God is concerned with every branch on the vine. Each one is intended to bear fruit. Each one should have life flow from it. There are often those in him, who have no life. Who are fruitless. If a person has no connection, the life of God cannot flow through him. Why would there be no connection? I think there are two reasons why disciples fail to connect: personal failure or systems failure.
Personal failure does come in a number of forms. The Father will refuse to connect with someone in sin. Sin has a polluting effect on the connection. The Father will not allow any pollution near him, so he will sever the connection. (Remember this is not about salvation or a person’s eternal status with the Father. This is about fruit, relationship and the vitality of the connection.) Jesus came to establish the connection and to insure it is not permanently severed. Repentance and application of faith can restore the relationship.
A person can lose the connection by moving out of receiving mode. Many things can distract the person, and he fails with a lack of diligence or discipline. Usually there is a lack of understanding about this part of his relationship with God.
There can be a failure in the system to facilitate this type of relationship. An assumption exists among some Christians that says not all of God’s people will have this kind of relationship with God. God’s life will flow across the connection only if the person has a certain position, title or training. God’s life flows across the connection only in certain circumstances. All of God’s children are connected to the vine. God’s life flows across all branches. It is available to all.
Many churches assume that its members exist for the preservation of its functions. The church exists for the promotion and growth of God’s kingdom. Which means life flows into the branches so fruit will grow in coffee shops, universities, factories, ball parks, state parks, mass transportation and mountain tops. God gives his life to the branches so fruit can be borne in all phases of life. We live with this connection so we can bring God’s life with into every place we go. Not everyone will serve to promote a church program. But all of God’s children live to promote God’s kingdom.
Personal failure does come in a number of forms. The Father will refuse to connect with someone in sin. Sin has a polluting effect on the connection. The Father will not allow any pollution near him, so he will sever the connection. (Remember this is not about salvation or a person’s eternal status with the Father. This is about fruit, relationship and the vitality of the connection.) Jesus came to establish the connection and to insure it is not permanently severed. Repentance and application of faith can restore the relationship.
A person can lose the connection by moving out of receiving mode. Many things can distract the person, and he fails with a lack of diligence or discipline. Usually there is a lack of understanding about this part of his relationship with God.
There can be a failure in the system to facilitate this type of relationship. An assumption exists among some Christians that says not all of God’s people will have this kind of relationship with God. God’s life will flow across the connection only if the person has a certain position, title or training. God’s life flows across the connection only in certain circumstances. All of God’s children are connected to the vine. God’s life flows across all branches. It is available to all.
Many churches assume that its members exist for the preservation of its functions. The church exists for the promotion and growth of God’s kingdom. Which means life flows into the branches so fruit will grow in coffee shops, universities, factories, ball parks, state parks, mass transportation and mountain tops. God gives his life to the branches so fruit can be borne in all phases of life. We live with this connection so we can bring God’s life with into every place we go. Not everyone will serve to promote a church program. But all of God’s children live to promote God’s kingdom.
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