I AM: THE TRUE VINE

ME:

You know, I am not too much of a morning person. I can do some stupid things in the morning such as putting the milk in the cupboard, putting salt in my coffee, and I remember one morning I made a pot of coffee. You know, I put the grounds in the holder, added the water, and pressed the start button. Well I went back about five minutes later to get a cup but it never started brewing. Then I noticed why it never started. It was because I never plugged it in so it never recieved the power that it needed.

WE:

Have you guys ever done something like that? Where you thought something should be working but, then you realized it was never connected to it’s power source. Whether it be a coffee pot, a TV, Cell Phone, or something else. I am sure all of us have at some point in our lives have experienced that.

It can be the same way for us spiritually too. Jesus has something to say about being connected to Him. Last week we talked about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Now today, we are going to go over our second I AM STATEMENT found in the Gospel of John in which Jesus describes himself as “I AM:THE TRUE VINE”

Turn with me to John 15:1-8

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Stay connected to Jesus who is the true vine

This “I AM” statement of Jesus being the true vine preludes his agony in the garden of gethsemane and what is known as the last supper with his disciples. Jesus here is preparing the disciples for what is to come. He tells them that He is the true vine. He is the vine that holds the nutrients of life. What the vine is to the natural He is. Jesus is to the supernatural. We find the very life in His blood. If we are to tap into His authority then we as the branches, must stay connected to the Vine who is Jesus. Only then will we keep our anointing flowing as we are connected to the divine.

CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN US AND JESUS BRINGS INTIMACY

There is this picture of intimacy here with the vine and the branches. Naturally branches cling, and spiral around whatever is near it. We are to be interconnected with each other as the body of Christ as we are held on to by the love of Christ. Thats how I want my relationship with Jesus to be. That without hesitation, doubt or question I’d cling to Him. I want to give him the throne of my heart and give him full control and let go of all my selfishness, pride, and ambitions.

CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN US AND JESUS BRINGS HEALING

Interestingly enough, branches on a tree can become split or broken but, not completely seperated from it’s Vine and over time can be healed as it is stays connected to it’s life source.

It’s the same with the relationship we have with Jesus. If we stay connected with Him He will mend the broken places of our heart.

CONNECTIVITY WITH JESUS BRINGS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

(NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counseling The Spirit’s Fruit

It can be summed up in one word: agape, or love.

It is important to emphasize all three dimensions of the Spirit’s work and ministry. Power without truth can lead to heresy. Power without love can lead to abuse. Power based on truth and manifested in love can bring about renewal and revival as well as deep and significant healing of broken persons.

Jesus is the true vine. He provides us with abundant life. But their are vines out there planted by Satan that produces fruit that is poison to our soul. That are weeds in our cities and in our churches

EXAMPLES OF FALSE VINES

THE FALSE VINE OF ENTITLEMENT

One example of a false vine is the one of entitlement that leads to pride. This false vine will produce the fruit of the flesh such as the need for control, slander, gossip and causing divisions. This vine believes that they have earned worth based on what they do and not what Jesus did. It leads to this self-righteous, arrogant, I am better than everybody else attitude. Contrast this vine with the true vine of Jesus. Jesus said not my will be done, but my fathers. The Apostle Paul said to show humility by esteeming others above yourself. In other words ITS.NOT.ABOUT.YOU! We try to earn our own salvation. The money you are able to give is a gift from God. The ability to come to church is because God provides you with feet to move. That position you have in church is because God allows you too. The very breathe that you woke up this morning is because God gave you air in your lungs. Don’t you dare think for a second that you are deserving of it because He will humble the proud and give his grace to the humble.

THE FALSE VINE OF PROSPERITY

(NKJV) says...

1 Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.

There is this false vine of prosperity. You know, the american dream of the white picket fence, the biggest house, and owning the nicest cars. Somehow people think this is what will save them. That this is what will fill that whole in their heart and give them happiness. We don’t look to the true vine and the riches that we have in Christ and that God offered the greatest act of generosity toward us by sending His only begotten son to die for our sin! Israel had king after king that came and failed but it wasnt until the king of kings came that they would see salvation. This is what he means when he tells His disciples that He is the true vine. As he is the truth, life, and the way!

THE FALSE VINE OF CONDEMNATION

There is also the false vine of condemnation. tells us...

(NKJV)

New Living Translation Chapter 8

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

When we attach ourselves to this vine of condemnations we make ourselves a prisoner from the freedom we have in Christ. When we walk in the flesh we don’t only condemn ourselves but, we condemn others, we complain, and mumble. This is how we know that we aren’t attached to the true vine as much as we should be. People want to complain about getting prayer back in schools. How about we begin by getting prayer back in the church! There is a huge difference between condemnation and conviction. Condemnation is of Satan where as Conviction is from the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is when we feel guilty and do nothing about it. But Conviction is when we are moved to repentance because of the kindness and mercy of God!

The Father is the vinedresser who prunes the branches who stay in the vine.

The Father is the vinedresser who prunes the branches who stay in the vine.

Our text goes on to say that the father is the “vinedresser” who prunes the branches who stay in the vine. Jesus says “He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. The fruitfulness of the vine comes from the faithfulness of the gardener. God prunes the branches that are attached to the Vine. He does this because he knows when He cuts the parts of the branches off that are preventing growth in order for more fruit to grow.

The Father is the vinedresser who prunes the branches who stay in the vine.

We are to grow in grace by sanctification. It’s not a one and done deal but an ongoing growing relationship with God. This pruning by God the gardener is an action of cleansing as He performs a circumcision of our heart. It’s very painful at the time it’s happening because it cutting away apart of us that we have come accustomed to having. It can be something such as a bad attitude, an addiction, a stronghold, wrong motives, an idol in our lives that we hold more dearly than God himself.

The consequences of not staying in the true vine

The Word tells us that there are serious consequences of not staying attached to the true vine. If we don’t stay close to Jesus and abide in Him we will wither and die much like leaves that blossom in the falls with so much life and brillent color but then in the winter, the same leaves crumble in our very hands. We will dry out, wither, grow cold & callos and be thrown into the fire and be burned to an everlasting punishment. This is the consequence and not staying connected to Jesus.

(NKJV) Says this...

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Fear won’t get you into Christ but fear can certainly keep you in. Once you receive the knowledge of the truth their is no escaping God’s judgment.

hardness of heart

cold and calleos

thrown into the fire

YOU

What kind of fruit are you producing?

No Fruit

Wax Fruit(Counterfeit that wont stand the test of fire)

Rotten Fruit(that is decayed by sin)

Godly Fruit(that contains the fruit of the Spirit and is righteous, true, and pure)

WE

What if we as a church decided today that we would cling to Jesus, the true vine who holds the very nutrients of life where the Spirit flows. As a church we can do a lot that does nothing. We can build the biggest building, have the best programs, play the best music, give the best lectures. But if God isn’t involved then it’s meaningless because apart from Him we can do nothing!

WE

Sticky Statement: What God prunes He blooms

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