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“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.” (Genesis 49:22)
‘Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.’ (Psalm 1:1-3)
Psalm 1 sounds like a biography of Joseph! Whatever he did prospered. He was a ‘fruitful vine’. Even in the prison his ‘branches climbed over a wall’ as he found opportunity to serve God, people and make progress.
Likewise, we can bear fruit in all seasons if we are connected to God and are empowered by His presence.
God’s dreams for us - His will - of our becoming more like Jesus and of fulfilling His specific plans for our church and us personally can only be achieved by the empowering of the Holy Spirit. God encouraged his people when seeking to rebuild the temple,
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.’ (Zechariah 4:6).
Likewise, He reminds us as we seek to ‘build’ the church (God’s people are God’s temple) and see the Kingdom of God extended, we need His presence; any good work can be, and can only be, accomplished if we are reliant on the Holy Spirit.
RESPONSE
Spend some time praying for yourself and the church, that we would be filled and led by the Holy Spirit.