Sermon Nuggets Fri, Sept 26
Theme- Vine and Branches
Verses- John 15:18-27 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates me hates my Father as well.
24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'
26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus Desires to Produce Faithfulness
Jesus knows that intimacy with Him will result in rejection from the world. Since Satan is the prince of this world, the world hates Christians. Jesus wants us to remember that the way in which He was treated will sometimes be the way in which we will be treated. When young people refuse to go along with the crowd in activities that will compromise their convictions expect name calling and loss of some friendship. Expect to be different and others will do what they can to cause you to sin.
When you say that Jesus is the only way to the Father, expect to be called bigoted, and narrow minded. When you object to lifestyles which abuse of sexuality, alcohol, drugs, and immorality, expect to be called a prude. Expect it. When we will not participate in sin, other can feel guilty and condemn you.
Because of the historical influence of Christianity in our society and the law we no longer worry about being stoned to death, or being martyred, but don’t think that being a Christian doesn’t mean rejection and resentment by many. When we are identified with Jesus there will be rejection and mockery by some. Remember that in spite of persecution there is a call to faithfulness to witness, to love, to carry on in spite of opposition. Pray not only for those here at home, but especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ in countries where Christianity is outlawed.
Most of the world’s opposition in the West is designed to tempt us away from a vital relationship with the vine. I have seen zealous believers cool in their faith with the acquiring of a new home, or place by the lake. Many employment responsibilities leave little time left for things of the Lord. Entertainment, Sports and recreation and other pleasures can overshadow the most important things in our life. Soon seeking a balanced life becomes way our of balance with Christ having little time in our walk with Him.
One sign put it well, "If Christ seems far away, who moved? "
Corrie Ten Boom tells of a missionary who wrote, “sometimes adversity tempts me to discouragement in the face of seeming failure. But I take courage and press on anew, as I remember that God does not hold me responsible for success, but for faithfulness.” Jesus said, “Well done, you faithful servant, not Well done, you successful servant.”
In truth the most important work of the gospel is done directly by citizens living out their biblical responsibility in their everyday circumstance. Jesus called not the preachers, missionaries, and paid professional staff to do ministry but all believers. Witness is more often seen in faithfulness, not in an extra ordinary event. After the miracles stopped, so did most of the crowd. What lasted was the quiet loving service of followers who suffered for Jesus sake.
Keep abiding, loving, and obeying. Learn that the Lord desires is to produce people who are fruitful, joyful, and faithful in His power. The best way to do that is to abide in the vine- the source of our life.
Pastor Dale.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Producing Joy John 15:11-17
Sermon nuggets Thurs Sept 25
Theme- The Vine and the Branches
Verse- John 15:11-17 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus Desires to Produce Joy
In the minds of many, the Christian life is not perceived as being particularly joyful. Instead it is thought to be grim. Do people see joyful Christians? Do you know that the purpose God has for you is to be joyful even in the midst of difficulty and hardships that surround us.
Do you focus on the deeds or on the relationship? Jesus defines the greatest kind of love that one has. It is when one lays down his life for another. Indeed, this is what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross to redeem us from our sin and bondage. How do we know if we are friends of God? If we have accepted him and if we do what he commands.
When King David sinned, he no longer sensed the presence of God. He cries out in Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation” He had allowed sin to hinder the pure abiding relationship he had previously enjoyed with the Lord. He did not lose his salvation, but he lost the joy of his salvation. That joy returned when he confessed his sin and accepted the consequences of it. Jesus desire is that you have joy.
Then he makes a distinction between servants, and friends. He wants us to obey him. But a servant obeys out of obligation. A servant does what he does not because he wants too, but because he is compelled to. A friend does what he does because of the relationship.
There might be a job that you do not like, but if you do it for someone that you like it takes the drudgery out of the job. I think of clean up days at the church. When there are only a few who show up it seems like work. Yet that might have more morning than cleaning out our own garage. But when a lot of people show up it seems like a party working together with one another in relationships. The whole attitude changes because of friendship.
Jesus continues his explanation. A servant has no relationship and no knowledge as to why his master tells him to do certain things. Nor does he need to know. However, Jesus explains to his disciples what he is doing and going to do. Everything that he has received from his Father, he passes on to them. They are friends because he prepares them for all that is to occur. Then he instructs them “Love one another.”
Jesus desire to produce joy in us, through love.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Vine and the Branches
Verse- John 15:11-17 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus Desires to Produce Joy
In the minds of many, the Christian life is not perceived as being particularly joyful. Instead it is thought to be grim. Do people see joyful Christians? Do you know that the purpose God has for you is to be joyful even in the midst of difficulty and hardships that surround us.
Do you focus on the deeds or on the relationship? Jesus defines the greatest kind of love that one has. It is when one lays down his life for another. Indeed, this is what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross to redeem us from our sin and bondage. How do we know if we are friends of God? If we have accepted him and if we do what he commands.
When King David sinned, he no longer sensed the presence of God. He cries out in Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation” He had allowed sin to hinder the pure abiding relationship he had previously enjoyed with the Lord. He did not lose his salvation, but he lost the joy of his salvation. That joy returned when he confessed his sin and accepted the consequences of it. Jesus desire is that you have joy.
Then he makes a distinction between servants, and friends. He wants us to obey him. But a servant obeys out of obligation. A servant does what he does not because he wants too, but because he is compelled to. A friend does what he does because of the relationship.
There might be a job that you do not like, but if you do it for someone that you like it takes the drudgery out of the job. I think of clean up days at the church. When there are only a few who show up it seems like work. Yet that might have more morning than cleaning out our own garage. But when a lot of people show up it seems like a party working together with one another in relationships. The whole attitude changes because of friendship.
Jesus continues his explanation. A servant has no relationship and no knowledge as to why his master tells him to do certain things. Nor does he need to know. However, Jesus explains to his disciples what he is doing and going to do. Everything that he has received from his Father, he passes on to them. They are friends because he prepares them for all that is to occur. Then he instructs them “Love one another.”
Jesus desire to produce joy in us, through love.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Producing Dependence John 15:5
Sermon nuggets Weds Sept 24
Theme: Vine and the Branches
Verses: John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.(NIV)
Jesus Desires to produce Dependence.
Peter Drucker, an expert in the area of management says, “The churches aim is to make a difference in the way the parishioner lives. It is to change the parishioners values into God’s values.” How do we do that? Only by the power of Jesus. There is no other way. We cannot produce fruit of righteousness and Godly works without the freedom of the Spirit working within us and through us and to us. We often seek to accomplish tasks for the Lord that are not really His will or plan or purpose. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Fathers’ glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”(7).
What Jesus is saying is remain dependent upon Him in your life, in your prayer you give up your will to His will. In prayer we submit our pride to dependent humility. We seek our work to be in line with His greater work of service to Him and to others. We are totally dependent upon the Lord for even the mundane things that matter. Remain open to God’s work and will for you. Be obedient to whatever he tells you that is in His word, revealed now to us in the Scriptures, and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The word may tell us to be witnesses, and the Holy Spirit may lay it on my heart to speak to someone about their faith in Jesus. The Word tells us to tell the truth, The Holy Spirit may convict our hearts and remind us that we have not been truthful to IRS, and must declare correctly and to the best of our knowledge what our true income is. The Word tells us to love one another. The Holy Spirit may lay it on our hearts that part of how we are to work out that love is in volunteering with Crises Pregnancy Center, or visit someone in the nursing home, or write a letter of encouragement to someone this week.
The story is told of the classic pianist great Paderuski who was giving a sell-out concert in London. One music enthusiast was excited as she had gotten front row seats and thought this would also inspire her young son just learning to play the piano. As people were gathering for the concert, the mother involved in conversation with her friend on the other side failed to notice that her little boy had left his seat and began to make his way to the concert piano. She spotted him about the time he sat down center stage. She called to him to immediate come, when he began to plunk out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The audience was amused to see Mom try to motion for her son to stop. Then from behind him came the master Paderuski, who whispered into the boys ear, keep playing son. and as the boy repeated “Twinkle Twinkle Little star” he placed his arms around the boy and added the arpeggios and harmonies that filled the hall with heartfelt emotion until they ended and the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Lets face it, compared to what the Lord wants we have very little to offer. But he whispers in our ears. Keep playing. He is the one that makes the music around us that is fit for glory of heaven. It is not in what we do, it is what He does through us. Dependency is an important lesson that produces spiritual fruit.
Without Him we can do nothing.
Pastor Dale
Theme: Vine and the Branches
Verses: John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.(NIV)
Jesus Desires to produce Dependence.
Peter Drucker, an expert in the area of management says, “The churches aim is to make a difference in the way the parishioner lives. It is to change the parishioners values into God’s values.” How do we do that? Only by the power of Jesus. There is no other way. We cannot produce fruit of righteousness and Godly works without the freedom of the Spirit working within us and through us and to us. We often seek to accomplish tasks for the Lord that are not really His will or plan or purpose. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Fathers’ glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”(7).
What Jesus is saying is remain dependent upon Him in your life, in your prayer you give up your will to His will. In prayer we submit our pride to dependent humility. We seek our work to be in line with His greater work of service to Him and to others. We are totally dependent upon the Lord for even the mundane things that matter. Remain open to God’s work and will for you. Be obedient to whatever he tells you that is in His word, revealed now to us in the Scriptures, and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The word may tell us to be witnesses, and the Holy Spirit may lay it on my heart to speak to someone about their faith in Jesus. The Word tells us to tell the truth, The Holy Spirit may convict our hearts and remind us that we have not been truthful to IRS, and must declare correctly and to the best of our knowledge what our true income is. The Word tells us to love one another. The Holy Spirit may lay it on our hearts that part of how we are to work out that love is in volunteering with Crises Pregnancy Center, or visit someone in the nursing home, or write a letter of encouragement to someone this week.
The story is told of the classic pianist great Paderuski who was giving a sell-out concert in London. One music enthusiast was excited as she had gotten front row seats and thought this would also inspire her young son just learning to play the piano. As people were gathering for the concert, the mother involved in conversation with her friend on the other side failed to notice that her little boy had left his seat and began to make his way to the concert piano. She spotted him about the time he sat down center stage. She called to him to immediate come, when he began to plunk out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The audience was amused to see Mom try to motion for her son to stop. Then from behind him came the master Paderuski, who whispered into the boys ear, keep playing son. and as the boy repeated “Twinkle Twinkle Little star” he placed his arms around the boy and added the arpeggios and harmonies that filled the hall with heartfelt emotion until they ended and the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Lets face it, compared to what the Lord wants we have very little to offer. But he whispers in our ears. Keep playing. He is the one that makes the music around us that is fit for glory of heaven. It is not in what we do, it is what He does through us. Dependency is an important lesson that produces spiritual fruit.
Without Him we can do nothing.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Producing Fruitfulness John 15:1-10
Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 23
Theme: Vine and Branches
Verses John 15:1-10"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 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, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Jesus Desires to Produce Fruitfulness
Jesus uses the metaphor of growing grapes to explain a spiritual lesson. It is obvious that without the vine attached to the branches, the branches die and are useless. Certainly we have lots of object lessons around us of useless branches all over the ground after the ice storm. All the branches that were detached from the tree are only good for burning. They are dead.
People not attached to Jesus are dead spiritually. We have a grape vine out by our garden that is the first one that we’ve had. It is very productive some years and others years not so much. But pruning has a lot to do with it. Branches that take nourishment from the vine producing leaves, but no grapes keep the other grapes from growing more abundantly. We need to clip off the dead branches, and the branches that are alive, but not doing anything so the branches that are doing something can indeed do more with that life energy given to the grapes instead of the leaves.
It is the essence of the Christian life to bear fruit. Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
It is also the case that we need pruning for more effectiveness. God desires fruitfulness. There are things that need to be taken out of our lives in order for that to happen to greater degrees. With this type of illustration spiritual pruning may take a number of forms- sickness, hardship, challenges, risk-taking, loss of material possession. Whatever the form be assured it can be for our growth and for our good and most importantly can be for God’s glory. Stay away from sin.
Remember the context in which Jesus had been speaking? He talked to them about the importance of servant hood. He talked about the one who was to betray him. He talked to Peter about being clean, but not all of him. We need continually cleansing as Christians, but we are still Christians. However, there are some like Judas who is among them but dead. He is not attached to the vine. Sometimes the Nation of Israel was portrayed as the vine, but many of the Jews, though very religious, were not attached to Jesus. They did not believe in Him for their salvation.
I don’t believe this serves only as an encouragement but also an awesome warning. There are professing Christians who are fruitless. There are those who say Lord, Lord, and even do great works in his name who are fruitless (Mat. 7:21-23). There is land which drinks the rain of the age to come, but then brings forth thorns-it will be burned up (Heb. 6:4-8) Did you know that Karl Marx was once a student in a theological seminary. He wrote a term paper on John 15 on the subject of “Union with Christ” His professor wrote in red pencil in the margin “He appears to know it in theory but not in life.” Union as a theory cannot help you.”
But there will also be those who are called, and will indeed be glorified (Romans 8:29-30) For every good tree bears good fruit (Mat. 7:17) and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt.12:24). So which are you?
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” That is what the Lord says. People build churches, seek to accomplish ministries, teach S.S., witness to neighbors, but all in their own power. Jesus says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” There may be great work done, but it isn’t the Lord work. There are many times we spin our wheels and wonder why. It is tempting to see the genuine fruit another person has produced and try to duplicate it but end up with only artificial fruit.
Pastor Dale
Theme: Vine and Branches
Verses John 15:1-10"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 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, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Jesus Desires to Produce Fruitfulness
Jesus uses the metaphor of growing grapes to explain a spiritual lesson. It is obvious that without the vine attached to the branches, the branches die and are useless. Certainly we have lots of object lessons around us of useless branches all over the ground after the ice storm. All the branches that were detached from the tree are only good for burning. They are dead.
People not attached to Jesus are dead spiritually. We have a grape vine out by our garden that is the first one that we’ve had. It is very productive some years and others years not so much. But pruning has a lot to do with it. Branches that take nourishment from the vine producing leaves, but no grapes keep the other grapes from growing more abundantly. We need to clip off the dead branches, and the branches that are alive, but not doing anything so the branches that are doing something can indeed do more with that life energy given to the grapes instead of the leaves.
It is the essence of the Christian life to bear fruit. Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
It is also the case that we need pruning for more effectiveness. God desires fruitfulness. There are things that need to be taken out of our lives in order for that to happen to greater degrees. With this type of illustration spiritual pruning may take a number of forms- sickness, hardship, challenges, risk-taking, loss of material possession. Whatever the form be assured it can be for our growth and for our good and most importantly can be for God’s glory. Stay away from sin.
Remember the context in which Jesus had been speaking? He talked to them about the importance of servant hood. He talked about the one who was to betray him. He talked to Peter about being clean, but not all of him. We need continually cleansing as Christians, but we are still Christians. However, there are some like Judas who is among them but dead. He is not attached to the vine. Sometimes the Nation of Israel was portrayed as the vine, but many of the Jews, though very religious, were not attached to Jesus. They did not believe in Him for their salvation.
I don’t believe this serves only as an encouragement but also an awesome warning. There are professing Christians who are fruitless. There are those who say Lord, Lord, and even do great works in his name who are fruitless (Mat. 7:21-23). There is land which drinks the rain of the age to come, but then brings forth thorns-it will be burned up (Heb. 6:4-8) Did you know that Karl Marx was once a student in a theological seminary. He wrote a term paper on John 15 on the subject of “Union with Christ” His professor wrote in red pencil in the margin “He appears to know it in theory but not in life.” Union as a theory cannot help you.”
But there will also be those who are called, and will indeed be glorified (Romans 8:29-30) For every good tree bears good fruit (Mat. 7:17) and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt.12:24). So which are you?
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” That is what the Lord says. People build churches, seek to accomplish ministries, teach S.S., witness to neighbors, but all in their own power. Jesus says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” There may be great work done, but it isn’t the Lord work. There are many times we spin our wheels and wonder why. It is tempting to see the genuine fruit another person has produced and try to duplicate it but end up with only artificial fruit.
Pastor Dale
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Vine and the Branches John 15:1-27
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
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
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