THE HUSBANDMAN and THE FRUITLESS BRANCHES
“...Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer...” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NASB)
“...Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you...” (2 Corinthians 5:16-20 MSG). “…Ye shall know [God’s children, who love him,]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
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“...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB).
“...Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you...” (2 Corinthians 5:16-20 MSG).
“...Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer...” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NASB). “…Ye shall know [God’s children, who love him,]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
God’s people were ONCE recognized simply for what they DO through self-effort, alone, but as NEW CREATIONS, they are NO LONGER to be recognized in that way. God’s WORD said we don’t RECOGNIZE Jesus by the flesh, therefore, we don’t recognize HIS PEOPLE, by the flesh either.
God’s people are tricked, fooled, manipulated, bamboozled, lied to, end up marrying, in bad business deals, and entangled with hypocrites, pretenders, liars, evil leaders, and make-believers because they ONLY recognized them by their flesh and the deeds of their flesh.
Jesus is the LIVING WORD of God that saves, indwells within the hearts of God’s people, produces spiritual fruit in and through them, and displays God’s GLORY in and through them too. God’s people DON’T view Jesus according to his flesh. He is their LORD and SAVIOR, who is recognized as the indwelling SPIRIT that saved them and made them into NEW CREATIONS.
God’s people’s assessment of Jesus comes from a spiritual perspective and the assessment of his people SHOULD TOO! “...Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer...” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NASB). “…Ye shall know [God’s children, who love him,]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
God’s people will continue to follow, connect, and become yoked together with FALSE, hypocritical, FAKE, EVIL people, because they don’t FOLLOW God’s WORD to EXAMINE or LOOK FOR spiritual fruit!
God’s people have BECOME “NEW CREATIONS” They are to CHOOSE to stop JUDGING themselves according to the flesh as well as their brother and sisters in Christ. It doesn’t mean people are NOT wrong, or aren’t practicing a sinful lifestyle, or living according to the flesh, it says DON’T judge them (or yourself) according to the flesh, but by the fruit!
God’s is LOOKING at the HEART where spiritual FRUIT is produced and it is the FRUIT that REVEALS whether a person is one of GOD’s people or NOT.
God’s people CONTINUALLY follow or get caught with the WRONG people FOLLOWING after the flesh. They make the same mistake over and over again. Merely looking at the flesh, God’s people, like the rest of world, will become carried away with someone’s appearance, political affiliation, skin color, elaborate outward deeds, background staging of their lives, and wealth, but totally MISS the ABSENCE of God.
Don’t get so caught in the VIEWS or ACCUSATIONS that support your perspectives that you MISS God’s TRUTH. HIS PEOPLE, no matter their vocations in life, live out their LIVES for his GLORY and you WILL KNOW, they live for HIS GLORY.... BY THEIR SPIRITUAL FRUIT!! “...[God’s people”]...are not of the world, just as I am not of the world...” (John 17:16 NASB).
God’s people are like the branches on a GRAPE VINE. Fruitless branches offer no “witness for God,” at all.“…The invisible [Holy Spirit]…from the creation of the world is …clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (such as fruitful branches)…” (Romans 1:20 KJV). “…What we now SEE (fruitful branches) did not come from anything that can be SEEN…” (Hebrews 11 NLT). “…he (the “indwelling” holy spirit) doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…The fruit of the Spirit (the display of the indwelling Holy Spirit’s POWER) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The [indwelling] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in... [ and through the branches] …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can [God’s people]... unless [they] abide in Me (Jesus). …” (John 15:4-6 NASB).
“… I am the vine, you are the branches; he (she) who abides in Me and I in him, he (she) bears much fruit,…” (John 15:4-6 NASB). “… apart from Me [God’s people]... 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 husbandman who produces spiritual fruit “in” (plants the seed) and “through” (produces the fruit) his people, WHEN they abide in Christ.
God, the Holy Spirit is also referred to, in the bible, as a “...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). Thus, the bible says, “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV). “…The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit produces ...(spiritual) fruit in [the lives of HIS people when the SEED is watered]….” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…God ...the … HOLY SPIRIT ... is the SOURCE of ...[spiritual fruit]…it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of ...[HIS people, branches, etc.]... The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to produce spiritual fruit) THROUGH each of us (his branches)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…the Father that dwelleth in [the branches] … he doeth the works...[of producing spiritual fruit]…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [the branches]: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
A good husbandman ensures the vine and branches are fruitful. One of God’s first directives to mankind was to be FRUITFUL. “...God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply….” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV).
Fruitful branches are WITNESSES that the KINGDOM of God or RULE of God has come upon the earth.
God RULES by governing the hearts of his people or the citizens of the Kingdom. You will know HIS CITIZENS, by their spiritual fruit. “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
Spiritual fruit is the WITNESS of citizenship in the Kingdom and Lordship of the King of kings.
The IMPORTANT lesson, from fruitful branches, is that the KINGDOM of GOD is manifested and witnessed, to the world, by its presence intrusion by HIS PEOPLE and in regard to its future consummation promised by the King of kings (the husbandman).“...God said ... Be fruitful, and multiply….” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV). “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
God can make that directive, because he is the husbandman, and he knows the SEED, he planted within the HIS PEOPLE. God, the Holy Spirit, has NO DOUBT they will be fruitful!! “...Be fruitful….” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV).
One of the GREATEST seeds ever sown upon this EARTH was Jesus, the WORD OF God. One of the GREATEST seeds ever sow “within” the heart, of God’s people, is Jesus, the Word of God. “…The sower (husbandman) SOWETH THE WORD …The seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (the ground; earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).
Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God (the “good” seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “ …We (God’s people) have this treasure (this seed) “in” earthen (human) vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
Jesus is the “good seed” and WILL always produces good crop “…The seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).
Jesus, the WORD showed himself FRUITFUL and MULTIFLIED!! “...[Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God...” (Luke 8:1 KJV). “... The word of God spread....” (Acts 6:7 NIV). “... the word of God continued to spread and flourish...” (Acts 12:24 NIV). “... So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed...” (Act 12:20 KJV). “...God’s word [was un]chained...” (1 Timothy 2:9 NIV). “... the word of God [was un]bound...” (1 Timothy 2:9 KJV).
Jesus, the human vessel, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, preached the GOSPEL and drew the crowds. “...the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing...” (Luke 9:11 KJV). “...And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed...” (Mark 6:56 KJV). “...Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there...” (Matthew 19:2 KJV). “...the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all...” (Luke 6:19 KJV).
“...God said... Be fruitful, and multiply….” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV). “… God … work[ed] … in … [Jesus] … what is pleasing to him …” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father... [that DWELT within JESUS]… he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
The “preaching” of the Gospel, was God, the Holy Spirit, SPEAKING through Jesus. God, the Holy Spirit DOES the WORK. “…Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and POWER (the indwelling Holy Spirit), performed great wonders and signs among the people…” (Acts 6:8 NIV). “…God did extraordinary MIRACLES (by the indwelling Holy Spirit) through Paul…” (Acts 19:11 NIV).
“…the Father that dwelleth in [his people], he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of [those]... who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“...The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s [power and fruit]... THROUGH each of us …… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).. “…God ...does the work ....The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN…” (Romans 1:20 KJV).
Jesus was a specially created human vessel, but the WORDS he spoke was ALL God, the Holy Spirit. “…The only begotten (specially created) Son (Jesus, the WORD), of the Father, he hath declared (explained or REVEALED) him…” (John 1:18 KJV).
“..I am (the WORD is) in the Father (God, the HOLY SPIRIT), and the Father ... [is in the Word]? the words that (Jesus) I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth (the holy spirit doeth) the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…God (the holy spirit) is not human “…God is Spirit …Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill…” (Numbers 23:19 NIV & John 4:24 KJV). “...the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth (the holy spirit doeth) the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Before Jesus died upon the cross, God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus REVEALED himself. “…The ...Son (Jesus, the WORD), of the Father, he hath declared (explained or REVEALED) him…” (John 1:18 KJV).
“...I am sending my messenger ....The messenger of the covenant...” (Malachi 3:1 NLT). “... He (THE WORD) is a light to reveal God to the nations...” (Luke 2:32 NLT). “.. A Light of revelation...” (LUKE 2:32 NASB).
“…He has revealed God to us…” (John 1:18 NLT). “… For the Lord ...reveals [God’s]... thoughts to mankind…” (Amos 4:13 NLT).
WHY? “…so you will know that [HE “IS”] the Lord…” (Exodus 10:1-2 NLT). “…Then you will know that [he is] the Lord your God…’” (Exodus 16:12 NLT).
Now, through revelation knowledge, “…The invisible [Holy Spirit]…from the creation of the world is …clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (new creations or branches and they produce spiritual fruit)…” (Romans 1:20 KJV). “…What we now SEE ( new creations, fruitful branches, etc.) did not come from anything that can be SEEN…” (Hebrews 11 NLT). “…he (the holy spirit) doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus SAID: “… [HIS Word was]… the power of God at work (miraculously), saving everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16 NLT).
“...[Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God...” (Luke 8:1 KJV).
“…The Spirit of the Lord [was]... upon [Jesus, the messenger] ...he ... anointed [or empowered him]… to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent [him]… to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).
…God anointed (or empowered) Jesus of Nazareth (the messenger) (HOW?) with the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER (what did jesus do?)... [he]...went about doing good, (TELLING the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM, demonstrating spiritual fruit,), and healing all that were oppressed of the devil …(HOW?) GOD WAS WITH HIM…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV)
. “…God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. …… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus PREACHED and the “...the crowds ... followed him...” (Luke 9:11 KJV). “...And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces...” (Mark 6:56 KJV). “...Large crowds followed him, ...” (Matthew 19:2 KJV).
“...the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God...” (Luke 5:1 KJV). “...Large crowds were traveling with Jesus...” (Luke 14:25 KJV). “...A large crowd followed and pressed around him...” (Mark 5:23 KJV). “...Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them...” (Mark 10:1 KJV). “...Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him...” (Matthew 4:25 KJV).
Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). The CROWDS were “NOT” following a human vessel, they were following the WORD of God (the SPEAKING SPIRIT). It is God’s WORD that draws the crowds to God, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the WORD, multiplied the number of people coming into the Kingdom of God, through the message, he was EMPOWERED to preach. “...[Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God...” (Luke 8:1 KJV).
“…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (HOW?) with the Holy [Spirit]... and WITH POWER…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV). “...[god empowered jesus]...to preach the gospel to the poor ... To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).
“… [JESUS]....The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “...[empowered ]...to preach the gospel to the poor ... To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV). “… [Jesus was EMPOWERED, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and] went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
“...the words (the message) that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth (the holy spirit doeth) the works (preaching)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
HOWEVER, “...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... without me ye can do nothing...” (John 15:1-10 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus revealed his FRUITFULNESS, because he ABIDED in God, who is SPIRIT and by trusting in and depending upon his indwelling POWER. “… I come ...to do thy will, O God…” (Hebrew 10:7 KJV). “… Not My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus, his WORD could NOT have done the WORKS apart from his Father, who is Spirit or his POWER. “...the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: ... THESE THREE ARE ONE...” (1 JOHN 5:7 KJV).
Jesus, the WORD, openly admitted he didn’t even speak on his OWN, but said only what his Father, who is SPIRIT, GAVE him to say. “...the words (the message) that I speak unto you I speak not of myself…” (John 14:10 KJV). “...the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: ... THESE THREE ARE ONE...” (1 JOHN 5:7 KJV).
“...I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak...” (John 12:49 KJV).
“...the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me...” (John 14:24 KJV).
Therefore, “…The ...Son (Jesus, the WORD), of the Father, he hath declared (explained or REVEALED) him…” (John 1:18 KJV).
“...I am sending my messenger ....” (Malachi 3:1 NLT). “... [THE WORD] is a light to reveal God to the nations...” (Luke 2:32 NLT). “.. [The WORD or messenger is a) Light of revelation...” (LUKE 2:32 NASB).
“...[The WORD or messenger]... has revealed God to us…” (John 1:18 NLT). “… [The WORD or messenger] ...reveals [God’s]... thoughts to mankind…” (Amos 4:13 NLT).
WHY? “…Then you will know that [he is] the Lord your God…’” (Exodus 16:12 NLT). “…… I am God, and there is none like me…" (Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV). “… “I AM” WHO I AM…” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB). “… [God] … is Your rock and Your fortress, your deliverer, Your GOD, Your rock, in whom [you] … take refuge; Your shield and the horn of Your salvation, YOUR stronghold.…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB).
While Jesus, the human vessel, was a very important part of the message, he demonstrated God, the Father, who is Spirit, was KING of kings. “...his kingdom ruleth over all...” (Psalms 103:19 KJV).
“...[God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings (good news) of the kingdom of God...” (Luke 8:1 KJV).
FRUITLESS BRANCHES ARE CUT-OFF AND CUT AWAY, by the FARMER or HUSBANDMAN, SO THE FRUITFUL BRANCHES CAN BECOME “MORE” FRUITFUL.
God’s people can become FRUITLESS too in BRINGING “FORTH” THE “GOOD NEWS” OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
GOD LOVES THE WORLD. HE DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO PERISH. HIS HAS GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE FOR THE LOST AND THE NEEDY.
FRUITFUL BRANCHES REVEAL GOD’S PRESENCE AND HIS GRACIOUS GOODNESS UPON MANKIND.
HE WANTS THE WORLD TO KNOW HE’S IS HERE, UPON EARTH, through HIS “people” AND HIS KINGDOM HAS COME!!
“...Thy kingdom come...” (Matthew 6:10 KJV). “...the kingdom of God is within [HIS PEOPLE]...” (Luke 17:21 KJV). “…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).
“…He (she) 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).
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