Connected to the Vine // Fifth Time

Let me start this blog post by giving an illustration (..no, this is not a botany class).

A potential fruit-bearing branch is connected to the vine.

Being connected and being able to bear fruits is a requisite to living. Hence, a branch disconnected to the vine is dead, and has no competence to bear fruit.

Moreover, it is important to note that the role of the branch is to bear fruit, while the vine’s function is to produce fruit. The branch shouldn’t mind producing fruit, for it is the vine’s job to do so.

The connection of the branch to the vine is essential seeing that the sap (dagta, in Filipino), the life and the seemingly blood of a plant/tree, flows only to the living branches, to those that are connected to it (vine).

However, there are deceitful connections. Organic attachment is different from organizational attachment.
A good example of one that’s organically attached is a living branch. It received nutrients from the vine or the whole of the tree it belongs and connects to.
On the other hand, the Spanish moss that grows in an oak tree can illustrate best the notion on organizational attachment. It grows and clings to the trunk and branches of an oak tree, but is not wholly and significantly attached to it. The sap doesn’t flow through it (because it is only organizationally attached), thus, it has not potential of getting life and bearing fruit from the vine.

As Christians, our only way to live is to get connected to The Vine.
John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches.

Life comes from being connected to the vine. Unless we’re fully connected to The Vine, we won’t receive full access to His promises and all the others set for us.

“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.” John 15:2

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..”. Galatians 5:22-23

Fruit-bearing is more than going to church and attending Bible studies; it’s living life. Furthermore, those who do not bear fruit shall be cut from the vine and those who bear fruit shall be pruned (remember the stewardship statute).

Some questions to brood over:

• Do I have a genuine changed life?
• Does my service lack the genuine fruit of a changed life?
• What has the Lord produced that I bear?

On organic and organizational attachment…

Judas is an example of a Spanish moss. He was believed to have been connected to Jesus, but was later proved to have been just organizationally attached. The other disciples thought of this because he had the same form they had – he listened to Jesus, walked with Jesus, ate with the other disciples, prayed like them, laid hands like them, did other things that the disciples also did. But then, all these proved to have been just out of organizational attachment for Judas. He was not really connected, but he seemed to be.

Reality check. Are we really connected to Christ? Are we really connected to His bride, the church? Or are we just connected the Judas’ way by being highly active in church activities, our ministries, and others “church-activities”? Do we lack the sap that gives us life? Do we bear fruit, or are we futile branches?

Remember, the difference between a dead and living branch is in the fruit.
What is more is that as branches, we all are totally, absolutely, completely dependent upon the vine – not only for fruit, but for life.

Be connected. Stay connected.

God bless!

Proviso: This blog post is a portion of my notes from the message/ preaching for this morning’s church service (July 6 Sunday Service), delivered by the most amazing woman I know – mom! Yeah, dad was on the front pew while mom was on the pulpit last Sunday :-)

Today was also my fifth time to lead. Yay! Praise God. Almost sunod-sunod na, ha. Hehe. I continuously give all the glory to God for working through me, through the team, through His church. Shall take no credits for all these!

Line-up (just so you know):

As We Gather // The Steadfast Love of the Lord
Faith
Friends in High Places
You are Good
Great is the Lord
Mighty to Save
Shout to the Lord
Hallelujah to the Lamb (chorus only)

Ohhh.. photos after the service… It was a yellowish Sunday! Haha.
(Shoutout: We miss you, Ptr.Phillip!)