Steve Gentry
[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. My name is Steve. I’m one of the pastors here [0:03] I’m so thankful to see you if you’re new here. Well, welcome. It’s good to see you [0:08] I hope to to get to know you if you are new here [0:11] I want you to know that this is a safe place if you are a follower of Jesus [0:18] If you’re someone that that believes if you’re someone that has hope and trust in the name of Jesus Christ [0:24] This is a place where you can come where you can worship where you have freedom in that worship
[0:28] But also if you are someone that isn’t a believer if you’re someone that has doubts if you’re someone that has questions [0:34] This is a safe place for you as well [0:36] I love questions, but I may not always have the answers [0:39] But God does and this is a place for you to come and investigate [0:43] This is a place where you can come and feel safe [0:45] I won’t condemn you no one here will if they do tell me about it and we’ll kick them out or something
[0:51] But uh, but this is a place where I want you to feel a freedom to investigate [0:56] What faith in Jesus Christ is all about because at the end of the day, that’s what we are about [1:01] We’re about the gospel of Jesus [1:03] We’re about following him and believing that he is our God and that we are his people that he came because he loved us enough [1:10] To take the penalty for our sin and take it to the cross die for our sin [1:14] But in the resurrection that we talked about just a few minutes ago
[1:17] He gives us hope that he has power over death that he has power over sin and because of that power [1:23] We won’t have to pay the penalty for it [1:25] We won’t have to spend eternity separated from God [1:28] But instead he invites us to come into his house and live forever with him and worship and praise of him [1:33] So I want to welcome you here with those words and thank you for coming out now [1:38] I hope that my voice can make it the entire morning, but I’ve been a little sick this week
[1:43] So just bear with me if I start going out [1:45] But I think I think I’ll be alright [1:47] Open your Bibles to John chapter 15 John chapter 15 now [1:51] We’re gonna start this morning a little bit of a mini series coming up and the second week of February [1:57] We’re gonna start a series going through the book of Genesis and we’re gonna cut that up into a couple of different sections [2:03] I don’t know if you’ve ever read Genesis, but it’s really long
[2:06] And so I think that maybe I’ll just kind of be go easy on you and we’ll cut it up into sections [2:11] Maybe take some breaks have a few series in between [2:14] But we’re gonna have a series going from Genesis 1 through Genesis chapter 11. That’s gonna take us through the spring [2:19] But for the next three weeks [2:21] I wanted to do a little mini series because I think the beginning of the year is a great opportunity for us to really take [2:28] inventory of our lives
[2:29] To really just kind of look at my life and ask myself. Where am I what’s going on with me? [2:35] How am I how am I doing and as we’re doing that? [2:39] I think that we have to really be honest about where our relationship with God is concerned about where we are [2:46] Whereas following Jesus Christ is concerned because to be a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus [2:53] It’s to be someone that looks at who Jesus is looks at what Jesus has done and looks at what he’s doing right now [3:01] And just kind of fashion our lives after that
[3:04] But sometimes I think we can get really confused [3:07] I think sometimes that we can really want to do that really want to let Jesus live through us [3:13] Really want to have this kind of close relationship with him and sometimes we go to the Bible verses that we know where we see [3:21] That our life is not our own but instead our life belongs to Jesus and we see these verses like in Galatians chapter 2 verse 20 [3:28] Which I love it actually says that I’m crucified with Christ yet [3:31] I live not I but Christ now lives in me and the life
[3:36] I now live I live in faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me [3:40] You know I mean that sounds amazing [3:42] But then if you’re really honest yourself, you have no idea what that looks like I don’t even really know what it means [3:48] Just sounds really good [3:50] And so I wanted to kind of go through the entire chapter of John 15 for the next three weeks [3:55] Because I think in John 15 we have some very similar verses
[3:59] We have verses that tell us that our lives are meant to be and lived in such a way that we abide in [4:08] Where we’re actually people whom he bears fruit through I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds great [4:16] But I have no idea what I have in common with an apple tree [4:20] I don’t know what it means for me to bear fruit [4:23] And if I’m supposed to bear fruit what type of fruit am I supposed to bear? [4:27] What is it supposed to look like because the scripture tells us things in Matthew 7 it says that we’re supposed to bear good fruit
[4:32] Not bad fruit and that kind of makes sense. I don’t want to be bad fruit [4:35] I don’t want to be a bad fruit, but as a bad fruit a pear? I really have no idea what that even looks like [4:38] What does it look like to bear good fruit? [4:41] And so for the next three weeks I want to talk about three things [4:44] I want to talk about how the life of Christ affects the way that I think [4:50] And the next week I want to talk about how it affects the way that I act
[4:54] And then the final week of this mini-series I want to talk about how does that affect the way that I persevere through life [5:01] Because if it’s one thing that I’m constantly tempted to do it’s quit [5:05] And I don’t mean one thing I mean like an abundance of things [5:08] Pretty much everything I ever start there’s a temptation at some point to quit [5:12] But how does the gospel of Jesus Christ give me strength to persevere? [5:18] But how does the gospel of Jesus Christ give me strength to persevere?
[5:18] What does that look like? [5:20] So without any more hesitation I want to go into John chapter 15 [5:24] And I want to read all of verses 1 through 6 and then I just want to get right into it because we’ve got some work [5:29] And I want to read all of verses 1 through 6 and then I just want to get right into it because we’ve got some work [5:30] Verse 1 says this
[6:00] Neither can you unless you abide in me [6:02] I am the vine you are the branches [6:04] Whoever abides in me and I in him he it is that bears much fruit [6:09] For apart from me you can do nothing [6:12] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers [6:16] And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned
[6:22] There’s some interesting imagery there because what we have Jesus doing [6:26] And it’s Jesus speaking here to his disciples and what is usually referred to as his farewell discourse [6:32] And it’s Jesus speaking here to his disciples and what is usually referred to as his farewell discourse [6:32] To his apostles and he’s comparing good branches to bad branches [6:37] Branches with life to branches with no life [6:40] And he’s saying that you in your life are in one of two categories
[6:45] You are either a branch that is in the vine or you are a branch that is not in the vine [6:50] And if you’re not in the vine he ends and he says things aren’t looking good [6:54] Because branches that aren’t connected, I don’t know if you’re like me [6:57] But if you have branches that are falling in your backyard you gather them up and you just toss them [7:01] You just throw them away [7:02] And he’s saying that if you don’t abide in the vine
[7:06] That’s going to be the outcome of your life [7:08] So it’s kind of a sobering phrase that Jesus has for us there [7:12] But I want to go back to the very beginning in verse one [7:15] And I want to unpack this because I think sometimes there is a great temptation in our lives [7:20] To focus on the wrong aspects of what Jesus talks about [7:24] Because we do have a lot of sayings about fruit here
[7:28] But that’s not where Jesus starts [7:29] That’s not what Jesus wants our focus to be on in this passage [7:34] And really in our lives [7:36] The focus that he wants us to have is the focus on abiding [7:41] On what it means to abide in Jesus [7:45] And so from the very first point of this passage
[7:48] Jesus wants us to focus on him [7:51] The fact that Jesus is the source of all life [7:57] If you hope to have any life in you [8:00] Your life must be completely connected to Jesus Christ [8:04] And here’s how he starts there [8:05] He says, I am the true vine
[8:09] Seven different times in the book of John [8:12] Jesus says an I am statement [8:14] Sometimes he says I’m the good shepherd [8:15] Sometimes he says I’m the bread of life [8:17] But one theme that goes throughout the book of John [8:20] Is Jesus using the phrase I am
[8:23] And if you know the Old Testament at all [8:26] Or if you’ve seen the movie The Ten Commandments [8:28] Maybe you realize that there was a point where Moses came in contact with a burning bush [8:33] And when the burning bush gives him a command [8:36] And then Moses is going to obey the command of God [8:38] Who’s in the burning bush
[8:39] He says, well who in the world do I say sent me [8:43] And the bush responds to him [8:44] And then he says, tell them that I am sent you [8:48] It’s a strange designation to give yourself [8:50] But seven times in the book of John [8:52] Jesus gives himself that designation
[8:55] And what that term and what that phrase actually means [8:58] Is a phrase that gives you the idea of eternality [9:02] Or someone that has always existed [9:04] Someone that is completely self sufficient [9:07] Someone that is completely all powerful [9:09] But the power comes from within himself
[9:12] That he just is [9:16] He has no beginning, he has no end [9:19] And what Jesus is really saying here [9:20] Is just a very simple but profound fact [9:24] And that is that he is God [9:26] The very beginning of the book of John starts with the realization
[9:30] That Jesus created everything that exists [9:33] That nothing that exists exists apart from his spoken word [9:37] Therefore, if any life is to be found [9:40] It has to go to him because he is the beginning [9:43] He’s where it all started [9:45] He’s where everything comes into fruition
[9:47] He is the power that gives life [9:49] And he also has the power to take it away [9:51] He is God [9:53] But then he says that he’s the true vine [9:57] In the Old Testament there’s another analogy [10:01] That’s constantly given
[10:02] And that is that Israel in the Old Testament is called the vine [10:06] In Isaiah chapter 5 as well as in Jeremiah chapter 21 [10:09] We see that Israel is called the vine [10:13] But Israel is called the vine that has no life [10:17] The vine that isn’t producing anything [10:21] So what Jesus is doing here is he’s actually
[10:24] Contrasting himself with his chosen people [10:27] Whom he was born through [10:29] And he’s basically saying [10:31] People in and of themselves [10:33] Cannot be trusted to have any life [10:38] That Jesus is the true vine
[10:41] He’s the one that actually is going to be productive [10:44] He’s the one that’s actually going to produce [10:47] What has constantly been God’s [10:50] Drive throughout all of history [10:53] That he’s the one who has come to actually give life [10:57] Where humanity has failed because of sin
[11:01] We constantly have pictures throughout the Old Testament [11:04] Of a people who are called by God [11:07] Of a people who are told by God [11:08] This is what life is [11:11] Live it [11:13] Yet they’re constantly disobedient
[11:16] And they constantly do not obey [11:19] And in that sense I think you and I can really [11:22] Empathize [11:24] I know that when I try to obey [11:27] Sometimes I’m like, man I’m doing great [11:28] But then at the end of the day
[11:29] Kind of like the apostle Paul says in Romans 7 [11:32] Sin’s always close at hand [11:34] I’m always tempted to not trust God [11:37] I’m always tempted to disobey God [11:38] I’m always tempted to have my focus in the wrong places [11:41] And I’m always tempted to think about life
[11:43] In the wrong ways [11:45] Because of that
[11:49] I can’t produce [11:52] Good from within myself [11:54] Because any good that might come from inside of me [11:57] Is always going to be tainted with that bad [12:00] That’s always right there [12:02] With that temptation that’s always right beside me
[12:05] That I often times give over into [12:08] Because of that, that really is what defines me [12:11] But what Jesus is saying here is [12:13] That what defines Him [12:15] Is the fact that He is full of life [12:19] That He is the obedient one of Israel
[12:22] He’s talked in John chapter 14 [12:24] Which is the chapter right before this [12:26] That He is the one that has come [12:29] To give us the life that God promised us [12:32] From eternity past [12:33] He’s the one that came
[12:35] To give us everything that God [12:37] Could possibly want for us in our lives [12:39] And that everywhere else we’re going to look [12:43] Is a false source of life [12:45] A false hope [12:47] Counterfeit
[12:48] Not what God actually has for us [12:50] But that everything that God has for us [12:53] Is in Jesus because He Himself is actually God [12:57] He’s God made human [12:59] He’s God in the form of humanity [13:01] So that we can see who God is
[13:03] And what He is like [13:04] And so Jesus comes and He says [13:07] Understand [13:08] I am the true vine where you
[13:13] Are the dead one [13:15] Where you are the one that has no hope [13:17] Where you are the one that has no real meaning [13:19] In this life [13:19] All you can do is hope to kind of go through life [13:22] And find a couple of things to focus on
[13:24] But then at the end of your life [13:25] You understand that something’s wrong [13:27] Because you will die
[13:30] Therefore [13:31] There’s no source of life in you [13:34] Because once you’re born [13:35] You kind of start the long march [13:37] To an inevitable death [13:40] Even in Shakespearean literature
[13:41] We see the reality that everybody knows [13:43] You’re going to die [13:44] Because it’s one of those two things [13:45] That He says is inevitable [13:47] Everybody dies and everybody pays taxes [13:49] Now you can evade taxes
[13:50] But you can’t evade death [13:53] It’s something that’s going to come [13:55] At some point [13:56] But what Jesus is saying here is [13:58] He’s saying [13:59] I’m the source of life
[14:01] I am eternal [14:03] I have power over that [14:06] Which is consuming you in your life [14:08] And I can defeat any trial [14:10] Any sin [14:11] Any problem that you’re ever going to have
[14:14] And then He continues [14:17] He says that my Father [14:20] Is the vine dresser [14:23] That’s an interesting analogy [14:25] That He gives us here [14:26] He says that He’s the vine
[14:29] He’s the source of life [14:30] And then He talks about God the Father [14:32] In the same sense that He talks about the Father [14:34] In John chapter 14 [14:36] Which is one chapter previous [14:37] I don’t know if you’ve ever seen
[14:39] John 14, 6 [14:40] It’s one of those really popular verses [14:42] Especially if you’re a follower of Jesus [14:43] Where Jesus says [14:44] I am the way, the truth, the life [14:46] No one comes to the Father
[14:49] Except through me [14:51] What Jesus is focusing in on there [14:53] Is that in each and every one of us [14:56] There is a drive [14:58] To find meaning [14:59] There is a drive
[15:01] To find something that is greater than us [15:04] To find an answer to everything [15:06] That goes on in the world [15:07] And what that is, is that is God [15:11] And what Jesus is saying there in John chapter 14 [15:13] Is that He’s saying
[15:15] I am the way for you to get there [15:18] You can’t get there apart from me [15:21] And so what He’s giving us here [15:23] In John chapter 15, verse 1 [15:24] Is this reality [15:25] That Jesus is the source of life
[15:28] And that God the Father [15:29] Who sent Him as the Son [15:31] Who He’s eternally connected to [15:33] Whom He’s eternally one with [15:35] In purpose, in meaning, and in very existence [15:38] That if you have any hope
[15:40] To ever getting to Him [15:41] You have to come to the vine [15:43] I don’t know if any of you have ever [15:46] Tried to tend a garden [15:47] I know I haven’t [15:48] I’ve read about it
[15:49] I’ve never done it [15:50] All the fruit would die [15:51] It’s just not something [15:53] I’m interested in [15:55] But if you just plant seeds
[15:58] And you never focus [16:00] On that garden ever again [16:01] You just plant all the seeds [16:02] You’re going to have all sorts [16:03] Of things growing up [16:04] You’re going to have weeds
[16:06] You may have a little bit of the vine [16:08] That you’re trying to grow a fruit out of [16:10] To spout up [16:10] But inevitably the weeds [16:12] Because you haven’t been tending [16:13] To your garden
[16:14] Are going to choke the very life [16:16] Out of the fruit [16:16] That you’ve kind of been hoping to have [16:18] And so what Jesus is saying is [16:20] Is that I have come to give life [16:21] And I want you to understand
[16:22] That the stage is being set [16:24] For life to be produced [16:26] By the Father [16:27] Because He’s the gardener [16:28] That is creating and cultivating [16:30] The soil around the vine
[16:32] He’s making the atmosphere [16:34] Really susceptible for the growth [16:36] Of the fruit [16:37] That He’s kind of killing off the weeds [16:39] He is tending to the garden [16:41] It is not something that God
[16:43] Has disqualified Himself from [16:44] But rather we are something [16:47] That God is very interested in [16:49] That He is not an absentee landlord [16:52] But rather He is a God [16:54] That is involved
[16:56] He is a God that is close by [16:58] He is a God that’s actually [17:00] Active in this world [17:02] He’s active in our life [17:03] That often times [17:04] I have no idea what’s going on
[17:06] But one thing that I can trust [17:08] Is that there is someone [17:09] That is over this world [17:11] Who’s actively involved in this world [17:13] And He is setting the atmosphere [17:14] For His promises to come to fruition
[17:18] So while I don’t always see [17:20] The whole stage [17:22] Like when I have a garden [17:24] In my backyard [17:25] Which I don’t [17:25] But maybe you do
[17:27] Maybe you step back [17:28] And you can see [17:29] What’s actually going on [17:30] In the whole garden
[17:33] That’s who God is [17:35] God knows what’s going on [17:37] In the garden [17:37] God is focused on [17:39] What’s going on in the garden [17:40] And His garden is being tended
[17:42] By His all-powerful [17:44] Almighty hand
[17:48] Jesus is that source [17:50] That He planted in this world [17:53] To show the life [17:54] That He has always intended [17:57] For us to have [18:00] Jesus is the one
[18:02] That we need to connect with [18:04] And that’s what the gospel [18:06] Is all about [18:07] The gospel is all about [18:10] Jesus [18:11] It’s about understanding
[18:14] That the Father has a plan [18:16] And that Jesus is the center [18:18] Of that plan [18:19] So do not lose the focus [18:22] On where Jesus starts [18:24] When He’s talking about fruit
[18:25] He does not start [18:28] With what my life should produce
[18:31] No, He starts with the vine [18:34] That’s going to be in charge [18:36] Of the production [18:37] He starts with the source [18:40] Of all life [18:42] Therefore
[18:44] A relationship with Jesus
[18:48] Produces real life [18:51] And that’s where He goes [18:52] He says that I’m the true vine [18:54] He says my Father [18:55] Is the vine dresser [18:56] And He says every branch in me
[18:59] That does not bear fruit [19:00] He takes away [19:03] And every branch [19:04] That does bear fruit [19:05] He prunes [19:06] That it may bear more fruit
[19:09] Here’s where we get into [19:11] The nitty gritty of the way [19:12] That our lives actually go [19:13] In this story [19:15] We start with God [19:16] And then outside of God
[19:18] As He’s doing His work [19:19] He says that we people [19:22] Are like branches [19:24] And that in our life [19:25] As branches [19:26] We’re either going to do
[19:27] One of two things [19:27] We’re either going to produce [19:29] Fruit [19:30] Or we’re not going to produce [19:32] Anything [19:32] If we’re connected
[19:34] To the source of life [19:35] Guess what? [19:36] What happens when a branch [19:38] Is connected and it’s healthy [19:39] And the vine is getting sustenance [19:43] It bears fruit
[19:44] I mean it’s just kind of [19:45] The biological rule of nature [19:47] It’s just the law of the way [19:48] That God designed the world [19:49] To happen [19:50] That fruit is produced
[19:52] When you are getting life [19:53] From the vine [19:54] But guess what? [19:55] What happens when you’re not [19:56] Getting life from the vine [19:58] Have you ever watched a branch
[19:59] Die? [20:01] It just kind of becomes dry [20:03] It becomes brittle [20:04] It’s going to fall off [20:05] In any wind [20:06] And then it’s going to become
[20:07] Just completely dead wood [20:09] What do you do with dead wood? [20:11] You burn it [20:12] You know what you put [20:12] In your fireplace? [20:14] Dead wood
[20:14] You know what seasoned wood [20:16] Is for? [20:17] Well it’s really good [20:18] For burning [20:18] That’s the kind of [20:19] What you want in your fireplace
[20:20] You want to know why? [20:21] Because it’s been dead [20:22] For a couple of years [20:23] And man all the moisture [20:24] Is completely gone from it [20:25] It is completely dead wood
[20:28] And the only thing [20:29] That you can possibly do [20:30] With dead wood [20:31] Is burn it [20:32] That’s it [20:33] Because otherwise
[20:35] It’s just in the way [20:37] Otherwise it’s just going [20:38] To make the rest [20:39] Of the branches sick [20:41] What if it’s a diseased piece [20:43] Of wood
[20:43] You’ve got to get rid of it [20:45] Or else it’s going to ruin [20:46] The entire garden [20:48] Because God’s saying [20:49] Our lives are like branches [20:51] That if we are connected
[20:53] To the vine [20:54] And we’re receiving life [20:55] From the vine [20:56] We’re going to have the life [20:57] That we’re meant to have [20:57] But if we’re not
[20:58] We’re not going to have [20:58] A life worth even living [21:01] It’s better off [21:01] Just to be done [21:03] Because you’re not going [21:04] To produce
[21:05] Anything that God [21:06] Actually has for you [21:08] And what I want you to [21:09] Understand in this passage [21:10] Is I want to understand [21:11] That this is not about
[21:13] What you do [21:15] Because I think that [21:16] Is where we immediately [21:18] Go to [21:19] The first thought [21:20] That you’re probably
[21:21] Having right now [21:22] Because it’s what I often do [21:24] Am I bearing any fruit? [21:27] I hope so [21:27] Because if I’m not [21:28] I’m in trouble
[21:31] That’s not where [21:32] I want you to go this morning [21:33] I don’t want you to focus [21:35] On your fruit [21:36] I want you to focus [21:38] On the vine
[21:39] I want you to focus [21:41] On Jesus [21:42] Because the gospel [21:43] Is not first and foremost [21:45] About what you are producing [21:46] The gospel is first and
[21:48] Foremost about what [21:49] Jesus is producing [21:50] So let’s focus in [21:51] On the vine [21:53] If I am going to be [21:54] A branch
[21:56] That exists as it is [21:57] Supposed to [21:58] Clearly by this passage [21:59] Is that I am supposed [22:00] To be in the vine [22:01] I’m supposed to have
[22:03] A relationship with [22:03] Jesus Christ [22:04] That’s what it’s talking about [22:05] And the first thing I want [22:06] You to see in verse [22:08] 2 and 3
[22:10] Is that my identity [22:12] Must be in Jesus Christ [22:15] My identity [22:16] Is not as a branch [22:19] Do you know what [22:20] Your identity as a branch
[22:21] Is going to get you? [22:23] Your own plan [22:24] It’s going to get you [22:25] Your own life [22:26] It’s going to get you [22:28] Your own purpose
[22:29] It’s going to get you [22:30] Your own thing apart [22:32] From the very source of life [22:33] But you know what [22:34] The end of that is? [22:36] Death
[22:37] No life
[22:41] Because I think often times [22:43] The way in which we think [22:44] Especially in this culture [22:45] Is that we want to be [22:46] So unique as an individual [22:49] Man, there is power
[22:51] In individualism [22:53] I need to be set apart [22:55] From the rest of the pack [22:56] I need to be my own man [22:58] Or my own woman [23:00] I need to kind of tread
[23:01] My own way [23:02] I need to pioneer my own path [23:05] I need to be everything [23:06] About me [23:07] I need to pull myself up [23:08] By my bootstraps
[23:09] And find out who I am
[23:17] That is not what God calls [23:19] Us to do [23:20] Where he is concerned [23:22] He calls us to find [23:24] Our identity in the vine [23:27] You want to know why?
[23:29] This analogy of the vine [23:31] And the vine dresser [23:32] Is so important where [23:33] Our identity is concerned
[23:36] I don’t know if you’ve ever [23:37] Been to a vineyard [23:38] And actually seen the way [23:39] That grapes grow [23:41] But it’s quite fascinating [23:43] Because when a grape
[23:44] Grows off of a vine [23:45] The only way that grape [23:47] Is ever going to reach maturity [23:48] The only way that grape [23:49] Is ever going to be [23:50] The kind of grape
[23:51] You’re either going to [23:51] A. Make wine with [23:53] Or B. Go in your lunchbox [23:55] Is for it to stay connected [23:57] To the vine until it reaches [24:00] Complete maturity
[24:03] If the branch were to [24:04] Kind of take its own mindset [24:06] And say, man I am sick [24:07] Of the vine telling me [24:09] What to do [24:10] How in the world does the vine
[24:12] Know what kind of fruit [24:13] I need to bear anyway [24:15] Why do I want to bear grapes [24:17] Maybe I should be in an apple tree [24:20] Maybe I was born to [24:22] Produce peaches
[24:25] Grapes [24:25] Who likes those things? [24:27] And the branch gets in its mind [24:28] I’m just going to disconnect [24:29] Myself from the vine [24:30] And I’m going to go off
[24:31] And I’m going to do my own thing [24:32] I’m going to live it out [24:33] As a branch should really [24:35] Live it out [24:35] As he disconnects himself [24:36] And he falls on the ground
[24:39] Guess what? [24:41] The branch is in for a rude awakening [24:42] Because the branch is about dead
[24:46] A branch exists [24:48] To produce
[24:57] To produce the type of life [25:00] That God designed you for [25:04] And before we get into our mentality [25:06] Well who does God think he is [25:07] The answer to that is pretty easy [25:09] He thinks he’s God
[25:11] So if you’ve ever had that thought [25:13] The answer is in the question [25:15] He’s God [25:17] I’m not [25:19] He designed life [25:20] I didn’t
[25:23] So the way that I think [25:25] About my life [25:27] Is not about falling in line [25:29] It’s about having the truth [25:33] Sometime in our rebellion [25:35] To be an individual
[25:36] We cut our nose off [25:39] To spite our face
[25:43] We exist to be the people [25:46] That God designed us to be [25:48] So when you are finding [25:50] Your identity in other things [25:53] Other than God [25:55] Other than Jesus
[25:58] You’re trying to be something [26:00] And someone that God never [26:02] Destined you to be [26:04] I can tell you with [26:06] Just a clear conscience this morning [26:08] God destined all of us
[26:10] For the exact same thing [26:12] That may make you uncomfortable [26:14] And it’s not always going to work out [26:16] In specifically the same way [26:18] But God designed each and every one of us [26:21] This morning
[26:22] Me, you, everyone [26:24] To live our lives carefully [26:27] And connected to the hope [26:29] That we find in Jesus Christ [26:32] He created us all [26:35] To be in His vine
[26:39] A part of His vineyard [26:42] To produce the fruit [26:44] That He chooses [26:47] Our identity must be found [26:50] In Jesus Christ [26:52] Our significance must also be found
[26:57] In Jesus and aimed right at Jesus
[27:02] Significance is really what gives you meaning [27:04] Identity is who you are [27:06] It’s how you relate in life [27:08] It’s how you view yourself [27:10] So I’m supposed to identify myself [27:12] As a follower of Jesus Christ
[27:14] I’m supposed to identify myself [27:16] With Him [27:17] Everything that He is [27:18] Everything that He’s for [27:19] My meaning [27:20] My significance
[27:23] Is about Him as well [27:25] My purpose is for Him [27:28] It’s a very interesting thing there [27:29] It talks about the Father as a vinedresser [27:32] And it says every branch that doesn’t bear fruit [27:35] It’s got to be cut off
[27:36] Because it’s not finding its identity in the vine [27:39] But then He says [27:40] Every branch that does bear fruit [27:42] Guess what He does [27:43] He prunes [27:44] He cuts
[27:45] If you’re a good gardener [27:47] You are out there and you’re doing garden stuff [27:49] Whatever that is [27:52] You’ve got like the little thing with the spikes on it [27:55] You’re cutting the weeds [27:57] You’re hurting your hands on some kind of prickly thorn somewhere
[28:01] Which is one thing that keeps me out of gardening [28:04] But you’re a good gardener [28:06] You’re cutting back the kind of life that exists [28:09] That shouldn’t be there [28:10] My father loves plants [28:11] My dad is a huge lover of plants
[28:14] He just has green stuff everywhere [28:16] I don’t get any of it
[28:19] He just loves plants [28:20] And he gave my wife and I one, one time [28:23] And he came over to the house [28:25] And he was shocked, number one, that it was still alive [28:28] We had remembered to water it [28:31] But he told us
[28:32] He says a very interesting thing [28:33] He said, guys, you’re really not doing great [28:36] What are you talking about? [28:37] It’s alive [28:39] He said that plant is never going to grow to what it needs to be [28:43] Unless you re-pot it
[28:45] Into a bigger pot [28:47] Which is just pretentious to me [28:49] You just be comfortable where you are
[28:53] I don’t owe you anything [28:55] I give you water
[28:58] But he said you need to re-pot that plant [29:02] So that it can grow [29:04] Because it’s not getting enough of what it needs [29:06] Where it is [29:07] You’ve got to cultivate an environment
[29:11] For growth
[29:15] That’s what the pruning of God’s going to do in your life [29:18] The book of Hebrews puts it this way [29:23] It says in chapter 12 starting in verse 7 [29:25] He says, it is for discipline that you have to endure [29:28] God is treating you as sons [29:30] For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
[29:35] If you are left without discipline [29:37] In which all have participated [29:38] Then you are illegitimate children and sons [29:42] In other words [29:44] If God doesn’t prune you for growth
[29:48] God doesn’t love you [29:50] Because you are not in the vine [29:53] He’s not giving himself over into you [29:55] The way that he does [29:57] He’s not cultivating an atmosphere [29:58] And I think sometimes we get very uncomfortable
[30:01] With that pruning [30:02] Sometimes I don’t want to be re-potted [30:04] Because I love the pot I’m in [30:06] Oh man [30:07] Why in the world would I ever want to get out of this [30:09] This is as comfortable as I possibly want to be
[30:12] When you know what’s happening in there [30:13] I’m not finding my significance in the vine [30:16] I’m finding my significance in my own path [30:19] I’m finding my meaning in my own destiny [30:21] I’m finding my direction in exactly what I want to do [30:24] But God says, no, no, no, no
[30:26] You don’t understand [30:27] You’re not the gardener [30:28] You’re not standing back looking at the whole garden like I am [30:31] I see the whole picture [30:33] I see the life that I have for you [30:34] And you’re going to be way better off
[30:36] If you let me even though it’s uncomfortable [30:38] Even though I might have to take something out of your life [30:41] What you don’t understand is that thing [30:42] That I’m going to take out of your life [30:43] That you’re holding on to so tightly [30:46] Is a weed that I have to get rid of
[30:49] So that you can sprout like I want you to sprout [30:52] So that you can have the very life that I want you to have [30:56] But man, sometimes I’m just a little more comfortable among the weeds [31:02] Sometimes I feel like I have all the answers [31:04] Sometimes I feel like my meaning is great [31:07] And when God puts something in my path
[31:09] Where he says I’m going to use this to prune you [31:12] I know it’s uncomfortable [31:13] But that’s what happens when I cut [31:15] But when I cut, I’m doing it so that I can produce more life [31:19] Those brown leaves, I’ve got to get rid of them [31:21] So that I can grow a green leaf in its place
[31:26] And he knows I’m uncomfortable [31:27] He knows I want to stay [31:29] But he also knows that if he doesn’t take me where he wants me to take me [31:33] Then I will not endure in him
[31:41] Because then when my significance gets off base [31:44] Guess what? [31:46] I start to think about myself in a different way [31:48] I start to find my identity in something else [31:51] Because I’m trying to cut myself off from the vine
[31:56] God didn’t create me [31:59] So that I could just be a branch that’s dead in the middle of a field [32:04] God created me to be in the vine
[32:11] When a branch buds with fruit, it’s not the branch that gets the credit
[32:19] You ever grown some kind of plant in your backyard? [32:22] I know my wife has this great vision [32:24] I haven’t seen it come to fruition yet [32:26] To grow tomatoes in our backyard [32:29] Someday, honey, someday [32:31] I don’t even like tomatoes
[32:33] So I’m kind of like, can we grow something else? [32:37] Something else [32:37] [32:37] [32:37] [32:37]
[32:37] Something else that I might want to eat [32:39] Let’s have an avocado farm or something [32:41] Get some guacamole
[32:44] But I don’t even know if you can do that in Virginia [32:46] That’s how much I know, man [32:47] Red clay, I don’t know [32:49] But here’s the key [32:51] When I grow, if I were to grow just something that’s budding so much fruit [32:56] And in this state, it’s not going to be a vineyard unless I’m up north
[32:59] Right here, it’s going to be some kind of apple tree or something [33:02] You don’t go out and look at your apple tree and say, man [33:05] Those branches are doing some great work, aren’t they? [33:09] Those are some great branches [33:11] Oh, man, branches don’t do anything [33:13] The tree does it
[33:16] The roots take the sustenance from the ground that it’s getting [33:20] And send it out into all of the different branches [33:25] So when I’m finding my significance [33:27] When I’m finding my identity in God [33:29] And I’m being fruitful [33:30] And my life is really looking like I’m obedient to God
[33:34] And I understand the grace of God [33:36] Understand that I can’t take credit [33:38] You want to know who gets the credit? [33:39] The gardener [33:42] The vine [33:44] Those are the things doing all the work
[33:47] I just get the fringe benefits [33:50] And I got no complaints because I’m lazy [33:53] So if they want to do all the work, that’s great [33:56] And that’s one of the beautiful things about the gospel is [33:58] Is that it’s not just that I don’t get credit [34:00] It’s that I don’t have to do all the manual labor
[34:02] Because look in verse 3 [34:05] Jesus says, already [34:09] You are clean [34:11] Because of the word that I have spoken to you [34:16] Jesus kind of takes a break from his analogy [34:19] And I think he stops because he doesn’t want the disciples to get confused
[34:27] Because there’s going to be a temptation for the disciples [34:30] To look at themselves and say [34:32] Whew [34:33] Okay [34:34] I got to be a branch [34:36] I got to bear some good fruit
[34:37] I am in trouble if I’m not bearing good fruit [34:39] And Jesus says, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa [34:44] I don’t think you’re tracking with me boys
[34:48] You’re clean [34:50] I got this [34:53] I got this [34:55] If you depend on yourself [34:58] Your identity is going to get messed up [35:00] Your significance is going to get messed up
[35:02] Because you’re going to start being that person [35:04] Who’s kind of self-sufficient [35:05] That person who’s disconnected [35:07] That person that isn’t kind of [35:09] Just kind of getting everything that can possibly exist [35:12] Every nutrient that is from the vine
[35:15] And you’re just going to fall off [35:17] He says, I am doing the work you just trust me [35:25] Isn’t that hard? [35:28] Isn’t it hard to trust God sometimes?
[35:32] Especially when you have no idea what he’s doing [35:35] Especially when you don’t have his perspective [35:37] Especially when you don’t see the end game [35:41] That’s hard [35:42] That’s really really hard [35:44] Especially if you’re kind of a controlling person
[35:46] Because I know I don’t have any of those in here [35:51] But man [35:52] When I don’t see exactly what God is doing [35:55] Exactly where he’s taking me [35:57] That’s really what his focus is on [35:58] Saying, alright maybe I should kind of set up a 401K here
[36:02] Where my life is concerned [36:04] And I believe God’s taking me somewhere [36:05] But I think I need a backup
[36:10] And Jesus says, guys
[36:13] You don’t need a backup [36:16] I’ve made you clean [36:18] Because I’ve revealed myself to you [36:19] The same word he uses there for word is the word logos [36:22] It’s the same word in John chapter 1 verse 1 [36:25] Where he says, in the beginning was the word
[36:27] And the word was with God [36:29] And the word was God [36:32] Jesus says, you’re clean [36:34] Because I’m here to eradicate every weed that ever existed [36:39] I’m here to eradicate every disease that you could possibly have [36:43] That would keep you from bearing fruit
[36:45] I am going to do a work in you [36:48] That you cannot even imagine [36:51] Trust me [36:53] Trust me
[36:56] A productive life [36:58] Finally this morning [37:00] Comes from dependence on Jesus [37:03] Look at what he says in verses 4-6 [37:08] He says, abide in me [37:13] I love how he says, he says, guys you’re clean already
[37:16] Because of the words I’ve spoken to you [37:19] Your task [37:20] Is to hold on [37:23] Your task is to climb on my back [37:25] Because I’m going to carry you [37:27] Your task is to stay connected to me
[37:29] Your task is to abide [37:34] That is God’s vision for your life [37:40] Abide, abide, abide [37:42] He said, I like that word [37:44] No idea what it means [37:45] But I like that word
[37:49] Abide isn’t a word that we use very often [37:51] I’ve never looked at my son and said, son abide here
[37:57] To abide is very simple [38:00] It means to remain [38:02] It means to stay [38:04] And it means to wait for [38:07] That’s what it means to abide [38:10] To abide has a different mentality that I think I often have
[38:14] Because man, I’m a mover [38:16] Let’s go, let’s roll [38:18] That’s what I say to my son when we’re leaving the house [38:19] Let’s roll boy
[38:22] But Jesus gives me some very strange advice here [38:27] He says stay [38:29] He says remain [38:31] He says wait
[38:33] What in the world does that mean? [38:36] How can I do that?
[38:41] There’s a temptation to look at this passage as figurative language [38:45] But I think it’s quite literal [38:47] And here’s what I mean by that
[38:52] Abiding is about direction and authority
[38:58] Abiding is about direction and authority [39:03] You have a lot of things that you want to accomplish in your life [39:06] You have a lot of dreams [39:08] You have a lot of goals [39:10] And I have no doubt that they’re good dreams, that they’re good goals [39:15] But I think we have to be very careful when we’re dreaming
[39:18] And when we’re setting our standards for our life [39:20] Because there’s going to come a great temptation in your life [39:23] To take the reins and steer your life in the direction that you think has the most wisdom [39:30] And I think that’s what Jesus is cautioning us at here [39:34] Notice how he continues
[39:37] He says abide in me and I in you [39:40] As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine [39:44] And neither can you unless you abide in me [39:48] I am the vine, you are the branches [39:54] Whoever abides in me and I in him [39:56] He it is that bears much fruit
[39:59] For apart from me you can do nothing
[40:04] Do not allow the vision, the dreams, and the standards that you have for your life [40:12] Disconnect you from the dreams that the vine has for your life
[40:20] Because there’s going to come a time when your dream is going to conflict with his mission [40:27] It’s going to happen and it probably happens far more in your life than you even imagine it does [40:36] What Jesus is saying is that abiding is about understanding [40:40] That he sets the direction for your life [40:44] Even if that direction is counterintuitive to what you think your direction should be [40:52] That he is the one that has the authority because by very nature he’s the vine
[40:59] The vine is the one that does the work [41:01] So if you’re going to abide in him, you stay in him and you follow him [41:07] You move with him, you go for him, you trust him, and you do what he says and you go where he goes [41:18] The problem in our life isn’t that God isn’t moving you [41:22] The problem in your life is that you’re going somewhere else
[41:27] Because you’re not abiding
[41:36] Independence is every parent’s goal for their child [41:39] Otherwise you’re 40 years old and you’re boxers in your mom and dad’s basement [41:43] No one wants that
[41:50] But Jesus has a different plan for the way you see your life [41:56] He wants you to be completely dependent on him [42:00] Because you just are [42:03] You just are
[42:07] When I’m making my plans
[42:10] When I’m planning my career [42:13] When I’m thinking about my family [42:16] When I’m thinking about my goals [42:18] When I’m thinking about my visions
[42:21] Guys
[42:24] Let him set the standard [42:27] Let him set the goals [42:29] Trust him with your life [42:32] Trust him with your risks [42:35] But your risks better be for him and not just for you [42:42] When we think about ourselves as God’s branches connected to his vine
[42:49] Under his control and his discipline [42:53] It changes everything [42:55] Because we have a life that won’t make sense without him
[43:04] Friends my greatest fear for some of us is that when we think about our lives [43:09] When we plan our futures [43:12] If we were to completely take Jesus out of that equation [43:15] It would still make sense [43:18] That is not abiding in the vine [43:24] Your backup plan
[43:29] Is probably
[43:32] Your main plan [43:35] Because you would rather have that than you would him [43:39] Because that one makes more sense to you than his does
[43:45] How different would your prayers be [43:47] If you were living a life that completely depended on him
[43:52] How much would you need his word [43:57] If your plans were dependent on him for success
[44:02] How much more passion would you have in your worship [44:06] If your life was about him [44:09] Because I want you to understand something [44:12] My focus should never be on my fruit [44:16] Because when it is, guess who’s in control [44:20] I am
[44:21] My focus should be completely on him [44:24] My focus should be dependent on him [44:27] My focus should be I am passionate about Jesus [44:32] Because he is giving my life [44:34] This is about desire
[44:42] Our gaze must be fixed fully on him [44:49] We must not let our attention in this life [44:53] Be coaxed away from Jesus [44:56] By allowing our affections to be moved away from the love and power [45:00] That gives life through Jesus [45:02] We finally see in verse 6 that lifeless branches are gathered and burned
[45:07] Because they are not finding sustenance in the vine [45:10] When we look for hope other places than Jesus [45:15] We do nothing but end up dry [45:18] Because there is only one true vine [45:23] The danger in your life [45:27] Is not about worldly material success or failure
[45:33] The danger in your life is about moving where Jesus isn’t [45:39] That is an everyday danger that we must be honest about [45:43] There is much screaming for our focus and compromise in this world [45:48] Our attention must be on the burden relieving truth [45:51] Of life offered by the finished work of Jesus [45:54] And the rest that he offers in his mission
[45:57] It is a dangerous rest [45:59] In which he must be in charge
[46:07] Our fear of not bearing fruit must find its meaning
[46:14] And not abiding [46:16] Not taking control and making something happen that God is not doing himself
[46:24] We must let him be in control [46:27] We must look to his word which verse 3 already told us is what cleans us [46:33] And say God what is your vision [46:36] Where are you moving [46:38] Because that is where I want to go
[46:44] The band comes up [46:45] I want to transition into what I think today is going to make a lot more sense [46:49] Maybe if it hasn’t made sense to you in the past [46:52] But weekly here we respond with communion [46:58] With his bread and his cup [47:02] Communion represents the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus Christ
[47:06] What I love about it is [47:09] Is that it is this great analogy of what takes place in being connected to the vine [47:14] Because it represents Jesus sacrificing his life for my life [47:21] It represents Jesus giving me his life [47:27] Because the bread represents his broken body and the cup and his shed blood [47:33] What it is saying is that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice of dying
[47:39] But then rose from the dead giving that death meaning [47:44] The cup is filled with the fruit of the vine [47:49] Here we use juice
[47:53] It is filled with what comes from when a grape grows to what it is supposed to be [47:59] I don’t want the meaning to be lost on you this morning [48:02] But rather I want you to grab a hold of it [48:04] There are six stations all over the room [48:08] When you go to it if you are a follower of Jesus [48:10] I want you to understand that the cup represents you finding your life in the vine
[48:18] The cup represents him giving himself over [48:22] So that you could be connected back to him and find what really is life [48:30] As you take the bread and the cup this morning [48:34] I hope that your prayer and your proclamation to everyone else this morning [48:39] Is that you are tired of taking control [48:44] And you want to be in the vine
[48:48] You want your focus to be in the vine [48:54] You want your focus to be Jesus [48:59] Because when he has your thoughts about who you are [49:05] He will produce fruit [49:10] Because you are going where he is [49:14] If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ this morning
[49:17] I want you to understand that today could be the day of salvation for you [49:21] That you can truly connect with the vine for the first time in your life [49:25] I would love to talk to you about it [49:27] I would love to spend some time in the scriptures with you [49:29] I will be right over here [49:30] I don’t want to embarrass you
[49:31] I just want to spend some time with you [49:33] There will be some in other places as well [49:36] But do not leave here today as a lifeless branch [49:40] Leave here today as someone with a destiny to bear fruit for the mission of God [49:45] When you are ready, come