The Glory of the Vine
Today we bless God because of the season He has brought us to – a season where His glory is seen in our lives. We had been jouneying through the desert, following God and receiving things we had not worked for. He has sustained our lives by causing us to lack nothing. Now we have entered into His promises.
We are in the land of plenty, the land that flows with what we desire – a land of all things in excess. The things we have been trusting God for are at hand and God has helped us get to this place. It is beautiful. It is nothing we could have done for ourselves (We could not have worked for it or gotten ourselves here.). It is filled with God’s glory; His provision; with plenty.
It is an exciting time whereby we enjoy the faithfulness of God. There is so much to explore. We can ask for whatever, we can buy with nothing. God has set the table before us and He is feeding us because we have also proven ourselves faithful to Him. We have followed all His instructions and did not stray from His word. He has spoken His word over us and it has kept us pure.
Our feast does not come without work. There is work that God has set before us to do so we can receive everything and forfeit nothing. Like there were battles the Israelites had to win as they possessed their promised land so are there battles we will need to conquer for us to receive everything God has for us.
But you will not leave in haste or go in a flight; for the LORD will go before you, for God of Isreal will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12 (NIV)
The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into a great confusion until they are destroyed. Deuteronomy 7:22-23 (NIV)
In our promised land we are not without challanges but God has already given these battles into our hands. We are already victorious. We need to follow God closely even in our promised land. He has nations He wants to drive out before us. He has places He wants us to possess and the possession of them is dependant on our obedience to Him. He will allow nothing to devour us, nothing to steal from. We are victorious but we need to live obedient.
See, my servant will act wisely, he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Isaiah 52:13 (NIV)
God has set us on His summit. He has exalted us and nations will marvel at us. We need to glorify His name. We need to sing praises to Him. We must be all about Him.
What does God expect of me?
God expects us to shine His glory. He wants us to bear good fruit. For us to bear good fruit we need to do the will of God.
God’s will for us is to obey Him – it is to keep His commands; to live in a way that sets us apart from the world. He wants us to live rooted in Him. This will give us lasting prosperity.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John 15:1-3 (NIV)
God fills us with His word as a means to prune us, to clean our hearts – to help us lead holy lives. When we receive the words of God spoken over us we live clean. God calls us already pruned, therefore ready to bear much fruit. This glorifies God.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7 (NIV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16 (NIV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)
God has deposited His word in our hearts and we must live according to His word. We must obey everything He tells us to and we will live blessed in the land He has given us. This is the will of God. This is His blessing for our lives. This is how we will stay blessed for generations to come.
When we bear fruit God is glorified, so let us live in obedience to God so we may bear good fruit and glorify God.
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 (NIV)