Good day Believers in Christ. You are all welcome to another brand-new month. It’s October already! We thank God for the gift of life.
In our today’s episode 552 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into the book of Ezekiel Chapter 15 titled:
Parable of The Wood Of The Grape Vine Explained
The message in this chapter, although short but it was a very powerful one. Prophet Ezekiel likened the people of Israel to an unproductive wood of grapevine. Apart from not producing fruits, the wood was not also good for firewood. It’s all useless.
Ezekiel says in his prophetic message that these people were unproductive because of their repeated sins of idolatry and other immoral activities which were detestable to God.
In engaging in those wicked acts, they were automatically incurring destruction upon their own lives. Hence, the reason God sent Prophet Ezekiel to warn them ahead of the time of destruction, so they could be saved.
Remember Prophet Isaiah too had in one of his prophetic messages in Isaiah 5:1-7 referred to the people of Israel as a vineyard. He explained how God as the vine dresser provided everything needed for the vineyard to produce good fruits but unfortunately, every grape on it was sour.
In order words, God was expecting them to forsake their evil ways and to do what is right but they kept on wallowing in sins – murder, idolatry, sexual immorality and so on and therefore, they incurred God’s judgement upon themselves as consequences of their evil actions.
In the same way, Prophet Ezekiel is seen here repeating the same thing in a deeper way showing how completely useless and fruitless they were to the point that even the woods could not be used as firewood. This is sad, truly.
Did you know that it was because of their rejection of Christ by the Jews that Salvation came more quickly to the Gentile nations? That’s exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 21:43
We must note that the only way we can bear fruit for God is when we stay connected with Him. When we are rooted in His Word.
Psalm 1:3 talks about those who stay connected with God walking in His ways, he says they will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruits in every season of their lives.
They are never fainting
They are always blessed.
They are ever prosperous.
In the New Covenant reality, every believer is likened to a branch in the Living Vine (which is Christ). Remember, according to Ezekiel (Old Covenant), when you stand alone as vine on your own, there is no way you can bear good fruit. Worshipping idols, committing murder and all forms of atrocities by the Israelites were products of trying to walk alone, claiming they did not need God and they faced the consequences.
But Jesus is saying in John 15 that for you to bear good fruit, you must stop acting alone (self-righteousness). You must become a branch in the Living Vine (Christ). It is only in that form that God will be able to care for you. When you are in Christ, your eternal life is secured.
Even if you are still a babe in the faith (still rising and falling), just make sure you stay connected and keep gazing at the Word (Christ). The Bible says in John 15:2 He will lift you up, He will clean you up, He will not cut you out or remove you at all. He will make sure you are back on your feet.
The word to “prune” in Greek transliteration is called “kathairo”, which means to clean up. That’s the purpose of the blood of Jesus, for blotting out sins completely.
As a wise, loving, and caring Father, He will lift you up to enhance your spiritual growth. Remember, when Peter denied Jesus, He was not cast away, He realized his mistake and came back and he was restored and through him, several thousands of souls were won into God’s Kingdom.
Hallelujah. Praise God!
To be continued…
Let us pray:
I declare that the Lord God is setting you apart for a special purpose, taking you through clear and clean direction and endowing you with all the resources you need for the achievement of that purpose. You will bear much fruit suitable for God’s Kingdom, in Jesus name.
In this month and beyond, your steps are ordered in the right direction. The Lord God will connect you with people that matter, people that will add value to your destiny for you to live a life filled with meaning and fulfilment, in Jesus name.
In that area you are down, the Lord God will lift you up, clean you up, decorate you with His unlimited blessings and endow you with the grace to produce good fruits for God’s Kingdom, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Jeremiah Chapters 13, 14 & 15 with Isaiah Chapter 15
I call you blessed now and always.
Thursday October 1, 2020 (DDMI)
