The Garden: THIS WEEKS SCRIPTURE

THANKFUL THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN

IT IS THE BEST POSSIBLE LIFE TO LIVE

John 10:10(NLT)

10) The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 6:44 (NLV)

44) The Father sent Me. No man can come to Me unless the Father gives him the desire to come to Me. Then I will raise him to life on the last day.

John 15:16 (NIV 1984)

16) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

1 Kings 19:19-21(NLT)

The Call of Elisha

19) So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20) Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” 21) So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

2 Kings 2:1-15(NLT)

Elijah Taken into Heaven

 1) When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2) And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel. 3) The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.” 4)Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho. 5) Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.” 6) Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together. 7) Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8) Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! 9) When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” 10) “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” 11) As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12) Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. 13) Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14) He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. 15) When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Psalm 42:1-3(NLT)

 1) As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

2) I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I go and stand before him?

3) Day and night I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,

“Where is this God of yours?”

Isaiah 40:28-31

 28) Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29) He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30) Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31) but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Ephesians 4:11-16(GNT)

11) It was he who gave gifts to people; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.12) He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.13) And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.14) Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.15) Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.16)Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

Ephesians 5:1-20 (ESV)

 1) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3) But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4) Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5) For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7) Therefore do not become partners with them; 8) for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9) (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12) For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13) But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14) for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15) Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16) making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Timothy 3:1-7

 1) Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2) Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3) not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4) He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5) (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7) He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

2 Peter 1:1-13 (CEV)

1)From Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. To everyone who shares with us in the privilege of believing that our God and Savior Jesus Christ will do what is just and fair. 2)I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. 3)We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4)God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world. 5)Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, 6)self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7)concern for others, and love. 8)If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. 9)But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven. 10)My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won't stumble and fall. 11)Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever. 12)You are holding firmly to the truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things. 13)In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body.

Matthew 28:18-20

 18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 5:1-11

 1) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2) With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3) Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5) When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6) Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7) About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8) Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9) Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10) At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11) Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

1) A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day of birth.

2) It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

for death is the destiny of every man;

the living should take this to heart.

3) Sorrow is better than laughter,

because a sad face is good for the heart.

4) The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

John 17:13-21(NLT)

13) “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14) I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15) I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16) They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17) Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18) Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19) And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20) “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21) I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

John 14:6

6) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Psalm 46:1-3

 1) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2) Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3) though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 
Selah

Isaiah 55:8-9(NLT)

8) “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9) For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27

23)  I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24) Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26) I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27) I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 

Philippians 4:11-13

 11) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

 12) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13) Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14) The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 6) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9) As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10) Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11) You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12) This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13) Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14) And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15) Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

 8) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11) as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Genesis 11:1-9

 The Tower of Babel

 1) Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2) As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3) They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4) Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5) But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6) The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7) Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8) So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9) That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

 23) This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24) but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NLT)

17) As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 18) When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

James 4:6

 6)But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Psalm 139:13-18

13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16) your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17) How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them! 18) Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

Isaiah 30:18-21

(NLT)

Blessings for the Lord’s People

18) So the Lord must wait for you to come to him

so he can show you his love and compassion.

For the Lord is a faithful God.

Blessed are those who wait for his help.

19) O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,

you will weep no more.

He will be gracious if you ask for help.

He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

20) Though the Lord gave you adversity for food

and suffering for drink,

he will still be with you to teach you.

You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

21) Your own ears will hear him.

Right behind you a voice will say,

“This is the way you should go,”

whether to the right or to the left.

Luke 15:1-32

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1) Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2) But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3) Then Jesus told them this parable: 4) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6) and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8) “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9) And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10) In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11) Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12) The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13) “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14) After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15) So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16) He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20) So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21) “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22) “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23) Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24) For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25) “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26) So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27) ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28) “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29) But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30) But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31) “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32) But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Psalm 33:12-22

12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13) From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14) from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth — 15) he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16) No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17) A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18) But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19) to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20) We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21) In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22) May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

John 8:31-33

31) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32) And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Job 1:20-22

20) At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21) and said:

 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised.”

 22) In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:9-10

9) His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

 10) He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

 In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

4)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Galatians 4:1-7 (NIV)

1) What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2) He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3) So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5) to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6) Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7) So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Jonah 3:1-10

1) Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2) “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

 3) Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4) On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” 5) The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

 6) When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7) Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

   “By the decree of the king and his nobles:

   Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8) But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9) Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

 10) When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 4:1-4

1) But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2) He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3) Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

 4) But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

John 15:1-8

 The Vine and the Branches

 1) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6) If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8) This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.