V:4 N:23

“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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
John 15:5-7

The training and tests do not stop just because you’ve made it a little way on your journey. It is time for the winds, lighting, thunder, hail, rain, tornadoes, and destruction. The spiritual tests are foundational. You cannot get away from the winnowing fork of Jesus Christ. We see trees all around us that have fallen in recent storms…how deep is your root? If you are grounded on selflessness and a world that centers around Christ and God - then you will withstand the stormy fronts that blow away everything not connected to The Vine. Dead branches and dead trees (that may have looked alive) are exposed and blown away. We talked earlier about building on the right foundation…when you have passed the spiritual tests and weathered the storms that have beat on your house and you still love God with all of your heart, then you are in the Vine and you will bear much fruit!