{"id":25081,"date":"2015-03-28T00:20:20","date_gmt":"2015-03-28T04:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=25081"},"modified":"2015-03-27T23:33:42","modified_gmt":"2015-03-28T03:33:42","slug":"this-week-i-am-the-true-vine-john-151-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/03\/28\/this-week-i-am-the-true-vine-john-151-8\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week…I AM The True Vine (John 15:1-8)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SeekingHimLogo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM<\/em><\/strong>\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

I AM<\/strong> The Light of the World
\nI AM<\/strong> The Bread of Life
\nI AM<\/strong> The Door <\/em><\/span>
\nI AM<\/strong> The Good Shepherd
\nI AM<\/strong> The True Vine <\/em><\/span>
\nI AM<\/strong> The Way, The Truth, and The Life<\/em><\/span>
\nI AM<\/strong> The Resurrection and The Life<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him<\/em> blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus\u2019 revelation of Himself as I AM<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus\u2019 sacrifice\u2014His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death\u2026and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead. \u00a0We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them. \u00a0And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus\u2019 words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u271e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0\u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n

I AM<\/strong><\/em> the True Vine<\/strong>, and my Father is the gardener.<\/span>
\nHe cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit,<\/span>
\nwhile every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.<\/span>
\nYou are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.<\/span>
\nRemain in Me, as I also remain in you.<\/span>
\nNo branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.<\/span>
\nNeither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.<\/span>
\nI AM<\/strong><\/em> the Vine<\/strong>; you are the branches.<\/span>
\nIf you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;<\/span>
\napart from Me you can do nothing.<\/span>
\nIf you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;<\/span>
\nsuch branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.<\/span>
\nIf you remain in Me and My words remain in you,<\/span>
\nask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.<\/span>
\nThis is to My Father\u2019s glory, that you bear much fruit,<\/span>
\nshowing yourselves to be my disciples<\/span>
\nJohn 15:1-8<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, here on the Seeking Him<\/em> devotional blog, our sisters have shared some insight on these words spoken by our Lord…specifically regarding the statement He made,\u00a0“I AM the True Vine<\/span><\/strong>.” \u00a0Jesus gave us such clear direction AND encouragement as He made it very clear that it is vitally necessary to abide\/remain…and that, apart from Him, we truly cannot do anything of worth or value. \u00a0 Here are a few highlights from the devotionals that Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee wrote to encourage us.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u271e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0~ \u00a0\u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

In Bearing Fruit in the Vine<\/em>, Ann<\/span><\/strong> asked some needful questions…(have you answered them?).<\/p>\n

“This passage gives us an illustration of how bearing fruit is essential in the eyes of God. \u00a0The Bible is talking of a garden that is being taken care of by God Himself. \u00a0And Jesus said \u201cI\u00a0AM<\/strong>\u00a0the True Vine<\/em><\/span>\u2026\u201d. \u00a0This means there is another vine that is not<\/strong> true<\/em> and has not been planted not by God.<\/p>\n

As Christians we need to understand which garden we belong to\u2014
\nis it God\u2019s or the other garden?<\/h4>\n

We are told \u201cyou are the branches<\/em>.\u201d \u00a0Branches bear the fruit; and so if a branch is not producing fruit, then it must be cut off. \u00a0If we do<\/strong> bear fruit, we are true branches. If we do not,<\/strong> then we are not true branches. Which side of the coin are we?”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

In God the Gardener<\/em>, Laura<\/span><\/strong> made the comparison between a person tending the garden in their yard—purging and pruning—and God as He cares for us, the branches.<\/p>\n

“Just as a gardener works to keep their garden beautiful, so does God in His relationship with us. \u00a0He points out the things that we need to cut off and get rid of in order to strengthen our relationship with Him. \u00a0The stronger we are in God the more fruitful we are in His Spirit. \u00a0We are the branches of God\u2019s beautiful Creation\u2014His own garden. God makes us (the branches on His vine) stronger through our blessings and the hardships He guides us through.”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Just Hanging Out<\/em>, Cynda<\/span><\/strong> reminded us that\u00a0as we abide\u00a0we are able to bear fruit…because of the Vine.<\/p>\n

“Philippians 4:13 AMP (one of my favorite verses) tells us:<\/p>\n

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me
\n[I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him
\nWho infuses inner strength into me;
\nI am self-sufficient in Christ\u2019s sufficiency].<\/p>\n

Christ empowers me! \u00a0And when I abide in Him, I have full access to all His power. \u00a0The fruit will be a natural result. \u00a0I like the way David Guzik * puts it: ‘Fruit bearing is impossible without abiding; but it is inevitable with abiding.’ \u00a0Philippians 1:11 HCSB tells us when we hang out with Jesus we are ‘\u2026filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.’<\/p>\n

We have two choices then: either hang out with Jesus or go it on our own.<\/em> \u00a0If we hang out with Jesus, fruit comes naturally. \u00a0If we go it on our own, we will continue to struggle and begin to wither. \u00a0Not much of a choice really, is it?”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Fellowship Through The Vine<\/em>, Ahmee<\/span><\/strong> addressed the difference between relationship<\/strong> and fellowship<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

“I pondered the difference between relationship <\/strong>and\u00a0fellowship<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0Relationship<\/strong>, although very basic, is a distinguishing factor of Christianity. \u00a0(Without a dictionary in hand) I concluded that it is possible to have a relationship<\/strong> with someone, but not be in fellowship<\/strong><\/span> with them. And it seems very unlikely, if even at all possible, to be in fellowship<\/strong> <\/span>with someone and not have a relationship<\/strong> with them.<\/p>\n

But now, I have my NLT dictionary\/concordance handy and have the proper definitions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Relationship<\/strong> (n): a state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings<\/li>\n
  • Fellowship<\/strong> <\/span>(n): friendship; association; company; partnership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Stay connected to Jesus (via the word, prayer, etc.) and this will be evident in your life. We have to have our Life Source in order to do anything productive. We need more than just a mere\u00a0relationship<\/strong>\u2026we have to have that fellowship<\/strong><\/span>\u2026that DEEP connection.<\/p>\n

    So, take a look at your relationship<\/strong> with God\u2026
    \nAre you in a relationship<\/strong> only? Or is there fellowship<\/strong><\/span>?”<\/p>\n

    \u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n

    Have you had the opportunity to read through these blogposts this week? \u00a0If not, I would encourage you to do so! \u00a0Our bloggers have made these as well as some other wonderful points to direct us towards Jesus, Who IS The True Vine <\/em><\/strong>in Whom we can abide and remain<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM\u2026 I AM The Light of the World I AM The Bread of Life I AM The Door I AM The Good Shepherd I AM The True Vine I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life I AM […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":13840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3020],"tags":[8644,8530,8643,235,3367,1287,425,8610,8611,7531,8645,3174],"class_list":["post-25081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-devotions","tag-attached-to-the-vine","tag-bearing-fruit","tag-branches","tag-coleen-hayden","tag-daily-devotions-2","tag-gch","tag-girlfriends-coffee-hour","tag-i-am-the-true-vine","tag-jesus-is-the-true-vine","tag-john-151-8","tag-purged","tag-seeking-him-devotional","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/SeekingHimLogo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p39pHp-6wx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25081"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25166,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081\/revisions\/25166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}