0705 Much Through Abiding 8-6-14

MUCH THROUGH ABIDING

John 15:2

Fruit is something that the branch bears, not for itself, but for its owner.

Fruit is the reason for existence, mark of true branch, condition of being allowed to share the life, it’s the glory of the branch.

Branch and Vine as equally under the unchangeable law of fruit bearing as reason for their being. Life of the branch is not deeper, higher, more advance life, but the only life Christian is capable of having. Jesus did it for you, not through you!

Branch is an extension of the Vine.

We are an extension of Jesus’ mission, commitment, power on earth.

Unlike Jesus, we are not the source, we are not strong.

God wants fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. 5 levels of fruitfulness: no fruit, fruit, more, much, remaining

God has mega vision, therefore we can’t settle for mini vision. (personality)

God has mega vision, not because of greed, need or ambition but mega love.

God does not have luxury of thinking in percentages. (80% is good. 99% is very good)

Real reason our vision is mini is because our love is weak. Example: Moses & Jeremiah

God can’t produce more fruit without pruning.

Pruning is for trimming the good for the sake of the best.

Success definition of vine is fruit not length of the shoots. Thorns success is not yours.

Hollywood vs disciples. Movies vs books. News vs good news. Emotional vampires. God is not going to give you another hour, trim the one you have. Running too fast…too busy with work! Our goal is our goals and dollar. Sell the car, kill the dog.

Green leaves is your character. Fruit is souls. Long shoots is successful life.

God can’t produce much fruit without abiding.

Distractions kill our abiding with God. Holy Spirit sends love in our way. Love comes with power. Power comes with love. We want what God wants, but for the same reason that God wants it. Love is here, not there. I want to do it, not our of duty but out of delight!

Deficit of love - much of lust, lots of sex, but it’s not the same - vinegar and water. There is power in God’s love. There is love in God’s power. Story: Nutella