I'm “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
John 15:1-8 NKJV
Here Jesus is teaching about abiding. He often teaches verbally and then uses a real- life application to help the students (listeners) to understand God’s ways. The vine and Israel’s origin and inability to abide are called out in the Old Testament. They are called at origin a ‘noble vine” (Isaiah 5:1-7), Hosea 10:1”Empty Vine" and the Psalmist in Psalm 80:8 says” a vine brought out of Egypt (slavery and bondage). Isn’t that a description of each of us in our lives?
In John 15 Jesus calls himself “a True Vine”. Israel as a nation was never a true vine although some nations think they are. Jesus is being clear that in our lives He is the one and only “True Vine”. He is also saying that only with an intimate living relationship can we be a part of this vine.
It’s not enough to be a Jewish or a Christian by geography in the country of origin or by religious affiliate relationships required. In this relationship, He is challenging us to “abide” (hang around, spend time). There are many statements in life: “you are what you eat or “you become who you associate with”. These are pillars to a “true vine” of relationship. Jesus was in close continual contact with God(abiding). A relationship requires that we take deliberate steps in a relationship that become habits over time, to abide. Our challenge is, to be honest, and ask ourselves: What have I been eating? (taking into my life) and who or what is getting my time.
Let’s challenge ourselves to make a daily appointment with “THE TRUE VINE”.
The measure of our usefulness to God will be found in the measure of His life in us. As the measure of God increases in us, so our usefulness to Him also increases. Unknown
SURGE twenty-one devotionals are prayerful contributions from the pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers of Liberty Church. We offer a special Thank You for your contributions
Day Fourteen
Receiving; Receiving Pruning
January 20, 2019
Surge Ending Prayer
January 28, 2019
Father today we pause and thank you for carrying us through the last twenty-one days that we have fasted and prayed personally and corporately. Our prayer today focuses on not only what You have done in this time, but also what is yet to come as we continue in what we have experienced in You. Many have sought Your heart reaching forward and upward and have surrendered their desires that Yours may come to fruition. Many have sought Your deliverance, and many seeking spiritual renewal, and also direction. They now bow before you not to see an end to this SURGE 21, but to complete it, as they stand on your promise to complete this new work that has been begun in their hearts. Lord may Liberty Church bow prostrate before You as a body to continue to seek Your will, guidance, and direction, spiritually, financially, and physically. May we be open and willing to the moving of Your Holy Spirit each step of this journeyAnd may we follow in complete unity. All for Your honor and praise Lord God Almighty! Thank you Father for Your grace, mercy, strength and provision in Christ. May You be blessed Father by the adoration of your http://people...in Jesus name! AMEN
Day Twenty-one
January 27, 2019
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV In this world there are so many voices that we can listen to. Everyone has a thought, everyone has an opinion, and most people think they are right. You can even spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn from some of the worlds greatest thinkers. In the end, how do you know the quality of their counsel? God's word gives us direction for how to obtain genuine success and prosperity in life. King David, the writer of the Psalms, chooses to anchor himself in God's word and establish his confidence in God right from the very beginning. He says you will be blessed if you stay away from the counsel of the wicked. The wicked is anyone who is not a believer. Stay away from their counsel! Rather, delight yourself in the law of the Lord. Listen intently to what God has to say. Meditate on it day and night, it is that important. If you will discipline yourself in this way, you will be fruitful, you will have life, and you will prosper in all you do ! Abide in God's word and you will thrive in life. "Seek first the kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you." JESUS SURGE twenty-one devotionals are prayerful contributions from the pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers of Liberty Church. We offer a special Thank You for your contributions.
Day Twenty
January 26, 2019
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11 NIV Let me take you on a journey. A journey many take throughout their life. We all face battles in our lives that challenge us. Some may be harder than others. We all face some type of challenges that create such pain that creates worry, stress, anxiety in our lives. We feel like God has forgotten about us and we feel there is no end. Well, I have news for http://you...jesus Christ died on the cross for all of us to live in the victory. Through the broken body and the blood that was spilled on the cross, Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave to give us VICTORY. That VICTORY only comes through Jesus. We no longer live in defeat or fight against our enemies. The battle has been won. All of us have a story. All of us have a testimony. What Jesus Christ did on the cross gave us a finish line that we can all run too. Never back down. Never let the enemy destroy you. The cross defeated hell, stop letting hell defeat you... Never give up...Surrender to the one that gives us VICTORY! “You are not fighting FOR victory - You are fighting FROM victory. The battle has already been won.” Tony Evans SURGE twenty-one devotionals are prayerful contributions from the pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers of Liberty Church. We offer a special Thank You for your contributions.