​TODAY’S MANNA FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018. TOPIC: PICTURE OF FRUITFULNESS

​TODAY’S MANNA

FRIDAY, JULY 20,   2018

TOPIC: PICTURE OF FRUITFULNESS
TEXT: JOHN 15:1-8
1) THE KEY VERSE: 
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
2) THE TEXT:

(JOHN 15: 1 – 8 KJV)
“1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2. 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.
3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4. 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.
5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
3) THE MESSAGE:
i) The grape vine is endowed with innate ability for profuse reproduction. A single vine bears many bunches of grapes.
ii) In the Old Testament, these high-yielding grapes were presented as the imagery of Israel’s fruitfulness in doing God’s work. 
iii) The passover meal comprises of the fruit of the vine as the symbol of God’s abundance to His people. 
iv) Jesus spoke of Himself being the True Vine and the Father as the Husbandman with His followers as the branches who must bear fruit. 
v) He explained an important point: the Father will only be pleased with the disciple who remains and bears fruit in Christ. 

a) Such Christians must have a steady relationship with Christ. 

b) They must experience regular visitation from God to be fit for increased productivity all-year-round.
vi)  As the Lord puts it, “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit”. God is concerned that we possess the fruit of the Spirit. 
vii) The two virtues – soulwinning and a lifestyle displaying noble Christian character – cannot be separated as we wait for the Second Coming of the Saviour. 
viii) We cannot claim to seek the kingdom of God and be bereft of the spirit of evangelism and the fruit of the Spirit.
ix) Yet, there is a caveat: you may claim to be Christ’s follower. The real test is to win souls and reflect Christ’s glory and holiness in your life. Failure to meet these conditions would lead to separation from God. 
x) If you fulfil the requirements, the Lord demands more from you. He assures us that our human limitations notwithstanding, He will work on us to strengthen us.
4) THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 
Count on Christ to claim the crown.
5) BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: 
HOSEA 1-7
Good morning