via TJC
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Fatherʼs glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Fatherʼs commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:1-12 NIV
What is victory? The world perceives a victorious man as the winner who defeats an opponent, or adversary; they are the winner. The world uses decaying lenses to frame victory - winning the right job deal, right girl, right car – as if those will last.
A Kingdom Man and disciple maker know that the only real victory is reflecting Christ in all we do, abiding in the master (Colossians 3:17). That man is known as fruitful - producing mature, delicious fruit. That requires a process, known as sanctification where we accept Christ and submit to the Master Gardner’s loving discipline, pruning and maturing. It’s a slow and sometimes painful process but is essential to fully see victory in each of our lives.
At TJC we call this process the No Fruit, Some Fruit, More Fruit, Much Fruit progression. Just as plants mature in stages, we mature in stages too: Salvation, Discipline, Pruning, Abiding.
Join us this week as we set the stage for victory in your life.
DAILY BATTLE ORDER
Write down three sentences today on what you know as victory in your life thus far. Three sentences - short enough for a quick elevator trip.
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