What's Your Source

John 15:1-8 - NLT “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 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. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

The title for today’s message is What’s Your Source?

Today’s text is a portion of Jesus’ discourse given during what we know as The Last Supper. The disciples listened intently as Jesus prepared them for what was to come.

A vine is an ivy plant, if left alone in can get out of control, overtake other plants and kill them because they take all the nutrients from the soil and can block out the light. Ivy can even take down a large tree as it attaches itself to the bark of the tree it weakens it; it can get so heavy it breaks off the limbs of the tree. As it grows it prevents the sunlight from getting to the leaves and makes the tree susceptible to pests and disease.

So for vines to not be destructive, there needs to be a gardener to keep them under control, to keep them healthy and to keep them growing in the right direction.

As we look at this scripture, Jesus lets us know in no uncertain terms, “I am the true grapevine”. When you look at a grapevine there is one vine but the fruit on that vine multiplies over and over and over.

While Jesus is the true grapevine, he also informs us that his Father is the gardener. The gardener’s responsibility is to keep the vine healthy and that means cutting off some branches on a regular basis. If the vine is not pruned it can bring disease to the vine and affect the other fruit.

We are the branches of that vine and the fruit is coming out of us. Out of what we do,

• the more we read our Bibles

• the more we study

• the more we pray

• the more we meditate

• the more we witness

• the more we walk in our calling

• the more time we spend with God

• the more fruit there will be.

So as we work up to all of those things, there are some things and people that will not be able to stay attached, so God will cut off and take out all we don’t need, all that would hinder us and keep us from being able to produce fruit. As you progress there are people who cannot make the journey with you.

• Perhaps they don’t understand the vision

• Maybe they’re not prepared for the journey

• There may be some envy or strife and they could attempt to keep you from completing your journey

• There are some who can’t let go of the past as you move to the next level

• There are others who will pull on you so much you fall under their weight

God cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit. Now the question is, “What kind of fruit are you producing?” Are you producing fruit at all? Be careful, you don’t want to be the one cut off, praise God for long-suffering.

He prunes the branches that are producing fruit so they can produce more fruit and that process may be a bit painful. Don’t think that just because you’re doing the will of God it’s going to be all peaches and cream and you’re going to walk in a bed of roses. You may get roses, but there’s going to be some thorns. Those thorns are there to keep you alert, to keep you watchful, to keep you praying so you don’t get comfortable and start laying back and saying look at what I’ve done, when the Word of God tells us, it is He who provides the increase.

When God cuts a branch off, don’t go pick it up and try to reattach it; it, they cannot be grafted back in. When God cuts off a branch leave it and move on. I’m not saying it will be easy, because sometimes that branch may be your family, it may be a friend, or it may be a coworker, but you still have to move on. That is if your goal is to prosper in God, to fulfill your assignment, to hear well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into thy glory, at the end of your journey here.

When God removes those things and people, it’s called pruning. The season for pruning is when vegetation is dormant, it’s after fruit production, but before the next season begins. The vine may look dead but it’s only resting, it’s replenishing its nutrients to come back stronger, more fruitful in its season.

As we look at our seasons, we should be aware of what’s happening. In season you are in full bloom,

• You’re producing fruit.

• You’re working in the vineyard.

• You’re witnessing, spreading the Gospel as we’re commanded to do.

• Everything you touch seems to flourish.

Then there are times when it’s not our season, we’re in the off season. But it’s during this time when you’re being nourished, replenished, revived so you’re soaking up the Word, like meat that’s marinating. It seems like all it’s doing is sitting but it’s actually absorbing the full flavor of the seasonings.

It’s ok to marinate sometimes, we have to recharge at some point. Sometimes your recharging is a sabbath day, a 24-hr period of rest every seven days. In six days, God made everything and on the seventh day He rested from his work. He wasn’t resting because he was tired, he was resting to show us how it’s done, to be our example, to let us know the world will not stop or break down if we take a break. While we’re working and while we’re resting it’s vital we stay connected to the vine as we recharge.

Not only does pruning remove the dead branches from the vine, it allows the gardener to shape it. Think of ivy on a building, as long as it’s connected it continues to grow and left unchecked can eventually cover a building. The gardener can prune it into the design that he chooses. Ivy is sometimes used to decorate a building and the gardener will prune the ivy to make a design on the building. Our gardener is designing us into a beautiful work of art.

We know here in GA that trees can fall. When we get a lot of rain, the soil gets saturated, the bark and leaves of the tree get heavy with water and the tree falls down. Sometimes people are hurt or killed, houses and cars are destroyed and sometimes lives are changed forever when a tree falls down.

We don’t want to be saturated with anything other than God’s Word. It’s vital we stay connected to the correct source and you need to know what you’re connected to, because

• If you are connected to trouble, then trouble is what you’ll have.

• If you’re connected to strife and envy, then strife and envy is what you’ll have.

• If you’re connected to jealousy, then jealousy is what you’ll have.

Be careful what you connect yourself to.

• When you’re looking for a mate, be careful who you connect yourself to.

• Those who are in fornication, be careful who you connect yourself to

• When you chose your friends, be careful who you connect yourself to.

• When you go into business, be careful who you connect yourself to.

He tells us why we’re pruned and now we learn we’ve already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message He has given us. The message is already in you, now what are you going to do with it? Are you going to sit back with it, you praised God for it, but it’s not for you, it’s not your message? How can you bear fruit if you don’t give to others what God has given you to give? Who will be blessed by what God has given you if you keep it to yourself? As we receive from God, what we must understand is that what we receive is not for us, it’s for others’ it’s to help someone else on their journey. Will you give them what is for them, or will it die in you?

Don’t let the message die in you, let it go forth, so what you’re not a preacher, or an evangelist or prophet, you don’t have to have a title, but you do have a word. Let that word go forth in whatever place God has for you to bring it forth. It may be a word for 1 person, it may be for 10 or 100 but whoever it’s for, God will let you know. But you have to stay connected and be listening. Listening and watching for when and where that word is to go forth.

We must stay in Christ, we must remain in Christ and He will remain in us, because only in Christ can the Word go forth and fruit be produced. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine. You cannot go off on your own, be out of the will of God, and think that what you do will prosper.

Don’t sit back saying She don’t know what she’s doing in that Women’s Ministry, why do we all have to wear the same color, I don’t like red, it doesn’t go with my skin tone. What does he mean we’re gonna all get together and go sing somewhere, I can’t sing and I’m not gonna waste my time and gas going all the way over there?

What does the Pastor mean we’re gonna pray at 8:30 on Thursday mornings, I’ve got other things to do? We’re too busy to be about the things of God. But then we want God to respond to us immediately when we pray, but we’ve disconnected from the vine.

That’s the way some people think. Well I’ll tell you, if you’re not connected to the vine, you need to get connected because there’s work to be done, there are souls that need saving, and there is ministry to build and carry out and being connected to the True Source is the only way it will happen.

When the people get connected to the true source then God can and will move. And just in case you didn’t get it the first time, Jesus reiterates it in verse 5. Those who remain in the Vine, and the Vine in them will produce much fruit, and apart from the Vine you can do nothing. It doesn’t say

• it may or may not work or

• it’s going to work sometimes or

• it’ll turn out ok if you work real hard or

• if you get the right people to help you, you can do it.

His word says apart from him you can do nothing. In fact, not only can you do nothing you’ll be thrown away like a useless branch and you’ll wither then be put into a pile to be burned. You’ll be wood kindling to start a fire and burn.

You stay out of the fire by remaining in Christ and allowing his words to remain in you. In case you haven’t gotten it yet Jesus has told us nine time from verse 4 to verse 7 to stay connected to the source. Do you think that just perhaps that’s important? There can or should be no mistaking that Jesus meant what he said about being and staying connected to the True Vine, being connected to the Source and He, Jesus is the Source. Whatever you may hear, whatever you may see, Jesus is the source of our salvation, He’s the source of all we are and all we do in and for the Kingdom of God.

Not only that, when you’re connected to the True vine you can ask for anything you want and it will be granted. You can ask for what you want, because when you’re truly connected to the Source, what you’ll want, is what will please the Father. Jesus said I always do what pleases my Father, and when that is what the vine is doing that is what the branches will do.

If you’re connected to the source, you won’t ask for anything outside the will of Christ. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to pray, He’ll tell you what to say so he knows what you will ask before you ask it.

True disciples produce much fruit. You may not always get to see your fruit. Some plant, some water, but God provides the increase and the increase is to the Kingdom of God, not necessarily your branch of Zion.

So whether you’re planting or watering,

• you’re telling them about the goodness of the Lord.

• You’re telling them about what God did for them

• You’re telling them about how he gave his only begotten Son to die for their sins and for yours. All us have sin in our lives, it may be hidden from me, and mine may be hidden from you but God sees it all.

• You’re telling them about how Jesus loved them so much he came down through 42 generations and was born of a virgin.

• You’re telling them about how he walked this Earth for 33 years and then gave his life on an old, rugged cross.

• But before that, he took a beating that lasting all night long, one that would be too much for us to witness.

• Before he went to the cross he suffered shame, and mockery and disrespect and ridicule and scorn and contempt all for our sins. And he did it without saying a mumbling word.

• Before he gave his life, they put a crown of thorns on his head.

• Before he gave his life, they put nails through his hands.

• Before he gave his life, they put nails through his feet.

• Before he gave his life, they lifted him up on that cross. Uh oh they didn’t know that he said, “If I, if I be lifted up from the Earth I’ll draw all men unto me.” So they lifted him up.

• Before he gave his life, he gave some instructions to John and his mother.

• Before he gave his life, he prayed to His Father on their behalf, and ask Him to forgive them because they knew not what they were doing.

• Before he gave his life, the curtain in temple was torn from the top to the bottom giving us access to God the Father.

• Before he gave his life, after all he’d been through he was thirsty so they gave him some cheap wine on a sponge.

• And then when he had done all he came to do, when he had completed his assignment, he said, “It is finished” and he hung his head and he died.

But that wasn’t the end. You see three days later

• he got up. Just like he told them he would.

• He got up with all power in his hands.

• He got up with victory over death, hell, and the grave.

• He got up and when he got up it gave us hope

• When he got up, we got another chance

• When he got up, we got a stay of execution, because the penalty for sin is death.

• When he got up, we got a reason to hope, to rejoice, to love.

Not only did he get up, he went back up to the Father where he now sits interceding on our behalf, but all was not lost because he left us a Comforter in the person of the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us and bring things back to our remembrance when need be. To help us stay connected to the True Vine, to help us stay connected to the Source.

God has lopped off, some things, some people, some attitudes, some thoughts, and some habits. He’s pruned some things, cut back some other areas in your life to keep you sharp, to keep you praying, to keep you growing; and then God gets the glory, because when it’s all said and done it all began with God, it all ends with God and it’s all about the Kingdom of God.

This is a war, and we need to be armed to fight the good fight of faith, to win souls for Christ. It’s not about us, it’s about that lost brother, that lost sister that God loved so much He sent His Son to die for them.

You may not be able to stand straight all the time, you may get pushed over, you may get tired and weary, you may feel like laying down, you may feel like giving up but whatever you do, stay connected to the source, stay connected to the True Vine. And when all is said and done and you have produced much fruit God gets the glory.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is a good day. All it takes is a prayer. Father God, I know I’m a sinner please forgive me. Jesus, I want you to be Lord of my life, in Your name I pray. Amen

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What’s your source? Is it Jesus? If not send us a message or comment on the video and let’s talk about it.