Directive #35-
September 8, 2014
SCRIPTURE
John 15:1-2, 16
“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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
INTERPRETATION
We have been chosen to bear fruit. What is this fruit that we must bring forth? The fruit of LOVE. Unless we are connected to the ‘true vine’ we won’t extract the essence of our nature. “There isn’t reproduction unless there is relationship”
As ministers we get so got up in how much we are to give, how much we are to produce, but we don’t realize the criticality of our connection to the ‘true vine’. How much time are we spending in His presence? How much time are we dedicating to scripture? Are we truly connected to the vine?
I think about the importance of these words, because they were amongst Jesus’ last words prior to being sent to the cross. To me they seem of great importance. These were the words that would take the disciples through to the ‘other side’ into a realm of the supernatural. When we are connected to the vine, as these disciples were, we pass from being servants to becoming friends of God – what is the secret that he reveals to us? We are victorious! We are more than conquerors! Through His promises and our faith we have already seen the outcome, we’ve can abide in His truth and know that we have the victory!
OTHER SCRIPTURES
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Chosen with a Destiny)
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (Chosen with a Purpose)
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (Chosen for a Reason)
PRAYER POINTS
- As leaders that we may abide in love and not in our agendas
- As a church that we may hold dear to us our 7 Core Values – to manifest our purpose
- As disciples that we may praise His Name, not with ordinary praise (because we know what He has already done), but with extraordinary praise because we’ve been previewed to the secret of the outcome
Mario Ayala
EVUSA Council Member
Texas Latin Conference Council Member