Christian Living

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

by paul hoffmaster
05/13/18
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Many Believers love to surf through the Scripture in hope of finding spiritual gems that they can add to their vault of edification verses.  If they underline in their Bibles it is usually with multi colored markers.  Exclamation points emphasize the exceptional verses that carry a higher degree of personal worth.  The interesting thing is that the Scriptures point out more about commitment and personal sacrifice than a “shopping flyer” promoting spiritual “deals.” We get excited about the incoming blessings, but fail to identify our obligation to disperse blessings.  I would never minimize who we are in Christ, but I believe the evidence of our spiritual standing is how we are affecting the lives of others. 

 When is the last time we scanned the Scriptures in search of verses that we may have over looked, either intentionally or unintentionally?  What about those Biblical salvoes that hit us between the eyes, but we glossed over them because it caused us to be uncomfortable?  Do we need to be reminded that the same Holy Spirit who gave us the defined riches also gave us the defining truths?  When we were new Believers, it was like Christmas and our birthday all rolled up together.  Opening our Scriptural presents brought unparalleled excitement.  The problem is that many Believers stayed in that environment.  There was no maturing, just the enjoying of the “presents” with no thought of sharing with the others. We all know kids that are spoiled.  They always want something.  Everything is about them.  Sadly, that has become a picture of some Christians today.  They think everything is around them.  They want the blessings, but have a hard time being a blessing.  They want to be “slain in the spirit,” instead of being alive in the spirit.  The reason the church is having a hard time being The Church is because of ignorance of Scripture.

 Jesus’ teaching on the Vine and branches (John 15: 1-8) has been tampered with to the degree that it has been misrepresented and even “burglarized.”  Verse 7 has been a favorite of the “selfianity” group.  They claim that verse gives them the right to ask whatever they want and it will be done for them.  Those who have taken this approach have found themselves scrambling to explain why it has not always worked.  In the Gospels it is important to understand the setting and who is involved in the exchanges.  In the case of the Vine and Branches, Jesus is talking to His chosen men who are about to have the “torch” passed to them.  He wants them to make sure they understand that the success of their ministry will be because of their unity with Him.  They are in fact like a branch that is alive because of the vine.  The more fruit they produce, the more God will trim away obstacles in their lives so they will produce even greater results.  If they fail to be fruitful, God will remove them from their positional authority.  Jesus used branches and their effects as a metaphor to their lives.  Abide in Him, grow by Him, reproduce through Him, otherwise; they will become as useless as a dead branch. 

 Jesus told them they were clean through the Word given to them.  In other words the branches were ready to produce.  All that was lacking was the Holy Spirit which would indwell them after Jesus ascended into Heaven.  They were given permission to ask for anything that would help them in their ongoing quest of representing the Kingdom of God.

 The question bids to be answered as to what is the role of the Believer when it comes to asking and receiving.  I believe we can ask, but it must be in line with God’s Word.  Our asking is never for personal edification but for the glory of God to be issued through us.  There are many other Scriptures that deal with asking and receiving.  But all must be taken in the setting in which it is expressed.  It is by abiding in Jesus and His Word that brings validity to our asking.