Withered and Dry

📖Withered & Dry

Pastor Jeff Smith
7/20/25/25

Text: John 15:6
Text: John 15:6
Theme: The reason branches become withered and only suitable for burning.

🧠 Opening Thought

The world, the devil, and the Lord each have a response to our fruitfulness.

  • The world wants to destroy your tree and its fruit (Jer. 11:19; Song 2:5).

  • The devil seeks to devour your potential (1 Pet. 5:8).

  • The Lord removes what is fruitless (Luke 13:6–9; Jer. 8:13; Ezek. 19:12).

Branches become withered and dry when they cease to abide in Christ. How do we prevent this spiritual condition?

I. 🌬️ Enjoy the Wind of Understanding

Luke 8:5; Matt. 13:19; Job 32:8

  • Understanding is Spirit-given: it gives perception and discernment.

  • Without it, we become blind and dry.

📖 Isaiah 27:11 – A people of no understanding are withered and fit for the fire.

Application:

  • ❌ No understanding = spiritual death (Prov. 21:16)

  • 🛑 No understanding = spiritual laziness (Prov. 24:30–34)

  • ✅ God delights in understanding (Jer. 9:23–24)

💬 "To read without understanding is to sow without reaping." – Matthew Henry
🔔 Challenge: Are you asking God for understanding or coasting in confusion?

II. 💧 Soak Up the Water of the Word

Luke 8:6; Ps. 1:1–3; Jer. 17:8

  • Moisture = the Word of God

  • Without water, roots dry and fruit fails (Ps. 32:4)

Application:

  • Make time for the Word

  • Meditate consistently

  • Avoid over- or under-watering

💬 "A dry Bible will make a dry soul." – Charles Spurgeon
🔔 Challenge: When’s the last time you softened your heart in Scripture?

III. 🌱 Establish way Down Roots

Matt. 13:5–6; Luke 8:13; Col. 2:7; Eph. 3:17–19; Col. 1:23

  • Shallow roots = no endurance

  • Deep roots = stability in Christ, love, and faith

Application:

  • Storms reveal your root system

💬 "The root of the righteous yields fruit the storm cannot shake." – Vance Havner
🔔 Challenge: Are your roots deep or superficial?

IV. ☀️ Walk in Sunshine (Joy)

Joel 1:12; Ps. 30:5; Ps. 89:15; Neh. 8:10; Gal. 5:22

  • Joy = strength, connected to walking in the light

  • Without joy, strength fades and fruit withers (Jer. 48:32–33)

Application:

  • Walk in fellowship to walk in joy

  • Joy = spiritual sunshine

💬 "Joy in God is the sunshine of the soul." – Robert Murray M’Cheyne
🔔 Challenge: Are you walking in the warmth of summer or the cold of winter?

V. 🪤 Escape the World’s Choke

Luke 8:7; Matt. 13:22; Mark 4:19

  • The world chokes your fruit through:

    • Cares

    • Riches

    • Lusts

Application:

  • The more worldliness, the more withering

💬 "You can’t grow fruit in a jungle of compromise." – Leonard Ravenhill
🔔 Challenge: Are you choking on compromise?

🔥 Closing Challenge

Are you withered and dry? Are you abiding in Christ?

·       Reignite your understanding.

  • Rehydrate your roots.

  • Rejoice in His light.

  • Remove worldly weeds.

John 15:6 – “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered…”

Jeffrey smith