He Chose Me But I am Not Alone

Prayer

First Give Honor to God and each of you in your respective places and my family, if you’ll wave. I have to honor my best friend, love of my life, my husband Eugene West Jr. My time is limited, so let’s get right to the Word.

Join me as I read John 15:16-17 in the Amplified Version.

Focus Scriptures

John 15:16–17

16: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.

17: This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.

I have 3 points today. We must understand what is occurring in this moment. Jesus is comforting and preparing the disciples for his departure. “Let not your heart be troubled.” He also promised that even though he was leaving physically, He would not abandon them. He would send the Comforter (The Holy Spirit) to live within them, teach them, and remind them of everything He had said. John 14:16-18  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another  Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever

Which leads me to my first point

1. Chosen and Connected

Chapter 15 of John starts talking about the Jesus being the true vine and his Father is the vinedresser. Every branch that continues to bear fruit, He repeatedly prunes so it can bear more fruit. We must remain in Him so He can remain in us because we cannot bear fruit without remaining in the vine. Apart from Jesus [that is, cut off from the vital union with Jesus] we can do nothing.

What is this vital union that Jesus is trying to explain. I began to ask the Lord the significant of the analogy of the vine, vinedresser and branches and this is what he revealed to me. Jesus had to start hear before we could get to our focus scriptures…but why?

The Vinedresser is the Farmer/Gardener and His role is:

set the conditions for the plants to thrive.

He’s busy getting the soil just right

laying or strategically planting the sets

we are under God’s care (delicate and intentional) and not abandoned by chance

He isn’t just throwing seed out in the field hoping that they would thrive. He wants the conditions just right.

He is involved in your growth from the very beginning

So then we are presented with the vines. We need to understand that Jesus was very intentional with the type of vines he used in his analogy. You see certain vines are super easy to grow depending on the kind you want to plant and their PURPOSE.

The instructions for fruiting vines are moderately more difficult because they require more attention than ornamental vines

ornamental means anything serving an aesthetic or decorative purpose rather than a practical or functional one.

So ornamental vines serve no purpose but to look good okay.

But Fruiting vines demand a strict maintenance schedule to produce high-quality harvests, while ornamentals prioritize simple survival and visual appeal

To successfully harvest fruit, you must be able to manage Heavy Weight-we going to have some heavy weight..being chosen brings responsibility because we are part of the elect, high expectations, a little pressure to lead- but people see you expected to see you emulate Christ.

Precise Pruning (pruning is selective cutting or removal of parts of a plant to improve its health, shape and productivity. it encourages healthy NEW growth, and removes dead or hazardous material) -pruning is used to prevent property damage//God removes things to make room for alignment and purpose (outgrown friendships, outgrown identities, distractions)

Vines are the lifeline the main portion of a plant that pulls waters and food from the ground

Branches extend from the vine and its job is easy because it only has to focus on growing fruit and pruning to make room for more. We don’t know when pruning happens but we know it may break something away and we can anticipate something good is coming.

However the connection between the vine and the branch is vital, absolutely necessary, essential and critical for success of existence. Matthew says you will know them by their fruits…this is actions, behaviors, how you treat others

Galatians 5: talks about a Life by the Spirit… Love your neighbor as yourself….we know the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.. so if we live by the Spirit we must also walk by the Spirit.

This is what the Lord wanted me to tell you “He chose you but you are not alone.” Can you say He chose me but I am not alone”

When we are chosen and we are under the vinedressers’s dedicated care and we stay connected to the true vine with the nutrients and water TO set us up for successful harvest, and positioned for purpose.

As John 15: 16 suggests we are planted and purposefully placed to bear fruit..remaining in Christ is crucial for this period of being chosen.

Being chosen isn’t passive…it is the foundation that makes all of this possible.

2. Chosen and Called into His Purpose

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession

set apart…

we are called to act with a specific kingdom mindset

Lifestyles and values and language should be different.

knowing this privilege we should feel confident

there are times where we may feel inadequate

Moses and the burning bush

He had to go talk to the people who saw him amongst the very people who oppressed them.

tell them that “I am that I am” sent you… God said I am with you.

when we are walking in this struggle and concerned about our own abilities…we are being refined and pruned

God trusts that we are capable and that you are able to do the very thing that He has called us to do

He just needs you to trust Him through it, and so that's why we must remain connected

Remember He chose you but you am not alone!! In fact there is a comforter readily available…This leads me to point number 3 and I will take my seat. We have to understand that we are

3. Chosen and Comforted by the Spirit

He tells them John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the  Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” 

Jesus had to go because in human form he had limitations on where he could be and who he could reach in the flesh. That is the advantage…

We got Back up…the holy spirit intercedes on our behalf. it says it here in Romans…

Romans 8:26–27

26: In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should,

27: … the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. BECAUSE

28: we know that all things work together for the good of them who love God and to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

29: For those whom he foreknew (and loved and chose beforehand}, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son

In jeremiah he says

Jeremiah 29:11–13

11: For I know the plans and the thoughts I have for you.’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

here comes THE back up again..

12: Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.

13: Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] fine Me when you search for me with all your heart.

Jesus only needs the relationship with you.

Salvation starts with relationship…

Will you have moments where your old life tries to creep in…yes

Will you struggle at times, question at times,

I don’t want to do church well and never truly know why I am doing all of this

I need Jesus…he fills the voids and the Holy Spirit leads and guides me and directs my path. I wouldn’t make it without it

So you have to be encouraged that you are not alone in this journey.Psalms 23 and Psalms 91 are known as protection verses

but they also should make you feel emboldened and confident to walk this walk every day because you know that there is an army of angels that the Lord sends on your behalf to cover you.

(Briefly talk about my car accident and the 3 angels in front of my car)

You got to stand bold and knowing that the enemy must want what I have because there's something in me that the enemy sees that he's not happy with.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not agains flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”

Psalms 91 tells us “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”

You aren’t chosen- when you stand up here on the pulpit.

You aren’t chosen when you get a certain position in the church.

You aren’t chosen when you reach a certain level in your walk.

You are chosen now, right where you are. While you are:

still struggling in your faith

still doubting your ability

still trying to fight right from wrong

He chose you but you are not alone!

Ephesians 1: 4 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight.

Titus 2:14 purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] 

Philippians 1: 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].

Psalm 138:8

8 The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me;

Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.