the Vine

A very healthy Vine

 

O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; (Ps 80.14)

What/who does the "Vine" represent?

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

• Plainly stated, the Lord indicates He is the "true vine."  
• We will look further in answer to the Psalmist statement to "visit this vine."

The first question that we would entertain is "why did 'they' go away from this vine?"

The Lord is very clear on what happens to those who do so.  Why did the "branches" wither on the vine?

Working in the Vineyard

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that i may bring forth more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;

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.

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. (Jn 15.1-6)

"Vine" in the Hebrew means, "to bend; as twining, particularly the grape vine."

Simply put, the branches that did not bend and dried up, were probably never fully developed shoots.

Branches may die due to disease, overwatering or winter injury.  There are techniques to bring them back to health. However, it's best to prune them all the way back to the vine so new shoots may replace them.

The point of the branch is to "bear fruit."

To any believer, spiritual application should be obvious.  The Lord was plain about His role as the vine. He was also clear about what happens to unfruitful branches.

• The Psalmist prayed that the God of heaven would visit the vine.

What will God find when He visits your branch?  Clearly, God the Father and God the Son have much communion and fellowship.  A Father loves His Son and wants to visit Him often.  Again, "what will God find when He visits The vine you are attached to?  

• Will He find ripe, juicy fruit attached to The healthy vine?
• Will He find a withered, brown, good for the fire branch?

The Lord has no use in His work for things that are withered and used up. (Mt 6.30)  Joshua reminds us in 24.15, to choose you this day whom ye shall serve.  

• Will you remain healthy and fruitful by absorbing His Word? (Eph 5.26)
• Will you remain disease free? (Deu 7.15, Eph 4.13)
• Will you stay confessed up and free from sin as much as possible? 
• (Mt 24.12, I Jn 1.7-9) 
• Do you desire fellowship with the Father?
  

or this?

Does your fruit look like this?

•