Sermon Nuggets Mon Sept 22
Theme: The Vine and the Branches John 15:1-27
Verses- John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (NIV)
Producing a New Fuel
There is a parable told of a man who lived in the valley and longed to live up on the hill. Through the generosity of a friend he purchased his dream house. When his friend came to visit him he found the man rolled up in a sleeping bag, camped out at the bottom of the hill. The man explained, “Oh, I can’t get up there. My old model T which runs on kerosene and moth balls, just doesn’t have the power to climb that hill”.
His friend replied, “What you need is a new car with more power, if you would climb the hill and live in your new home.” So the man bought a new car for him.
Several weeks later, the friend stopped by again and saw the shiny, new car parked at he bottom of the hill, with the man curled up in his sleeping bag near by. When asked what he was doing there, the man replied “My car just wouldn’t make it to the top. I’ve tried pushing it, but its too heavy to push up the hill. so I have park down here below.”
“Well, you just bought a new car, why won’t it climb the hill?"
“It is new, but it still won’t run it coughs and sputters, and it doesn’t have any more power than my old car.”
“Well what kind of gasoline are you using?”
“Gasoline? I’m not using gasoline, I’m using kerosene and moth balls.” was his reply.
This little fictitious story is unfortunately the story of many of our lives. We seek to live life at a higher level. But no matter how hard we try, we continued to look wistfully at that level of life that seemed above and beyond us and reconcile ourselves to camping at the bottom of the hill. Then people are converted and born again, and we make the decision to commit our lives to Christ and confess him openly as Lord and Savior. Surely now that we are committed and have a new nature we should be able to achieve those Spiritual dreams and aspirations. But in spite of the new nature we still find ourselves, so often, camped at the bottom of the hill. The new life in Christ simply will not run on the energy of the flesh. This new life needs a new energy source to be lived entirely by and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise we have continued defeat and discouragement. God’s relationship is energizing.
Relationships are important. Our relationship with Jesus is essential for productive Christian life. Our Lord talked about a His presence and power within his disciples. It is a relationship of dependency on Christ. Jesus describes in more detail what this means and how we might live the life He has called us to live. Jesus wants productive Christians.
Jesus indicts by the metaphone of a grape vine, the importance of being connected to the right fuel source, provided by the right supplier. Jesus is the vine. His Father is the designer and gardener. We will not function properly unless we are attached to the vine.
Pastor Dale
