He is the Vine
Scripture: John 15:5Devotional Series: The Spirit of Truth
Teaching: The Spirit Of Truth pt. 4 (SUN_AM 2021-09-19) by Pastor Star R Scott
We are talking about fruit. This is not something that we work to achieve. It’s something that will naturally manifest itself in us. John 15 makes it very clear, doesn’t it? John 15 makes it clear that He is the vine, and we are the branches (verse 5), and we are incapable of bringing forth any fruit without abiding in the vine. The Bible says if you don’t bear the fruit, you will be cut off from the vine; amen? The necessity of fruit bearing, the necessity of the fruit of the Spirit. If it is not predominant in your lives, you are going to be cut off. But if we are producing those things, not in our own righteousness, not in our own diligence, not by anything that pertains to a quality of self, but if fruit is found in us, that means we are indwelt by the Holy Ghost and what will God do? He will then begin to prune our lives that we might what? —bring forth more fruit. So, the one thing that the fruit of the Spirit will accomplish in your life is continual pruning. Amen? “When is this going to go away?” Never! “I mean, can’t I have just some time to glory in myself?” No! “When do I get time for me? Where is me time?” You are not your own, you were bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus. You have no “me” time. There is none owed us.
Now, the fact that our Father gives us richly all things to enjoy is a work of His grace and His mercy, not of our merit. And it’s nothing that should be expected, but it is something that, when it manifests, we should glory in Him and boast in Him for it and give thanks; amen? Some of us act as though we deserve these benefits and these privileges. It’s the mercy of God; it’s the grace of God. You know, too much of the church is taking on that same spirit of the world. It’s almost an entitlement spirit. “I deserve certain things for my obedience.” No! That obedience was the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in you; and the enabling came because of Jesus’ death on the cross, Him purchasing you to Himself, and that, and that alone, is what produced this good fruit. We don’t deserve anything for it; we’re just unprofitable servants. It’s what we’re supposed to do; amen?
We’ll begin to see these things work in us the more we realize that we are unable to produce it with any effort of self. We become that conduit. Years ago, we preached a message on the aspect of that clay drain tile that was a conduit that carried away waste, brought pure water. The Scripture, then, as it was developed, of course, causing us to understand that which flows through us; we are just clay vessels. We are conduits; the glory and the excellency is of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7). At best, we are that clay drain tile. What a privilege to be used of God. These commandments should not be grievous to us. We ought to be boasting in the fact that God took this broken vessel, molded us as the potter into that image that which was pleasing to Him and decided that we had worth for the kingdom of God and used us, praise God.
Whether it be a gold chalice or a clay pot, neither of them exhibit the excellency but the glory of God in them. We walk about carrying that treasure in us. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. We are indwelt by the glory of God. That same glory that shone on the face of Moses should be discernible in our lives. If not tangibly, a change in our countenance, people ought to know, when we walk up that we’re different, hallelujah! I’m sure some of you had that happen. I know I have. There are people at times the moment you get into the conversation and you begin to speak, and it’s like, “Who are you?” I’ll tell you who I am, I’m an ambassador of Jesus Christ. I’m not of this world. Yes, I am alien to you. Never a man spoke like this man. As we go forth with that glory in us, we don’t have to come up with gimmicks to get people to come to church, they’ll be coming and saying, “Where is Jesus? We want to see Him,” praise God!
Now, the fact that our Father gives us richly all things to enjoy is a work of His grace and His mercy, not of our merit. And it’s nothing that should be expected, but it is something that, when it manifests, we should glory in Him and boast in Him for it and give thanks; amen? Some of us act as though we deserve these benefits and these privileges. It’s the mercy of God; it’s the grace of God. You know, too much of the church is taking on that same spirit of the world. It’s almost an entitlement spirit. “I deserve certain things for my obedience.” No! That obedience was the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in you; and the enabling came because of Jesus’ death on the cross, Him purchasing you to Himself, and that, and that alone, is what produced this good fruit. We don’t deserve anything for it; we’re just unprofitable servants. It’s what we’re supposed to do; amen?
We’ll begin to see these things work in us the more we realize that we are unable to produce it with any effort of self. We become that conduit. Years ago, we preached a message on the aspect of that clay drain tile that was a conduit that carried away waste, brought pure water. The Scripture, then, as it was developed, of course, causing us to understand that which flows through us; we are just clay vessels. We are conduits; the glory and the excellency is of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7). At best, we are that clay drain tile. What a privilege to be used of God. These commandments should not be grievous to us. We ought to be boasting in the fact that God took this broken vessel, molded us as the potter into that image that which was pleasing to Him and decided that we had worth for the kingdom of God and used us, praise God.
Whether it be a gold chalice or a clay pot, neither of them exhibit the excellency but the glory of God in them. We walk about carrying that treasure in us. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. We are indwelt by the glory of God. That same glory that shone on the face of Moses should be discernible in our lives. If not tangibly, a change in our countenance, people ought to know, when we walk up that we’re different, hallelujah! I’m sure some of you had that happen. I know I have. There are people at times the moment you get into the conversation and you begin to speak, and it’s like, “Who are you?” I’ll tell you who I am, I’m an ambassador of Jesus Christ. I’m not of this world. Yes, I am alien to you. Never a man spoke like this man. As we go forth with that glory in us, we don’t have to come up with gimmicks to get people to come to church, they’ll be coming and saying, “Where is Jesus? We want to see Him,” praise God!