The "Main Thing" about John 15 is not the church you belong to or the doctrine you espouse. It is not who is president or which political party is in power. It is not what country you live in or what somebody says about you. The "Main Thing" is YOUR OWN personal relationship with Jesus Christ and nothing else.
First of all, notice the first verse. John 15:1--I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. No political party, particular denomination, your favorite enemy or particular doctrine is mentioned. The definition of the core of the entire message of the Old and New Testament is wrapped up in this verse. It's not about what you think, who you are, where you were born, or whether you are rich or poor. Plain and simply, Jesus is the "Main Thing" and His Father makes the rules. In every Bible I have there is a "period" at the end of that sentence.
Guess what. That's not a good thing for the nominal Christian. We often judge our "Christian status" with what church we go to, political party or who our enemies are at the moment. Not so. It's about our relationship with Jesus Christ and Him alone.
God didn't chose Abraham because of his age or who he was married to. He didn't call Moses because he was the most convenient. He did not bring the children of Israel in to the promised land because they were the sweetest nation (see Dt 9 if you believe that). He did not bring them in because the seven other nations were poor and powerless. God made His choices because He's God and we/they are not.
Hang on to your hats because here comes some great revelation. What God decided about a situation was what was going to be the truth no matter who stood in the way. When He told Abraham that he would judge the nation that held His people captive, He did not back down because of the enemies' strength or what it looked like to anybody.
God didn't care about what the religious folks thought, said or did about His Son. He sent His Son to die on the cross, pay the price for the entire world's sins and raise Him up out of Hell. When Jesus acted on what His Father said, His Father's words came to pass in the Father's own time. Remember verse one? The Father is the husbandman.
Skip down to verse 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. How many denominations is this talking about? It's not is it. It doesn't talk about a president, stock market, church doctrine or anything else outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here's what it says. Reaching the lost, (bringing forth much fruit) is ONLY contingent on abiding in Jesus Christ and drawing from Him. It is not contingent on your relationship with any political party, church affiliation, citizenship or the lack of anything. It is ONLY contingent on your relationship with Him and how much you draw from Him. It is contingent on you praying, it is contingent on you praying, it is contingent on you praying and, finally, it is contingent on you praying. I cannot read and understand this passage of scripture any other way. Bearing much fruit comes from being in love with Jesus and drawing from His Presence. And, we have used every other excuse in the world NOT to pray and flow in His Presence. That's why revival doesn't come.
Revival doesn't come because of what it looks like. Revival doesn't come because of your church affiliation. Revival doesn't come because of which political party is in power. Revival doesn't come by how much money you have. It comes because of how much Jesus you have and how much He has you.
Revival IS NOT hindered by ANY political power. Revival IS NOT stopped by what your spouse, children or neighbors think. Revival IS NOT stopped by your pastor or the deacon board. Revival IS NOT stopped by who your enemies are or who has been hindering you. Revival IS STOPPED when we refuse to follow the instructions of 2 Chron 7:14.
The ONLY exception to revival is found in verse 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.
Will you join with me, today, put all excuses aside and make "The Main Thing the Main Thing." The branch bears fruit when it stays in the vine and draws from it and nothing else. If there are no excuses, there is nothing stopping revival.
Good growing, my friend.
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