I Am the True Vine

October 25, 2018November 12, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

I am the true vine …I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. ^{John 15:1a, 5}^KJV

Jesus Christ as the true vine brings forth good fruit in us, as we are washed and cleaned by His Word ^15:3 that create a pure heart in us as we walk in the light. Then and only then, do we form a unity with Christ as He is IN us – His Word – and we are IN Him: representing Him by living the word. As a believer is fruitful he is purged to produce more fruit, if he is fruitless he will wither and be removed. The Father does this, not man. ^15:2,6 No man is able to pluck one branch from God’s hands, but if we say that God cannot cut off any branch that is fruitless, then we limit God and make the dead, fruitless, and useless branches to be more powerful than He is.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. If a man abides 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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. ^{John 15:4, 5-7 KJV}

We are commanded to remain in Christ, to abide in Him, because we are powerless to produce fruit otherwise and will be cast off if this fruitless-condition remains! The ‘abiding’-status is also a condition for Asking and Receiving! For when we remain in obedience to the Word, we can ask what we want and it shall be done, with the purpose that the Father will be glorified. ^{14:13; 15:8}Without glorification of God, others cannot be drawn unto Him and that is why it is so important that our lives always give Him glory!

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ^Johⁿ^14:13^KJV

I choose to be purged so that I can be more fruitful and to be “in Him” to be clean; I will always “abide in” Christ and He in me to produce fruit; I will have His words abiding in me so that my prayers can be answered and the Father will be glorified as I produce much fruit!

Do Not Conform To This World

October 23, 2018November 12, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12:2 KJV

Note the two commands of this verse: We are warned not to conform to this world and THEN to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Conform is the Greek word suschematizo (GSN-<G4964>) and means to conform to another’s example. The warning here is to not follow that which is in the world, to go after their example. As Christians or followers of Christ, we are to follow in His example and in His footsteps:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps ^{1Pet. 2:21}

When we conform to this world, ^{Eph. 2:2} we are representing all that it stands for and can thus not represent Christ – we cannot serve two masters! ^{Mt. 6:24; Lk. 16:13} Satan is the god of this world ^{2Cor. 4:4; Jn. 12:31}and we follow him when we conform to it as we love the things thereof. ^{Col. 2:8}Our God is not in this world and if we love the things of the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – we are not serving Him and are not doing His will!

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that do the will of God abide forever. ^{1 John 2:15-17 KJV}

Our second commandment is to be transformed – the Greek word metamorphoo (GSN-<G3339>) which means to be transformed or transfigured by a supernatural change – by the renewing of our minds – as we think upon the things that were given to us by God in His Word – we are continuously being renewed ^{Tit. 3:5; 2Cor. 4:16; Col. 3:10; Heb. 6:6; Eph. 4:23} and this enable us to confirm what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is! There are six things that constitute to this acceptable and perfect will of God:

To present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God ^{12:1; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:20}
To make the body holy ^{12:1; 2Cor. 7:1}
To make the self acceptable to God ^12:1
To render reasonable service ^12:1
To not be conformed to the world ^12:2
To be transformed from the world ^12:2

I will present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service. And I will not conform to this world, but will be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may confirm what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Known By Their Fruit

October 22, 2018October 22, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ 1 Comment

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. ^{Mat. 7:20}

This is a statement from Jesus Christ Himself. ^{Mt. 7:15-23} There never was a statement made that is truer than this one. It plainly teaches that there are ways whereby all men can know who is right and who is wrong, who is for the truth and who is against it, who is a true Christian and who is not, and who is a true teacher and who is a false one. The ways whereby man can be discerned is “by their fruits” and not by their outward appearance and refinement, which can be so deceptive. A rotten apple may have an attractive coating of wax on the outside and it may be colored with the most beautiful paint, but a bite into it would be a bite into corruption. A most perfect and beautiful fruit tree outwardly will sometimes be so diseased inwardly that it produces the worst kind of fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit, and a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit. Every tree brings forth of its own kind whether it is good or bad. So it is with false teachers and those who follow them. Such people can be ever so good outwardly and they may be more refined and correct in life than many true Christians, but this does not prove that they are of God. We all have seen false teachers and rebels against God and the Bible who have been so nice, refined, polite, well-mannered, polished, high toned, and poised until one would think they were gifts from Heaven, but in reality, they were destitute of all truth and spiritual experience and bitter enemies of the Bible.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ^{Jer. 17:9-10 KJV}

We have two facts about the natural heart:

It is deceitful above all things and it is desperately wicked. Then the important question: Who can know it? No one knows how they will react in certain circumstances. But the Lord searches our hearts and tries the reins, for the purpose of distributing rewards according to the ways and doings of each man.

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance ^{Mat. 3:8 KJV}

The nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is for character, not for power as the nine gifts of the Spirit are. Love is the crowning grace of all this fruit and is the impelling force of God in the true exercise of the gifts. A character may be complete with no gift, but it must have all the fruit of the Spirit in order to be Christ-like and normal. Every element of the fruit of the Spirit should be in every life when one attains to all the fullness of God. This fruit is expressed in 1 Cor. 13:4-8 as follows: “Love suffer long [longsuffering], and is kind [kindness]; love envy not [goodness]; love vaunt not itself, is not puffed up [meekness]; doth not behave itself unseemly [temperance], seek not her own, is not easily provoked, think no evil [meekness]; rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth [joy]; bear all things [gentleness], believe all things [faith], hope all things [trust], endure all things [patience and longsuffering]. Love never fail.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ^{Gal. 5:22-23 KJV}

The Nine-fold Fruit of the Spirit:

LOVE. Greek: agape (NT:26), divine love. A strong, ardent, tender, compassionate, devotion to the well-being of someone. Let’s have a look at the Nine Ingredients of Divine Love:

Patience – love passive: no hurry; suffers long; bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things ^13:4,7
Kindness – love in action: never acts rashly or insolently; not inconsistent, puffed up, or proud ^13:4
Generosity – love in competition: not envious or jealous ^13:4
Humility – love in hiding: no parade; no airs; works then retires ^13:4
Courtesy – love in society: does not behave unseemly; always polite; at home with all classes; never rude or discourteous ^13:5
Unselfishness – love in essence: never selfish, sour, or bitter; seeks only good of others; does not retaliate or seek revenge ^13:5
Good temper – love in disposition: never irritated; never resentful ^13:5
Righteousness – love in conduct: hates sin; never glad when others go wrong; always gladdened by goodness to others; always slow to expose; always eager to believe the best; always hopeful, always enduring ^13:6-7
Sincerity – love in profession: never boastful and conceited; not a hypocrite; always honest; leaves no impression but what is strictly true; never self-assertive; does not blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs; always just, joyful, and truthful; knows how to be silent; full of trust; always present

JOY. Greek: chara (NT:5479), the emotional excitement, gladness, delight over blessings received or expected for self and for others.
PEACE. Greek: eirene (NT:1515), the state of quietness, rest, repose, harmony, order, and security in the midst of turmoil, strife, and temptations.
LONGSUFFERING. Greek: makrothumia (NT:3115), patient endurance; to bear long with the frailties, offenses, injuries, and provocations of others, without murmuring, repining, or resentment. ^{1 Cor. 13:4-7; 2 Cor. 6:4-6; Ephes. 4:1-2; Col. 1:11; 3:12-13; 1 Tim. 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:10; 4:2}
GENTLENESS. Greek: chrestotes (NT:5544), a disposition to be gentle, soft-spoken, kind, even-tempered, cultured, and refined in character and conduct. ^{2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:1-2; Jas 3:17}
GOODNESS. Greek: agathosune (NT:19), the state of being good, kind, virtuous, benevolent, generous, and God-like in life and conduct. ^{Ps. 107:9; Ephes. 5:9; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:27-32}
FAITH. Greek: pistis (NT:4102), the living, divinely implanted, acquired, and created principle of inward and wholehearted confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance in God and all that He says.

Faith is not only a natural ability or exercise of a created faculty of man, but it is a fruit of the Spirit and a gift from God. ^{Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:4-11} When man uses his own powers of faith in God and His Word properly he makes contact with God in a supernatural way, and he becomes a partaker of the divine nature. ^{2 Pet. 1:3-4}He is then free to walk and live in the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit will naturally be evident in his life. ^{Gal. 5:16-26} He should constantly add to his faith the virtues of God by yielding to God in daily life. ^{2 Pet. 1:4-10} This kind of faith becomes a natural fruit of the Spirit and of holy living. It is not an effort to have this faith. It grows in the life of one who is yielding to God and who loves God enough to draw near to God in daily conflict. It is a fruit, not a work. It is a gift, not something we earn by works ^{Rom. 2:4-5; 12:3-11}

MEEKNESS. Greek: praotes (NT:4240), the disposition to be gentle, kind, indulgent, even balanced in tempers and passions, and patient in suffering injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge.
TEMPERANCE. Greek: engkrateia (NT:1466), self-control; a moderation in the indulgence of the appetites and passions ^{Prov. 23:1-3; 25:16; Dan. 1:8-16; Rom. 13:14; 1 Cor 9:25-27; Php. 4:5; 1 Thes. 5:6-8; Titus 2:2-3,11-12; 2 Peter 1:5-10}

I therefore choose to crucify my flesh with the affections and lusts; to live and walk in the Spirit. ^{Gal. 5:24-25} Jesus are the true vine, and our Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Him that bear not fruit, the Father take away: and every branch that bear fruit, He purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. We are cleaned through the Word which Christ has given unto us, if we abide in Him, and He in us. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can we, except if we abide in Him. ^{Jn. 15:1-4}

Feet Shod with Preparation

October 12, 2018November 12, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ^{Eph 6:15 KJV}

As we still contemplate the armor of God that we are commanded to put on to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; we must have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace – being prepared and in readiness to bring the gospel that gives peace with every step we take, as the example was given to us through Christ Jesus’ life in 1 Peter 2:21-22:

For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth

We have been called to live our lives according to His example ascribed in the gospels and consistent with the instructions as given in the Epistles by the Apostles.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ^{Col 3:15-16a KJV}

The Gospel or the law of Christ, ^{Gal. 6:2} are the grace of Christ which was preached not after man or received of man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. ^{Gal. 1:11-12}It is that which justifies ^{Gal. 2:16} gives the Spirit, works miracles, redeems from the curse of the law. It brings the promise of faith, as well as the establishment and generation thereof. ^{Gal.3; Rom. 10:17; 16:25} It produces the new birth, ^{Gal. 4:21-31; 1 Pet. 1:23} gives salvation, ^{Rom. 1:16; Eph. 1:13} nourishes spiritual life, ^{1 Pet. 2:2} imparts grace ^{Acts 20:24} and brings liberty which we must stand in, that sets us free. ^{Gal, 5:1, 13; Jn. 8:31-36}

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ^{Rom. 5:1} which means we have a change in mind, a new tranquility in God. Jesus did give us this assurance in John 14:27:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world give, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We have been warned not to be troubled or afraid because fear will remove our strength, love and sound mind. ^{2 Tim. 1:7} I therefore choose to cast all my cares on my Heavenly Father and make my requests known to Him, always in thanksgiving. I will not tolerate anxiety or worry that will injure my soul and destroy my relationship with God and man.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ^{Php. 4:6-7 KJV}

Girt About With Truth

October 10, 2018October 12, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth ^{Eph 6:14 KJV}

We are commanded to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might; to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. One of the areas that we are commanded to cover up, is our loins – the area of the human body where our balance are developed – the body’s core strength. Now the Word commands us to STAND, to be steadfast and unmovable, ^{1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Pet. 5:9} to Girt Our Loins About with Truth.

To be able to be unmovable, we need to have our core strength covered in truth. Now this TRUTH is not any human’s version of what we think is right or wrong, this Truth has a name:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ^{Joh. 14:6 KJV}

Here, Jesus introduced Himself to us as thé Truth and Life, and no man can reconcile ^{Col. 1:20} with the Father, if they have not accepted Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior. He alone can set us free, for He is the Truth, the Life!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ^{Joh 8:32 KJV}

I choose NOT to be double minded and unstable in all my ways, ^{Jas. 1:8} but with This Truth I shall stand and be unmovable, in Him I will have strength!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ^{1 Cor. 15:58KJV}