Protect the Vine

My Bible, My Help, My Hope

Protect the Vine

Song of Solomon 2:15 (ESV)

15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”

Introduction

Battling Satan's tactics, staying connected to Christ, and guarding against spiritual disconnection may seem like daunting tasks.

But they are not impossible.

As we navigate through this life, we may encounter many 'little foxes' that threaten to ruin our 'vineyards.'

The Little Foxes

In the New Testament, Jesus encounters a fox.

Luke 13:31–32 (ESV)

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.

Herod was the fox who was after Christ but Jesus protected the vine.

Just line Jesus, in the midst of our daily lives, we often find ourselves in situations that challenge our faith.

These situations, these trials, are not mere coincidences.

They are, in fact, tactics employed by the enemy to draw us away from God.

The enemy is cunning, crafty, and relentless in his pursuit to lead us astray.

But we are not defenseless.

We have the armor of God, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God to guide us, protect us, and strengthen us.

The Scripture speaks of 'little foxes' that ruin the vineyards.

These 'little foxes' can be seen as the subtle tactics of the enemy.

They may not seem significant or harmful at first glance, but they have the potential to cause great damage if left unchecked.

The enemy knows that a direct attack may not always be successful, so he resorts to these 'little foxes,' these subtle tactics, to lead us astray.

Song of Solomon 2:15, which says, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."

In this context, the "little foxes" are metaphorical, representing small, seemingly insignificant problems or issues that, if left unattended, can cause significant damage over time.

Areas satan will attack.

1. **Minor Issues or Sins**: These are small problems or bad habits that seem harmless individually but can accumulate and cause significant harm if not addressed. This concept is often used in moral or ethical discussions to emphasize the importance of dealing with minor faults or temptations before they grow into larger, more destructive issues.

2. **Relationship Challenges**: In the context of relationships, "little foxes" might refer to small misunderstandings, miscommunications, or minor grievances that, if not resolved, can erode the relationship over time. Addressing these minor issues promptly can prevent larger conflicts and maintain harmony.

3. **Personal Development**: On a personal level, "little foxes" could be small bad habits, negative thoughts, or unproductive behaviors that hinder personal growth and achievement. Identifying and addressing these can lead to significant improvements in one's life.

The Little Foxes Satan Uses

One such tactic is the planting of seeds of doubt.

The enemy knows that if he can make us question our faith, our beliefs, or God's love for us, he can weaken our spiritual foundation.

Doubt can creep in slowly, subtly, almost unnoticed.

It can start with a simple question, a small uncertainty, a fleeting thought.

But if left unchecked, it can grow, spread, and eventually consume us.

It can lead us away from God, away from His love, His grace, His mercy.

Another tactic is the use of fear.

Fear is a powerful emotion.

It can paralyze us, keep us from moving forward, keep us from reaching our full potential in Christ.

The enemy knows this. He uses fear to keep us from stepping out in faith, from trusting God, from obeying His commands.

Fear can make us feel alone, isolated, helpless.

But we are not alone.

We are not helpless.

We have God on our side.

He is our refuge, our strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble.

Temptation is yet another tactic used by the enemy.

He knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities.

He uses these to tempt us, to lure us away from God.

Temptation can come in many forms - material possessions, power, fame, pleasure.

The enemy makes these things seem appealing, desirable, even necessary.

But they are not.

They are fleeting, temporary, unsatisfying.

They cannot fill the void that only God can fill.

Distractions are also used by the enemy to lead us astray.

In our busy, fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life.

We can become so focused on our jobs, our families, our responsibilities, that we neglect our relationship with God.

The enemy uses these distractions to keep us from spending time with God, from reading His Word, from praying, from worshiping Him.

He knows that the more we neglect our relationship with God, the weaker our spiritual foundation becomes.

In the face of these tactics, we must remain vigilant.

We must stay connected to God, stay rooted in His Word, and stay filled with His Spirit.

We must recognize these 'little foxes' for what they are - tactics of the enemy - and deal with them accordingly.

We must catch them, remove them, and protect our 'vineyards' from their destructive effects.

We must rely on God's strength, God's wisdom, God's guidance to help us in this battle.

Remember, we are not alone in this battle.

God is with us.

He is our shield, our fortress, our deliverer.

He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His armor to protect us, guide us, and strengthen us. We have the victory in Christ. We just need to stand firm, stay vigilant, and keep our eyes fixed on Him.

Jesus is the Vine and We are the Branches

As we consider our spiritual lives, we find ourselves, not in a battlefield, but in a vineyard.

A vineyard that is in bloom, full of potential and promise.

But this vineyard, our spiritual life, is not isolated. It is connected, intertwined with the true vine, Jesus Christ.

In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

When Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches," He was using a metaphor to illustrate the relationship between Himself and His followers.

Jesus is the Source of Life and Sustenance

In the metaphor, Jesus is the vine, which is the main source of life and nourishment for the branches.

Just as branches depend on the vine to provide the nutrients necessary for growth and fruit-bearing, Jesus' followers depend on Him for spiritual sustenance and life.

Without the vine, the branches cannot survive or produce fruit.

Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him, the branches can do nothing.

The first aspect we need to consider is the nature of our connection to Christ.

This connection is not a mere attachment; it is a living, vital union.

We are not simply attached to Christ, like a branch is attached to a tree.

We are in Christ, and He is in us.

This is a profound mystery, but it is a reality that we experience in our daily walk with Him.

We experience His life flowing into us, nourishing us, strengthening us, enabling us to bear fruit.

This connection to Christ is not a passive one.

It requires our active participation.

We need to remain in Him, to abide in Him.

This means that we need to continually turn to Him, to rely on Him, to draw our life from Him.

It means that we need to make Him the center of our lives, the source of our strength, the focus of our love.

It means that we need to live in constant communion with Him, in prayer, in worship, in obedience to His Word.

The second aspect we need to consider is the fruit that we bear as a result of our connection to Christ.

Jesus says that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit.

This fruit is the evidence of our connection to Christ.

It is the visible manifestation of His life in us.

It is the proof that we are truly His disciples.

This fruit is not something that we produce by our own efforts.

It is the result of Christ's life in us.

It is the outcome of His work in us.

It is the product of His grace, His power, His love.

It is the fruit of the Spirit, as Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

The third aspect we need to consider is the consequence of our disconnection from Christ.

Jesus warns us that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

This is a sobering reminder of our utter dependence on Him.

Without Him, we are like branches that are cut off from the vine.

We wither and die.

We become fruitless and useless.

But with Him, we are like branches that are firmly connected to the vine.

We flourish and thrive.

We become fruitful and useful.

We fulfill our purpose and destiny.

We bring glory to God and blessing to others.

The Greek word for "remain" in John 15:5 carries the idea of dwelling, abiding, staying, continuing, enduring.

It is used in various contexts in the New Testament to convey the sense of a deep, lasting, enduring relationship.

For instance, in John 6:56, Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them." Here, remain signifies a deep, intimate, enduring union with Christ, brought about by faith in His sacrificial death on the cross.

In 1 John 2:24, John writes, "As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father."

Here, "remain” signifies a steadfast, unswerving adherence to the truth of the gospel, resulting in a deep, lasting, enduring relationship with God the Father and God the Son.

The fourth aspect we need to consider is the necessity of our connection to Christ.

We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength.

We cannot bear fruit by our own efforts.

We cannot fulfill our purpose and destiny apart from Him.

We need Him.

We need His life, His strength, His grace, His love.

We need to remain in Him, to abide in Him, to draw our life from Him.

The fifth aspect we need to consider is the privilege of our connection to Christ.

It is a great privilege to be connected to Christ, to be in Him, to have Him in us.

It is a great privilege to bear fruit for His glory, to fulfill our purpose and destiny in Him.

It is a great privilege to experience His life, His love, His grace, His power in our lives. Let us cherish this privilege.

Let us treasure this connection.

Let us remain in Him, abide in Him, draw our life from Him.

Guarding Against Spiritual Disconnection

Guarding against spiritual disconnection is like standing guard at the gate of a city.

It's an active, vigilant role, not a passive one.

We must be alert, aware, and ready to respond to any threats that may come our way.

And one of the most insidious threats we face is the destructive force of confusion that Satan wields.

Satan's destructive force of confusion is like a thick fog that obscures our vision and disorients us.

It makes us question what we know to be true, and it leads us astray from the path that God has set before us.

This confusion can manifest in many ways.

It can be doubt about God's love for us, uncertainty about His will for our lives, or confusion about what it means to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

In the face of this confusion, we must hold fast to the truth of God's Word.

We must immerse ourselves in it, meditate on it, and let it guide our thoughts and actions.

The Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

God's Word illuminates our path and dispels the fog of confusion that Satan tries to cast over us.

We must also be aware of the subtle ways in which Satan tries to sow seeds of confusion in our lives.

He may use the circumstances of our lives to make us question God's goodness.

He may use the words of others to make us doubt our worth.

He may use our own thoughts and feelings to make us question our faith.

In these moments, we must remember that our feelings are not always an accurate reflection of reality.

We must remember that God's truth is unchanging, regardless of our circumstances or emotions.

We must remember that we are loved, valued, and accepted by God, no matter what others may say or how we may feel.

The second aspect of guarding against spiritual disconnection is maintaining a close, personal relationship with God.

This involves spending time with Him in prayer, worship, and fellowship.

It involves opening our hearts to Him, sharing our joys and sorrows, our hopes and fears, our dreams and disappointments.

It involves listening to His voice, seeking His guidance, and following His lead.

The final aspect of guarding against spiritual disconnection is cultivating a spirit of humility and dependence on God.

This involves acknowledging our need for Him, recognizing our inability to live the Christian life in our own strength, and relying on His grace and power to sustain us.

It involves surrendering our will to His, submitting our plans to His, and trusting in His wisdom and timing.

In conclusion, guarding against spiritual disconnection is a vital aspect of our spiritual lives.

It involves standing guard against Satan's destructive force of confusion, immersing ourselves in God's Word, maintaining a close relationship with God, and cultivating a spirit of humility and dependence on Him.

As we take these steps, we can be confident that we will remain connected to the true vine, Jesus Christ, and bear much fruit for His glory.

Conclusion

As we wrap up today, let's remember that we're not alone in this journey.

We've got a God who loves us more than we can imagine, a God who's ready to help us catch those little foxes that threaten our vineyards.

We've got a Savior who's already won the victory for us.

We just need to hold onto Him, to trust Him, and to keep our eyes fixed on Him.

We must remember, beloved, that the goodness and love of God are not dependent on our circumstances.

They are constant, unchanging.

Even when we face trials, even when those little foxes seem too numerous, His goodness and love remain.

And it's in His goodness and love that we find our strength, our hope, our joy.

So, let's go out there, let's face those foxes, let's guard our vineyards.

Let’s PROTECT THE VINE.

And let's do it with the confidence of knowing that we're not doing it in our own strength, but in the strength of our God who loves us, who is for us, and who is with us.

Let's pray.