The Spirit is the SOURCE of all life. Just as the fruit on the vine cannot live without water, the fruit of the Spirit cannot exist without the Spirit.
Our spiritual fruit will never develop without the Spirit. Yes, Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Yes, the fruit begins to develop in us: love, peace, patience, joy, etc. But without the flow of the Spirit, there is no ripening, no fruition.
The power of the Spirit is in the Vine. The flow of the Spirit is in attachment to the Vine. We are connected to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ. For this reason only, can the Spirit bring us life and abundant life.
The abundant life comes through the Vine and the Spirit. We cry for, we look for this fulfilled life in so many things. But it will never be found outside Jesus and His Spirit. They bring, give and bestow on us what they have. Whatever they have, they pass on to us as we ask and as we are attached. It’s not automatic, but deliberate. We can be deliberately and fully attached back to the Source of life similar to being attached back to a mother’s cord of life.
Life of frustration flows out of expecting the fruit but not tapping the Source! Life of frustration is exasperated because of fully expecting everything known and read out of the Bible but in not actually and practically tapping into the Vine through the Spirit.
The 120 began tapping into Jesus as they prayed in the Upper Room. They gave their lives to Jesus. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit through baptism. Acts 1:5 “John baptized you in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is what God does when He turns on the water of the Spirit through the Vine! This powerful flow of Spirit bursts through the vessels of life! This power of God comes flowing through to the one waiting on Him. It can become messy and wet, but it is out of the heart of God the Father that it comes. He cannot tone it down too much. Consider the source.
When the Spirit came, as recorded in Acts 2, He came in a loud “sound like a strong wind, gale force.” Onlookers thought these people had become “drunk on cheap wine.” But it was much more that this. The Spirit of God had come upon them in power. The Spirit of God came in a strong force upon each one waiting and praying.
There are many manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In this case, they began “speaking in a number of different languages.” Those from many countries could immediately understand them. The power of God began flowing through them.
And it continued as Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. The difference in him was that he boldly stood and explained the full message of God’s plan of abundant life as recorded in the Old Testament, witnessed in Jesus and now completed through the Holy Spirit.
When we get on the log ride at a water park, we expect to get wet. It’s usually refreshing as hot, summer weather can be quite exhausting.
Similarly, life can be quite exhausting. The challenges and problems of living in a city, living with selfish people and trying to make a living can get quite overwhelming. But in turning to God and seeking connection with the Vine of Christ, we can expect the flow of the Spirit to splash through and all around. It doesn’t need to be contained just as water at a water park is not. It doesn’t need to be analyzed - but to be enjoyed.
We do not drive to a water park, pay the fee and slide through the rides in order to analyze the engineering. But we come to have fun and get wet. It’s a guaranteed soaker with lots of surprises. We do not try to take control of the water but go along with the water. It’s literally relaxing and refreshing and quite unnecessary to know the physics, design and production of each water flow. These are left to others behind the scenes. Our responsibility is to go through the gate, expect something to happen and get wet.
Will you join me in waiting for something new and refreshing? Will you join me in attaching to the Vine for the source of new life? Will you join me in allowing the Spirit of God to do as He wishes? Will you join me in accepting God’s way, God’s life, His new abundant life He would love to give each and every one of us?
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Good post.
Posted by: Zulema | 29 October 2008 at 03:45