Are You Connected to The Real Vine?

What you have your Bibles this morning we will be in John chapter 15 John chapter 15 and the you find your place if you would stand with me on her reading of God's word and those of you that are with us your visitors I please come back in you with us next Sunday is Pastor Josh will be back next Sunday and I'll be ready to go eyes been fishing and catching sharks and not so hopefully has all 10 fingers when he gets back right so were looking forward to having him back next week but were in John chapter 15 this morning I read the first 11 verses and then we'll see with the Lord has forced this morning. John chapter 15 verse one the word of the Lord says I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that bears fruit. He purchased it, that it may bring forth much fruit.

Now year clean through the word which I have spoken unto you abide in me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine. No more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches either by the me and I in him, the same bring forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. If I abide of a man abide not in me is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned for seven.

If you abide in me and my word abide in you shall ask in you. What you will and it will be done unto you. Aaron is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.

As a father hath loved me, so have I loved you continue ye in my love. If you keep my commandments you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love verse 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full right father we come we come humbly before your throne Lord. It is good to be in your house or we come to seek you, not the opinions of man will come to hear your word in here lifted up, Lord, you tell us in your word that if we lift you up.

You will draw all men unto you. Father I pray through this message that you would speak the hearts speak to my heart to Lord, give me the words to speak with clarity of thought that your word do it's perfect will and is perfect work in this place. This morning, father. If there's anyone here that doesn't know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior today would be the day of salvation for them. We ask all this today. In Jesus name, amen. You may be seated.

Every time I open this tax and I read it.

It reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in a small town about an hour north of here, Urbana, Ohio anybody from their so no urbanites that are here today, except for myself but anyways I grabbed a small town I we had a great vine in our backyard and like any good kid. We left that grapevine alone that we messed with that grapevine all the time we pull grapes off of it.

We had great fights my friends my cousins my sister. We will just pull these grapes off and that we were thrown at each other from up against the house. I'm sure mom could use them to make jam or jelly, but we had better things as kids to do right and so we we would even take some of these grapes is a we let some of them right and we would take them to the camper that was outback and we would get in the camper we need these grapes and we find some stale peanuts that were in the camper as well. Don't know why.

Looking back on all these years later why we thought that was a good idea to eat the nasty still peanuts in the grapes but that's what we did and so this is that is as we open this text this morning just to help us get our minds around John chapter 15 Jesus hearest teaching the lesson. Probably 24 hours before his arrest and crucifixion. And this is where Jesus is that this is the last of the seven I am statements that you find the book of John and Jesus Christ has declared he is he just declared in John chapter 14, that he is the way the truth and the life no man comes on to unto the father but by him and so these comments followed this the John chapter 15 follows that, and it follows up in in their discourse from the upper room to the journey to the Garden of Gethsemane.

As he's speaking this there's a great vine throughout Israel. I've never personally been there but it is very fruitful.

Lotta grapevines and so as he's walking along, there would have been this vivid imagery and that's where Jesus used a lot of times to teach with was the imagery that he saw around him in his day-to-day life and so as he's doing that he's shown this to his disciples and he's beginning to display to them, the vine, the true vine and the branches so I want to begin by asking a few questions this morning. What is the true nature of a Christian's relationship to Christ. How do we understand the spiritual reality of our union with God, our union with Christ. How do we understand those things and I think the Bible gives us some clear displays of that in the Scriptures as he is, that as God's Word reveals to us. It's similar to a father and a child we see that in the Scriptures. We also see that there's a king, a kingdom and the king is over the kingdom, and his subjects well see that there is a creator in relationship to his creation.

We also notice in Scripture that there is a shepherd and the relationship of the shepherd to the sheep and head to the body. So this is how Scripture depicts or outlines these things for us. They all convey some aspect of relationship to the Lord a shared life, a shared community.

A shared characteristic sovereign power, control, direction, obedience, provision and protection and feeding.

These are all tied together as metaphors that we can see unfolding in the Scriptures. So today we have another one set before us.

The vine and the branches so as we look at it this morning. As we look at the first 11 verses nine times in the first 11 verses you see the word abide. See the word continue in verse nine and you see the word remain in verse 11 immediately. We notice that there's four identities in this passage, there's the vine, the true vine, which is Jesus we see that there is a husbandman which is God the father and then there's two types of branches so as we look at this this morning. I would ask what branch are you and will look at the Scriptures and see whether we are branch that abides in that we are a branch that bears fruit. Are we a nonbearing branch of the vine today and so let's look at this because the Bible given the stark warnings about just being outwardly attached the Jesus for many years of my life.

I had nothing to do with God but other times I want to started to go to church.

I was loosely attached on the outside I went to church but I didn't have a personal relationship with the Lord is so Matthew chapter 7 verse 21 through 23 says not everyone say a thing to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into my kingdom into the kingdom of heaven, but he that do the will of my father which is in heaven.

Many will say into me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in my name, and in thy name cast out many devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works and then I will profess under them. I never knew you. Apart from me, ye that work iniquity is so there's a stark warning of just being a loosely attached to Christ superficial was like the first point today, the true vine, and we look at the true vine, we see that there verse one it says I am the true vine, and as many times as I read this over the years.

It just is okay. I just can't picture Jesus is the vine, but there's some really deep stuff when you start unpacking what this truly mean we go back to Exodus chapter 3 verse 14 and and Moses came before God in the burning bush and these is telling Moses to go back to the Israelites into the proclaim what God has told him and he says who shall I say, that told me this guy says I am that I am in Exodus chapter 3 verse 14. This is the tetra grandma time the exit of the, the eternally existent one the always is the always was and always that will be at so this is him.

This is God the father.

This is what Jesus is saying.

He says that I am the true vine. It is a loaded meaning it's talking about his deed. He is talking about him being in equality with God the father when Jesus says he's the true vine, we need to know that in the Old Testament there is an imagery of the vine in the Old Testament. As you look at the vine. The vine usually refer to the people of God and the nation of Israel in the Old Testament if you came across an imagery of of someone or something being the vine again. That was God's people often times in the Old Testament, you'll see that it's very much used in a negative connotation, connotation on there's not much positivity when it's referring to this vine of the nation of Israel and be in a vine of God. What I mean by that is we look at Isaiah chapter 5 this morning. I'll read verse one through four says now when I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved A vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he then stood in and gathered out of the stones thereof implanted it within the choicest vines to build a tower in the midst of it and made a winepress therein, and he looked that he should bring forth greats and a brought forth wild grapes. Verse three says a now inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judea judge. I pray you betwixt me in my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard. What have I not done in it.

Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth greats. It brought forth wild grapes. So God is saying. Hate I've transplanted Israel out of the nation of Egypt and I've transplanted them into the land of Canaan.

He said I'd given him every possible benefit. We see that in Psalms 80 verse 890 says has brought a vine out of Egypt has cast the healing out the heathen implanted it prepares room before it, and it's cause it to take deep root and filled the land, so any of you that have had a garden this year you had a garden in the past you prepare the garden you till the soil get the rocks out of it because when it comes harvest time you want to have a fruitful harvest. You do everything right.

You may put a fence up to keep the rabbits and the critters out of you do all these proper steps to give it a good soil good base to start with and also you eliminate would cause it harming a God say I've said all these things in place for the nation of Israel. I took care of all their needs so that it might produce grapes. It might produce fruit in the nation of Israel was always supposed to be a light pointing the Gentiles to God, but they missed that opportunity instead of practicing justice that practice oppression is that producing righteousness it produced unrighteousness. God is asking in verse four. What more could I have done EE set it all up. It's up to them to be faithful to God, let's look at Israel's response of verse five through seven, and now go to. I will tell you what I will do in my vineyard.

I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up and breaking down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down and I will lay it waste, it shall not be pruned nor did but there shall come up briars and thorns.

I will also command the clouds that the they rain no rain upon it for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah is pleasant plant. So the problem was with Israel's response to God their faithfulness. God did not move. Got God was not moving. It's it's us it's Israel that is prone to wander right so they left God they were prone to wander liquid. Verse 11 says in Isaiah 5 woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow. Strong drink that continue until night till wine, inflame them, they were getting drunk.

Verse eight says woe unto them that join house to house in Layfield. The filled so there be no place that they may be placed alone, in the midst of the earth. There were getting greedy their expanding house to house field, the field in Hosea chapter 10 verse one says Israel is an empty vine.

Jeremiah 2 verse 21 says yet I had planted the a noble vine holy the right seat. How then art thou turned into a degenerate plan of a strange vine on to me.

So then what God does us as they've not chosen him that a they've chosen to prone to wander, they walked away from him.

He takes those hedges of protection away from at the end of Isaiah chapter 5 verse 30 says and in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea, and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkness and head in the heavens thereof. So Israel's and taken into Babylonian captivity account manager taken Israelites away to come into Babylonian captivity. So if you are a first century Jew at this time and you hear Jesus talking about being the true vine. This vine terminology.

It almost was always a pronouncement of judgment in those days God prunes out Israel. He cuts them off for the time being there no longer the choice vine which was to draw all the nations to God.

The problem was they were professing but not possessing in their hearts Israel as a nation was broken off cutaway and judge because of unbelief and Jesus spoke of this in Matthew chapter 21 in the parable of the landowners we see in verse 43 of Matthew 21 therefore send you the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, this nation that is talking about is the Gentile nation, God turns he says Israel side he will come back after were wrapped up and focus on Israel, but in the meantime he's turned from them into the Gentile nation sees allowed the Gentiles to be the method the church age that we see today is so Romans 11 says this and I will say then, the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in well because of unbelief they were broken off, because it Israel's unbelief they were broken off, and now has an Dell status by faith be not high-minded, but fear God spared not the natural branch, take heed lest he also spare not the son of God is willing to set aside Israel the chosen people to focus on the Gentiles. Let us not be high-minded is what is Thomas there is saying here if if he's willing to cut off Israel don't get high-minded in our own ways because if you didn't spare the natural branches, he's not going to spare the wild branches either.

Yet Jesus here in this in this this account of John chapter 15 Jesus hears turning this this vine terminology on its head. Basically what I mean by that. He saying that he is the true vine sure he saying I'm doing what you could not do.

I am being which you could not be. There's nothing short. This is nothing short of a gospel declaration is just as much as you say I am the way the truth and the life no man comes up to the father but by me. This declaration by Jesus here he say hey I am stepping into this banner of failure that is over their lives. It's over our lives and essentially saying I've got this. I am the true vine had you not you have not, and you cannot bear fruit that is worthy that pleases God. We can't work our way to heaven. Ephesians 28 tells us that by grace are you saved their fate not of works as a youth. You cannot work your way there, and Jesus is is taking this this picture of the vine and he say I am the true vine.

I am the way to heaven. I am what is what you could not do so is the second point today is the husbandman is the shortest point of the message. Today the husbandman I we don't use that term a lot today. We probably use a more of term of a gardener would be what it would be. We will we call it, or a vine dresser and so Jesus hears declaring that his father was the husbandman.

He's the vine dresser. He's the one that oversees the vineyard on he had sent his one and only begotten son so that he could make a way for us to be restored. EE was the true vine to search secure salvation for the entire world. The father watched over and he cared for the well-being of the vineyard teeth.

He watched and he cared for the vine why he why Jesus was on earth he gave him the Holy Spirit as well. The guide and so that when we see this stuff. The father watched over him. He cared for him and he cared for every aspect of the vineyard he cared for the vine. Can I tell you this morning. He cares for you. That should be comforting for us this morning that he cared enough to send forth his son, John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe it in him should not perish but have everlasting life. So if you are in Christ this morning it in your in the vine.

Your part of the vineyard. I God was God the father watches over he provides for his people. Also, we notice in this text that God is one of two things God the father is one of two things. He removes the branches that did not bear fruit, and he purges the branches that do bear fruit for the third point today is the branches want to break that down a little bit more detail. I we see that in verses two through 11. Again, the setting hears in John chapter 15 is it's Taking Pl., Thursday night in the upper room between therein and the walk to the garden of Gethsemane while celebrating the Passover Jesus with his disciples the night before he is crucified is the setting and we have to go back a couple chapters and as Jesus is is unpacking this to the disciples in their walking and there's many vineyards as you're walking through Israel and and you're walking through the Jerusalem therein, and so it would been very tangible to them to see these great binds these these these vineyards. We had to keep in mind it back in John chapter 13 that Judas has been exposed. Satan has entered into Judas. So we see that there is only 11 disciples that remain is one disciple who no longer abide.

So this is a very tangible message to this his disciples in this moment as he's walking and enter going to the garden. Up to this point there is nothing about Judas.

There is nothing about Judas that manifests the fact that he was a fruitless and he was headed to hell. Becky would probably be open enough higher echelon of the disciples, he was the treasurer he handled the money a minute.

I don't know about you but I'm pretty secure about my that is in my banking account.

That's one of my things right.

I've got major bills or pay the source up but here's Judas he's you the money and he's a treasure. There's nothing about him that points that he's going to be the one that doesn't abide on the exterior. He looks like he's a follower of Christ. Judas was attached visibly to Jesus. However, it was superficial and and and and empty attachment of it is that it was an attachment with no life and it became evident when he little longer was abiding with Christ. It was like if we had a dead limb out in the yard out here and we go over here and what he had some duct tape or some some zip ties.

It depends on what Gaia talked to some engineers I got zip ties for days if it's like guys like me was got duct tape and the truck was gonna wrap that thing up right so be like taking a branch we find on the ground out here, we we attach it back to the branch of the tree. This limb fell off of it like you would expect that thing to produce fruit. It's attached to it while not really is not connected to the root is is not getting the nutrients that it needs to produce fruit and we went. We would think that that's silly but that's what happens many times with many people have a superficial exterior relationship with Christ and yet they never had the heart transformation.

This is been a concern of our Lord. I would say go back to John chapter 2 verse 23 is says now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover and the feast days, many believed in his name when they saw all the miracles which he did.

Sounds good right it sounds hopeful. Many believed because the miracles that he did listen to Jesus resource Jesus's response in verse 24, 25 but Jesus did not commit himself under them because he knew all men he needed not that any should testify of man, for he knew what was in man and I tell you this morning. Jesus knows what's inside of our hearts. He knows if were truly in him or not. Jesus knew their heart condition. They were not believing on him.

They were believing in his miracles, Jesus knew that this was a false faith on many of their behalf. It was a superficial or empty faith. They they wanted what they can get from Jesus, but they didn't want Jesus. Similarly, John six. Jesus feeds 5000 men that, if anything, this would be a miracle of epic proportions that only God could do and I would personally I want to see it on like video when I get to heaven I'll know if they have that but it would be cool just to go back and see some of these things right and you still watch as Jesus multiplied in a the fishes and he feeds the 5000. So who doesn't like a free meal on that like I'm okay with a free mail go to AAA will go somewhere will get free food I were Baptist we like food but listen to verse 66 John chapter 6 verse 66 says.

From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. This is after he feeds them.

Well my question is why. Why did they not walk with him anymore.

In response to Jesus's preaching, not his miracles. They turned and walked away from. They followed him no more.

And Jesus went on to ask his disciples in verse 67 then said Jesus, under the 12 will ye also go away. Verse 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, see that like Lord, to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life.

Where else can you go he has the words of eternal epic. They work true disciples, though the 11 were true disciples. And so John chapter 15 verse two tells us that every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that bears fruit. He purchased it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

So there are three distinctly distinguishing marks of a true branch. I would say this morning. What I mean by that that there there's three characteristics of these branches of a true believer in what this means is that they bear fruit. We see that in John chapter 15 verse two, four, five and eight. Also which most clearly sets this most clearly sets them apart from unbelievers everything that's living is reproducing right even if you're in here today and say llama teenager on a young kid in we have cells inside your body that are reproducing every second thousands of cells are dying and being reproduced every second is so everything is living that is alive, reproduces. Secondly, these branches that are true branches. They also abide. They remain they continue in Christ love verse nine tells us they operate in full cooperation with the source of life. Keeping keeping Jesus's commandments. Keeping God's commandments by following the perfect example of Jesus who always always obey the father. So God's word says obedience proves that it persons love for Christ is genuine. John chapter 50 or 14 verse 15 says if you love me, keep my commandments. Notice it doesn't say keep my commandments, and you love me says if you love me, keep my commandments. Verse 23 St. chapter Jesus answered and said unto them, run to him. If a man love me, he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with so the branches do not that do not bear fruit, they get cut off, that it tells us in verse six.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. So these these on fruitful branches that are not attached to the vine. They are cut off.

What is that mean that there there.

Remove means that they were not true Disciples of Christ.

They are not followers are not believers in all true believers in Christ will bear fruit. The Bible tells us John chapter 6 Jesus promised that he will not cast away any true disciples. John 637 says all that the father give me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

So we also see in Matthew chapter 10 Jesus says that the sheep are his and no man will pluck them from his hands. So those are truly in Christ will remain in Christ.

The New Testament gives many examples of those who are outwardly attached to Christ with a failed to possess a personal relationship with the Lord.

They been described as the following tears amongst the week in Matthew chapter 13 verse 25 through 30 bad fish that are thrown away. Matthew 1348 goats condemned to eternal punishment. Matthew 25 verse 33 and 41. Those left standing on the outside when the when the head of the house shuts the door in Luke chapter 13 verse 20 through 27 so these unbelievers. These people are not attached to the vine that are truly not saved. What happens to them when it talks about them being cut off, and cast in the fire. They are eternally separated from God. They are there eternally cast into a real place called hell. So one of those so the ones that don't bear any fruit, they get cut off. So the question is what happens to those of us that are in Christ that remain. What happens to us, we get cut.

I would get get pruned and will impact that now but as you get cut back or you get pruned you would say why is the Lord pruning. Those that are faithful no obvious answers. It so they will produce much fruit they were produce more fruit. The father pruned the branches by removing anything that would sap their spiritual energy and hinder them from being fruitful having faithful results and be in for my and how does God do this. How does God do his pruning.

How does he do his purging. His pruning involves cutting away anything that limits righteousness, including discipline that comes from suffering and persecution is I don't like that that that that suffering word that persecution word. So sometimes what God has to do is he brings hardships into our lives. I know in my own life personally when I've drawn near to the Lord is been in the difficult seasons of life. The loss of a loved one hardships your weather that would be in marriage or just different aspects that we all deal with on a day-to-day basis just by being here sometimes for some of us at the job loss and what is trying to reveal through that job losses are heart condition. Who are we depending upon to provide for us.

I can build a lot of lot of stuff into my job I can I can have a lot of confidence in myself and what I do or ultimately am I going to rest in his peace and that he is my provider and he will take care of my need is so suffering is I would tell you. Just the handle upon which the knife blade is attached. See suffering and persecutions there like the sharpening stone that God sharpens his knife blade on before he prunes away at us. What I mean by that is Psalm 119 verse 67 says this before I was afflicted I went astray. But now have I Thy word was because of the affliction that he is now keeping the psalmist keeping God's word. Verse 71. It was good.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn by statute as of the psalmist saying it's good that I went through this affliction. Because of that I have learned to meditate on the word of God and I can tell you anybody that's been in here that's battle to life-threatening disease been through marriage. It's on the rocks, nobody say, hey, sign me up for another round of that.

Just not with those that have made it through. On the other side of it, you can count God's faithfulness as being there during the whole time the whole season and you draw near to God. In those moments in his purging you so that you will produce more fruit. So the affliction of suffering and persecution like that is just the sharpening stone, look what it says in John 15 three now year clean room. What are the word of the word which I have spoken unto you, and so is God's word that does the cleaning it does the purging and it cleanses us.

Jesus said to his disciples, your clean because you believe my word because they believe not because they did anything is because they believed that he was the son of God that he is the only way to heaven. Keep in mind these brothers are about ready to deny Jesus. These these disciples of Jesus are about ready to deny him peters about ready to deny it three times in the third time is look at Jesus right in the face.

I never knew that man Jesus to Stoneham before this that he is clean is the word of God has a cleansing effect upon our lives. In Psalm 119 nine tells us this wherewithal shall a young man cleans, cleanses ways to work and you go to clincher ways. The psalmist says by taking heed thereto according to thy word to the word of God is the word of God. Does the pruning in the purging listen to Hebrews 412 sells this in Hebrews 412 for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even onto the asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints tomorrow and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the hearts John 1717.

Sanctify them through thy word, thy word is truth. So Christ's words emphasized to important truths regarding our spiritual conduct. Look with me at verses four and five in John 15 is abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine. No more kin ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches heated abide it than me and I in him, the same bring forth much fruit for with me you can do what all things.

Nothing we cannot do anything apart from Christ. There is no such thing as a said earlier as a fruitless Christian believers cannot bear fruit on their own and it's important to note, may there may be book times in your walk as a Christian that their lapses and being faithful and producing fruit and that sometimes because sin has entered into our lives not necessary. Always say we can get distracted by the things of this world and so we take our eyes off of Christ in and when we get distracted by the things of this world and we produce less fruit, but true branches cannot ultimately fail to produce fruit.

I will tell you. Many of these images of of Christ and the believer that are given in the Scriptures emphasize an important concept of union and communion are the we see this in first Christmas chapter 12 we see that it is a body and its members. The bride and the bridegroom. In Ephesians chapter 5 the sheep and the shepherd in John chapter 10 and a member of the body that is cut off from the body and is surgically reattached. It dies.

If it's not attached doesn't handbook the life source of blood of oxygen. It's going to perish, so the shepherd brings the sheep in the flock, but the sheep must follow the shepherd in order to have protection in provision, a marriage is a union that God has brought together but it takes daily love and devotion to maintain that communion that that institution and so the question is what is fruit percent. A Christian must bear fruit. Bradenton, the what is fruit and I'll tell you this it's it's righteous thoughts. It's righteous attitudes, righteous longings, righteous desires, righteous affections, righteous virtues, righteous behaviors.

That is the manifestation of life and where the the life of God exists. The fruit must be their Ephesian earth would be in chapter 1 verse 11 says being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 tells us this for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And James said that faith without works is what is dead and Jesus said in John to our Matthew chapter 7 verse 16 you shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes or thorns, or figs of thistles, so when we start to evaluate this fruit. You and I we must be careful that we and how we define this fruit and what I mean by that is if we start defining it in an external since only were no different than the Pharisees, we are no different than the first were just basing upon external hey what is this person doing externally. The Pharisees that they did everything outwardly, but their hearts were Oakland was at a dead man's tomb on the inside so the Bible nowhere equates fruit with external behavior or external result.

Instead, the Scripture defines the fruit in terms of spiritual qualities.

Galatians 5 is fruit of the spirit right.

Galatians 5 2223 but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law. I would say this as well as morning notice that the text doesn't say the fruits of the spirit is the fruit of the spirit and I believe that the reason for this is is it's a symmetrical fruit, tease this out a little bit this morning. If you lack patience can I say the you're probably not loving. If you lack love, you're probably not walking in any real joy. And if you're lacking joy you're probably lacking kindness. If you're lacking kindness in your probably not walking in goodness as the so we see that this fruit is symmetrical they all are interchangeable and interchangeable, and so notice when I read Galatians 5 2223.

There's not a person. And here's like mellow brother got it all down.

Thanks I been encouraged ongoing money to hear anymore this message I got the fruit of the spirit of perfect none of us are that way, myself included, we all are a work in progress.

I was pastor said many times is not the perfection but the direction of our lives right so notice there's not any one person enhances down this not where we find ourselves. All of us.

Everyone in this room, myself included, is not where we once were, but were ultimately not where we will ultimately be or even want to be in the day of glorification, we will eventually we will be there and that we are super glorified bodies. This is why the Lord in his kindness he prunes away at us so that we may grow in these areas.

If I ever pray for patients is a trick question right you pray for patients. God going to test your patience.

It always seems that way for me at least. Anyways, maybe, maybe not for some of you but again it's it's this aspect of that we need abide in Christ and that he will abide in us. This is one of the greatest supernatural mysteries of what it means to be a Christian, this idea that the union of Christ that I am in him and he is in me. If you're Christian. When God sees you he sees your your he doesn't see your disobedience when we mess up and we all messed up. He doesn't say all man I can't believe you did that again, Tom. He sees Christ's perfect righteousness. And when I mess up or when anybody messes up he doesn't see us in our and our disobedience and enter enter bolts, but he sees the perfect obedience of Christ. This is hard for us to believe in. Here's reason and one reason why think that Mona step back because that's the word of God. This is just my opinion and what I see. Sometimes past eight years I've been in teen ministry and I recently were this year moved out of teen ministry and I told early service. I think it was like my body parts are certain to fail. Sophia Workmen's Comp. issue.

They didn't want me I get hurt playing with the teenagers or something like that. But one thing that I've noticed over the years and serving it and teen ministry of Villa Alaska, eight years was you see teens a start to come to service and invite their friends and and more teens come a season. Teens get serious about the Lord and then while they're worshiping in the really worshiping on God.

They look across the room. They see the holiness on our brother or sister like man I like that holiness will not brother sister.

They want to start pursuing and dating them. Obviously it's it's the attraction is is not the holiness may be, but often times it is the, the attractiveness of that person. In this pursuit begins and then they start to date and you start to watch them in their all cute and it sometimes it's sweet to watch out most the time it's not. But what I have notices during this timeframe we start doing activities we go on you nonevent they'd want to sit by each other get on the bus and sit by each other and as I a you guys need a separate need to leave room for Jesus and a King James study Bible in there and plenty of room between y'all and the inevitable would come. There would be the breakup. There are no longer together, where they once were sitting together right in the front row, notably watching Pastor Josh freeze not in each other's eyes. The day they they're sitting there and that there were there were once wine in the front row over here on the left, you start to see an avoidant, they start to avoid each other. You may see one sitting on the far right of the one on the far left. They're not talking to each other maybe once in the 830 and other was in the 11 o'clock service. They only want to be around each other and so there there there just straying away from one another.

Suddenly were the two used to be one are there there separated now I can say this plays out in my house when I get home at the end of the day. I can tell how my wife and my kids have interacted that day if I get home and both kids not getting his daughters is a little different now, but when she was younger. Your dad your cool but now when they become teenagers. That is not so cool but anyways Verlag unit I get home like dad around not give me hugs. I was a lucky stuff like that switch with my son but anyways I could tell then if I got home and there's only one kid there dedicated is nowhere to be found or worst-case scenario nuclear option.

Both are in hiding means somebody said something they popped off at the mouth had a bad it's not like that mom had to snatch them up right before Di got home and so that there there's an avoidance when we tend to feel like we are wrong.

Somebody said again, there's an avoidance when we tend to feel like we've wrong someone.

It's our human nature.

Think about this back in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned with they do, they hid from God. They hid from him. They hid from God.

They tried to avoid him.

Can I tell you this today Christian and even those that are here. The may not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

You don't have to hide from God even as a Christian we do not have to hide from God.

We mess up. He doesn't want us to hide from him. He wants us to run to him. He's the prodigal father that's running through the these run of these, the father running back to the prodigal son. It's the beginning. It is because of our union with Christ that we don't need to avoid God. We have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous. So he does not ask you to and I can I say this as many times I've been out witnessing her in counseling situations. I can't tell you the number times people like I just got clean my life up before I can come to church, or before I can step foot in it is a rueful fall in on me. Jesus doesn't say clean yourself up and then come.

He says calm so that I may clean you up and so we we have testimonies that all across this church. It just come come as you are in. He will do the cleansing, Dr. Tony Evans described as the this scores abiding in Christ, a dinner plate left out overnight will be hard to clean in the morning and alternate to scrubbing is soaking the dish in hot water and dishwashing liquid letting addition abide in the solution will allow a hard cleaning job to become a lot easier. This is what abiding does for Christian. We are much easier to clean up. When we been hanging out in the right environment can I tell you this is the right environment to be hanging out in the body of believers is the right environment to be hanging out and we we need to be like Mary who just soaking in at the feet of Jesus. Religion says this scrape off the dirt.

It tells us to apply elbow grease to fix the problem relationship just says hey come in soaking me just sit at the hot water for a while and abide in it will set you free. So the fourth point today is the power of love. There is a power of love that we see unfolding here in John 15 it says this in verse eight through 10 herein is my Father glorified that he bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. As a father hath loved me, so have I loved continue in my love. If you keep my commandments you shall abide in my love even as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love is of God the father love the sun with the following type of love.

It was a love that had no beginning his eternal God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. Eternal there is no beginning to that law. There is no into that love is a close and personal relationship is a personal love love was without measure between the father and the son. Love is unchanging as well. Can I tell you Christ loves you just as much today as the father love the sun, if not careful we could read this text and and and read it in the wrong lane and then save it.

If I obey his commands, then I will abide in his love, or he will love me.

But as you grow in your it's really, but as you grow in your love for me, then you will obey my commands. He tells us if we get this wrong. We get that backwards were stepping outside of Orthodox Christian faith is not do so, you may be approved is not hey. I do this I can be approved of God and love of God is love. So therefore you will do in any but it's in here today. This been married or is marriage.

You understand this.

What I mean by this is is in my marriage.

I can tell you that my parents did not set me up well for marriage knowledge is all there their responsibility and authority on them. But what I mean is, as as a young man is as a boy and a teenager I could take a shower get cleaned up and leave all my dirty clothes in my towel in the bathroom go about life. Life is good right what happens when you become an adult man and you Mary your wife and your repeating the same problem. The same thing wet slimy one. My parents and set me up well.

I love my parents wished and set me up well for marriage at the rate they didn't set good boundaries for me and so then when Breanna and I get married.

I'm doing the same thing dirty close at towel on the floor in the bathroom and I would get this hey Braden, you come here for minute shirt walk over there.

What's this now let me just tell some of you young bucks newlyweds get ready to be married Mogen this is this is a trap is not like she Duncan this is a trap. She literally didn't forget about the towel. I'm not the smartest person in the room not the brightest ground in the box on like what is that, unlike its tell no honey that's not what I'm asking, why is that there is always done in my whole life. No limit put this in perspective every day since then I've hung the towel.

I didn't. I don't go in and hang that towel and be like all of you know what, it's not really going love for Breanna much that she loves me much. You know will make that right. I'll go hang the towel up and do this so that she will love me and that I will love her know I hang that towel up every single day out of respect and love for her and I got many other faults that I'm still working on, but it's I get to do because I love I love so therefore I do so make sure Christian that weird doing what we do for Christ out of love, not out of obligation. He doesn't know he doesn't want to obligate Tory giver. He doesn't want you to know feel obligated. He wants because you love him and what he's done for you.

Therefore, you will abide and do his command is so elastic that you know the last thing today is the blessings for abiding the you know others blessings for abiding in Christ is say why should I stay why should I abide in the first benefit is fruitfulness. We see that in verse four, the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, verse five, the same bring us forth much fruit God doesn't want us just to be somewhat fruitful. He wants us to be very fruitful worlds dying and going to hell. He's looking for labors in his harvest field. Therefore, the Lord of the harvest. It's important labors under his harvest field. He wants us to be fruitful for him. Secondly, the whole premise and why Jesus was getting ready to leave his disciples and he saying hey I will abide in you, and you will abide in me whole premise of all this is in verse 11.

You have your Bibles in front of you says this these things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be what whole. The devil comes to seek distributive steels to destroy Jesus comes to give us abundant life, and he wants our joy to be full.

This is the proof that you are a true branch. You have a fruit of endurance yet patients through trials. The fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek, temperance against such there is no law against such there is no law. None of us would and here's a note Jesus. I don't want anymore goodness I don't want more joy you keep it know we we want that we want more of those thing. The idea of bite of abiding in Christ and remaining in Christ from salvation to sanctification. We draw this out a little bit. The more you abide in the presence in the knowledge and love of God and be obedient to Christ. The more fruitful you will become.

The more you focus on Christ the more faithful you will become. The more you focus on self, the less fruitful you will become a you will be focused with the things of this world so we need to stir what cultivates our affections for the Lord and be on guard for what saps our affection which takes that away make sure those are being purged so we can love and that we can serve him.

One of things for me that I've had to put a cut off on his sports for you.

Sports may not be an issue but for me it was a false idol for so long in my life that I've had to be cautious and cut some of those things because it was stealing Robin my joy in serving the Lord and for a 20-year-old boy on a football field to drop a ball to ruin my whole Saturday is silly. I would honestly like it would ruin my Saturday like it. It's silly. It's a game is far more important things out there that are going on people. Diana going to hell, and I'm worried about a €20 deductible. So these are things and you may see a II got that perfectly balance that's good I just tell you I cannot do that I have to cut those things off, I need to remember.

Matthew 633 but seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you know can I tell you the planet Mercury is hot Pluto is cold, we can define it as a planet anymore is been redefined like other things in the world being her degree to final these days. But Mercury is close to the sun SU in an Pluto is is a long way off.

The farther you get away the quarter, things become. But the closer you get the harder things become.

Maybe some of you in here today are like Mercury you're on fire for God.

Maybe some of you in here today are Pluto you not even in a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Maybe some of you today are here and you're an earth, your seasonal have seasons of being on fire for God and being cold for the things of God. And I tell you that God is looking for some Mercury Christians. He wants folks who want to get close to him.

The want to abide in him stay close to the SO in sun. We need to lose ourselves in his glory.

Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18 but we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as the spirit of the Lord. So in closing today. This is, it's a convicting as you know, as I've studied this week. I was convicted of things in my life that I have to make sure that I'm on fire forgot abiding in him that I'm drawing closer to him, but this is a powerful and convicting passage of Scripture question is are you abiding in the vine today. Have you been saved by the grace of God and grafted into his spine.

If so, is your life producing fruit. Maybe the spirit has revealed some areas in your life in my life that need to be dealt with. This morning, bring those before the Lord this morning. I will tell you allow him to tenderly pruning cut back those areas, enabling you to be more productive again for him. If you have it never been saved your you need to be attached to the vine, you need to be saved today. The Bible says that the day is the day of salvation. You need to come to Christ today as he leads you to salvation you would stay with me as musicians come, maybe there's some things of the Lord's laid on your heart this morning. The altars are open but when asked questions morning. Are you connecting to the vine.

Are you truly connect is in your trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior you fruit of evidence that in your line is, is about a nice close morning bright and I know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior given ugly and just wanted to know Christ.

Maybe you're here this morning is in right now I don't know that I've never truly placed my trust in Jesus Christ as Lord. I don't know that heaven would be my home that you today with his brown eyes closed just given uplifted hand on Monday to call anyone, and I was wondering maybe are you this morning is a brain I got some areas. The needs and routings emerging areas I've been convicted on that you this morning which is given unlimited.

My hand is numb with you I'm not areas of my life spring God, we thank you for your word that is in it. Thank you for Jesus Christ coming to diverse and so that when you have eternal life.

When I'm writing you would work this invitation deal with horns as you would in Jesus name that would bring Naaman