RPG Adults
YE ARE THE BRANCHES (I)
LORD’S DAY, AUGUST 6
John 15:1-17
John 15:5
“Without me ye can do nothing.”
YE ARE THE BRANCHES (I)
Jesus says, “ye are the branches.” What does it mean? First, we thank God that He has chosen us and grafted us onto Him, the true Vine (v 16). As the branches, we are parts of the Vine and partake of Jesus’ life and strength just as we are members of Christ’s body. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy! Next, we should always be humble, knowing that it is the root that supports the branches, and not the branches that support the root, so “be not highminded, but fear” (Rom 11:18-20). As the branches cannot bear fruit by themselves, without the Lord Jesus we can never produce any true spiritual fruit nor do God’s will and God’s Word. We are to be attached to the Vine all the time for life and nutrition. Truly, as Jesus says, “without me ye can do nothing.”
In order to bear much fruit, there are two conditions: (1) Abide in Jesus, and (2) Let Jesus and His words abide in us. To abide in Jesus means to trust in Him, to depend on Him, and to look to Him for life and strength. To let Jesus and His words abide in us means to let the Lord and His words control and direct our whole being. There are three kinds of branches in John 15. One is detached, another is fruitless and the other is fruitful. Which kind are you?
(a) Detached Branches: Our Lord Jesus says, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” This refers to unbelievers and professing Christians. They might have heard the Gospel, go to church and profess Jesus on their lips, but in their hearts, they do not trust in the Lord Jesus. They are not born-again Christians. They may think that they have been saved once they confess their sins to the Lord in prayer, but they are still kings of their lives. They plan and do whatever they please regardless of the Lord and His Word. They will be cast out, wither and burned in fire.
THOUGHT: How can a branch survive without the Vine?
PRAYER: Father, please keep me abiding in Thee always.