Pastor's Points

“Pastor, how do I know when I’m doing God’s Will in my life?” I’ve been asked many times to those sincerely concerned about their walk with Jesus.  I point them to: “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.   2 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.” John 15:1-2 (KJV)   Note that the vines that DO NOT bear fruit are removed from the vine.  I’ll have more to say about these vines at another time.   See now how the branches that “beareth fruit” (not a lot, not beautiful & not the best but some fruit) are pruned so they may bear “more fruit”.  You see how God does not expect us to initially bear a lot of fruit when we are new believers or lack training, experience and guidance but He does expect us to bear some fruit.  It is in persistent personal effort to bear fruit that brings God joy and then He will prune us that we may then bear much fruit.  

“That’s just the way I am!” was the way a friend of mine often explained his obnoxious behavior.    “Take it or leave it.” Was his usual closing remark indicating he saw no reason to alter his attitude or actions.    Does this describe your attitude with respect to your relationship to God or lack of one? This attitude, by the way, is rebellion. The Prophet Isaiah has some very timely advice for us with respect to the statement above.   6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.     Isaiah 55:6-7 (KJV)

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.   Mark 2:16-17 (KJV) One of my first pastors used to say “Before you can lead someone to Christ you must first get them lost.”  It was his way of saying that it when one recognizes they’re guilty of sin, deserve hell and want to avoid it, that they will commit their lives to God through Jesus.  The uninformed or rebellious lost do not think they need a savior and are hell bound.  How’s your spiritual health?  If you've come to realize you’re a sinner, Jesus came to find and save you.