1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,960 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,560 Welcome to the One Church podcast. 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:21,560 I wonder, have you ever handed over a job to somebody else and 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,840 perhaps you've written a handover document or had a 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,360 handover meeting And in that document or in that meeting, you 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,520 basically put everything you want someone to know before you 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,040 go. Before I go, remember this. 9 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:38,480 Perhaps you've been to someone's house on holiday and just as 10 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:41,200 they're about to leave, they sit you down and they tell you all 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,200 the tips that you might need to know in order for you to have a 12 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,120 great holiday, things that only they would know because it's 13 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,160 their house. And so before they go, they want 14 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:53,960 you to know this. Over the past year, since 15 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,160 September, I've had the wonderful joy of beginning some 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,160 extra study. And so once a month I travel 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,040 down to Waverly College to Waverly Abbey, which is the home 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,360 of 24/7 prayer. And I'm there studying a 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,320 Christian counselling degree. And it's absolutely wonderful. 20 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:12,520 I'm having a brilliant time. I'm so blessed to be released to 21 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,480 go and and study there. But I remember the first time I 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:16,960 went away, it was for a whole week. 23 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:20,000 So it was Monday to Friday. And I remember writing down a 24 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,200 handover document for the family. 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,600 Before I go away, here is everything I would like you to 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,880 know so that you can have a brilliant week. 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,320 And I needn't have worried. They had a great time. 28 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:33,880 And to be perfectly honest, I've stopped doing the handover 29 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,040 documents and, and maybe a bit to my own detriment, because 30 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,240 last time I just left and I thought, Oh no, what have I got 31 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:40,520 ready for everyone while I'm away? 32 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:45,360 But there are sometimes things that before I go, I want you to 33 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:51,360 know this. Jesus knew when his time was 34 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,560 coming to an end. He knew when his earthly mission 35 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,640 was about to be completed. And So what he did is he had a 36 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,960 conversation with his disciples. In a way it might have felt like 37 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,520 a handover meeting. They didn't yet know that he was 38 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,520 about to go. He knew he had it in his mind. 39 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,200 And so he, he gathers his disciples together and it's 40 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,600 almost as if he's saying, before I go, I want you to know this. 41 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,640 And the words of Jesus that we're looking at today are found 42 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:26,080 in this handover meeting. If you didn't know, we're in the 43 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,400 middle of a series called Jesus said. 44 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,680 And we're looking at different things that Jesus said 45 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,120 throughout his ministry and time here on earth and how then we 46 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,200 can put those words into practise, how we can be impacted 47 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:42,080 and changed by those words and how we can live out the words of 48 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,480 Jesus. And, and the words that we're 49 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,000 looking at today happened in this handover meeting in John 50 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,760 chapters 13 to John chapter 17. We read an account of some of 51 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:56,000 this conversation and some of it happened in the upper room with 52 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,760 Jesus and his disciples as he shared with them the Last 53 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,880 Supper. It was in this room that he gave 54 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,160 instructions on how to remember him by breaking bread and 55 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,600 sharing the cup together. It was in this room that he 56 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,000 again predicted his death. It was in this room that he 57 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,320 predicted that one of his disciples would betray him. 58 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,320 And then he was in the room. And then he said to his 59 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,880 disciples, come on, let's go. And then he walks with his 60 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,240 disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. 61 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:30,240 He crosses the Kidron Valley and there in the garden he prays and 62 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,680 there he is arrested and then later crucified and amazingly 63 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,560 came back to life defeated death. 64 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,400 And because of that amazing death and resurrection of Jesus, 65 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,520 now we can know eternal life with our heavenly Father. 66 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,360 And so I just want us to have that in mind as we think about 67 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,160 these words today. It was in a handover meeting. 68 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,240 It was before I go, I want you to know and we're going to read 69 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,360 John chapter 15 verse one to five together. 70 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,920 Jesus said this. I am the true vine and my Father 71 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,320 is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me 72 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,960 that bears no fruit, while every branch in me that does bear 73 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,400 fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 74 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,360 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you, 75 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:19,519 so remain in me as I also remain in you. 76 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,680 No branch can bear fruit by itself. 77 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,800 It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit 78 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:33,600 unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the 79 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,640 branches. If you remain in me and I in 80 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:41,560 you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do 81 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,280 nothing. And we're going to focus on that 82 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,920 final verse. Then I just actually love us to 83 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,040 say it together. And perhaps by the end of our 84 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,000 time together, you're going to be able to memorise this verse. 85 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,840 John 15, verse 5, it says this. Let's read it together. 86 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,800 I am the vine, you are the branches. 87 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,240 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 88 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,160 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 89 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:13,480 Well, Father God, we thank you for your words today. 90 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,320 We thank you for your written words in Jesus. 91 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,120 We thank you for these words that you spoke. 92 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,280 And we pray today that by the power of your Holy Spirit at 93 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,760 work amongst us, would you make these words real to us. 94 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:29,480 We listen to what you've got to say, Lord, Amen. 4 things for us 95 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:30,720 today. And we're just simply going to 96 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,720 break up this verse. We're going to look at the vine, 97 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:38,400 the branches, the instruction, and the purpose. 98 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:44,920 First of all, the vine. Jesus said, before I go, I want 99 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:50,280 you to know who I am. I am the vine. 100 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,680 In fact, in verse one we read I am the true vine. 101 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,280 I am. This is one of the seven I am 102 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:02,320 statements from Jesus that we read in the Gospel of John. 103 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,040 And the I AM statements hold significance and wait, they 104 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,560 hold. Let's listen to what Jesus 105 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:14,520 saying, because when he says I am, he is almost revealing 106 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,520 against the people listening that he is divine, that he is 107 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,560 God himself. I don't know if when you read an 108 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,360 I AM statement, it draws your mind back to Moses and the 109 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,240 burning Bush. And he speaks to God and he 110 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,520 encounters God and God sends him to go and free his people. 111 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,240 And he says, who shall I say has sent me? 112 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,400 And God in that moment reveals his name to Moses. 113 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,480 He says I am, has sent you. I am who I am. 114 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,080 In that moment, God was declaring his authority, his 115 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:47,080 supremacy, him being the source and sustenance of all things. 116 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:52,760 And so when Jesus says I am, it's Jesus proclaiming his 117 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,240 divinity, his authority. He is revealing and unmistakably 118 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:02,920 identifying himself as God and the exclusive source of life. 119 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:09,560 Jesus says I am the vine. The first thing I would love us 120 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,080 to reminded of today is who is Jesus? 121 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,880 I am the vine. Let's think about what we've 122 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,080 been thinking about over the past few weeks. 123 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,560 Who is Jesus? He's the one who comes to bring 124 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,320 life in all its fullness. Who is Jesus? 125 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,800 He's the one who, if we seek Him, we will find him. 126 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,720 He's the one sent by the Father on a mission to give his life as 127 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,960 a perfect sacrifice, to pay the price for our sin and to give us 128 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,360 the gift of eternal life. Because our Heavenly Father is 129 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,440 the one who goes after the one who has wandered away. 130 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,200 His heart is that none of us should perish. 131 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,080 This is Jesus, the perfect spotless sacrifice. 132 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,520 Who is Jesus? He as I am, He is the one who is 133 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:01,000 the bringer and giver of peace. At his word, storms are calmed 134 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,880 and waves are still. The disciples in the boat. 135 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,720 And when Jesus calms a storm and they say, who is this? 136 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,120 Even the winds and wave obey him. 137 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,520 This is Jesus, the giver of peace. 138 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,600 And I just want to say this morning sometimes when we wake 139 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,600 up and we read of things going on in the world, our hearts can 140 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,920 be troubled. And I just want to say he has 141 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,720 overcome all things. Hear his words today says do not 142 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,360 let your hearts be troubled, for I have overcome the world. 143 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,280 This is Jesus that I am, the giver and bringer of peace. 144 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,240 Who is Jesus that I am? He is the light of the world. 145 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,480 Jesus is the light of the world, and anyone who walks in him will 146 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,080 never walk in darkness, but they will have the light of life. 147 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,600 How wonderful. This is the Jesus that we're 148 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,280 talking about. This is Jesus the one who says I 149 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:56,000 am, the one who says I am divine, I am God himself. 150 00:08:56,040 --> 00:09:00,640 I am all these things, and today he says I am the vine. 151 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,160 Now the vine is an analogy. It's a metaphor. 152 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,040 It's not literal good news. We're not going to walk out of 153 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,920 this place and actually have our minds open to the fact that we 154 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,240 are all branches. That's not what Jesus is saying 155 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,080 here. OK, He's using an analogy, A 156 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:19,680 metaphor, but this analogy would have been very familiar to the 157 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:24,360 disciples listening at the time. Throughout Jewish culture, this 158 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,600 analogy of a vine and a vineyard was used. 159 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,600 Just like the disciples would know about a shepherd and sheep 160 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,200 or a farmer and his field, a vineyard and a vine was 161 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,480 something they would have been very familiar listening to. 162 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,480 So why is Jesus saying I am the vine? 163 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:44,120 Why does he choose this moment now? 164 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,400 It could have been that he still sat at the table with his 165 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,560 disciples and he's sat and in front of him is actually the 166 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:53,960 fruit of the vine, and he's just used the cup to talk to his 167 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,640 disciples about what is going to happen. 168 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,800 He's given them instructions that whenever you drink the 169 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,520 fruit of the vine, whenever you drink this cup, you do it in 170 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,000 remembrance of me. So it could have been that it's 171 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,760 before him and he's looking at the glass. 172 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,960 He says I am the vine. It also could have been that 173 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,960 he's already on his journey. We don't fully know. 174 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,480 He did say in the verse before, come on, let's go. 175 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,320 But we don't yet know if he has actually made the journey. 176 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,560 But it could be that he is walking across the Kidron Valley 177 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:24,760 and and perhaps he's walking through a vineyard on his way to 178 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,800 the Garden of Gethsemane. Or it could have been none of 179 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,720 those things and he just decided to talk about the vine. 180 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,240 It doesn't really matter, okay? What matters is what is he 181 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,040 saying By saying I am the vine, Jesus is saying this, I am the 182 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,720 vine. Before you go, I want you to 183 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,240 know that I am the source of spiritual life and sustenance. 184 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,040 He actually says I am the true vine. 185 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:52,920 And in Jewish literature and culture, when it's the word true 186 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,560 is mentioned, it talks about a perfect, a complete. 187 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,080 He is the true vine, the perfect complete vine. 188 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:06,120 We read in the Old Testament in Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5 that the 189 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,400 nation of Israel and God's people are often referred to as 190 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,320 a vine. This vine, though, fell short. 191 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:21,560 It produced worthless bad fruit. And here is Jesus declaring I am 192 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:26,000 the flawless fulfilment of what Israel was supposed to be in 193 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,920 spite of effort, in spite of second chance after second 194 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,480 chance, God's people still disappointed Him. 195 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,320 And in fact, they never really stood a chance because people, 196 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,680 in spite of effort, cannot be this flawless source of life. 197 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,280 Instead, in steps Jesus, the life, giving flawless presents 198 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,600 to the rest of the world. He is flawless. 199 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,000 He is the vine. He is the true vine. 200 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:55,080 This morning we here. Before I go, I want you to know 201 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,920 I am the vine. I am the source, the sustenance. 202 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:06,920 Everything you need is found in me, that I am himself, God, the 203 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:11,400 exclusive source of life and the perfect flawless life giving 204 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:16,640 presence in the world. Jesus says I am the vine. 205 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,240 Secondly, the branches. Before I go, I want you to know 206 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:26,360 who you are. You are the branches. 207 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,520 Now I love intonation. You don't know what that is. 208 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,160 It's the rise and fall of the pitch of your voice which can 209 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,360 change the meaning of what you are trying to say. 210 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,480 In some languages, you know, if something is a question, if 211 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,520 someone raises the pitch of their voice at the end of their 212 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,360 sentence. And This is why texting, I 213 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,160 think, can be particularly hard. Has anyone ever had a text 214 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,240 conversation with someone and, and they meant to say something, 215 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,560 but the person who receives the text has read it in a different 216 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:59,880 way and they've had a different pitch to their voices. 217 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,840 They've read it. And you never know, you might 218 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,760 accidentally offend someone, perhaps by what you say. 219 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:09,400 But how we say something can give a different perspective, a 220 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,600 different truth to what we're trying to say. 221 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,720 So let's just play on this idea for a minute as we think about 222 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,760 us being the branches. Paul says this in Two 223 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,120 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 10, and he's talking about how we 224 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:27,320 can have two differing perspectives that are both true 225 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,440 at the same time. He says this, our hearts ache, 226 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:35,640 but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give 227 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:40,640 spiritual riches to others. We own nothing and yet we have 228 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,800 everything. We can have two true but very 229 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:49,960 different perspectives when we consider ourselves as branches, 230 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,800 and it all comes down to how we say it. 231 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:58,160 Firstly, me a branch. Can you say that me a branch? 232 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,600 A branch? We are just branches. 233 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:07,240 And what do I mean by this? If it is the vine that gives 234 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,240 life, the vine that is the source, the vine that sustains, 235 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:15,280 there is Jesus that gives life, the Jesus that is the source. 236 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:20,160 Jesus is the one who sustains. What power do I have? 237 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,200 I'm just a branch, just a branch. 238 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:29,520 Actually Jesus goes on to say at the end of the verse, apart from 239 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:35,000 me you can do nothing. We are just branches. 240 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,000 We own nothing. We have no special ability 241 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,760 compared to Jesus and a challenge for some of us. 242 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,360 Perhaps we've allowed ourselves to think of ourselves higher 243 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,920 than we ought. We can sometimes think that we 244 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,080 are actually as good as the vine. 245 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,840 It can at times be easy to split into a bit of a saviour complex. 246 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,720 I can change things. I can save that person. 247 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,000 I can be the answer they're looking for. 248 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,280 I can be the one to help them. So we can somehow slip into that 249 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,360 and also we can slip into this saviour less desire. 250 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,920 We think that we don't need a source, that we don't need an 251 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,840 answer, that we don't need someone else to come and save 252 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,000 us. We've got it all sorted by 253 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,040 ourselves. Well, today we remember that we 254 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:30,320 are just branches. We are nothing without the vine. 255 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,080 We can do nothing without him for a while. 256 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,760 We may be able to run in our own strength for a while, we might 257 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,360 be able to try and answer people, but in the end we come 258 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,520 to know this. Apart from him, we really can do 259 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,960 nothing. We're branches. 260 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,880 We don't need to see this as a sad realisation. 261 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,200 Some of us might think, oh, I'm just a branch. 262 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:59,320 When I realise this, I actually think fantastic, I'm just a 263 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,400 branch. I can't do anything. 264 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,160 It doesn't really rely on me. Whether I'm good enough, whether 265 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,640 I'm perfect enough, whether I'm wise enough and have the right 266 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,120 answers to help someone, whether I'm patient enough and and I'm 267 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,360 willing to keep on going and be determined. 268 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:21,160 I am just a branch. But here is the wonderful thing 269 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,200 about Jesus. He chooses branches like you and 270 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:32,240 I to work through for His glory. See, we can just say I'm a 271 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:36,480 branch, or we can say I'm a branch. 272 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,760 Should we say that together? I'm a branch. 273 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,000 I'm a branch. I'm a branch of the vine. 274 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,600 I'm connected to the vine. And who is the Vine? 275 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,680 We already know it's Jesus the great. 276 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:53,600 I am the source, the sustainer life itself. 277 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:59,000 I'm a branch of the vine, which means, yes, I might just be a 278 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:03,640 branch on my own, but connected to the vine I can do all things 279 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,280 through Christ who strengthens me. 280 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:08,880 Connected to the vine, my God will supply all my needs 281 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,880 according to his glorious riches. 282 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:13,880 Connected to the vine, I can know this. 283 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,040 The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead lives 284 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,520 in me because I'm connected to the vine, the true vine, and 285 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,280 Christ dwells in me by the power of His Spirit. 286 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:33,760 It doesn't rely on me, however. I am a jar of clay who is being 287 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,640 moulded and then used for God to shine His glory through, Paul 288 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,640 writes. We have this power in jars of 289 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,640 clay. To show that this all surpassing 290 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,600 power is from God and not from us. 291 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:49,640 We actually need to be a branch in order for God to make His 292 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,440 strength made perfect, in order for God to allow his glory to be 293 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,080 known. It's really important that we 294 00:17:55,080 --> 00:18:00,800 are just branches. I'm a branch, but God uses 295 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,480 branches like you and I. When we're connected to the 296 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,880 vine, we have everything we need. 297 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,120 We're just a weak branch. On our own, we're nothing. 298 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,680 Without the vine, we're nothing. But connected to the vine, we 299 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,520 have everything. I love this. 300 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,640 A foolish branch can do nothing, but a foolish branch connected 301 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,280 to the vine can be used to shame the whites. 302 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,680 A weak branch is just a weak branch, but a weak branch 303 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:27,920 connected to the vine can shame the strong. 304 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:33,880 Jesus, Jesus, wonderful Jesus, He's all about using the lowly 305 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:38,000 things, the despised ones, the things that are not to be used 306 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,880 for his glory. And all this is possible because 307 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:45,080 we are in Christ Jesus. We are a branch connected to 308 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:49,040 Him, the vine. So me, I'm a branch. 309 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,520 I have nothing but me. I'm a branch. 310 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:58,400 I have everything. Before I go, I want you to know 311 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,920 who I am, says Jesus. I am the vine. 312 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:07,480 Before I go, I want you to know who you are, says Jesus. 313 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,160 You're the branches. Let's move on to what He then 314 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:17,920 asked us to do the instruction. I am the vine, you are the 315 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,240 branches. If you remain in me and I in 316 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:29,440 you, we're called as branches to remain in the vine, to remain in 317 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:33,160 Jesus and allow Him to remain in US. 318 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:38,000 I love the word that the King James Version uses says to 319 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:44,600 abide. Abide in me, stay in me, rest in 320 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:50,920 me, be fully connected in me. What does it mean to remain in 321 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:56,480 Jesus and why is it important? Opposite our house are many tall 322 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,280 trees, and I love the trees. When we sit in our bed we can 323 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,200 look out and we can see the trees. 324 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,280 And when it's windy, you can hear the trees. 325 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,600 You can hear the wind swishing and swashing and swashing the 326 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,000 branches as they sway in the wind. 327 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,840 And what happens when it's particularly windy is the 328 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,160 branches. They fall off the tree. 329 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,000 And so when we wake up in the morning after a particularly 330 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:26,440 windy night, we go out on our drive and there are branches on 331 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,560 the ground that have fallen off. When the kids were younger, 332 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,440 they'd love to go and collect the branches and collect them 333 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,200 all. And they are merely sticks. 334 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,760 Once they fall off the tree, once they're no longer connected 335 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:43,280 to the tree and source of life, they're just dead sticks. 336 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:49,440 But the kids love them. Jesus says you are the branches, 337 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,800 I am the vine, and you need to remain in me. 338 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,800 Why? In order to live. 339 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:03,760 In order to be sustained. Abide in me, Jesus says, if you 340 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,800 want to live. But what does it mean? 341 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,440 What does it look like to remain in Jesus? 342 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,760 We're called to an active, connected life, to the source 343 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:19,280 and sustainer of all things, to remain in him, to abide in him. 344 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,200 To remain is to trust and believe. 345 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,640 John, chapter one at the beginning of the Gospel that 346 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,920 we're reading. Yet to all who did receive him, 347 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,600 to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to 348 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:37,920 become children. I've got to remain in Him. 349 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:44,440 To abide in Him is to believe in Him, to trust that He is who He 350 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,840 says He is, and to become a child of God. 351 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,320 To remain in the vine is to trust and believe. 352 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,600 To remain in the vine is to be obedient to His Word. 353 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,600 In just a few verses time in John 15 in the same topic, Jesus 354 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:08,720 says this, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, to 355 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,480 be a branch that remains in the vine is to be the one who 356 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:18,000 listens to Jesus words and puts them into practise. 357 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:25,040 This requires us to remain in Jesus, to open his word, to not 358 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,280 just read it, but then allow it to become life to us to to put 359 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,440 his words into practise, to remain in him. 360 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,680 We're called to dwell on His words, to meditate on it, and 361 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,440 then be changed by His words, convicted by His words, not 362 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,760 condemned, instructed and made whole. 363 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:49,000 We all have a choice. To remain, to abide in Jesus by 364 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,640 listening to His words and obeying them. 365 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:56,640 And to remain and abide in the vine is to love and be loved. 366 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,680 John 15 verse 9 says this. As the Father has loved you, so 367 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,640 have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 368 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,320 I don't know about you, but I never want to grow tired of 369 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,960 hearing about the love of Jesus. I never want to grow tired. 370 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,040 But here they go again. Grace. 371 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:20,520 Yes, He lavishes his love on us. I want to be so abiding in the 372 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,360 in the vine that I think, wow, Jesus, you love me. 373 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:27,520 You lavish your love on me. And here's the thing, I can 374 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,840 never understand just how amazing the love of God is. 375 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,160 We're never going to understand how great and big and wide and 376 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,040 vast and deep is His love for us. 377 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:42,400 To remain in the vine, to be a branch that remains the vine, is 378 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,920 to remain in His love, to allow His love to be lavished on us 379 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:51,200 and to love Him in return. So choose to abide. 380 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,400 Choose to remain. Maybe you want to ask yourself 381 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,080 this question. What am I going to do this week 382 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,600 that's going to help me remain in the vine? 383 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:04,840 Be devoted and part of the relationship of remaining in the 384 00:24:05,120 --> 00:24:08,560 vine, of being a branch that remains in the vine is it's not 385 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,960 a one way system. Our relationship with Jesus when 386 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,160 we are branches that remain in Him is two way. 387 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:21,120 It's a two way connection. He says remain in me and I will 388 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:24,280 remain in you. John 14. 389 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:27,960 He says it just the chapter before verse 15 to 16. 390 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,640 If you love me, keep my commands, I will ask the Father 391 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,520 and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with 392 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,200 you forever. The spirit of truth. 393 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:45,040 How wonderful that being a branch connected to the vine 394 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,600 means there is a constant two way connection between US and 395 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,960 God. It's not just us remaining in 396 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:57,280 Christ, it's Christ remaining in US by the power of His Spirit. 397 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,160 He's our advocate, He's our helper. 398 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:03,760 He is with us forever. And so this week, as we think 399 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,400 how we can put these words of Jesus into practise, think yes, 400 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:11,000 of how you're going to remain in him and devote your life to him 401 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,320 and spend time in his word, in his love, grow in your faith. 402 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:18,360 But also think, Jesus, come and remain in me. 403 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,440 Jesus, by the power of your Holy Spirit, equip me. 404 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,560 Jesus, by the power of your Holy Spirit, strengthen me, send me 405 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,400 out, empower me. Jesus, I thank you that I am a 406 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,720 branch. We have instructions to remain 407 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:39,880 if we decide to remain in Him. We're not just deciding to 408 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:44,160 remain in the vine, we're actually deciding to remain in 409 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,000 the vineyard. Jesus said this. 410 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,280 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 411 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,400 In some translations it uses this word, My father is the vine 412 00:25:55,400 --> 00:26:00,000 dresser, the one who tends to the vine and its branches. 413 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:02,840 He goes on to say the gardener has a few job. 414 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:06,880 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, and we're 415 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:08,160 not going to focus on that bit today. 416 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,280 But then it says this, while every branch that does bear 417 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,600 fruit, he prunes so that it would be even more fruitful 418 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,640 being connected to the vine, Remaining in the vine. 419 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:24,080 We don't just have this internal strengthening and internal 420 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,680 connection, but our loving Heavenly Father comes from the 421 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:33,600 outside and helps us from outside by pruning us that we'll 422 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:38,360 be even more fruitful. As I was preparing for today, I 423 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:40,240 just felt good. Remind me of a story. 424 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:44,280 A few years to go we went on a holiday to Scotland and it was a 425 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,120 beautiful place and we were in this log cabin that was in 426 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:50,160 someones farm and it was the only thing you could see for 427 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,280 miles around. And all along the side of this 428 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:56,320 log cabin was a decking and it was wonderful. 429 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,120 And where we were in Scotland it was part of the Dark Sky park 430 00:27:00,120 --> 00:27:03,960 which meant that the stars were amazing, you could see the Milky 431 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,240 Way with your own eyes. It was truly wonderful and I 432 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,000 remember sitting out in the hammock on this decking looking 433 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,680 up at the stars and just thinking wow God you really are 434 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,120 amazing. The decking was amazing but it 435 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:18,520 had one floor. Can anyone guess what a floor of 436 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,800 having a giant decking might be? Splinters. 437 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:27,120 OK, I remember one of our children in particular getting 438 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:30,400 splinters in their feet. Now I won't mention which one, 439 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:35,080 but one of them was very vocal about the splinters in their 440 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,280 feet. And not only that, they were 441 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:41,960 very vocal when we came to them to try and remove the splinters. 442 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,800 See, the splinters were causing with all three girls pain and 443 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:49,840 the splinters were also preventing them from enjoying 444 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,600 the rest of the holiday. And So what we'd have to do is 445 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,200 we'd have to sit them down and even though it was painful for 446 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,160 them, we'd have to remove the splinter so that they could go 447 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,520 and enjoy themselves. And this one particular 448 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:06,160 daughter, she would scream any time we came near her. 449 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:10,040 And it just, I just felt God say sometimes we're like this. 450 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,560 See, the gardener's role is to pruners. 451 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,040 Sometimes our lives have things that are like splinters, things 452 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:21,360 that SAP joy out of us, things that hold us back from being 453 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:23,400 fruitful. And what the gardener does, the 454 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,960 vine dresser does. He comes and he brings his 455 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,960 shears. They're sharp, they're painful, 456 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:32,240 But he has to cut bits away so that we can continue living the 457 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,280 life that we were made to live, so that we can continue enjoying 458 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,520 life in all its fullness and that we can continue to be 459 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,680 fruitful. But it's a painful process and 460 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,360 our daughter would scream when we came near her. 461 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:50,600 However, eventually she saw that our other daughters sat down and 462 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,400 even if it was a bit painful, they had their splinters removed 463 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,520 and then they were able to go and enjoy the rest of their 464 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,040 holiday. And eventually this daughter 465 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,880 came and sat and there was a bit of screaming and squealing, but 466 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:08,000 she realised that we could come. We could hold her foot gently 467 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:11,760 and firmly, but we'd hold it. She'd be very loved and safe in 468 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,480 our arms, and we would remove the splinter and it hurt for a 469 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:19,920 moment, but then she could go and enjoy the rest of the day, 470 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,000 enjoy the great day that was planned for her. 471 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:27,480 And I just felt God say, if you decide to be a branch in the 472 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,680 vine, not only do you remain in Christ, but you remain in the 473 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,160 vineyard. And there are times when we have 474 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,040 to let the gardener, the vine dresser come and pruners. 475 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,040 And I just felt that there's some people here that, you know, 476 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,040 that needs to happen, but you don't want the temporary pain 477 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,800 because it might be painful. Maybe God wants to point out 478 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,080 some things in your life that are stopping you from living 479 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,880 life in its fullness. Maybe there's some things in 480 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,200 your past that are painful for you to think about. 481 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,800 And the idea of the gardener coming with his shears, exposing 482 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:04,240 them and then cutting them off, you don't know if you want to 483 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:07,120 allow that temporary pain to happen. 484 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,760 Would you know this? The gardener is a loving 485 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,400 gardener. The gardener is firm, but he's 486 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,920 gentle and he can come. And just like our daughter 487 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:21,800 realised, he comes and he holds us safely. 488 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,840 He tells us it's going to be OK. He lets us know it's only 489 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:28,320 temporary and then he sorts us out. 490 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,880 He removes our splinters so we can go and enjoy the rest of the 491 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,560 time. And finally, before I go, I want 492 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:40,400 you to know your purpose. I am the vine. 493 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:44,840 You are the branches. If you remain in me and I in 494 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:49,160 you, you will bear much fruit. How wonderful. 495 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,760 What is the purpose of us remaining in the vine? 496 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,280 Is it so that we can just enjoy life and be healthy? 497 00:30:57,080 --> 00:31:00,520 Is it so that we can at times, you know, have a bit of 498 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,840 discipline in our life? When the gardener comes? 499 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:08,320 No, it's so that we can bear fruit for his glory. 500 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:11,760 It's so that we can go and make disciples and advance his 501 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,200 Kingdom. It's so that we can spread the 502 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,280 good news. It's so that we can shower love 503 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:18,440 on the world around us. It's so that we can go and be a 504 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:22,720 blessing to our workplaces, a light to our families and 505 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,840 friends so that we can go and we can reflect the glory of the 506 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,760 sun. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10 507 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:30,880 says this. For it is by grace that you have 508 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:34,400 been saved through faith, and that is not from yourselves. 509 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:38,680 It is the gift of God, not by works that no one can boast. 510 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,240 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do 511 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,680 good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 512 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:52,560 We are called to be branches connected to the vine so that we 513 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,680 can bear fruit. It's part of our destiny. 514 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,120 It's part of Our Calling. God chose us. 515 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,480 He grafts us into His vine, and then he reminds us of the good 516 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,200 works that He has planned for us long ago. 517 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,520 We're not just branches. We are branches that are called 518 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:14,800 to bear fruit. We are called to be fruitful. 519 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,080 I just want to encourage you that you might be looking at 520 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:20,760 your life thinking, oh, what fruit am I producing? 521 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:24,920 Oh, I must try harder. I must try and do something that 522 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,120 bears fruit. Here's the beauty. 523 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,600 You're a branch on your own. You can do nothing. 524 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,720 If you want to be a branch that wants to be more fruitful, don't 525 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,000 try and be the best branch you can be. 526 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:44,120 Instead remember Jesus words before I go, I want you to know 527 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:50,600 remain in me and I in you. If you want to be a branch that 528 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:52,600 bears fruit, you don't have to muster up something. 529 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:57,440 Instead you simply remain. You simply belong. 530 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:02,400 You simply abide and allow your life to be changed by Him. 531 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:09,000 Allow His Spirit to work in you and then you will go and produce 532 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,080 much fruit. This week I spoke to a lady 533 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,920 during little ones at the Oak Centre, which is the home of one 534 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,800 church, Braunstone site. And this lady came in and I've 535 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,120 been building a relationship with this lady for a lot of 536 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,360 years. And we've spoken about God a few 537 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,880 times and she's actually even come to some of the events that 538 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:29,000 we've done over the years and she comes in to me and she says 539 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,600 I needed you this week. I thought oh OK, cheers. 540 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:37,800 I've been speaking to your God And she told me about how she 541 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:40,640 was experiencing some trouble in her life and so she actually 542 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,760 asked God to help her. And as it happened, she said he 543 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,960 didn't listen to me. He wasn't listening. 544 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:51,200 But in that moment I was able to sit and talk with her and talk a 545 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,320 little bit about God. And here's the exciting thing. 546 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:57,520 I'm believing that that conversation, that relationship 547 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,200 is going to bear fruit. I'm believing that she is going 548 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,480 to come to realise that actually God is the one who hears her, 549 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,360 that God does listen to her. In fact, he listened to her and 550 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:10,840 he loves her so much that he sent Jesus to die for her so 551 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,840 that she too can be a branch in His vine. 552 00:34:14,159 --> 00:34:16,120 But it wasn't anything to do with me. 553 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:20,159 I'm just a branch. It was all to do with Him at 554 00:34:20,159 --> 00:34:23,440 work within me, His power at work within me. 555 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,000 I was listening to his words and He is the one who called me to 556 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,040 go and bring good news, to go and make disciples to share the 557 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:33,360 good news of Jesus. We're called to bear fruit. 558 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:38,480 Before I go, I want you to know the end goal. 559 00:34:39,639 --> 00:34:44,280 Why are we called to bear fruit? In verse A it says this. 560 00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:50,600 This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit. 561 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:57,720 A branch, a branch on its own, it's just a branch. 562 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:00,360 It may make a difference in the world. 563 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,200 A branch on its own may able to be kind and may be able to offer 564 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:10,440 happiness or a temporary solution to someone, but it is 565 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:14,920 just temporary. But to be a branch on the vine, 566 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:19,720 fully connected to the source of life brings glory to God. 567 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:26,800 To believe, obey, love, and act like He does brings glory to 568 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:30,200 God. To be fully reliant and changed 569 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,200 by Jesus and to live a life devoted to Him, deciding to 570 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:38,520 abide and remain in Him, brings glory to God. 571 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:43,240 To be equipped and empowered, loved and sustained by the power 572 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:47,600 of His Holy Spirit at work within us as He remains in US 573 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:52,800 brings glory to God. To allow yourself to be pruned 574 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,080 even when it's painful. To acknowledge that you are just 575 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:01,600 a jar of clay. But through you, God intends to 576 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:06,840 shine His goodness and His glory brings Him glory. 577 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:13,880 When we are a branch and we give our weakness to Him, He, he 578 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:18,000 gives us his strength and His strength is made perfect in our 579 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,160 weakness. It brings glory to God and to 580 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:24,160 bear fruit, to love and witness to the world around us, to do 581 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:27,680 the good things that He has planned for us long ago, brings 582 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:32,160 glory to the Father. I don't know about you, but I 583 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:34,720 want to be someone who brings glory to the Father. 584 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,000 I want to remember that Jesus is the vine, the great. 585 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,480 I am the source of all things and I am a branch. 586 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,600 I'm a branch. I'm connected to the vine, the 587 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:48,000 sustain of the source of all things. 588 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:52,120 And as a branch, I choose to remain in Him, which means to 589 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:56,440 remain in His words, in His love, to remain in every good 590 00:36:56,440 --> 00:37:00,520 gift that He has for me, and for Him to remain in me, to be 591 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:04,280 empowered, sent out, strengthened in courage, set 592 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:09,000 apart so that I can go and bear fruit for His glory. 593 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,600 The Lord bless you. And keep you. 594 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:17,440 The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 595 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:21,320 The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.