Stay Connected
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· 64 viewsThis is a sermon I did for a family who was disconnected as a family. This message might help to bring the family back together.
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I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
These words were spoken by Jesus just hours before He would be arrested and ultimately killed. Jesus knows that very soon He will be physically separated from His disciples. Therefore, He t His tells His disciples, “Stay connected.” Not merely, “Keep in touch.” Touching is not enough, particularly if they are going to be productive while He’s away (“...the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing”).
These words were spoken by Jesus just hours before He would be arrested and ultimately killed. Jesus knows that very soon He will be physically separated from His disciples. Therefore, He t His tells His disciples, “Stay connected.” Not merely, “Keep in touch.” Touching is not enough, particularly if they are going to be productive while He’s away (“...the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing”).
Fruit requires life. Moreover, life requires intimacy (connection). If at anytime our relationships (either with God or one another) lacks vitality or life, there is probably a connection problem. If you restore the connection, you can restore life in that relationship.
If there’s a problem with the communication, there’s probably a problem with the connection. (When the signal on a cell phone keeps going out it’s a sign that you have a bad connection. Moreover, to restore the connection you have to move in the direction of the one you’re trying to speak to. Raising your voice won’t help. The signal or connection will usually improve the more you move in their direction!)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
You cannot “abide” in Christ apart from His words. Words play an important role in our ability to stay connected with one another.
You cannot “abide” in Christ apart from His words. Words play an important role in our ability to stay connected with one another. We know that words have the power to separate, but sometimes we forget that they also have the power to UNITE.
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
We know that words have the power to separate, but sometimes we forget that they also have the power to UNITE.
We know that words have the power to separate, but sometimes we forget that they also have the power to UNITE.
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
Another thing that has the power to unite us is adversity.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Sometimes life gets cold. However, the cold has a way of bringing individuals together. By coming together and connecting, they are able to weather the storm.
I realize that this passage is about maintaining our relationship with Jesus Christ. And I urge everyone here to have a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, because having a relationship with Christ is infinitely more beneficial that any human relationship we could ever have.
Having said that, being in a relationship with others, especially your family, can also be beneficial. I realize that we live in a society where people are constantly moving from relationship to relationship. Fewer and fewer people are involved in a close abiding relationship with someone else. It seems that we can rarely find anyone remaining in a relationship for an extended period of time.
However, God never intended for this to be true of our relationship with Him or with our family. God intended the family relationship to be a lasting and permanent relationship (“a man shall CLEAVE unto his wife and the two shall be ONE flesh”). We see the same words being spoken concerning the relationship between Christ and His Church. However, maintaining such a relationship, whether with family or God, requires work on our part!
As I have said, our biggest joy is simply maintaining a good connection. Let’s maintain our connection, either by word (text, phone, email) or by our presence. Remember, in order to restore our connection we sometimes have to move in the direction of the person we’re trying to reach! Be it God or family!
Furthermore,