The Master of Self-Disclosure (part 4)
The Red Letters • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsThe only way to stay connected to Jesus and His mission is to allow Him to do the work in you that is needed
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Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Introduction
Fulfill God’s plan as you
A few days after Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem we find Him and the disciples gathered for a passover meal. He had washed their feet and explained to them why that was important. As they were reclined around the table, Jesus taught many important truths. They probably didn’t quite understand much of it…but they soon would.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
He taught many important truths around that table. They probably didn’t quite understand much of it…but they soon would.
John 13:34-35
In , verses 1-17, Jesus used the analogy of the Vine and the Branches to drive home one of the most important truths all believers need to understand.
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.
John 15:
PRAYER
VIDEO: “Power Strip”
Illustration: Imagine this: you are vacuuming the living room carpet (I know for some that is hard to imagine). But work with me here. You are vacuuming, thinking to yourself, “Why does the word vacuum have 2 u’s in the middle?” You are just about to go look that up on Google, when, poof, the vacuum stops working. What is your first assumption? "The dog ate the cord?” “The vacuum is broken (I guess I don’t have to vacuum now)?” “I am hallucinating…the vacuum is still working? No! What is your first guess? Of course…i must have pulled the plug out of the wall…i’ll just go plug it back in. Let’s face it, without the machine being connected to the power outlet, vacuuming sucks!
When Jesus said “Remain in Me! (Live or abide in me),” He taught that if we are not organically connected to Him....like a vine is connected to the branch, we will never bear fruit…we will not have His power or strength to be who and what He has called us to be.
Big Idea: The only way to stay connected to Jesus and His mission is to allow Him to do the work in you that is needed
Big Idea: The only way to stay connected to Jesus and His mission is to allow Him to do the work in you that is needed
Interrogatory: What work does Jesus need to do in us?
Transitional: The dead and useless stuff in our lives must be cut back
God’s pruning makes room for new life
God’s pruning makes room for new life
Exposition: Before we talk about pruning…let’s set the stage
At the end of Chapter 14, we catch a glimpse of the heart and passion Jesus
I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
That phrase “Come now; let us leave” isn’t just a casual statement (in English it seems sort of matter of fact: “okay, it’s time to leave”. But in the language/culture, that phrase was like a call to arms).
John 14:30-31
“Let’s go out and meet the enemy!” or “The prince of this world is advancing as we speak; let us go and confront Him on the field of battle.” or “The game is afoot!” IT’S TIME
He had a few more things to say first. But before the night was over they did go out to meet the enemy…in the Garden
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Vineyards were a vital part of their culture — not only because of the wine produced…but the grapes were uses for many things, such as being dried and made into raisin cakes…a important source of iron and other minerals. The vineyards were well cared for (boxthorn hedges, terracing, A watchtower in the middle of the vineyard, etc.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
…vineyard keepers understand the importance of pruning…it is necessary for a good harvest
A. Pruning means cutting of the dead stuff
A. Pruning means cutting of the dead stuff
…every branch (in me) that bears no fruit
The branches that don’t bear fruit wither and die
They are thrown into the fire
Jesus said in verse 5, “I am the vine; you are the branches.”
If I am one of His branches…I don’t want to be found not bearing fruit…do you?
His followers today
If I am one of His branches…I don’t want to be found not bearing fruit…do you?
B. Pruning means cleaning up the good stuff
B. Pruning means cleaning up the good stuff
B. Pruning means cleaning up the good stuff
B. Pruning means cleaning up the good stuff
…prunes every branch that produces fruit so it will produce even more fruit
The fruit-bearing branches must have all the excess off-shoots and runners cleared away so that they get everything they can from the Vine…enabling them to bear fruit.
Fruit bearing branches are ones that get all the nutrients and life they need from the Vine
Application
Application
Jesus is the Vine we are the branches…where do we get the nutrients we need in order to thrive and bear much fruit?
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
God’s Word cleans us up…conviction leads to repentance and change in our hearts…the cleaning up process.
How do you react when the Lord begins to prune your heart and life?
Transition: Pruning can be painful…but it makes room for life - so we can bear much fruit. The only way to maintain this process is to remain in the Vine
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Remain in Christ and experience new life
Remain in Christ and experience new life
Exposition:
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
Jesus uses the word “remain (abide)” 10 times between verses 4 & 10 — this is significant
Remain: “meno” — as the branch is organically and continually connected to the branch, so you and I must be united with Christ
We must have that continual dependence on Jesus — communing with Him through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God
This leads us to submit to Him because we trust Him - if we are to remain in Him…we will face regular pruning sessions in our lives…this is good, even though we may not think so at the time
…remaining in Christ means...
A. Fruit happens
A. Fruit happens
United to Christ…much fruit
Separate from Christ…no fruit
Bearing fruit for the Lord is not possible in our own human abilities; it is only possible through Christ’s work in us. His work in us can only be accomplished as we surrender our opinions and plans to His authority and allow Him to do what needs to be done.
…remaining in Christ means we love Him and, if we love Him...
Obedience happens
B. Obedience happens
B. Obedience happens
As we abide in him…we will desire to follow His commands for our lives
it is not a burden…following His plan brings freedom
The core of His plan is that, as His people (abiding in Him), we love one another. He says this over and over again.
He says over and over again, “If you love me, keep my commands” (14:15, 14:21, 15:10, etc.)
“If you love me, keep my commands.
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
This is my command: Love each other.
…remaining in Christ means...
…remaining in Christ means...
…remaining in Christ means...
C. Answered prayer happens
C. Answered prayer happens
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
John 15:
“If you remain in me!” As we remain in Christ (through His word and the Holy Spirit) we learn to hear His voice and we desire His purpose and plans be fulfilled — the longing of our soul lines up with His plan and prayer is answered
“If you remain in me!”
As we remain in Christ (through His word and the Holy Spirit) we learn to hear His voice and we desire His purpose and plans be fulfilled — the longing of our soul lines up with His plan and so it is easy to see how prayer is answered
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.
Challenge
Challenge
WHAT IS THIS “FRUIT” JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT IS THIS “FRUIT” JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Stay connected to God and His mission by allowing Him to prepare you for a great harvest — to bear much fruit
You cannot stay connected to Jesus by accident
Duct-taping the plug near an outlet doesn’t do anything
Taping a dead branch to the Vine will not result in fruit — it will simply be a dead branch taped to the Vine — nothing happens…it is still dead
Just going to church doesn’t cause you to abide in Christ
It’s very important…but in itself it doesn’t do anything
To remain in Christ you must surrender your all to Him
Submit to the vinedresser — His Word (read, meditate on it, obey it)
Whoever heard of a branch saying to the vinedresser, “No, you can’t touch that!”?
The vinedresser is the expert — he knows what to prune back in order to make the branch bear much good fruit
Sometimes it may seem like God has cut away everything — nothing’s left
That may very well be the place you need to be so that true and deep growth can occur.
As you remain in Christ, your faith will grow stronger
Your prayers will become more faith-filled
Your prayers will reflect the heart of God, more and more
When your heart’s desire is to conform to God’s will, and you desire to share His heart for the world around you, your prayer potential is limitless
In the work of Christ’s mission, the only way we advance is on our knees
You cannot remain in Christ if you stop loving one another
If you don’t love one another - how can you love the world?
If you don’t love the world — how can you bear fruit?
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Is 49:
he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The Great Commission