Morning Message Text: John 15: 1-8
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Morning Message:
Trying to understand God is an impossible task. At times, we Christians start to think that God is exactly like us. While we are made in the image of God, it is important that we understand our limitations and recognize the difference between Creator and creation. The God who created us must know much more than we could ever imagine knowing. God is all-knowing and his word is infallible. We question God all of the time. I always like to stop and think about what God must think when we start thinking and acting like we are right, and God must be wrong.
Don’t get me wrong; God doesn’t mind our questions, as a matter of fact, I think He likes it when we engage with him in any manner. If I were God, I would get a chuckle out of the pot saying to the potter, “I think you made me wrong!” “I think that an all-knowing God messed up!” How simple should this statement be to understand? If God has said it is a sin…then your opinion doesn’t matter.
Now while we can’t know the complete mind of God we can know and understand much more than we take the time to. God has a purpose for everything in our lives. He has a purpose for every person. Let’s look at one of the simplest and most asked questions that most, if not all, Christians deal with. We read in scripture: “Therefore do not be like the unbelievers. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6: 8) So, if God knows everything I need and want before I ask him, why pray? I read this illustration this week. You observe your child working diligently to put together a wooden puzzle—with growing frustration. But you don’t say anything. Finally, she turns to you and asks for help. You take the opportunity to remind her of your love for her and your willingness to help her with anything she might need. Then, together, you both complete her puzzle.
If God already knows what we need, why do we have to pray and ask him? The answer is in the very beginning of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Jesus wants us to come to God as “Our Father.” God knows our needs but wants to enjoy our relationship of trust in Him; trust that is built through the conversation we call prayer. God wants a relationship, not a dictatorship.
In our scripture reading from Exodus this morning we can see God’s purposes for the law. As I researched this passage of scripture this week, I learned a new way of looking at the commandments. The Ten Commandments have been misunderstood and misinterpreted throughout time. The Jewish people, by the time
Jesus came on the scene, believed that you had to keep the commandments in order to be saved. People today, even some Christians, believe that you are saved by adhering to the commandments. Salvation is by faith. The Israelites are already a redeemed community by keeping the faith through the covenant God made with them before he gave them the commandments. I need you to understand this today. First you must be saved through believing in Jesus. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can seek to maintain your righteousness through a relationship with God with the commandments as a guide. You see, we think of the word law, but it is given to the Hebrew people as Torah, which means instruction. It is best pictured this way: as God’s outstretched hand pointing to the road His people should follow. God’s purpose: relationship. Tell me if you made the same mistake as I once did? I thought that before Jesus, it was the law that mattered.
I sometimes feel myself making this mistake, trying to squeeze too much into one sermon. Let’s look at today’s text and try to tie this all together. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Do we understand this? At first glance, and believe me, so many have not gone any deeper than the first glance when they say that this is proof that you can lose your salvation. That is not what this says. When you have accepted Jesus and you do not follow him and produce fruit, you will feel a disconnection, or you will feel cut off from the source of your strength. In the very next verse Jesus says, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” Jesus is restating God’s purpose for his children: relationship. Once again, the finger of God pointing out the road to a healthy relationship with him.
Come on now. I want you to repeat this with me. You shouldn’t need to look; I say most of this to you every time we have Communion. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing.” I know I skipped a part of it, but the meaning doesn’t change. God’s purpose: a relationship with you. Such a close relationship he wants with us, his very life blood flowing through us, giving us strength, sustaining our spirits, enriching our souls. One more verse that I want you to understand: verse 6, “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” Listen, I highlighted the word like because Jesus used it for a reason. He was making an analogy; he was not saying that unproductive members of his body would be removed and thrown out. That was never God’s purpose.
Listen to me just for a moment. All of us, at one time or another in our Christian walk, allow ourselves to be disconnected from our faith. God is not angered by this, nor is he the least bit surprised. You are not a dead branch. You have simply lost your way and drifted from God’s purpose for your life. You can reconnect. All you have to do is ask. Our tender hearted, loving God knows you, and He has one purpose for your life: He wants a relationship with you.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
Views: 0
