WE ARE THE BRANCHES

As Christians, most of us attend churches, Bible studies and/or other types of Christian organizations. But what goes on for us spiritually outside of that? We ourselves should have church daily with just us and God, by having fellowship with Him through Bible study, prayer and worship. This is something not taught in many Christian circles.
 
You may think that “I grew up in church and believe that I already know the Bible.” Or maybe “if I go to church or other Christian activities at least once or twice a week, isn’t that enough?” The truth is that it is not enough. Having personal time with the Lord is a matter of spiritual life and death. Becoming a Christian is not like becoming a citizen of a country and now it is a done deal. Not at all. Everyone that becomes a Christian, enters in as a baby. Everyone. Even if one is a preacher’s kid. We all start out as a baby and grow in Christ. And even when a person has stayed faithful and grown in the Lord for even forty years, they still must keep growing. We can grow forward with the life of the Holy Spirit living in us, like the way a grapevine branches out from the main trunk, and as long as it stays connected, it lives and grows. But if the life-flow stops it can get diseased or dry out and die off. The same is true for us, without the real life-flow issuing to us from God, we begin to wither and die. Some have been dead for years and have no idea they are even dead. They have become a religious shell. Having the appearance of a believer, but there is no real life still flowing inside of them or from them. And for anyone that thinks they “have arrived” and know it all about the Bible or anything else, it is important to realize, that a true wise person realizes that the more they know, the more they don’t know. A wise person hungers and thirsts to learn and keep learning, and continues to stay up to date on any subject.
 
The modern church in many parts of the world, has left “growing in Christ” to “visiting a church on Sunday.” Read that sentence again! The devil would like us to be a “milk-toast church” with people who never develop in Christ, and end up in the pits of hell. The Holy Spirit and God’s Word should be our personal standard of measurement. When in church or listening to anything, anytime or anywhere, everything should be filtered through “the Bible in us” and with the Holy Spirit there to help us discern things. But how could we do this, if we do not have the Word of God personally living and growing inside of us, or know how to recognize the unctions and voice of the Holy Spirit? The only way to recognize what is counterfeit, is to personally know the truth. And not the truth because “a pastor says so” or “because we think so,” but the eternal truth because “the Bible says so.”
 
Personal study, personal prayer and personal worship are three of the most vital and important elements to being a Christian and staying alive in Christ, especially in an oftentimes godless and dark world. Outside influences can be good or bad, but the influence that comes from a direct relationship with God’s Word, the Bible, helps us filter all other influences. We must learn and actively apply it to all facets of our lives.  And the relationship that comes from prayer and listening for the unction and voice of the Lord is vital to walking the true walk of a believer.  As for worship, we should realize at all times the value of a mighty God who loves us, who gave His all for us and continues to help and build us up every day, to the point that we cannot help but love, adore and worship Him.
 
Corporate study, prayer and worship are great, but without the personal growth and strength that comes from personal study, prayer and worship, a Christian will not fully develop or live the Christian life to its full potential. Such a person is in danger of poor growth, failing under the pressures of life and spiritual attack and leading to possible failure with eternal death. So let us pursue our life in Christ with all our being through personal study, prayer and worship; and when we finish the race, not only will we make it to heaven but we will have done our very best and been a blessing to the heart and Name of the Lord and have been His faithful ambassador to others!

• John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”

Eli Cockrell