2013 March 21 - Morning Manna

"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" (John 15:1-7).

Today's Morsel:To abide in Christ is to be in union with Him. It is to dwell in Him completely. The limb is attached to the tree and the branches are on the limb. The closer the limb is to the tree, the bigger and the stronger it is. But on the end of the limb is where many of the branches are and where the fruit grows. And so the farmer will cut back the branches from the limb to prevent it from breaking off when the fruit starts to grow on it. Jesus said, "He purgeth it." Sometimes in soul winning, some members and churches can produce fruit quicker than others. And so because of this, pride can set in and the church or members don't understand that their pride and what they are doing can cause them to break off from the vine, thus destroying themselves. So God may begins to cut off some of the branches. Many may think the devil is doing it, when members begin to leave the church, but it can be God saying this will destroy the vine because I see their heart. And so He cuts them off. It's painful, but He knows best. So the next time people walk away, don't think that you've done something wrong, just see it as God purging the vineyard.

Sing: He is the vine and we are the branches, His banner over me is love. He is the vine and we are the branches, His banner over me is love. He is the vine and we are the branches, His banner over me is love, His banner over me is love.