Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Wednesday
May 22, 2019
"The True Vine" = the uniqueness of our Lord Jesus Christ and the life that He gives us as branches from the vine, a life that comes from the sap and the water that the branches need to survive.
Branch = klema - refers to the believer in the Church-age and it is used for a tender and flexible branch; which is broken off the vine to be replanted.
JOH 15 - the organic relationship between the vine and the branches used metaphorically to show the inner living relationship which our TLJC as He established the protocol between Himself and the disciples.
JOH 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
In order to fulfil their purpose of bearing fruit, branches must abide in the vine which nourishes them with sap.
They should abide in fellowship with our Lord who gives them their vitality and energy which comes from the sap (A type of the ministry of God the Holy Spirit).
When the harvest is past, branches must either be pruned by the vinedresser or taken away.
The disciples have shown the vitality of their fellowship with the Lord and they must also be subjected to the serious discipline that our Lord uses to control the human race from self-destruction.
We have a new and distinctive application of the organic connection between the vine and the branches as a picture of the closest possible union.
The branch refers to the relationship we can have with our Lord as well as the intimacy that exists with Him in the spiritual realm.
- As a branch draws sap or water to survive in the natural realm, as believers we are also encouraged to have a relationship with the Vine.
- We were given eternal life as well as the opportunity and privilege of being blessed and glorifying the Lord no matter what our circumstances may or may not be.
- The Lord gave to us at the moment of our salvation including a brand new nature which qualifies us for the relationship with our Lord because we are in union with Him, COL 1:9-14.
- One of the main principles of doctrine that the apostle Paul will teach all believers which we call "The mystery doctrine of the Church-age."
- The doctrine of Positional Truth was introduced to the disciples beginning with JOH 15:4 which states JOH 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you.”
Abide in me = refers to Positional Truth as illustrated by the apostle Paul in COL 3:1-3.
- We celebrate the victories our Lord has taught to those who have accomplished and fulfilled the PPOG along with their discovery of your personal sense of destiny.
John the Baptist revealed the sacredness of the things above. As our Lord gives us concerning those individuals who recognize the deep things of our Lord and the deep wickedness of the sin of independence.
ROM 8:26, And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
This is the one who has heard the doctrine and has acted accordingly, just like a man who built a house upon the rock or the ground with a strong foundation.
JOH 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
A strong foundation belongs to believers who have heard the doctrine and has acted accordingly, just like a man who built a house upon the rock or the ground with a strong foundation.
Not only do we build our house with a strong foundation, but we also build up our life with the secrets that belong to our Lord.
DEU 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this Law.”
HEB 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
GEN 15:1, After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
- The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision,
2. Abraham was told by the Lord to not be afraid.
3. The Lord also said to Abram, saying, Do not fear.
4. The Lord also said to Abram, I am a shield to you;
5. Your reward shall be very great.
JAM 2:23, and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called The friend of God.
Our Lord also protects His people when they need it by hiding them at certain times without them even knowing they are under the protection of Jehovah Jireh.
PSA 31:20, Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the conspiracies of man; Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
JOB 5:21, “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of violence when it comes.”
The scourge of the tongue refers to gossip, maligning, lies, false witness, sowing discord, slander, etc.
The Gossip Snake.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cruel and malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I'm nobody’s friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and ruin marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches, and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.
I am called gossip - social gossip, family gossip, gossip among friends or gossip among those who we thought were our friends, gossip on the job, and gossip among neighbors.
One of the most critical type of Gossip that judges, condemns, produces guilt, slanders, lies, and verbal deception; = known to us as Church Gossip.
PSA 119:127, Therefore I love Thy commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold.
JAM 1:17, Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.