While we are living, the Lord wants some grapes out of our lives. Grapes are used to make wine. Jesus took the wine and said, this is my blood that was shed for you. Drink it in remembrance of me (1 Corinthians 11:25). Having a need for more fruit, our Wednesday Night Bible Study at First Timothy Baptist Church focused on the subject, “God’s Grape Expectations: Finding Fruit.”

Utilizing the book, Beyond the Sunday Sermon, Dr. Ronald Holmes’ message highlighted three key points to grow more fruit with the Lord: (1) the purpose of pruning, (2) the power of the word and (3) the promise of abiding. Dr. Holmes said that we can expect our Lord to prune us as we develop a spiritual relationship with him. In fact, the Lord prunes everything that is attached to him, so that everything can bear more fruit. He says in John 15: 1-2 respectively, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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.” In pruning us, the Lord sometimes sends affliction to get our attention. David said in Psalm 119: 67, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word.”

In point two, Dr. Holmes discussed the power of the Lord’s word from John 15: 3. The text reads, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Holmes raised the question supported with scriptures, “Do you want to be clean through the word of the Lord? The Lord will sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). Of his own will, he chose to give us birth of his true word that we become the first fruits of his creations (James 1:18). For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of our soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and a discerner of our thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Therefore, we must know and remember that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17).

For point three, Dr. Holmes discussed the power of abiding in the Lord from John 15: 4 and 5 respectively. The text reads in verse 4,“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” As believers, we must remain connected to the true vine of the Lord if we want to be fruitful and faithful in our daily lives. Further, the text reads in 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.” In other words, we will not be able to grow fruit by being apart from the Lord. The word nothing means nothing. We can do nothing without the Lord. It does not matter how much money and success we have in our lives. We will have no purpose without the Lord. Thus, the Lord makes it very clear to us in John 14:6: He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Wednesday’s bible study lesson on July 10 at 7:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. (EST) is, “Deliver us from Evil: Overcoming Evil,” from the book, Beyond the Sunday Sermon. The book can be purchased online from Amazon.com. To virtually attend the bible study, go to the First Timothy Baptist Church’s website, YouTube or Facebook.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of 27 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. His books for children cover topics on the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, careers and school bullying.  His books for adults focus on religion, relationships, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorders, issues in education and completing the dissertation.