WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:22.559 Well, good morning, Awakening Church. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:24.160 Great to be with you. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.480 If we don't know each other yet, my name's Ryan. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.239 Thrilled to have you here. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:29.760 Join us today. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:34.159 How great was it to see that yellow thing in the sky yesterday? 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:35.759 That was unbelievable. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:36.880 And what happened today? 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:38.880 I woke up like, oh my goodness. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:42.399 I was like ready for uh sun again. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:43.920 Good grief. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:46.000 Hey, would you do me a favor? 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:47.759 Um, would you take this? 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.479 Uh this is actually a grapevine right here. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:51.280 You may not know it. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.119 It's not just a twig, it's a grapevine. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:54.079 We're in a series. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:58.880 Uh, we're going through the I am statements of Jesus, and today I am the vine. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:04.239 Um, this is not a grapevine, this is a um a potato vine. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:06.159 I don't know what that means. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:12.879 Um, but grape vines are not in um, they they don't have any greenery on them. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.640 So, Evita, our amazing uh Vince design, she got all this. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:19.200 Can we thank her for all the work she's been doing on this series? 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:22.159 Here's what I want you to do with this. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:27.599 I want you to hold it with me the entire sermon. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:28.079 Okay? 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:31.519 We'll talk about it in a little bit, but I just want you to hold it. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:37.439 I just want you to hold it with me uh for the entire uh sermon together. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:38.000 Okay. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:44.560 Um we have an obsession in our culture with new. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:52.159 We want new information, we want something that's kind of next along those lines. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:57.200 And today I just simply want to remind you of something old. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:02.799 I just want to take a moment, we're gonna teach actually one of my life passages, John 15. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:09.520 And I like how Samuel Johnson once said, it said, People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:26.479 And I just want to remind you of some really simple, profound things as we head into our Easter week, and I think out of it, I think out of it, God's gonna meet you significantly in our time together. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.599 Um let me ask you this. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.439 What is the most important thing that you do? 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:40.960 Like, can you think through, like if you just had to distill it down to one thing, like what is that one thing? 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:44.960 Like, what's the most important thing that you do? 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.479 Like, well, I'm a parent, well, I work, I have these, I get all that. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.520 I I understand you have lots of hats, but but what's the one thing? 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:56.879 What's the most important thing that you do? 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:58.960 You figured it out, you have it, yeah? 00:02:59.120 --> 00:02:59.439 Okay. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:03.280 Um, Robbie and I, we uh have started coaching together. 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:06.080 Robbie's a volleyball player, I grew up playing volleyball as well. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.199 Uh, we're coaching some junior high boys volleyball. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:11.199 Yeah, hello, this is amazing. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:20.000 Uh now, now here's what's interesting is the huddle before the game, we're not trying to teach them anything new. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:24.319 We don't get in, okay, boys, so we have a whole new game plan, right? 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.960 We don't, you know, here's a new strategy. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:27.759 Let me teach you. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:30.240 What do you do in the huddle before the game? 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:32.639 You remind them of what's most important. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:35.039 That's exactly what every coach does. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:46.159 Here's what's most important, here's what we've been talking about, here's what you need to know to be able to win the game, to be able to succeed. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:48.479 Jesus had a huddle. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:59.439 On the night he was betrayed, the Passover mill had already been eaten, the time in the upper room with his disciples. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:24.720 Judas had gone to off to betray Jesus, and and most likely at this point in the evening, Jesus is walking with the eleven down the Kidron Valley, moonlight, Mediterranean night there as they're walking through, most likely, probably a family local vineyard on the way to the uh Mount of Olives, to this place called the Garden of Gethsemane, which literally means oil press. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:29.600 Along the way, Jesus recognizes he has just a couple hours. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:31.920 Just a couple hours. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:33.920 He knows what's about to happen. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:43.199 He has just a couple hours with his disciples to press upon them, to huddle together, to tell them what is most important. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:50.079 And here's what he said to them. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.040 He said, I am the true vine. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.480 And my father is the gardener. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:10.800 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it'll be even more fruitful. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.800 You're already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:18.959 Now remain in me, as I also remain in you. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:27.040 No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.800 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:34.480 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:37.439 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:44.399 If you do not remain in me, you're like a branch that is thrown away and withers. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:47.759 Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.319 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it'll be done for you. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:06:00.800 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:25.279 Jesus had known his hour had come, and a couple hours from this moment, he would be arrested, unjustly tried, flogged, beaten, stripped naked, and in less than twenty-four hours he would be hanging on a cross. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:40.079 And he had this moment to share with this eleven before all hell breaks loose, a huddle, to say what is most important. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.959 And so on our time together, I just want to remind you of three things. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:55.920 I think many of you probably already know them, but I want to remind you of three things about what Jesus would say, this is most important. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.959 The first thing is that Jesus is the true vine. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:04.319 Jesus is the true vine. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:10.399 He says, I am not a vine, a nice vine, a vine that, hey, hello, this is a good thing. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.040 I am the true vine. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:20.639 Now, Israel, well, part of Israel's identity, they like to know themselves as the great golden vine. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:27.279 It goes all the way back, Psalm 80 says, You transplanted a vine from Egypt and drove out the nations and planted it. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.560 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:38.240 Again in Isaiah, the vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:41.839 Israel's identity was they were the vine of God. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:47.120 In fact, during the Maccabean Revolt, they printed their own money with the vine on it. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:59.920 Jesus, like I said, he's most likely walking along down the Kidron Valley, probably in a vineyard, just having this conversation, talking about being the vine, and behind him is the cityscape of Jerusalem. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:06.480 And the city of Jerusalem is built up on a mount, and at the center of it is the temple itself, at the highest point. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:17.279 And at the top of the temple is a great golden vine, literally gold plated, as large as a man that is glistening in the moonlight. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:27.439 And Jesus says, I know that you think the nation of Israel and all these other things, that's the true vine, or what it is. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:29.279 He says, No, no, I am. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.879 I have showed up. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:36.320 I am the true vine. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:46.639 See, aren't there so many things in our lives that are begging for us, calling us, saying, no, no, no, this is the true vine. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.759 Stay connected to me. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:49.600 If you connect to this, you'll have life. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:54.000 If you connect to this, I like how Jesus said it. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.320 You remember, we've talked about this throughout the series. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:00.559 When he says that declaration, I am, it's not just like a nice saying. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:05.600 He's connecting with God's covenant Yahweh, I am name. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:10.960 I'm the author of life, and fundamentally I am offering you life. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:15.759 And there is no other life outside of me. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:26.000 You can search for it, you can run for it, you can look for all these different areas, but fundamentally I am life. 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:35.519 A Greek word for um never mind. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.360 There's no Greek word on this one. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:38.639 Scratch that. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:42.240 Next next next point. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.600 True, this idea of true means genuine, real, authentic. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.679 As opposed to false or counterfeit. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:07.039 Here's the interesting part is we take good things and make them ultimate ultimate things, thinking somehow they'll actually become the source of life. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:13.360 Your job, your career, your family, even ministry. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:19.840 The perfect person is others' approval. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:28.480 And friends, I just want to remind you of something that I think you many of you already knew or already know. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.360 Jesus alone is the true vine. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:38.399 You can search everywhere else, you can look, you can run, you can try it all, and ultimately you'll come up empty. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:41.279 Come to Him, seek Him. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.639 So let me ask you what are you looking to bring fulfillment? 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.240 What are you looking to bring satisfaction? 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.559 Jesus says, I am the true vine. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.720 Then he goes on to say this: that God is the father gardener. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.879 God is the father gardener, and my father is the gardener. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.960 My father is the ventner. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:16.480 I love this because it's not just anyone who's the ventner, anyone who's just going along and caring for this, but it is your perfect heavenly father who loves you, who delights in you, who longs for your very best. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:23.679 He says, I'm the one who's coming alongside to care and to cultivate in your life. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.639 I wanted you to notice what the father gardener does. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.639 The father gardener does two things. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.399 He positions us first. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:31.440 He positions us. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.360 He says, He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.559 Here's our Greek word. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:42.960 And I don't like to pick on translations too much, but uh on this one, this is the Greek word Iroh. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:52.559 And many times throughout uh it's translated in the New Testament, it literally is to lift up or to take up, uh, that the Son of Man must be lifted up. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:54.960 That's that Greek word, Iroh, here. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:12:02.080 And in the context, in the ancient day um viticulture was very similar to our present day. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:13.360 They would trellis the vines, and what would happen was you would have this branch that would be hanging down low that might have gotten covered with dust or dirt and it wasn't thriving. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:17.039 Well, that branch has the potential for all this fruit-bearing. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.960 They wouldn't cut it away right away. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:29.279 In fact, what a ventner would do, a gardener would come down and would wash the vine and lift it up into the sun, put it on that trellis for it to thrive. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:34.559 And the father gardener says, I want to position you to flourish. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:44.799 And I know you feel trampled down, and I know you feel dirty, and he's going, like, I want to actually take you and wash you and cleanse you and lift you up into the light. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.639 He positions us. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.039 He positions you. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:58.559 In fact, that's some of your story of even how you ended up at awakening and your journey of the drawing of God, and you're like, I just woke up and I just needed to go to church. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:03.279 I didn't know what where to go, and I Googled it and or yelped it, and you're like, Well, you yelp churches? 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:07.039 Yeah, you do yelp churches, because what else do you do when you're new to town? 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:11.440 And I showed up, and all of a sudden I was positioned in a community of care. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:18.559 I was positioned under the word of God, I was positioned into this incredible small group, and he positions you. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.440 I was just thinking about my small group this last week. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.919 It was like so good for my soul. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:26.559 Like we just have this incredible group, and I love it. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:30.960 And I don't know about you, but as we've been going through this, the icebreakers have been so good. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:36.240 We like spend way too much time on the icebreakers and laugh a lot uh through that. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:53.039 But to be with a community that cares for one another, that's praying for one another, that's opening God's word, that when we're going through a hard time, like we have, you know, a Discord chat thing where we're going through like he positions you for flourishing and moves you into the light. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.000 And then this is the harder one. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.120 He prunes you. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.000 He prunes you. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:06.159 Well, every branch in me that does bear fruit, he what? 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.440 It's bearing fruit. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.159 Think about this. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.519 Every branch in me that does bear fruit, he what? 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.399 I just said it. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.600 Come on, gang. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.120 Every branch that does bear fruit, he what? 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:24.399 Prunes! So you're being fruitful, and he's gonna prune you. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.360 And some of you are complaining about it. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:33.759 And the father gardener says it's for your best, so that you'll be even more fruitful. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.279 Well, it hurts, it does. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:42.240 It's cutting back, it's it's it's taking some areas that you're like, oh, I really like that. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:47.840 And he's like, No, I'm gonna cut that out for a season because I actually want to help you grow in this way. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.519 You know, you prune for a few different reasons. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.919 One, you prune because of overgrowth. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:59.440 In fact, those who prune, especially like a tree or something like this, and we have all this overgrowth. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:08.480 Overgrowth means that you're the plant is fundamentally trying to like sustain the growth, and it can't produce the fruit that's necessary. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:14.799 And so you get really weak, lame fruit, but you have a lot going on. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.320 Does it sound like a little bit of people in Silicon Valley? 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:21.679 Got a lot going on, but we haven't produced a whole lot of fruit. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.600 We gotta cut back, we live these busy lives. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:41.120 In fact, uh, as they prune, they want to actually begin to match the top um kind of branches to the root system down below, so that you have the roots that are gonna sustain the pruning. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:45.360 And then you prune disease. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:16:00.639 Things that uh have grown up that have a little bit of disease that that left to itself will eventually take over the whole plant and will kill it or cripple it. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:18.159 Where we allow the disease of thoughts into our mind, of patterns of thinking, we allow the disease of words that come out of our mouth, the way that we pattern and live our lives with people, and he says, I wanna prune those things out of your life. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:26.159 And then the other areas, dead areas, areas that are dead. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.000 Um, over COVID, I got into master class. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:30.720 Have you seen those? 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:33.519 Those master class, like the Steph Curry things, right? 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:35.279 This means yes, this means no. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.320 I can't tell if you know. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.440 Yeah, okay. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.240 I love the Steph Curry one, it's awesome. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:48.559 Uh, there is one on there uh called the Gangster Gardener, and I like I really do love the garden, so I I got into this one. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:53.120 Uh it's this guy named Ron Finley, he's from South Central LA. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:17:07.519 He was a fashion designer, and in his area neighborhood, he noticed that there was just this in this urban kind of food desert, like bringing in this beautiful garden, bringing in this nourishment and incredible things. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.440 And so he just has become known as this gangster gardener. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:15.759 And by the way, if you're if you look it up, don't watch it with your kids, there's lots of cussing on it. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:24.160 It's really good, but I just wanted to give you that heads up uh there because some of you are like, oh, Ryan said it, and then like, oh my gosh, he dropped that. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:26.640 Um just a heads up. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:33.359 But he made this comment about pruning. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:54.559 He said, the reason that you prune that which is dead and you have to cut it off is the plant notes that this area is dead and it's sending disproportionate resources to try to bring back the dead part to life at the detriment of the plant as a whole. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:18:00.160 And so until you cut off that which is dead, the plant will not thrive. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.400 And for some, you just need to hear this. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:13.039 There are dead areas in your life that you've been clinging on to that God wants to cut out that you need to let go of because it's not allowing you to thrive. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:19.759 And there's habitual sin that we let in to our life. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.440 Patterns. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.519 You know. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:57.920 And you know, as we're talking about it, it just is one of those things of like you don't ever think, hey, I'm gonna go out and have an affair. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:01.359 What you think is, you know, life's really hard at home. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:11.599 Shh, my wife's not being very nice, or my husband's not being very nice, or this isn't the way I envisioned it, and we're just having a nice conversation, and and then you know what? 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.920 Oh, you just really get me and understand me. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.680 It wouldn't ever go that far. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:22.319 That's the reason you keep taking steps that direction because you don't ever believe you would cross that line, and you're like, no, it's not that big of a deal. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.640 And then one day you wake up and you shipwreck your entire family. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:33.359 Friends, I just gotta tell you, for some, you have to cut out a relationship in your life. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:42.000 There's a pruning there, and you've been going down a path, and I don't know what it is, but you've been going down that path, and it's dead. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:47.440 And it will shipwreck your life. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:52.559 The father gardener, he positions us, and then he prunes us. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.000 Now, here's what we must remember about the father. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.960 You have a perfect heavenly father. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.240 Think about this. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:11.279 Who is intimately involved in your life, whose love compels him to do whatever is necessary for your flourishing. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:21.200 As you experience the pruning of God, some of the painful cut of back, maybe it's the stepping aside in some seasons of that were once flourishing. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:44.319 He's like, you have a perfect heavenly father who's intimately involved in your life, whose love compels him to do whatever is necessary for your flourishing, which does mean at times cutting back and cutting out. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.160 Jesus is the true vine. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.880 God is the Father Gardener. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.880 Our part. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.559 Our part. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:59.759 Your part, my part is to abide. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.279 Is to abide. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.240 Did you notice that? 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:08.079 I read several verses, six to be exact or eight to be exact. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:12.640 How many times remain, abide, repeated? 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:17.359 Jesus knows he's just got a couple hours. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.720 What do I want to make sure I tell you? 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:28.640 All hell is about to break loose, the shepherd's gonna be struck down, his disciples are gonna scatter the next 72 hours. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:33.200 It looks like the movement has fundamentally died, and what is he gonna tell them? 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.160 Abide. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.160 Remain. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.880 Remain in me. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:43.359 As I also remain in you. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.000 No branch can bear fruit by itself. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:50.799 This disconnected just looks like this a twig. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:55.279 Connected to the vine. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.960 He says, remain. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.519 Remain, abide. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.680 The Greek word remain is menno. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:11.039 It's a verb, it's in the present active, meaning that this is something that you're currently doing. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.920 This isn't like, hey, I made this decision once. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:19.359 It's an action that you say, okay, I wake up today and I'm going to remain in you. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.680 As I go about my driving, oh, what does that look like to remain in Jesus? 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.279 Oh boy, that may change some of my hand gestures and honking. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:27.920 Okay. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:42.160 As I get to work, as I engage with my family, as I engage with my friends, as I go out, what does it look like to remain, to continue a certain state, a condition or activity, to stay with and to abide? 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:47.599 You've been holding this twig for about 20 minutes right now. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.039 And that's just the picture I want you to have. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.680 Because I'm just gonna stay connected. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.799 I'm just gonna hold on. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:02.559 It's just been in my hand, and at times I've kind of forgotten it, but as I move my hand, I remembered I'm holding on. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.000 I just remembered. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.720 Oh, that's right. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:06.240 Oh, that's right, he's right there. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.400 I've just been holding on to you. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:12.240 I've just been keeping you with me in everything I'm doing. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:19.839 In fact, I want you to take this grape vine and just begin to take it with you to remind yourself, remain. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.119 Well, what is abiding? 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.920 Abiding is to be daily present and attentive to Jesus. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:29.599 To be daily present and attentive to Jesus. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.640 Okay, God, I'm gonna be attentive to you today. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:37.279 I am the true vine, you're the author of life, authoring me life. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:40.400 You probably have a lot to tell me about my day. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:42.000 I want to be attentive to you. 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:50.400 And then Jesus would say it this way: if you love me, you'll obey my commands. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:55.839 And so abiding is deeply connected to obeying Jesus' words. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:03.440 I think we have a lot of people who believe Jesus but don't obey Jesus. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.559 Let me say that again. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:16.240 We believe Jesus and we want to celebrate Easter Sunday, but we don't obey Jesus and what he says in our daily lives. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.880 Now, here's the thing. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:25.200 Jesus said, if you love me, you'll obey my commands. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:28.240 And I just want to reverse that for us for a second. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:42.160 If we understood his love for us, if you could understand that he understood that what was about to come before him, that he was going to be brutally executed because of love. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:46.960 Love compelled him to the cross for you and for me. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:53.119 If you understood the depths of his love for you, you would go, absolutely. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.559 How could I not? 00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:00.000 I know you have your very best for me. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.440 Abiding. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:06.000 It's just to be daily present. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.799 And then going, okay, Jesus, what do you have for me? 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.240 What do I need to do? 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.599 How do I respond? 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:14.000 See, there's a spiritual axiom. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:16.480 Connectedness determines fruitfulness. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.240 Fruitfulness? 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:18.960 Connectedness. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.160 Just being connected. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.799 Like we want to be fruitful in our lives. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:25.680 Many of you are high achievers. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:32.400 Determinedness doesn't determine fruitfulness. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.960 Connectedness does. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.640 Even grit, we celebrate grit, and that's the good. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:41.279 Doesn't determine fruitfulness. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.559 Connectedness. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:48.079 Jesus would say, What is the most important thing that you do? 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.599 I don't know how you answered that. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.599 Jesus' answer is abide. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.279 What is fruit? 00:25:55.599 --> 00:26:03.039 Fruit is the plant, what a plant produces on the outside that other people can see and benefit from. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:08.240 It's the visible evidence of the inner working power. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:12.079 It's what other people come and experience. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:16.240 See, that's what we need a bunch of fruit-filled followers of Jesus. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:22.160 And that doesn't happen by trying harder, it happens by abiding and remaining, staying connected to Jesus. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.039 It's as simple and as difficult as that. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.039 I miss one every single time. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.160 That's why I was doing that. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.440 I always miss one. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:54.799 Like, don't you want to be around someone who's loving and joy-filled and patient and gentle and kind and self-control and is faithful? 00:26:54.880 --> 00:27:01.599 Like, don't you want to be a person who's love-filled and gentle and peace and oh like absolutely. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:12.319 And imagine if we were a group of people so deeply connected to Jesus, and he says the fruit of that will spill out, and other people experience that. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:21.920 Joy, peace, and all of our fruitfulness. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:27.200 So let me just ask you, are you deeply connected to Jesus? 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:34.160 No shame, no, like I walked in here, like honestly, feeling like this twig, Ryan. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.240 I walked in feeling dry, I walked in feeling disconnected. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:42.559 And I would say that's where a lot of us are, right? 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:56.880 We're just we run hard, we're trying to somehow like figure out, and but if we're honest, we're dry, we're weary, we feel a lot like this, and we do feel disconnected. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:01.440 There's this picture that I love. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:10.240 Um Bernard of Clairvaux gave it um a long time ago, and it's the difference between a river and a reservoir. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.160 If I can give you one more picture. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:17.680 And the point he was making is in life we often operate like a river. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:21.119 And a river, whatever comes in, immediately goes out. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:30.799 And we get information, even moments like that, what's happening now, it's like, how do I take it in and just use it? 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:35.200 And how do I bring this in to get on with my life? 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.079 And he said, What we need to be is more of reservoirs. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:46.000 See, the difference between a river and a reservoir, river, whatever goes in, immediately gushes out. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:52.559 A reservoir, it only begins to give out of the overflow. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:57.839 Once it fills up, then it begins to pour forth. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:05.680 See what I want and what we need in the invitation of Jesus is to be reservoirs. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:23.279 Where instead of rushing on to the next, we sit with our Savior, we're connected, and it actually you'll experience the fruit-filled life that way. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:31.839 That joy and that peace and that patience, and other people will experience you that way. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:55.119 Where you just wait on him, or you're just present with him, where you recognize Jesus' words to his disciples all the way back then are the same words who say to us, What's the most important thing that you do? 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.799 And I do. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:01.599 Stay connected to him. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:06.319 Everything else flows from that, friends. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.279 Everything else flows from that. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:12.960 We get so worried about our work and our kids and all this. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:21.119 Like if you stayed so connected to him, I just gotta tell you, everything else flows from that. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:24.240 So hold on to him. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:32.559 We're gonna close our time, just giving you space to be connected. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:38.240 We're gonna partake in communion and remember Jesus. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:44.880 And I just want you to wrestle and be with him, to sit there and just go, okay, okay, Jesus, you are the true vine. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:49.440 Where have I been like looking or searching for other things to bring life? 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:51.359 God, you're the father gardener. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:54.720 What are the areas that you're working and moving in my life? 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:57.519 And in this moment, I want to be present to you. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:12.880 The Apostle Paul summarized what happened on this very night when Jesus gave this final teaching to his disciples over the Passover mill. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:18.720 And he said, writes this: He says, For I receive from the Lord what I also pass on to you. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:27.279 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body which is for you. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:29.279 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:35.440 In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:38.559 Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:45.759 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:49.039 And I just want to give you a moment just simply to be. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.720 Be with your Savior. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.599 Abide. 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:55.839 And whenever you're ready, the band is going to be leading us in a song. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.839 You can get up and partake in the elements. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:00.880 People are just going to be speaking Jesus' words over. 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.000 This is my body. 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:04.160 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.480 And you can come forward or in the back. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:16.319 We have gluten-free at all stations, and we practice an open table, which means if you're a follower of Jesus, you're welcome to partake in the elements with us. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.839 But would you abide? 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:19.359 Would you remain? 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:22.400 Would you sit with your Savior? 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.720 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:31.359 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:33.599 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:39.680 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.