Jesus' Last Night Message three

Jesus’ Last Night

Message Three

The Gardner and His Pruning Shears

Me:

I love gardening

a. Here’s a pro tip

i. Pruning tomatoes will give you bigger tomatoes

ii. This also works for sweet corn

iii. And definitely works on grapes

b. Why prune?

i. The pruning allows to plant to produce better fruit

ii. Those “branches” rob the “fruit” of nutrients

iii. It’s like having good fruit vs better fruit

iv. You don’t want a “branch” that is not producing fruit

We:

Like a tomato we need pruning

a. Bad habits

i. Paul said this

The very thing I hate is the very thing I do

iii. Bad habits are like that

iv. Our minds tell us it will be good

v. Our hearts say you better not

b. We spend millions

i. On self help stuff

ii. I went through a phase (12 rules for living)

iii. How can we change to bad habits into good ones?

c. Here’s the secret

Self-help without the Spirits help is doomed for failure See verse :5

ii. When the gardener takes out his pruning shears and begins the pruning process that’s when real change happens

iii. Let me show you what God is saying

God:

The Gardner and his pruning shears

a. It was a farming culture.

i. Jesus is using a metaphor his disciples will understand

ii. I’ve explained the process to you.

b. Step by step of Jesus is saying

i. I am the true vine

1. Another “I am”

2. We can reference 14:6

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

You are the branch

The Father is the Gardner

1. If you have been following on Grace Academy you will understand this.

The Gardner (Father) cuts off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit

Matthew 3:10 NLT

10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

2. I believe judgement on unbelievers

The Gardner also prunes the branches so they will bear more fruit

John 15:2 NLT

2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

Jesus says they are “clean”

They are then told to “remain” in him

1. Be a disciple

vii. Last for our lesson today Jesus says this

John 15:5 NLT

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

2. Nothing

You:

Here’s the deal

Living for Christ requires pruning

i. As we develop into disciples God begins to prune away things in our lives

ii. Think about the fruit of the Spirit

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

iv. Think about the opposite of these

b. How do you begin to bear such fruit?

i. You “remain” in Christ – That means spending time with him

ii. I don’t want to guilt you into this

iii. That doesn’t work

iv. Pray that God puts a burden in your heart

c. Remember verse 5

John 15:5 NLT

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

ii. Without Christ you are just spinning your wheels

We:

Be a disciple

a. The world is full of casual Christians

i. They want the blessings without the sacrifice

b. A true disciple

John 15:8 NLT

8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

i. I would rather have 10 true disciples than a 100 casual

ii. Sign me up for that

c. What does the Gardner need to prune from your life?

i. Have you considered a fast?

ii. Maybe pray too