my life to become sticks and not branches!
In the next 4 weeks I want to dissect scripture, logic, and life to understand that these areas of life can be branches and not sticks. These areas in your life do not HAVE to lack - they can prosper... and God WANTS them to prosper! YOU are a branch connected to a powerful vine. Let's journey together and watch God make a difference in our lives as we allow our driving factors become branches and we will leave the sticks on the ground!
