You are a Branch

  You are a branch

Jesus said,

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  

If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. " John 15:4-6.

As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus it is imperative that we draw and stay close to God. Unless we seek out God in prayer and by studying His word we run the risk of falling

away. That’s why it is important for us to meet with other believers either in Church, house fellowships or wherever believers meet.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.     Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:22,23.

Please think about it.

I will boast

  I will boast

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:7-13.

Someone has said “if you think you or your church is like the church of Philadelphia in the book of revelations, you probably are not.”

Jesus notes that this church has little strength yet they have kept the His word. As a result He will make those who are their enemies to fall down and acknowledge that Christ has loved them.

Some say that when Christ says that He will keep them from the wrath to come means they will be raptured before the tribulation starts.

Others see this as God saying He will keep them safe through this period of intense persecution. 

He makes it clear there is an open door before those in Philadelphia. That leads to their reward. 

The reward for those who stay true to God is that they will be come pillars in the temple of God. And will never again have to leave it.

The bottom line in this is we as individuals should be striving to follow Christ in as pure a way as is humanly possible. 

We must remember what the apostle Paul said,

“But he (Christ) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Please think about it.

A Steward

A Steward
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                  1Corinthians 4:1,2.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus are you a good steward. A good servant and “Steward of the mysteries of God”.
As I understand it a steward in the time of Christ looked after his masters things. He was expected to administer them correctly and honestly. To be faithful to his master. This is what the apostle Paul is telling the Corinthians and through them us.
To Timothy Paul writes
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
This is what we must do. We must pray and study the scriptures then present them in the purest way possible.
Thus the question becomes; if you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the scriptures in the truest possible way?
Please think about it.