The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1233 Ezek kc 24

Without being fed from the Word of God
you can do nothing.

Ezekiel 15:8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have ommitted a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Earlier we learned about the figure of speech Polyptoton,
in the expression "trespassing grievously",
which means, "to trespass a trespass", or "to cover-up with idolatry".

It is used here again in the phrase "committed a trespass".

So the reason the Lord GOD, Adonai Yahveh,
is going to make the land "desolate" is because of their false religion,
their "abominations" which hide the saving truth of God's Word.

Remember also that our Father said
He will deal with each one individually AND according their own idols,
their own false religion, i.e. the abominations they harbor in their own mind?

So how is the Lord GOD going to make the land desolate?

We have already read how numerous times so far in our study of Ezekiel.

He makes the land desolate by sending the king of Babylon,
who is the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Daniel the prophet!

He sends the antichrist, the desolator,
"the abomination who makes desolate" (Dan. 9:27 & 12:11).

He sends the king of Babylon spoken of in the Book of Revelation.

In other words,
He sends Satan himself who is shortly to be cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9)
to this earth to make desolate the souls of those who have cut themselves off
and are as useless as dead vine-wood.

Sometimes one has to wonder what it takes for some of us to learn
that apart from God we are nothing.

If we do not have Jesus Christ and therefore are not attached to that true Vine,
and are not being fed by Him through His Word,
and therefore are not producing any fruit,
then as the message of this chapter reveals,
"What Good Are We?"

Let's go to John 15 where Christ explains
how it is supposed to be with the branches and the Vine.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
The "I AM", Jesus Christ, likens Himself to a vine, which has branches.

The question is, "Why would He make this analogy"?

 To visually teach us, so that we may get a clear PICTURE
of how He abides in us and we in Him.

Jesus is the Vine and the Father is the husbandman, the vinedresser,
the caretaker who goes through the vineyard and prunes the branches
and cuts off the dead ones.

Horticultural note: A vine, like a grape vine, is the main artery, the trunk through which the life sustaining nutrients flow to feed and nourish the branches so that they can produce beautiful ripe fruit, like a whole cluster of grapes.

And there is only ONE TRUE VINE,
even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember, none can come unto the Father except by Him (John 14:6)?

[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.
There are two things noted here:

(1) If a branch [person] does not bear fruit, it [he] is cut off and taken away.

(2) If a branch does bear fruit then the Husbandman will occasionally prune it back so that it may be even more productive, because if the branches are left to grow "wild" they will not produce near as much fruit.

Amazing, isn't it?

Anyone who has kept a vineyard or has a fruit tree
is very familiar with trimming and pruning.

So within this simple agricultural process we, the branches,
can better "See" and understand our relationship to the vine,
which is Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God.

[3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
"Now, you have already been pruned by my words." (Phillip's translation)
[4] 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.
This is so simple and basic, something we have all observed,
whether it be a vine branch, cut flowers, or even a Christmas tree.

If you "Cut off" a branch it will not be able to produce anything
because it cannot be fed from the vine.

A branch, by itself, apart from being "plugged into" the vine,
cannot produce anything.

Once it is cut off, it will become dry and lifeless
and be destined for verse 6, which in this case is the "deep 6".

John 15:5 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.
As long as you [a branch] stay plugged into the vine
and are FED and RECEIVE the nutrients from it,
then you will produce much fruit.

But, without being fed from the Word of God, you can do nothing.

So you may be a branch, even call yourself a Christian,
but if you don't stay attached to His Word, the Vine, you will produce no fruit.

Here's how worthless branches that produce no fruit are handled:

John 15:6 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.
Of course this is analogous to the lake of fire following the Millennium,
when all the "dead wood" that has been gathered
is cast into the lake of fire and is consumed away and perishes,
just as John 3:16 says.

That's the bad news.

BUT, there is GOOD and WONDERFUL news too!

If you stay attached to the True Vine,
and become engorged with its nutrients [His words] which flow from it [Him],
so that they [His words] abide in you,
then you absolutely can't imagine the blessings the Father will bestow upon you.

[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.
What will a person who is attached to the Vine and filled with the Holy Spirit,
the words which have flowed from the Vine,
even the wisdom of Almighty God, ask for in prayer?

A new BMW? Hardly!

They will seek more wisdom and understanding
and that which is necessary to bring forth MORE FRUIT!

Why?

Because you see,
the more nutrients you receive from the Vine,
the more you become like Him and the more His will becomes your will,
for He is "in you".

Shall we say, "Like Father, like son", or "daughter" too!

And the more fruit you bear, the more the Father is glorified,
and so the more He showers His love and blessings on you.

Do you not do the same for your children when they love you
and do good things to please you?

 And you know how good it feels to give them a new toy or reward
and watch the smile on their little faces,
as they look up and put their arms around your neck and squeeze you
and hug you and say "thank you mommy", or "thank you daddy".

It doesn't get any better than that, does it?

Our Father loves His children and He loves to bless them too!

Are you one of those sons or daughters who we learn of even in this Book of Ezekiel,
even in Book of Joel,
who would come forth in this final generation to be a blessing to God's children?

Then stay plugged into that true Vine, His Word,
and drink of the nutrients from that Vine, and behold,
in due season you will produce much fruit,
and you know what?

That fruit will remain forever! (Jn. 15:16)

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


The "American Wisdom Series"

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.