Apostle Allison Smith Conliff explores the necessity of a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ. Using the biblical metaphor of the vine and the branches from John 15, the preacher emphasizes that believers must abide in God to receive vital sustenance and produce spiritual fruit. She warns that disconnecting from the divine source leads to spiritual death and judgment, much like a severed branch that withers and is eventually burned. The message encourages listeners to yield control of their lives to God, as true transformation and protection from evil can only be found through this inseparable connection. Furthermore, the Apostle calls for integrity and practical holiness, urging the congregation to ensure their daily actions and decisions bring honor to the Lord. Through personal anecdotes, she illustrates that while challenges are inevitable, steadfast faith ensures divine favor and guidance through every trial.
Key Points:
Total submission to divine authority is essential for a fruitful life because it establishes the vital union necessary for spiritual survival, growth, and the ability to perform meaningful works. The reasons for this necessity include:
Humans are like branches on a vine; just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, a person cannot produce the "evidence of faith" or a fruitful life unless they remain connected to Jesus, the true vine. This connection is described as "vital sustenance," providing the daily nutrients required to function properly. Outside of this connection, a person is spiritually "dead" and "crippled" regarding their ability to maintain righteousness or perform "mighty works".
Submission is the mechanism by which a person’s life is improved. If an individual wants a better life, they "got to give God control". Moving from a "bitter" existence to a "better" one requires yielding to God's authority, as He is the gardener who knows how to cultivate a life into something beautiful. Those who refuse to be "controlled" by divine authority are unable to truly serve Jesus or experience this transformation.
Divine authority involves the process of pruning, where God the Father (the vine dresser) removes what is unnecessary and repeatedly prunes fruit-bearing branches so they will bear "even richer and finer fruit". Without submitting to this sometimes-difficult process, a person cannot reach their full potential or maturity.
Living a fruitful life requires following specific instructions found in the Word of God, which is described as a "manual for living". Total submission means following these instructions so that it "shall be well with us". This submission to the Word also provides a "cleansing" effect, purifying the believer and allowing the "living word" to empower them with supernatural strength (exousia and dunamis) to overcome enemies and challenges.
Submission places a person within the "garden of the Lord," which the Apostle describes as being fenced and protected by a "garrison wall". By yielding to the Holy Spirit, a person's movements can be "controlled by the Holy Ghost" rather than by the "prince of this world," which leads to violence and destruction. This divine direction ensures that a person can fulfill their unique calling and purpose.
Ultimately, the Apostle emphasizes that attempting to produce fruit through human strength alone is impossible, as human limitations lead to failure; only through abiding and total yielding can a person bear "much fruit".
Rec. Date: 10th March, 2024