Being connected to Jesus (2 things)

• 1^st – The example of being connected… vs.  1-6 (5 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus had ‘finished’ His last teaching in chapter 14 – and gone out into the night…
    • He was heading for the Mt. of Olives – where Judas would betray Him…
    • But on the way there Jesus continued to teach the disciples – chapters 15-17…
    • Jesus was going use every moment – up to the very end – to prepare them!
  • 2^nd – The example of the Gardener and the Vineyard… vs. 1
    • Perhaps as Jesus was walking along the road He saw a vineyard…
      • Jesus turned to His disciples and said – ‘I am the true Vine’…
      • This is the 7^th and final ‘I am’ title Jesus gives to Himself in the book of John…
      • The Father in heaven is the ‘gardener’ who cares for His Vineyard…
    • In this ‘Garden of God’ we are the tender / fragile branches attached to the Vine…
      • We do not tend to think of ourselves as fragile – we think are ready for anything…
      • We trust in our strength / wisdom / religion / riches / education to take care of us…
      • Like Samson – trusted in his strength / Solomon – in his wisdom and riches…
      • David – his religion  / and Peter – his convictions to follow Jesus…
      • What they all had in common – they all failed – they were all fragile!
      • We are a tender twigs – easily broken – we need the vine!
  • 3^rd – The Gardener / Father – prunes and cleans the Vine… vs. 2-3
    • In a garden not every branch bears fruit…
      • Those branches that have no fruit – you prune – cut off from the vine…
      • Because they are taking nutrients from the vine – but giving nothing back…
      • But those braches that are bearing fruit – you give extra care an attention too…
      • You pick and rinse any dirt off the branch – so they bear MORE fruit…
    • Our heavenly Father prunes and cleans His Vine…
      • If someone is not ‘bearing any fruit’ – the Father cuts them off of the Vine…
        • There are people who only come to church – to see what they can get from God…
        • And their lives do not produce any ‘good works’ in return – there is no fruit…
        • 2 / 5 / 10 years later they are unchanged – they do not grow in their faith…
        • The Father cuts them off – cause they are a bad influence on the ‘good branches’!
      • If someone is ‘bearing fruit’ – the Father picks them up and cleans them off…
        • Taking away the filth of the world – so they could bear even MORE fruit!
        • Jesus told His disciples they were clean through the Word He had spoken…
        • Psalms 119:11 – “Your word I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You…”
        • Ephesians 5:26 – “Sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word…”
        • The way that God ‘cleans us up’ is by washing us in the water of the Word!
        • Because His Word convicts us of our sin – shows us right from wrong…
        • If you feel like you are covered with the filth of this world – take a Bible bath!
  • 4^th – The Vine / Jesus – gives us life… vs. 4-5
    • A branch can only bear fruit if it is connected to the vine…
      • If you have a squash plant – and cut off a branch from the vine – it dies…
      • To live the branch does not just nudge the vine – it holds on to it desperately…
      • The branch knows that separation means death – so it CLINGS to the vine!
    • The only way we will have fruit / life – is to ‘stay connected’ to Jesus…
      • The word ‘connect’ – meno – literally means to not give up / hold on tight…
      • Only as we spend time with – cling to Jesus – are we are truly alive – bear fruit…
      • That is why it is so important to get into God’s Word / prayer / fellowship…
      • Psalms 1:2-3 – “Delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night… like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
      • When we are firmly planted in God’s word / spend time with Jesus…
      • We will find we are doing what God wants – and we will be blessed – good fruit!
    • The problem is too often we try and live our life connected to something else…
      • We try and live our lives connected to this world – seeking after wealth…
      • Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 – “People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born…. As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away.”
      • In striving to obtain riches (the wind) – we miss the blessed life in Christ!
      • Just as a branch apart from a tree dies – apart from Jesus we die spiritually…
      • There is no middle ground in the Christian walk – we are either growing in Jesus…
      • Or we are slowly dying – caught up in the care of this world…
      • If you plug a light into bamboo – nothing happens – only a socket has power…
      • In the same way we often try and plug our lives into the world…
      • Then we wonder why we have no power – why we are always in the dark…
      • It is only when we plug into Jesus – that the light comes on!
        
        
    • Without Jesus we can do NOTHING – fruit is produced not manufactured…
      • A branch cannot bear fruit on its own – it has no ‘dunami’ / power…
        • I have a bowl of fruit sitting in the kitchen in my house – it looks pretty…
        • But if you took a bite – you would be unpleasantly surprised – plastic fruit…
        • We cannot make real fruit – we can only make things that look ‘like’ fruit!
        • In the same way we can not produce ‘fruit’ / good works in our lives…
        • We can make ourselves look good – plastic Christians – but there is no life!
      • Good fruit is the byproduct of a being connected to Jesus!
        • You never see the branch of a mango tree struggling to make a mango…
        • There is no effort  – the fruit is a result of the branch being connected to the tree!
        • In the same way as long as we are connected to Jesus – there will be fruit…
        • We do not have to work at it – it is the result of our relationship with Him!
  • 5^th – The fruitless branches… vs. 6
    • A branch that is cut off from the vine – dies and shrivels up…
      • There is not longer any hope of it bearing good fruit – living again…
      • The only thing that branch is good for – is to be used as firewood!
    • If we are not bearing fruit for Jesus – then we are not connected to Jesus…
      • James 2:17-18 – “So you see, it is not enough just to have faith. Faith that does not show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless…”
      • It is easy to say we have ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ in Jesus – but the proof is in our actions
      • If we say we’re Christians – but still live like the world – then do we really have faith
      • If a tree had no leaves / not fruit – only a sign that said ‘still alive’ – it is lying to you!
      • If we are not connected to Jesus – then we are not saved – going to be burned / hell
    • We are absolutely secure as we hold onto Jesus…
      • We lose a relationship with a friend when we stop spending time with them…
      • Our heart can grow distant from the Lord when we do not spend time with Him…
      • But as we abide in Jesus – there is no concern about not going to heaven…
      • Spend time with Jesus and you bear good fruit – proving you are connected to Him!
        
• 2^nd – The result of being connected… vs.  7-11 (3 things)
  • 1^st – We can ask for anything and it will be given to us… vs. 7-8
    • If we are connected to Jesus – He will give us whatever we desire…
      • The things we ask for are influenced by what we do – where we spend our time…
      • If we work in the Campo – we might ask God for a cool sunny day – to work in…
      • If we are in school – we might ask God for a bagio – so we get a day off…
      • If we are connected to Jesus – we ask for those things that God has a desire to do…
      • We are spending time with God – and therefore know what God wants…
      • Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the LORD, He will give you the desires of your heart.”
      • Since the desire comes from God – we can be certain He will make it happen!
    • God gives us ‘our desires’ – so we bear more fruit…
      • Jen loves to garden – and it is her pride and joy when a plant bears fruit…
      • She will give that plant anything it needs to that end – fertilizer / water / sun…
      • Because the more fruit that comes from a plant – the greater her joy!
        
      • When we start to ask for things that God has given us a desire for – He answers…
      • When we ask God to open the heart and save the friend / or family member…
      • When we ask God to give us boldness to stand up for Him at school / work…
      • God answers – giving us confidence to ask Him / making us even more fruitful…
      • And as we are more fruitful – our lives bring glory back to God!
  • 2^nd – We experience the Love of Jesus… vs. 9-10, 12-13
    • There is not greater love than the love the Father has for the Son…
      • That same love the Father has for the Son – overflows in Jesus love for us!
      • Think of how much Jesus loves us – how much He has done for us…
      • He never gets irritated with us / never holds a grudge against us…
      • Jesus expects nothing from us / He simply desires to give everything to us…
    • Just as Jesus kept the Father’s commands – so we are to keep His commands…
      • Jesus command to the disciples was – to love one another as He loved them…
      • When I was a child I used to like to help people – not because I wanted to do good…
      • But because I liked to receive their praise – ‘what a good boy you are’…
      • I knew my motivation was wrong – I was doing the right thing for the wrong reason!
      • Our motivation for loving others is in response to the Love we receive from Jesus…
      • His love overflows us allowing us to love others with His Love!
    • The greatest love of all…
      • There is no greater love than for someone to lay down his life for another…
      • If I you knew you would be mocked / beaten / killed for telling someone about Jesus
      • You would have to LOVE that person A LOT to be willing to make that sacrifice!
      • Jesus knew He was about to suffer horribly and die – because He loves us!
      • We might be willing to lay down our lives for those we love…
      • But Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to die for us while still sinners!
      • Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His love… while we were sinners, He died for us.
      • That is the unconditional love of God that overflows us when we abide in Jesus!
  • 3^rd – We receive the Joy of Jesus… vs. 11
    • Jesus was telling the disciples all these things that they might have joy…
      • Happiness is not the same thing as Joy – happiness depends on our circumstances…
      • If you find P100 on the ground – it makes you happy – free money…
      • If someone sees you pick it up and says it is theirs – you are now sad…
    • Joy is far deeper – it is not based on your circumstances – it is based on Jesus…
      • Jesus never changes – the same Yesterday / Today / and Forever – Hebrews 13:8…
      • So no matter what our circumstances – we can have Joy in because of Jesus!
      • The only way to have Joy in life is through knowing Jesus and knowing His Word…
      • So if we want a Joy filled life – get connected to Jesus!