Honey From The Rock

www.poeministries.org

Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

TWO KINDS OF BRANCHES

This entry was posted on 09-29-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes..." (John 15:2 NIV).

Two kinds of branches are introduced to us in today's text. The barren branch and the bearing branch. One produces fruit. The other becomes fuel for the fire (see v. 6). The purpose of being a branch is to bear fruit. Branches that produce fruit glorify the Father (v. 8). Branches that are barren and do not produce fruit are cut off. By whom? By the gardener. God. Back up to verse 1 with me. "My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit." This is not a matter of church discipline. This is a matter of divine discipline. And do not contend that the branch was not really a branch. The text clearly states: "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit." Who is talking here? Jesus. Every branch in Him that does not bear fruit is cut off. The New Testament: An Understandable Version reads, "He will cut off (see verse 6) every branch [i.e., follower of Christ] who is in [fellowship with] me that does not bear fruit..."

Which kind of branch are you? A fruitful branch or a fruitless branch? Do we produce fruit for the Father or will we become fuel for the fire? The fruitful branch, as we shall soon see, is pruned so that it will produce more fruit. The fruitless branch is cut off, gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned (v. 6). One branch is cut back, the other is cut off. Paul uses the analogy of the olive tree in Romans 11:ff. He said that branches were broken off because of their unbelief (Rom. 11:19,20). A branch lives only as it abides in organic union with the vine (Christ). Anyone who chooses not to "abide in Christ" is in danger of being cut off.

Prayer: Father, thank You for grafting us into the Vine. Empower us to abide in Christ, humbly accept Your pruning - even when it is painful - that we might bear much fruit for You. Through Christ we pray.