Month: August 2020

Ezekiel 15:2

Son of man, what is the Vine tree more than any tree, or than a Branch which is among the trees of the forest?

The Vine, as described by Ezekiel, symbolizes unregenerate man in general and sinful Israel in particular. Just as the Vine wood is tough, twisted unworkable and fit only for fuel, so Israel recalcitrant in sin is fit only for judgement.

Whereas in Chapter 15 (and in Isaiah 5 also) the Vine pictures only judgement.

In John 15 Christ uses it to portrays the living union between Himself and the believer. Here the intrinsic worthlessness of the wood is wholly subordinated to a single positive function of the Vine that is of bearing fruit. Thus, our Lord takes the figure of the Vine wood, representative in Ezekiel of humanity ruined in sin, and transforms it into the parable of Himself as the Vine and Christians as his Branches, bearing fruit for Him.

Here in John 15, Jesus is speaking in the first person in addressing his disciples.

It would also be representative of his church which would later be built upon Jesus Christ, Jesus is presented as explaining the relationship between Himself and his followers – seeking to model this relationship on his own relationship with his Father. (John 1:1)

The Branches will draw the sap from the Vine and produce the fruits.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2).

The question we need to ask ourselves is; are we bearing fruits unto righteousness? This should not be a guess work. It is certainly an assurance of Salvation.

The chapter introduces the extended metaphor of Christ as the True Vine. The Father is the Husbandman.[4] His disciples are said to be branches specifically meaning Vine Branches) [5] which must ‘abide’ in him if they are to ‘bear fruit’. The disciples are warned that barren branches are pruned by the Vinedresser:  Every branch that does bear fruit is pruned so that it will bear more fruit – not barren branches. (John 15:2-6)

• Establishing a proper relationship with our Lord and Saviour
• Living before the Lord every moment of our lives
• Reading and digesting His Word

In so doing above can we be watered by the holy Spirit and bear fruits unto Eternal Life.

Lastly, we can see a close relationship of Jesus and his disciples (‘abiding’) to that of Himself and his Father. Disciples are reminded of the love of the Father and the Son – the love of the Son for the disciples, and then indicted to ‘love one another’ in the same manner. Verse 13 speaks of the ‘greater love’ as being the willingness to ‘lay down’ one’s life for friends, death on Calvary’s cross.

Friends it is only by abiding in the True Vine that we can bear fruits unto righteousness.

God bless for reading.

Shalom!

Eternity and the related concept of infinity have long been associated with strong emotional overtones, serving to astonish, weary, or confound those who attempt to grasp them.

Eternity, timelessness, or the state of that which is held to have neither beginning nor end.

The first Adam, forfeited that life when he lost his way to the tree of life in the garden of Eden. The Lord Jesus Christ the last Adam came proclaiming; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Whosoever understands the Lord Jesus Christ understands life.

There is a true God, the creator of Heaven and Earth and his undying Love for mankind that he gave his only begotten son Jesus Christ to be the propitiation of sins that whoever believes in him will not perish but have Eternal life.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  (1 John 5:11)

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)

 Revelation 22:19

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This life is called “eternal” because it is from the eternity which is past to the eternity which is to come. It is the Life of God revealed in Jesus Christ who is God. (John 1:4, 5:26, 1 John 1:1-2)

This life of God which is revealed in Christ is imparted in a new birth by the Holy Spirit, acting upon the Word of God, to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:3-15)

The Life that is imparted is a new life. It is “that which was from the beginning” The recipient is a new creation. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15)

The life of God which is in the believer is an unreserved part of the life which eternally was, and eternally is, in Christ Jesus; one life in him and the believer; Vine and branches, Head and members.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:1-5)

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also, is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col 1:27)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:3-4)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11-12)

God bless you for reading

Shalom!

Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom of Heaven, in Christianity, the spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of God’s will. The phrase occurs frequently in the New Testament, primarily used by Jesus Christ in the first three Gospels. It is generally considered to be the central theme of Jesus’ teaching,

(Mathew 3:2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

The expression the kingdom of heaven literally of the heavens refers to the rule of the heavens i.e. the rule of God of the heaven over the earth (Dan 2:44; 4:25, 32)

• The kingdom of heaven exercises certain features of divine government. Thus, the kingdom of heaven includes only men on earth, excluding angels and other creatures.
• The kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere as those known as the Wheat and the Tares (Mathew 13:41)
• It can also be compared to the net containing both the good and bad fish which would later be separated (Mathew 13:47)

In the gospel of Mathew, the kingdom of heaven is revealed in three distinct ways:

• As “at hand” here it is offered in the person of the King (the Lord Jesus Christ) of whom John the Baptist is the forerunner (Mathew 3:1)
• The kingdom of heaven can also be said to be fulfilled in this present age as presented in seven “mysteries” (Mathew 13). It reveals the character of the rule of heaven over the earth between the first and second comings of the Lord
• The kingdom of heaven can also be fulfilled after the second coming of Christ. It would be realized in the future millennium as predicted by prophet Daniel (Dan 2:34-36, 44-45) and covenanted to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Zechariah 12:8).

This millennial form of the kingdom is wholly in the future and will be set up after the return of the King in glory (Mathew 24:29-25; Acts 15:14-17, Mathew 6:33)

(Mathew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

The expression the kingdom of God (Mathew 12:28) although used in many cases as synonymous with the kingdom of heaven is to be distinguished from it in some instances

• The kingdom of God is at times viewed as everlasting and universal, the rule of the sovereign God over all creatures and things.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:19)

How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. (Dan 4:3)

So the Kingdom of God includes the Kingdom of Heaven as well.

• The kingdom of God is also used to designate the sphere of salvation entered only by the new birth.

Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  (John 3:5-7)

In contrast with the kingdom of heaven as the sphere of profession which may be real or false, In other words Christendom as a whole (Mathew 13:3 Mathew 25:1 11-12)

• The kingdom of God is realized in the rule of God in the present age and will also be fulfilled in the future millennial kingdom. It continues forever in the eternal state

How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3)

God bless you for reading,

Shalom!

(Isaiah 51:17) Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

It sounds clearer in this regime when man hears a preacher sounding a wake up call ..The call is going to all people , societies and individual personalities to wake up and to rise to their call . Many are consistently asleep, only to know that the days are evil. Jesus Christ is still in the calling business.

 Not only is God’s Wake-Up Call a Gracious Call, but it is also a Demanding Call. God is not only in the asking business. He is in the telling mode. Have you found that out? Sometimes I see children who are not obedient. I see parents letting their children hit them and talk back to them. Do you know what those children need? An old fashion spanking right on their bottoms, that is what they need. You might say, “Oh, but my pediatrician says that is wrong.” Well, tell your pediatrician that he is wrong, because the Bible says that children should respect, honor and obey their parents.  Just as a parent has the right to tell his children what to do, God has the right to tell His people what to do.   

Our newspapers are full of reports of women and girls being raped, beaten, and sometimes even murdered. The next time a man is brought before a court for outraging the modesty of a woman, it would be well to find out just how decently the woman was dressed, at the time the crime was committed. Some may dismiss this suggestion as irrelevant to the case.

What the world needs to see, when it looks at a Christian’s life, is not a reflection of itself but true beauty of her character, a certain godliness of heart and “a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price ” (1 Pet.3:3-5).

In this 21st century we have seen the emerging of diverse technological advancements fulfilling the prophetic word of God that knowledge shall increase. (Daniel 12:4) .

The society have seen diverse transformation in various forms of religion, culture and beliefs. Think about it. Where is all this emphasis on sex in clothing, hairdo and facial makeup leading you? Where is it leading your friends? If you are a young Christian woman in high school, university or out in the working world, you have a great responsibility in helping to reverse the trends in your respective environment.

Shalom!

Bro Stephen Awittor, Cape Coast, Ghana.