Are You Grafted In? Who Is Your Vinedresser?

 Tuesday, September 26, 2017

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser” (John 15:1)

Hey Gang:   When you randomly open your Bible each morning- I do assume you open your Bible each morning to stoke the fire in your spiritual boiler, does it open to one of those very special verses that ignite that fire?   All of God’s Word is inspired by God: the 23^rd Psalm- places vey near the top of the most favorite of all the Old Covenant chapters.  And it is the most well-known chapter in the world; probably John 3:16 is the most known, loved and quoted verse.

This morning I randomly opened my Bible and it opened to the fifteenth chapter of the book of John.  It was no accident that it opened to John 15 because I often open the Word intentionally to John 15.  I call it the “IF” chapter or ‘prerequisites to walking in the fullness of God and His Word.’ It is a prerequisite to living a life filled with the joy that Christ wants to shower on each of His children.

Jesus paints us a beautiful word picture of how we are interconnected with the Vinedresser, who is the Lord.  This was a picture immediately understandable for people of Israel, which was and is a land of vineyards. They knew the process well- pruning non-producing vines so that they could be more fruitful.

Jesus’ words contained a hidden truth that was far more important than the simple task of pruning away an unproductive vine.  It painted a picture of the religious practices, common to the Jews of that time, but needed to go.  Many stories of the Old Testament referred to Israel as the Vine or Vineyard of God.  The vine was the symbol of Israel- even appearing on the Maccabeean currency.  Solomon considered the vine significant enough in Jewish life to place a vine across the front of the Holy of Holies in the Temple.         

I love to get off by myself and read Jesus’ awesome words in this passage, “I am the vine and you are the branches,” Wow! Lord, how awesome.  You mean I can be a branch in V? Does that not fire the cockles of your thumpers? 

But notice, Jesus does not leave it there.  He goes on and gives us the Good News: we can be attached to His Vine! He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am and true vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4). 

Wonderful, yes, but.. notice the next “IF”. “IF’ anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away – to where? “…to be cast in the fire and they are burned” (v.6).

So, my young friends, if’ I were to place a title on this Gramps Message, (And he did) it would be ‘Are You Grafted In?’ Are you truly attached to the Vine?’  Jesus made Himself available to us and walks with us through those wilderness times. He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace” (John 16:3).

Blessings, 
Gramps

 

Settle Down PussyCats, No Meal Tonight!

Monday, September 25, 2017

There were a couple reasons why I felt led to repost this: September 25, our Michael would have been 62; And one of our Pastors listened to a podcast on Daniel and ask if Kmt had any good commentary. I found His Hillbilly Commentary writing and made Pastor a copy. I,too, have been reading the Book of Daniel and Gramps Hillbilly Commentary.  I can almost hear his voice. I guess that is another reason I choose to repost instead of writing new ones, but his posts seem timeless – as is God’s word.  Be blessed.

 

“He said, ‘O man of high esteem, do not be afraid.  Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!”  Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, ‘May my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (Dan. 10:19).

 

Hey Gang:  How many out there would agree with me that Daniel was one tough dude?  Now, think about what was dealt to him as a teenager:  He was captured and taken to a foreign land; his country was destroyed and people taken into bondage; he was in a strange culture and, perhaps most pressing, he was chosen to be a satrap-in-training in the kings court- which placed him under the threat of death at any time.

 

He certainly had to make some tough decisions.  They attempted to mold the brightest and best-looking lads into Chaldean’s.  Every attempt was made to “brain wash” them, remove their Jewishness, including their name, and take the appearance of Chaldean’s.  Their choice was to be obedient or face death.   But, when it came to his eating habits, Daniel drew the line. He would have no part of defiling himself by eating of the King’s food, which had been sacrificed to idols.  When the rubber-hit-the-road Daniel declared, “I will not defile myself”. 

 

Daniel had purpose in his life and he knew who he was in God’s eyes.  Do you ever feel the need to take a stand?  In this age when everything Christian is under attack, have you faced times when you need to shout “No, I will not defile myself”. 

 

We need to take-a-peek at Daniel’s life and find the keys that gave him the backbone to trust in the Lord under all circumstances!   First, he was a fervent pray-er warrior.   He knelt three times a day, facing Jerusalem before an open window, praying fervently for the restoration of his country.   In Chapter 9 we find a model prayer that each believer should have on their desk and use as a model when praying for our nation.

 

This he did even though a trumped-up decree was pushed through in the dark of the night- forbidding anyone to pray to, or for, anyone or thing but the King Darius. Daniel knew that the sleaze-bag club would run to the King and report Daniel’s dastardly deed, if he defied the King’s law- and they knew Daniel would. And he did!

 

Note: Daniel did not get all in a dither, for he knew that God had placed him there for a purpose and, if his mission was completed, so be it, but if not, then he would close the pussy cat’s mouths.  We know the rest of the story. 

 

Is it possible to have such trust and faith in our Savior and Lord, today? Not without being in constant contact with Abba Father, keeping the Armor of God in place, and filling your heart with the Word of God.  Folks, this I can guarantee you, today, you will come against something that is contrary to God’s will- and you must choose! Will you allow yourself to be defiled? Or will you stand in the face of adversity and say, “No way, I will not be defiled”? 

 

One does not have to be a rocket scientist to see that the world is being shaken. God’s strength is always available to us! BUT, we must avail ourselves of that strength by inputting the promises of God into our heart, soul and mind.  “God is our refuge and strength” (Psa. 46:1; Eph. 3:16-17).

       

Blessings, 

Gramps

Excited or Depressed? Your Choice

 

September 30, 2014

But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28).  "Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night" (Luke 18:7).

Hey Gang, are you excited about what God is doing in our world today? Or does your blood pressure sky each time you turn on the news?  Do you agree with the old country preacher who shouted from the pulpit, “Something's fixing to happen, something's fixing to happen and I am fixing to be part of it!”? 

Do you have it firmly tucked away in the recesses of your heart and mind that, in the not too distant future, Jesus will appear suddenly in the air, without warning, to rapture His church and take those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, to the Father's house?        

 Notice Malachi's words: "For Behold, the day is coming burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant and every evil doer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the Lord of hosts.  So that it will leave them neither root nor branch.  But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go forth and skip like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4).  That skipping like a calf, at my tender age of 80, kindles a fire deep in my gizzard.

Does that get your blood to boiling?  Noooo?  Well, read on: "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the Lord of Hosts" 

When you read of sadistic acts of violence that has become very common in our news media, do you not get a wee bit excited when you Malachi's words that, "They will one day soon be ashes under the soles of your feet?” I challenge you to read the entire book of Habakkuk, all three chapters, four pages;  it would take about as long as twitting a message.  Notice he begins by crying out to God: "How long, O Lord, will I call for help and You will not hear."  I believe this has become a common plea as our world gets more violent and that violence gets closer to home

 I challenge you to read the entire book of Habakkuk, all three chapters, four pages; it would take about as long as twitting a message.  Notice he begins by crying out to God, "How long, O Lord, will I call for help and You will not hear."  I believe this has become a common plea as our world gets more violent and that violence gets closer to home

He goes on, "Violence, iniquity, wickedness, destruction are before me.  The Law is ignored, justice in not upheld, the wicked surround the righteous, justice is perverted" (vs. 2-4).  Does that not sound like today? Like the days of Noah?   God's response: "Look among the nations!  Observe! Be astonished!  Wonder!  Because I am doing something in your days-you would not believe if you were told!”   (vs. 5b)

Choice time!  You can put your faith in the things of this world, which is like building your house on the sand, or you can follow Habakkuk's example when he said, "Yet I will exult the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength.  And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk in high places"  (vs. 3:18-19).

Soooo my friends, Malachi closes the Old Covenant with a promise that is the desire of my heart: "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers".  (Mal 4:6).  I look forward to that day when all the daddies of the world will go home to their children.   My young friends, are you ready to go skipping like a calf this morning.  I ask you again are you excited this morning about what God is doing!! And going to do?  

Blessings, 

Gramps