90
His branches shall spread. Hos. 14:6a Branches in the scriptures are not without significance. Jesus identified and made the branch very personal. He proclaimed Himself to be the true vine. John 15:1 The branches would then be seen as those who adhere, who are joined to Christ, as the branches to a vine. The expectation of the vine dresser, the Father, is that there be a bountiful harvest from the branches of the vine. The branches must not be left to grow of themselves. The unfruitful are separated from the vine and thrown away. The fruitful are trimmed that they might increase their yield. That pruning can seem to be horribly severe to the untrained eye. The gardener knows exactly how far to go to insure the very best results. John 15:2.
The key to a fruitful vineyard is found in the nourishment supplied by the roots and the trunk. Jesus made it an imperative that any branch which would bear fruit must abide, remain constantly attached to the trunk, or dwell in Him. With His abiding presence there is a guarantee of a bumper crop. Aside from Him we can do nothing. John 15:5 Surely the motivation of the church is to be found in His presence within her. There is probably no greater need in the church today than to awaken to the necessity of having ìChrist withinî her. Jesus promised that if a person would love Him and keep His word, that The Father would love Him and that WE, the fullness of the Godhead would come to dwell within. John 14:23 A people so mightily filled with the presence of the Living God would know no bounds to the manifestations of the might and power of the Lord.
The branches may be identified by their obedience and love. The Lord Jesus was the love of the Father. Jesus loved His own with the same measure of love. We are to continue in His love, which means that we too may receive and be filled with the love of the Lord. John 15:9 There is no end to the measure of His love which He will impart to those who not only maintain His love but will make place for His Word to abide within them.John 15:7 His presence brings a fullness of joy that is incomparable and unmatched by anything else in this world. John 15:11 The body of Christ to properly function must be filled with the completeness of His love. Only by His Spirit and His love can the purpose of the Lord be accomplished in the development of a perfect church. Eph. 5:27 The relationship of Christ to His church is one of absolute, pure, holy, fervent love. It is true love. A Love which will never cease to exist between Christ and His church. The Bride of Christ is the crowning work of redemption. It is the reason for the whole plan of salvation. He loves the church and therefore gave Himself for it. Eph. 5:25 The ultimate goal of the Lord is a fully mature body of believers.