Don’t Let it Wither and Die!

Pastor Carolyn J. Blue

 

John 15: 5 – 8 KJV

5 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.

6 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.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

NLT

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

 

Don’t Let it Wither and Die!

 

I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia this weekend to help celebrate my brother’s 63rd birthday! What an awesome time was had by us all. But prior to me leaving on Saturday morning, I took the time to water my plants because I wanted them to stay hydrated while I was away.

Well, when I returned home and walked into my bathroom, I noticed that my plants had begun to wither. 

My peace lily had a bloom, but was still withering, and I immediately heard the Lord say: “Don’t Let It Wither And Die”! 

 

I then knew that watching the plant wither had a spiritual connotation, and I could hear Him saying that just as our plants need food, water, sunlight, and someone to talk to them, we too must continue to feed and nurture our physical, emotional, and spiritual man by giving it food, water, lots of sunlight and spend time talking to it.

 

If we fail to do these basic necessities, we will wither and die! 

 

What does the word wither mean? Webster says that it means to become dry and sapless. 

 

Don’t Let It Wither And Die!

 

Jesus said in the book of John chapter 15 verse 5 that I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

 

He is saying that we can do absolutely nothing without Him, but as long as we remain in Him (In His Word, In His Way, In His Will) and He remain in us – we WILL (not might, not maybe, not could) but WILL PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT!

 

The fruit is a sign we are in a solid relationship with God and we have chosen to produce “fruit” that blesses the lives of others and points them to God.

 

He goes on to say in verse 6 that anyone who does not remain in Him is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 

 

Those who don’t remain are thrown away, because once they wither, they dry out and are of no use to the vine. No fruit can can grow or be produced on the vine when it withers and dies. 

 

Don’t Let It Wither And Die!!! Because, there’s good news tonight!!!

 

What’s the good news? I’m glad you asked!!!

 

Jesus said in verse 7 but if you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

 

Let’s look the word BUT for a minute: 

The word BUT is a conjunction and is used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned.  

 

Therefore, Jesus already told us that we will wither and die if we fail to remain in Him and He in us, BUT … somebody ought to say BUT… if we remain, we can ask for ANYTHING and He says that IT WILL!!!

 

That’s a good place to give God A Praise!!!

 

Lastly, we see in verse 8 that He says that when you produce much fruit, you are His true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 

 

Don’t Let It Wither And Die!!!

 

In other words, God is happy, and pleased when we produce fruit as a result of remaining in Him, because we show (or prove) that we are His true disciples because we understand and live with the knowledge that we are sinners (saved by grace), and we need Christ to save us, every day because we sin everyday. 

 

Don’t Let It Wither And Die!!! 

 

Remain true and faithful to the true Vine so that your life will produce much fruit, and God will be glorified, and you will be in right position with Him to ask for ANYTHING and IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU!!!

 

Don’t Let It Wither And Die!!!