IT’S A RELATIONSHIP
“…that they might KNOW…..the only true God and Jesus Christ…” (John 17:3)
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Relationships are our most important endeavors and are the only vehicle we have to connect with another person (or thing) on any level whether deeply intimate or highly shallow.
The bible says “...love each other deeply...,” “...build each other up...,” “...be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry...human anger does not accomplish the righteousness God desires...,” “...let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...,” “...be patient, bearing with one another in love...,” “...Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right...,” . Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, through the bond of peace...,” “...God...through Christ ...gave [his people]...the ministry of reconciliation...,” “...do not be yoked together with unbelievers...,” “...it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him...,”
The above scriptures are: 1 Peter 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 1:19-20, Hebrews 10: 24-25, Ephesians 4:2-3; 6:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; 6:14, and Genesis 2:18. These verses are about relationships.
For mankind, the first relationships began back in the Garden of Eden when God breathed into the nostrils of Adam the breathe of life. “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Holy Spirit)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
God is SPIRIT and God is the breath of LIFE. Adam connected to God, the Holy Spirit and Love through an intimate “covenant unity” relationship. “…God is love…” (1 John 4:8 KJV). “…love ….is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…God is Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). “…And the LORD God ...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Holy Spirit)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV). Adam became “…one spirit [with God.]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “….and man (Adam) became a living soul (SOUL)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
Notice that ADAM “became” a LIVING SOUL through the relationship with God, the Holy Spirit or the breathe of Life. “….and man (Adam) became a living soul (SOUL)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “….God saw every thing he had made……and, [said] … it was VERY GOOD…” (Genesis 1:31 KJV).
In this “covenant unity” between God, the Holy Spirit, and Adam that was VERY GOOD; God is called the husbandman or Caregiver and Adam is the dependent or the one being cared for.
The term “husbandman” means a lot of things in both the old and new testaments. We will be looking at husbandman through its definition as farmer, worker of the land, or a producer of crops.
In light of these terms, a husbandman does husbandry or manages the production, development, and fruition of crops.
Adam was the first human to be called this kind of husbandman. He was to work the land in the garden of Eden. “...The Lord God took the man (Adam) and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it...” (Genesis 2:15 NIV).
To work the land meant that one of the duties of Adam was to take care of the crops. Adam was blessed and given special dominion skills, from God, to do this kind of work. “...God blessed them and said to them, “...Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it ...RULE OVER (have dominion over).... Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food ...And it was so...” (Genesis 1:28-31 KJV).
In the 21st century, a husbandman or farmer who takes care of crops prepares the fields for planting seeds and checks to ensure it is the right season to plant.
They make sure the crops are cared for properly, so they keep abreast of weather conditions in case the crops need special care or protection. They check to make sure they are planting in the proper soil. They keep the fields watered, fertilized, purged, free of animals or pests, and free of competing weeds.
They also make sure the crops are harvested at the right time and try to prevent weather or climate from ruining the crop.
The husbandman shoulders the whole responsibility of managing the planting, cultivating, tending, purging, and harvesting of the crops from start to finish.
The husbandman may hire helpers, but he is ultimately responsible for the success of every individual crop. Under, the husbandman’s instructions, the helpers may be instructed to water the fields, help with planting, fertilizing, cultivating, and/or the harvesting of the crop.
But, the good husbandman will work WITH his helpers to care for his “own” crops. He will work alongside his workers to plant the crops, cultivate them, purge them, and harvest them.
A good husbandman also EXPECTS his crop to produce its FRUIT, especially when the husbandman KNOWS what he has invested within the crop.
Jesus said: “... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV). God is called the husbandman and Jesus calls, himself, the vine.
A vine is a plant with a stem,that requires support, because it climbs or crawls along the ground by tendrils or branches. Vines were popular in historical times, and grape vines were a main source for various products and wines.
The promise land was said to be plenteous with vines and vineyards. “...That place (one of the cities in the promise land) was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran ...[and] ... reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land (grapes from a grapevine).They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit (the grapes from a grapevines)...” (Genesis 1:23-27 KJV).
Vines and vineyards require constant care or the fruit would become corrupted.
The husbandman had to keep the branches protected from certain animals, cultivated, the soil plowed, the weeds cleared, and the branches pruned.
In the bible, dead and fruitless branches were cut off, gathered, and burned by the husbandman. “... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV). “…abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV). “…If a man abide NOT in me, ‘he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV). “…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. …” (John 15:4-6 NASB).“… I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit,…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).“… apart from Me you can do nothing…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).
“... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV). God, the Father and Holy Spirit, is the Holy husbandman who takes responsibility for producing spiritual fruit “in” and “through” his people, WHEN they abide in Christ.
“…God is Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). “...[God is a]...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
“…God ...the … HOLY SPIRIT ... is the SOURCE ...[for producing spiritual fruit]…it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of ...[HIS people]... The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to produce spiritual fruit) THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in [HIS people] … he doeth the works..[of producing spiritual fruit]…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit (the “living” water) produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT). A good husbandman, does everything he can, to ensure the vine and branches are fruitful.
Jesus (the Word) makes it clear that he is “THE TRUE VINE.” “... I am the true vine...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV). Without the VINE there would be NO branches. The branches grow FROM the VINE.
The VINE provides the nourishment to the branches in order to sustain them so they can grow and develop their fruit.
Jesus, the Word of God or the TRUE VINE nourishes the believer (branches). When watered by the LIVING WATER (the Holy Spirit), the vine (Jesus) empowers the branches (God’s people) to grow, develop, and produce spiritual fruit.
“…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. …” (John 15:4-6 NASB). The branches can NOT bear fruit, without abiding in the vine.
In fact, if the branches are cut-off or disconnected from the vine, it dies and can no longer produce fruit. “… I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).
The believer (the branch) is totally dependent upon the VINE (Jesus, the Word) to empower them through the indwelling “living water” of the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit. “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
It is the “COVENANT UNITY” between the believer (the branch) and God, the indwelling Holy Spirit (the LIVING water), through Jesus (the VINE) that is the source that produces spiritual fruit. “… apart from Me A(the VINE) you (God’s people)... can do nothing…” (John 15:4-6 NASB). “…The Holy Spirit produces ...[spiritual]... fruit in [the[ lives [of his people]…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
However, it is the choice of the believer to stay connected with Jesus (the Word), by watering the “good seed” with the LIVING WATER that produces spiritual fruit. “…Choose LIFE (Jesus, the Word) …” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). Jesus (the Word) saith…I am THE LIFE…” (John 14:6 KJV).
“… His name (Jesus’name) is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “… THE WORD …was sown in [the] HEARTS [of God’s people]…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
“…I (Jesus) am the vine, you are the branches (God’s people)…” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “…abide in me (stay connected to jesus, the word, the vine), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me…” (John 15:4 KJV).
“…I do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…He(she) who ABIDES in [Jesus] and [Jesus in them,]… bears much fruit … ” (John 15:1-11 NASB). "… [The]… Father is glorified (his presence, his goodness, and his working power is made known or witnessed) by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be [his]… disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“…Ye shall [be known]… by [your]… fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…All men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…" (John 13:35 NASB). “[God’s] …Holy Spirit …is the SOURCE [of it ALL]…” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “… he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
No believer (branch) can produce spiritual fruit apart from Jesus, the TRUE VINE. “…If a man (woman or branch) abide NOT in me (Jesus), he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV).
All abiding branches will produce spiritual fruit, which proves their connection or commitment to watering the SEED (the VINE) with LIVING WATER. “…God is Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). “...[God is a]...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
“…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit … ” (John 15:1-11 NASB). "…My Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit,] YOU can do nothing….” (John 15:5 KJV).
“…Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit... [and] a good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit…...” (Matthew 7:16-22 KJV). “...You can identify [God’s people]… by their … fruit, that is, by the way they … act…” (Matthew 7:16 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Fruitless believers are, most likely, NOT connected to the vine (Jesus, the Word), are NOT watering the seed (with LIVING water), have chosen NOT to abide in him (chosen not to stay close to Jesus), and may NOT belong to him.
“…abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me…” (John 15:4 KJV). “…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. …” (John 15:4-6 NASB).
“...[God is a]...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
“…those who do not have the [indwelling Holy]... Spirit of Christ (the SEED) living in them do not belong to him at all.….” (Romans 8:8-11 NLT). “…Jesus Christ is in [God’s people]…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). The fruitless branches are purged and removed for the sake of other, fruit producing, branches.
“... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV).
The TRUE VINE depends upon the LIVING WATER to grow and the believer depends upon Jesus, the indwelling Spirit to grow! “... In him (Jesus, the TRUE VINE) we live (have spiritual life), and move (produce spiritual fruit), and have our being (have a spiritual identity as a new creation) ...For we are ... his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
It is the RELATIONSHIP between the believer and God through Jesus that enables them to become restored to spiritual life, produce spiritual fruit, and obtain a new spiritual identity? “... In him (Jesus, the TRUE VINE) we live (have spiritual life), and move (produce spiritual fruit), and have our being (have a spiritual identity as a new creation) ...For we are ... his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
Through reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ, are God’s people REUNITED into a “covenant unity” with HIM AGAIN.“… [God sent the ] …one … who can [REUNITE] God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus (WHO comes to DWELL WITHIN)…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT). “...[Through Jesus, God’s people are] reconciled to God...” (Romans 5:10 KJV).
“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (Jesus, his living Word) “INTO” [THE] HEARTS [of his people]…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…God has given [his people] his Spirit as PROOF that [they]… live (are alive) in him and he [dwells]…in [them]…” (1 John 4:13 NLT). “…Jesus Christ (the Word, the LIGHT, the GOOD seed, the working POWER, the indwelling Holy Spirit, etc.,) is in [HIS people]…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“... I (jesus) am the true vine, and my Father (god, the holy spirit) is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV). “… [The husbandman sent the ] …one … who [could REUNITE] God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus (the true vine WHO comes to DWELL WITHIN)…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
Every believer willingly chooses to trust in and depend upon God, the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower them to live a fruitful spiritual life. “... In him (jesus) we live (have spiritual life), and move (produce spiritual fruit), and have our being (have a spiritual identity as a new creation) ...For we are ...his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV). “…Apart from [Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s people] ...can do nothing….” (John 15:5 KJV).
In the Old Testament husbandmen planted vineyards, wine gardens, were vinedresser’s, farmers, raised crops, and worked the land. A VINE, needs a husbandman to TAKE CARE of it, to MANAGE it, and to bring it to FRUITION. “... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV).
