The Vine

The names of God are incredibly powerful character revelations of who God is and how He is able to meet us in every way and situation.

“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.” - John 15: 1-5

We read in Romans 11:17-18 that we are grafted into the root stock of the olive tree, and that we become partakers of the supply of the root and the fatness of the olive tree.

It’s important to remember, that as a branch grafted in, you are not responsible for the supply. The Lord Jesus Himself, will supply every one of your needs as the root stock supplies the needs of the vine. However, there is a purpose to being grafted into the vine, and that’s to produce fruit. The Lord reminds us in John 15 that the vinedresser prunes that branches that they may produce more fruit, and that you cannot bear fruit of yourself.

Sometimes as believers we struggle with believing the Lord for supply, and even more we struggle with the pruning. It’s important to remember that not only the dead branches are pruned, but even some that are fruitful, that selected branches may produce prized fruit. Don’t be discouraged if “fruitful” parts of your life and ministry are pruned, the Lord is allowing all supply to produce prized fruit in chosen areas of your life.

- by Ciaran Stirling, Missionary with Overland Missions
ciaran@overlandmissions.com