Vines trained on trellises  
Photo: © Galló Gusztáv - Adobe Stock Images

A Lesson In Growing Grapes  JOHN 15:1-5

Jesus was probably walking with his disciples through a vineyard, when he turned to them and made the following startling statement:

" I am the True Grapevine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

Our Relationship With Jesus

Jesus was talking about his relationship with God and about our relationship with him, if we want to follow him as his disciples.

•  A grapevine can only produce grapes if the vine branches are attached to the stem and receiving nourishment from the sap through it.
•  We can only produce spiritual fruit if we remain grafted into Jesus, The True Vine, and receive daily nourishment from his Holy Spirit.
•  Just as a gardener prunes his vines, so God prunes us so the Holy Spirit can produce the Fruit of the Spirit in us.
•  Jesus also says that we can do absolutely nothing without his enabling grace and power.

For more click on  ABIDING IN CHRIST,  FRUIT PRODUCTION, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, & PRUNING. 

For more on God's Vineyard, go to GOD'S VINEYARD.