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Thursday, April
23, 2009
Branching Out
John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no
more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) 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. (KJV)
This vine which we see above is Spiritual
in nature, and so are those that partake of this fruit. We see our Lord is
quite specific to point out that if this relationship is severed or broken
off, then without partaking of this tree of life we can do nothing. It is
vital not only to begin your walk in the Spirit, but to continue in it as
well if you desire to truly make it to your eternal destination. Greater is
He that is within those that believe, and greater results should we be
expecting also if only we let Him within have His way.
Philippians 1:4-6 Always in every prayer
of mine for you all making request with joy, (5) For your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now; (6) Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ: (KJV)
You know, Paul’s prayer for each and
every believer that he encountered was not that they would join some large
fellowship, or even that they would follow him, but rather his prayer was
that they would become confident in the inner working that began in them.
The Spirit is willing and able to perform a good work, a work of faith that
will take you to your intended destination, now it is just a matter of
looking within, walking by faith and not by sight. The more you look within
to find your answer, the more confident you will become in your walk,
allowing Christ to increase, while your own thoughts and ways decrease.
Philippians 2:12-16 Wherefore, my
beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. (14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15) That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in
the world; (16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the
day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (KJV)
You know, Paul would inspire the people
and show them what the Lord was doing in his life, but many times, once he
left so did the zeal of many who didn’t continue to abide in the realm of
the Spirit. Instead of trying to figure things out or think you need to do
a bunch of works to please God, the truth be known, it is simple obedience
to what He is asking is what will keep you in good standing with Him. God
has a plan and a purpose for your life, and would like to do a work within
you, if only you will let Him. But as we see, many get caught up in petty
disputes and murmurings with each other, trying to please man rather than
God. It is God Himself that is working within you, and what a work He is
willing to continue to do through you if only you will get out of the way
and let Him. But alas as we have seen throughout the Word, many are called
but so few are chosen, a few that choose not to run in vain, or labor
according to their own works.
Romans 8:5-9 For they that are after the
flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye
are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
his. (KJV)
Remember how we started out today, our
Lord said without Him we could do nothing? Well nothing will have you
running in circles, running in vain like a dog chasing his tail, than your
carnal limited thinking. However, if we abide in Him, if we continue in
Christ letting His Spirit lead and guide us into all truth, then we can
stay out of the realm of the flesh and continue on a spiritual path that
will lead us home. So what or should I say who has the biggest influence on
you today; is it someone on the outside, or is it someone on the inside,
ready to give you some inside information into the realm of the Spirit?
Without this Spirit of Christ working in you then you are none of His, and
unable to do anything that will be pleasing in His sight.
2 John 1:7-11 For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that
we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full
reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not
this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
(11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (KJV)
Anything other than the doctrine of
Christ is like a poison, something that will lead to death if not quickly
identified and dealt with immediately. It is up to you to look within,
learning to hear the voice of the Son of God for yourself, and rightly
divide the word of truth so that you won’t get distracted or mislead off
the path of life. If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, a working
knowledge of the Son of God, it would do you well not to give heed to their
doctrine or let it into your own temple, which is now the temple of the
living God.
Revelation 21:26-27 And they shall bring
the glory and honour of the nations into it. (27) And there shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book
of life. (KJV)
If you notice, God doesn’t allow anything
that does not bring glory or honor to His name into His kingdom, so why
would you? If you desire to continue branching out and growing in the Lord,
bearing the fruit of His Spirit, then you won’t allow anything contrary to
sound doctrine into your house either.
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