John 15:1-5 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
INSIGHT
–Jesus taught and used the analogy of the vine because there were grapevines everywhere in ancient Israel. Jesus Christ is the Vine. God the Father is the Vinedresser or Gardener. Brethren are attached to the Jesus the Vine so that we can bear fruit. A vine branch cannot blossom and produce fruit apart from being attached to the Vine. God has called us to be the salt and the light of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. The lamp cannot be put under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. God calls us to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16). God the Father helps us and prunes us once we are joined with Christ, so that we can bear much fruit.
PRAYER
Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, bless Your holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. You are Good and Faithful unto us. We thank You Lord for forgiving all our iniquities, You heal all our diseases, redeem our lives from destruction, crown us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfy our mouths with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. We bless Your name Abba Father for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. Father You are the Vinedresser, may You guide us and lead us always in Your righteousness and justice by Your grace. Lord if You don’t build our houses we build in vain. Unless You guard the city, we stay awake in vain. Lord You give Your beloved sleep. You bless Your children with a heritage, the fruit of the womb, and fill our quiver. May Your grace and mercy be upon us daily and Your accompany us daily. May You answer all our prayers and hearts desires Abba Father. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 127:1-5, Psalms 103:1-5
Isaiah 5:1-5 NKJV
“Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.”
INSIGHT
–The beautiful song of the vineyard is an example of the sublime poetic style of Isaiah, unexcelled anywhere in literature. In this allegory the well-beloved or beloved represents Yahweh the Vinedresser, and this the vineyard represents Israel and Judah. The wild grape represents the people practicing injustice and idolatry instead of a witness to the nations, who did this inspite of God’s abundant love and care. In judgement then, God permits pagan invaders to trample down His people fair land of promise and Israel to Assyria in 721 Bc and Judah to Baylon in 586 Bc. The good and pruned grapes is an analogy that represents God’s expectation of Israel and Judah to be an obedient, holy and witnessing people. God is calling us like Israel to be inclined to Him and His purposes. As God’s beloved saved by His blood, we are called a holy nation, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
PRAYER
Lord You are our Refuge and Strength, our very present help in trouble. We will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Abba Father we belong to You, thank You for Your love and care upon us. Thank You for loving us and choosing us to become a royal priesthood, a special people and a holy nation. May You prune us and help us to follow Your divine purpose and will. May You forgive us all our iniquities and cleanse us with Your precious blood. May You fight for us every battle and grant us the grace to trudge on in our walk of faith. May You help us to put on You full armor Lord God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. May You fight for our nation and all people that our economy will thrive. May You bless the work of our hands and teach us how to make wealth. We worship You and adore You, and it is Jesus Mighty name we pray. Amen
Blessed Tuesday
Further reading: Psalms 80:8-9, Ephesians 6:11
Song of Solomon 2:15 NKJV
“Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.”
INSIGHT
–The little foxes that creep in almost unnoticed and spoil the vines and take away the fruit. The little foxes can be termed as the sins of the heart, lips and bad conduct. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reminds each one of the need to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and soul, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God our Vinedresser chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit, the fruit that will last (John 15:16).
PRAYER
Oh Lord our God, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When we consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained. Lord Jesus how excellent is Your name in all the earth. May You remove every little fox from our hearts, thoughts, and actions that eat the fruit designed for our progress. May You save us from the little foxes in our nation that come to destroy our future and the lives of our generations. May You revive our children and all the youth from the destructive and distractive schemes of the evil one who comes to kill, steal and destroy. May Your favor and grace overflow in our lives, families, communities, churches and nation. May Your Holy Spirit permeate through us to cleanse us wholly body, soul and spirit. May You help us to bear much fruit and the fruit that will last. We exult Your name for You are excellent to be worshipped and praised. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 8:1-3, Proverbs 9:10
Matthew 21:33-41 NKJV
“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
INSIGHT
–Jesus outlines the parable of the wicked vinedressers to reveal the felonious nature of men and the value that the salvation grace is endowed. The landowner symbolizes God, and the vineyard represents the Israelites. The vinedressers epitomizes the spiritual leaders of Israel, such as the high priest, the sadducees, pharisees and scribes. The servants typifies the prophets of God. The son of the landowner is symbolic to Jesus who is killed outside of the vineyard, which is metaphoric to the salvation story. The vinedressers mismanaged the vineyard and the opportunity to display faithfulness to the cause of fruitfulness. The tale is a reminder of the salvation grace that came through the incarnation of the Son of God, and His death for the salvation of the world. God expects fruit from our lives and the purposes for which He has called us, and expects us to live in faithfulness and integrity.
PRAYER
Dear Lord God, our Father full of mercy and grace. Your steadfast love never ceases and Your mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. Dear Lord You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You never mutate or change. You are not a man that You should lie or change Your mind but You are a promise keeping God. Lord Your promises to us are yes and amen. May You fulfill all Your promises unto us, our families and nation for You are a promise keeping God. May Your grace of salvation reach all the unreached to revive us all. May You deliver all the oppressed and save the street families from their troubles for You are merciful and Your mercies endures forever. Deliver all the war torn countries and grant them peace merciful Savior. May You be our ever present help in our times of need Abba Father. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further reading: 1 Kings 21:1–16
Luke 13:6-9 NKJV
“He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down’”
INSIGHT
–The parable of the fruitless fig tree demonstrates the love that God shows us and expects each one to corporate with His mission of salvation. The fig tree represents Israel as a nation. The fruitless fig tree is a personal admonition to repentance and believing in Jesus Christ lest one come to eternal condemnation. The life of Jesus’s disciples should include daily repentance and renewal in the spirit. God’s grace is not casual indulgence or indifference but a commitment to walk by the spirit. God mercifully gives those who are fruitless another chance to make a difference and bear fruit. Jesus reminds us that we have been enriched by His grace to much bear fruit. God requires and expects fruit from those planted in His vineyard.
SUMMARY
The vinedresser is an interesting thematical exposition that reminds us majorly of the love and care that God gives to us His children. Jesus reminds us in John 15:1-5 saying, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Often times do we forget to reflect on the role of the Vinedresser who is the Father, Who shows us His eternal love through pruning and correction. Hebrews 12:6-8 admonishes us of the chastening by the Lord for He scourges every son whom He receives, and every one that is not corrected is illegitimate. Jesus also reminds us that if we abides in Him, and He in us, we shall bear much fruit for without Him we can do nothing. He cautions of the little foxes that spoil the vines (Song of Solomon 2:15), and calls us to be renewed in the mind that we may discover His good and perfect will (Romans 12:2). We are also called to be partakers of the anointing of the fruit of the Spirit that is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control.
PRAYER
Thank You Abba Father for You are our Good and Loving Father. What a Great and Awesome Friend we have and serve. We love You Father, thank You for Your unending love and mercy upon us. Thank You for pruning us and for chastening us daily for Your love is unexplainably. May You anoint us afresh and journey with us daily in Your perfect will. May Your anointing refresh us and enable us to always partake of Your fruit. Where we have errored may You forgive us dear merciful Jesus we humbly beseech You. Lord may You do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask of or think of according to the power that is at work in us. Lord we trust in You and exalt You. We believe that You are able to do more than we can think of or imagine. We believe that we shall be extremely fruitful since we abide in You and You in us. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. May You bless us and keep us loving Father, may You shine Your face upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: Joh. 3:16-21, Galatians 5:22-23