Master Farmer
Notes
Transcript
Handout
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
God removed Dead Wood
God removed Dead Wood
John 15:
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
We begin by see that there were to two branches, and in many way they were alike. Jesus begins by saying every branch that does not bear fruit is taken away. It is cut off and removed.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Observe, that our text mentions two characters who are in some respects exceedingly alike; they are both branches, they are both branches in the vine: “Every branch in me.” How much alike persons may be apparently, who in God’s sight stand at opposite poles of character!”
Observe, that our text mentions two characters who are in some respects exceedingly alike; they are both branches, they are both branches in the vine: “Every branch in me.” How much alike persons may be apparently, who in God’s sight stand at opposite poles of character!
Even though they may look alike, and act alike, and even be in the same church, they are very different. What is the difference.
C. H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, 1867, 13, 554.
The first difference is one branch is bearing fruit, and one is not. Jesus says of this first branch it is bears fruit. It is doing what is it designs to do. Remember as branches our only purpose is to bear fruit. We will come back to that branch in a moment. So what does Jesus call us? He called us branches. Skip Heitzig in one of his sermons said.
Skip Heitzig Sermon Archive Life-Lessons from Grape-Growers—Part 1 (John 15:1–7)
So what are you personally, you’re a? You’re a branch. I’m a branch. Do you know what a branch is? It’s a little twig. You’re a twig. You’re a little piece of wood.
What happens to grape branches when they stop being branches. They gather them up and burn them. Or twisted into wreaths, or christmas trees. They is really nothing useful you can do with branches. They are not big enough be burn to heat a home. They is not enough wood in them to make furniture out of. They are really unimportant. The only thing they might be good for is kindling, to start real wood burning.
Branches have no value unless they are connected to the vine. Their life and usefulness is found in the vine.
What did Jesus call us, branches.
A wise farmer takes good care of productive branches, but a tidy farmer also removes dead and dying branches. Pruning is necessary for every vineyard. Dead wood is worse than fruitlessness.
Why? Because dead wood can harbor disease and decay. An untrimmed vine will develop long rambling branches that produce little fruit because most of the strength of the vine is sucked up just growing wood and not grapes. The farming vine-grower is concerned that the vine be healthy and productive.
God Removes the Dead wood from his Church.
God Removes the Dead wood from his Church.
But what is the dead wood? Great question, lets look at the text and see if we can find an answer. Look with me at
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
So the cleaning process comes through His word.
Look down a little further at
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John
Here Jesus says his word abides in us. The word abides comes from the Greek word μενο. It means to remain, to abide, to not leave, to not depart, to continue in.
Jesus is saying if His people will continue in His word, to continue to teach his word, to learn his word, to live his word, and never depart from it, then we will be fruitful. But if we do not, God will cut the dead wood from the vine.
I am convinced that is what is happening in our beloved Methodist Church. God is removing the dead wood. For years God has worked be bring back our fruitfulness but it has not worked. Parts of our church have continued to ignore the clean teaching of scripture. God is ready to cut away the diseased and decaying branches that have been sucking up all the energy, money, and strength of God’s faithful people.
I am conviced that is what is happening in our beloved Methodist Church. God is removing the dead wood.
While the liberal churches are telling everyone, and I quote.
Stop accepting the Bible as true and admit Christianity has gotten it terribly wrong on homosexuality. This is the advice Rev. Oliver Thomas gives in a recent opinion article in USA Today for how the church can stop “hemorrhaging members” and see brighter days.
While they at the same time know that most of the decline has been is the very churches that have followed this flawed advise.
Yes, many churches are hemorrhaging members, and have been since the early 1970s. But anyone who studies these things carefully will tell you this is happening almost exclusively in the more politically and theologically liberal mainline churches. These are the same churches that are doing exactly what Thomas calls for: rejecting the credibility and authority of Scripture.
This same research shows the churches he says must change or else are holding rock-solid steady in attendance. These are the more conservative congregations that unapologetically take the Bible at its word, including on homosexuality.
Notice with me the end of those who defy God and refuse to remain in the Word.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
With God Less is More.
With God Less is More.
With God Less is More.
With God Less is More.
God Trims Living Plants
God Trims Living Plants
John 15:
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
With God Less is More
With God Less is More