Who Are You Connected To?

"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. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 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 15:1-8 (NIV)

Just before the passover feast, Jesus was with His disciples, telling them of things to come. After He had washed their feet, predicted His betrayal, and predicted Peter's denial, He sought to comfort them. He encouraged them to remain in Him, to be true to His word, and He would remain in them.

The analogy of a fruit bearing branch is so clear. If a branch is not connected to the main vine and its roots, it cannot receive the sustenance it needs to remain alive and bear fruit. Likewise, we can do nothing if we are not connected to Jesus. He is the source of our strength and our life. We cannot bear fruit or continue to exist without Him. If we are not connected to Jesus, then we are like dead branches, good for nothing but to be cast into the fire.

Want A Long Productive Prosperous Life?

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of The Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Psalms 92:12-14

The palm tree, in a barren land, is watered by deep roots. The cedars of Lebanon grow tall and are long-lived. Being planted in the courtyard of the temple is symbolic of thriving, in spite of the conditions, and prosperity for those who maintain a close relationship with The Lord. He will provide a permanent security and long lasting prosperity, even into old age.

The righteous shall have a fruitful and prosperous long life.

The Blessings Of God

The Lord can change your name, your direction, and your life. He can bless you in more ways than you can imagine.

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, The Lord appeared to Abram ... Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but the name shall be Abraham ... And I will make thee exceeding fruitful ... I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee ... As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be ... And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her ... Abraham ... that is an hundred years old ... and ... Sarah, that is ninety years old ... shall bear thee a son ... and thou shalt call his name Isaac ..." Genesis 17:1-19

Abram was faithful and obedient, and God blessed him and his family. He was blessed with a long life and he was fruitful even in his old age.

No matter what situation we find ourselves in, if we are faithful and obedient to God's word, He can bless us and use us in ways that are beyond our wildest dreams, beyond that which we thought was not humanly possible. God is in control of everything.