The LORD called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”; With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are worthless. Jeremiah 11:16

You were dead in your sins, you were left with no hope but imminent death. However God called your name, he took you out of the grave, breathed life on your dry bones, and created a new and clean heart! However despite all of this, you keep backsliding, you keep forgetting about God and his grace and mercy

This is exactly what happened to Israel, God called them out of slavery. He delivered them to the Promise Land, he provided for them in the wilderness, he defeated their enemies when they were under attack. However Israel kept forgetting about God and worshipped pagan gods like Baal

What happened? The branches (believers) have become fruitless and dead. What does the Keeper (God) do to dead branches, he cuts them off and throws them into the fire

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2

Jesus teaches about this, Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. Those who don’t cling to the vine will wither and die. You cant be part of The Vine (Jesus Christ) if your attached to other idols. Cling to the Vine, cling to Jesus Christ! He will give you eternal life Amen!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Its been another amazing year for Tanner, as he continues to grow and develop. Typically whenever you see Tanner, you will see that big smile on his face that lights up the world. Tanner has a passion for life and people. Whenever he puts his mind on something, he gives it everything he has

When Tanner started swimming, his first season was almost over and he didn’t qualify for championships yet. Tanner became very upset about this, even bringing himself to tears. There was only one swim meet left in the season. The last swim meet Tanner qualified for championships on the back stroke. That set a spark in him to work even harder and go further.

The next season he qualified in two events for championships. And this time he qualified for a ribbon. He was so proud and excited. This again continued to fuel the fire for Tanner to work harder and get a medal. His ultimate goal was to win a medal.

The next season Tanner worked hard and took it to the next level. He qualified for championships in 5 events! He swam the 100 free style for the first time in his life and qualified. When Tanner went to championships , you guessed it Tanner won a medal in the 50 free style!

How did all this happen? Tanner worked hard, Tanner believed in himself, when Tanner was 18 months old he was diagnosed with Autism. He didn’t start talking to his was 3. We didn’t know what the future held for Tanner, but God has the final say.

I want to say Happy Birthday to my son Tanner, I’m so proud of him. Not just because of what he has accomplished but because of who he is. Hes the kindest , gentle soul you will ever meet. He has wisdom beyond his years. May God continue to bless him in Jesus Name Amen!

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

The original Greek “Parakletos” meaning the Helper, the Advocate, the Intercessor,  the Counselor , the Comforter, The Holy Spirit has been sent to dwell in us and teach us ALL things.

Notice how the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit are all in unison here

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

Whenever you’re trying to discuss the Bible with somebody who is not “Born Again”, they struggle to understand what you’re talking about.  Why? Because they don’t have the Holy Spirit to teach them, to intercess for them, to Counsel them. Am I saying that Christians never have trouble understanding scripture? No , I continually wrestle with scripture on a daily basis, however unsaved people cant even grasp the basic concepts of God without the Holy Spirit

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit 1 Corinthians 2:14

A person living for the flesh, cant understand spiritual things. This is why Apologetics is an effective way of Evangelism. Because witnessing to unsaved people will just sound like foolishness to them. However we should make it a point for all conversations to lead to the gospel. Its only by the gospel of Jesus Christ that any of us can be saved

Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you, to guide you, to comfort you, to advocate for you in Jesus Name Amen!

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Jesus teaching about “The Vine” is a perfect illustration about how our relationship should be with him. Think about a Vine with its branches and leaves. If a branch becomes broken or cut from the vine, what happens? The branch eventually withers and dies. The bright green leaves that were on the branch eventually shrivel up and fall away

This is exactly how our relationship is with Christ. When we are apart from him, we spiritually shrivel up and die. Our lives will never be fruitful without being connected to “The Vine” Jesus Christ. Often Satan wants to implant ideas into our heads, sometimes he wants to fill up our egos, so that we break away from “The Vine”. This is spiritual suicide, as Jesus says “Apart from him we can do Nothing!”

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. John 15:6

Anyone who denies Christ as their Lord will eventually be thrown into the fire, because they are already spiritually dead. The original Greek word for “Abide” is “Meno” which basically means to have a relationship with or to continually be in the presence.

To abide with Christ, you need to have a relationship with him. You need to be seeking him, know him, honor him! How do you do this? Read your Bible, pray continually, and listen to the Holy Spirit!

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Stay connected to our Lord Jesus Christ, and he will give you the strength to overcome. Abide in him and he will enable you to become fruitful in your spiritual life. Apart from Christ we cant anything Amen!

“Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 7:11

God was saying to the people of Israel, You act like your religious but your actions tell another story! They would go to Gods Temple and pretend to worship him, however at home they were burning incense to baal and sacrificing their children to molech

God will not be fooled or mocked, you cant pretend to be religious and walk with Satan. God wants to be worshiped in Spirit and Truth! The Holy Temple has become a Den of Thieves because of the corruption man

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Matthew 21:13

Jesus referenced this same scripture when cleaning the Holy Temple. Instead of the Temple being a place of worship, it became a marketplace, a shopping mall, for people to pretend they were religious. God will not be mocked!

What was Jesus reaction? He flipped over the tables, and drove out everyone who was defiling the Temple. Jesus was cleansing the Holy Temple, we need to cleanse our Temple also

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthian 6:19

As a Christian, you are the Temple of God, the Holy Spirit lives inside of You! We need to keep our temples clean from sin and corruption. Be like Jesus, drive out the sin and temptation in your heart! Cleanse your Temple in Jesus Name Amen!