Monday, November 23, 2015

Getting A Better Network

John 15:1-8

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
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.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
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.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Getting a Better Network
When tragedy strikes in our lives, whether small or large, we reach out to our networks.  Family, friends, people who have had similar experiences; it's a principle common to all of human kind.  We are designed for connection.
It's not by accident that this happens.  That's why this connection is at the core of Jesus' mission on earth.  His sacrifice restored our relationship with the Father.  We are grafted in and our survival once we accept Christ's sacrifice, relies on our connection.
For those of us who believe and receive the gift of Christ, abiding in Him is essential.  Confessing Him isn't enough.  We must abide in Him.  There is our peace.  In Him, in The Vine, we are tended directly by the Father.  
So, get a better network.  If you find yourself connected with anything or anyone other than Christ, then you're not availing yourself to be tended by the Father.  Instead of Facebook, or Twitter, or the telephone, or anyone else, try the Father first.  You'll reach Him through the Son.

Galatians 4:1-7King James Version (KJV)

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Like the song says, have a little talk....

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.