If anyone abides not in ME+, he is cast out as the branch and is dried out... and they gather them... and into the fire they throw them... and they are burned. John 15:6 Green's Greek InterlinearAnd that fire is hot!
A pile of dried grape vines burns hot, sending both flames and smoke high, as we have discovered after pruning our own vines.
Notice...
once the branch is cut off from The True VINE+, that branch dries up.
This withering process may take some time and furthermore, the branch itself may even remain supple for a long time.
But...
that branch will never bring forth fruit, supple or not, once off The True VINE+. It will be turned into ashes... just like all dead things eventually become.
So... HOW DO YOU ABIDE ?
YIELD.
- YIELD toThe WORD+ ... Measure your actions by what you see written in Matthew 5, 6, and 7... for starters.
- YIELD to The SPIRIT... Go meekly within your heart, asking for conviction whenever you become head-strong and unteachable or uncorrectable.
YIELD to The WATER...Practice living as a New Creature in CHRIST because...
because...
because...
the power to hold you
in the sin of the old man
has been broken
by the
water
of your baptism
into CHRIST'S death.
Remember your baptismal renunciations of the world, the flesh and the devil.
The Baptismal Renunciations
Made by the Ancient Church
I RENOUNCE :
satan and all his works ,
and his pomps,
and his worships,
and his angels,
and his inventions,
and all things that are under him;
And , I RENOUNCE
the vain glory of the world
with all covetous desires of the same,
and the sinful desires of the flesh,
so that I will not follow them
nor be led by them,
by the Enabling GRACE of The HOLY SPIRIT,
through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
Amen.
