Fruitfulness in Christ
Series: in Christ
Speaker: Ash Kwok
Date: 13th September 2026
Passage: John 15:1-17
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 I must confess as I look at this passage, I am what you might call a brown thumb.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 ! I am actually unable by any means to make anything grow.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:16 ! In fact, someone recently had gone back to Canada and was like,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 Ash, I'm going to give you this plant of mine, but no, it is dead.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 They can be hurt.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 It's sad, it's depressing because it's a reminder of the friendship, which is not dead,
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 but it could be herbs, it could be fruit, it could be even a succulent.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 I can't bring it to grow.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:44 And the reality is when you buy any plant, whatever it is, the goal for it is fruitfulness, isn't it?
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 The goal for it is to grow.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 And who doesn't want it to grow?
00:00:50 --> 00:00:50 Me, apparently.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 And you see, the picture that's been read out for us is that being in Christ
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 is like the relationship between a vine and branches.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:10 And in this series that has been called In Christ, we've looked at the nature of being united with Jesus.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 How it is so unchangeable, this unbreakable bond, all because of the work of Christ.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:23 And this time we're looking at this beautiful metaphor of, again, what that union should look like.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 Have a look at verse 5.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 I am the vine, you are the branches.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 Apart from me, you can do nothing.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:53 Jesus, the same God who was there at the beginning, affirms that you are united to him as a vine is with a branch.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 And isn't a vine just such a beautiful image?
00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 Because what should be etched into our minds are vines that are just overflowing
00:02:02 --> 00:02:09 and it just keeps growing and growing and growing and growing on the wall or even on a wooden stake.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:13 It's got this growth, it's got this vitality that is just all-encompassing.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 That's the relationship that you have with Christ.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:27 The power of being connected to Jesus, the vine, means fruitfulness.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 It means that fruitfulness will happen.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:36 A vine that keeps growing and growing and growing.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:44 That if you keep the branches healthy by being connected, they will bear fruit.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 And so too, therefore, is his desire for you.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:50 Verse 2.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:58 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:02 he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:09 And in verse 16, you did not choose me, but I chose you.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 And appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:20 Friends, bearing fruit is the obvious reality for the Christian here in John 15.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:25 And what's beautiful that's added here is that God has chosen you.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 He's chosen you.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 He's predestined you to be faithful.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 To be fruitful.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:38 That his purpose and the reason for your fruitfulness is because he chose you and made you for it.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:46 Because fruitfulness is the mark of a Christian or a sign, if you will.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:52 Earlier, Nick preached on being made dead and alive in Christ.
00:03:52 --> 00:04:00 And in very much the same way that Paul says that you are now dead and you have been made alive in Christ,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:04 you are to stop sinning, living as though you are dead.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:21 And Jesus here says, because you are a branch, you who trust in Jesus are a branch that is rooted and connected to the source of life and growth,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 bear fruit.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:36 Jesus says that you have God's spirit that lives in you, which he assures those who trust him that you will be fruitful.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 And so fruit is a non-negotiable.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 It's promised.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:49 You can't say, I'm just a branch attached to the true vine and I'll choose to bear my fruit rather than Jesus' fruit.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 And let me make it really clear.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:58 What makes you a Christian is not your fruit.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:10 What makes you a Christian is the fact, verse 3, that you were made clean, heard the word of Jesus being the way, the truth and the life,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:17 being forgiven and given new life by your confidence being in Jesus Christ.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:22 And then what flows from this is fruitfulness.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:30 Because you know what God commanded humanity as he established them on this earth?
00:05:30 --> 00:05:37 He says to you and I, Genesis chapter 1, verse 28, God blessed them and said to them,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 be fruitful and multiply.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 Be fruitful.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:50 It's our original call, our original command.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:59 And so we have to ask ourselves, what is the fruitfulness that we have been designed for, that Jesus is looking for?
00:05:59 --> 00:06:05 Because the reality is for most of us, we are in a success culture.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 If you think you're not, then try again and look again.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 Think about just Chatswood.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 Think about just Chatswood.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 You want your kids to succeed and be happy.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:24 And you don't have to look so far around in Chatswood to find a Turing College at every corner of this city.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 There's options for extracurricular after school.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 There are school buses, I won't name which school, in our very local area that have the slogans,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 watch us change the world.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:47 Before high school graduates graduate, there will be business and career pathways advertised to them.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 Because we want them to succeed in the world.
00:06:51 --> 00:07:05 And you see, the danger for us is that the fruitfulness that you and I live and breathe is very much not the same fruitfulness that Jesus desires for your children,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 your grandchildren, your spouse, and even for yourself.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:17 Notice what Jesus says about the purpose in verse 12.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:27 This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:31 And to understand the fruit, Jesus tells us what it's for.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:36 Number one, it's not for us.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 The fruitfulness is to glorify God.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 It's to make him big.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 It's to make him great.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 Because he is worthy of all praise.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:56 And number two, it's outwardly that our fruit is to be a demonstration of Christ's work in us.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:14 In other words, the fruitfulness that we are seeing here is the growth, the total transformation of the life of a Christian to become more and more and more like Jesus.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:23 Christians call this sanctification, the process of being made more and more to the image of Jesus Christ.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:31 And it's not an instant one, but as we see in this passage, it is a promised one.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 And so fruitfulness, sanctification, it's all of it.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 It's all the transformation.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 It's growing in the fruit of the Spirit.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 Patience, love, kindness, self-control.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 Christ-likeness.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 It is growing in love for God and others.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:51 It is bearing fruit of seeing other people come to follow Christ.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:59 But also, yes, the fruitfulness is not for us.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 It is for God's glory.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 It is outwardly.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 But did you see in verse 11?
00:09:04 --> 00:09:09 It's a reality that the Christian ought to also have joy from.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 Growing to be like Jesus.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:17 Transformation, fruitfulness, sanctification is a joy gifted by Jesus.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:28 Verse 11, I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and so that my joy may be complete.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:37 I wonder if you've got friends who've told you after you've shared about, I'm a follower of Jesus, I go to church.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 And they say, you know what, that sounds like a great idea.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 I'll check out Jesus.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:47 But, you know, I'll start obeying all the commands after I stop partying.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:53 Maybe I'll take Jesus more seriously when I get older or when I have kids.
00:09:54 --> 00:10:00 Maybe we'll focus on the church part after the HSC is finished or after this big work season.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:07 Because I just don't want Jesus and the Bible to squeeze out all the joy of what I want to do.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 See, Jesus pushes the opposite idea, doesn't he?
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 He's not withholding the secret to joy.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:21 He says that keeping his commands, glorifying him is for our joy.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 It's for your benefit to glorify him.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:35 And so what Jesus calls us to do is to lean into his joy as surpassing worth than the joy that this world has to offer.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 Lean into the fruitfulness that he longs for you.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 And so where does fruitfulness start?
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Where does that begin?
00:10:44 --> 00:10:49 Fruitfulness begins in remaining.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 Verse 4.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:57 Remain in me as I also remain in you.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 No branch can bear fruit by itself.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 It must remain in the vine.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 You see, Jesus doubles down here.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:13 Not only is remaining a method, it is the only method.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 Remaining in Christ.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:21 If you want to be fruitful in Christ, you are to remain in Christ.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:32 And the sense of remain here that we ought to see is it's a heart, will, and mind that is wholly fixed and united with Christ's own heart, will, and mind.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:46 As much as a branch looks like the vine and the vine is full of branches, our whole heart and affections and desires become consumed by Christ.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:54 In other words, remaining is actually an active reality.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 It's not a passive one.
00:11:55 --> 00:12:03 Remaining in Christ is not reaching a destination as much as embracing the destination that you are in.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:11 I was chatting to a school chaplain and they asked me, hey, do you know this kid?
00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 He says he goes to your youth group and he also comes to my lunchtime group.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 And I'm like, great, what was his name?
00:12:17 --> 00:12:21 And they said it and I was like, oh, never heard of them before.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:27 And I started feeling bad because I was like, oh, my goodness, my memory's starting to go quite early.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 I don't even know my own youth.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:38 So I checked our attendance list, searched up the kid and realised that they actually turned up twice, three terms ago,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:42 but were still claiming to be a member here at St Paul's.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 And I was like, that's sweet that they consider St Paul's to be their church.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:52 But also, they don't really go to our church.
00:12:54 --> 00:13:00 But somehow, that's how you and I treat remaining in Christ.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:09 You see following Jesus as more of a title that you have, the credentials, the bachelor, the masters under your name that you carry around,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:15 claiming the name of Jesus, claiming the title of Christian, claiming the title of Christian,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:19 rather than be mastered by Jesus.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:33 You see, the vine imagery is so powerful that the remaining is not only us to him, but in what Jesus does for us.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:42 This four, remain in me as I also remain in you.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:52 To be a Christian, you must be mastered by Jesus and his words.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 Look at verse 7 and 10.
00:13:56 --> 00:14:00 If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 and verse 10.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:07 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:13 Friends, there's something synonymous about loving Jesus,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 remaining in him and his words.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 You might be new to Jesus.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 Some of you might be keen to check out Jesus.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:26 You love the forgiveness and love of Jesus,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:31 but you're not quite sure about certain other parts of the Bible that you've heard.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:39 I just want to encourage you that having faith in Jesus,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 as you discover who he is,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 is taking him at his word,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 that his way indeed is better.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:53 I hear the warning in verse 6.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 If you do not remain in me,
00:14:56 --> 00:15:00 you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:05 Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burn.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 So yes,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 when you reject God,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 you reject the God who rightly deserves
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 all the glory and praise.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 He deserves your attention,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 but also,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 you harm yourself.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Have you thought it that way before?
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Sin harms you
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 in a way that you might not see,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 but it's harming you.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 It's still hurting you
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 because you are broken
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 from the life source.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 You are broken from the true vine.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 It's no benefit to you.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 And you see,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 the difference in remaining in Christ is this.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 I must confess,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 I'm not organized.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 I did have something here,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 ready to go,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 but I don't have it with me.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 I want you just to imagine
00:16:06 --> 00:16:11 that you've got a Tupperware box.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 That Tupperware box is you.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Inside of you
00:16:19 --> 00:16:23 is another Tupperware box
00:16:23 --> 00:16:28 that contains the Holy Spirit.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Have a look.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 Remember,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 God remains in you.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 And in John 14,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 the Holy Spirit
00:16:34 --> 00:16:37 is promised to those
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 who trust in him.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 And that Tupperware box
00:16:40 --> 00:16:45 is to be in Christ,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 which means
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 at the very center of you
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 is the Holy Spirit.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 And you on the outside
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 are being encompassed
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 by Christ.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 And so,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 if you can imagine
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 that image
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 that should have been brought by Ash,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 do you see yourself
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 that you are subsumed,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 mastered by the Savior,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 the Savior remains in you,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 making you
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 remain in himself?
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 It's like those babushka dolls.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 You're the second,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 the middle one.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 Friends,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 what that means
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 is 100% fruitfulness.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 That you can bear fruit,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 that you will bear fruit
00:17:28 --> 00:17:32 just by remaining in him.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 That the way
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 that you slay your sin,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 the way that you open your heart
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is in Jesus.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 In Jesus alone.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 It's by his grace alone
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 that you have been saved,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 but it's also
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 by grace
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 that you will change.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 God's grace,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 his life transforming power
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 is a promise.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 Goodness,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 I love Romans 8.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Romans 8
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 is such an incredible passage.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 You should go check it out
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 if you've never done it.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 But in verse 11,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 did you know,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 did you know,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 it says that you've got
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Jesus' spirit,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 the same spirit
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 that brought Jesus Christ
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 from the dead.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and in him,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 you've got the same
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 resurrection power.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 And so remain in him.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 What other fount
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 will ever give you
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 eternal life?
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 What other vine
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 holds you
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 in his loving arms
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 and calls you
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 friend
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 than the true vine?
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 This is the creator God
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 we're talking about.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 He is the unchanging God,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 the one who was
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 and is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 and is to come.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 And so every time
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 that you look elsewhere,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:48 you commit idolatry
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 and you are not
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 remaining in him.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 And so in verse 5,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Jesus continues saying,
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 apart from me,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 you can do nothing.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 Friends,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 don't believe
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 that you can bear fruit
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 by yourself.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Don't think you can change
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 without the work
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 of Christ in you.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 And yet in the world
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 of self-help books,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 the right measure
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 of self-care,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 the perfect self-determining
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 strategies for success,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 that you perhaps
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 have imported
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 a view of self
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 in the way
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 that you grow
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 as a Christian.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 But friends,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 you are helpless
00:19:27 --> 00:19:30 to make that change.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 no more ounce
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of striving
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 will grow you.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Every time
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 you rely
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 on yourself
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 for your own growth,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 you are not
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 remaining
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 in him.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 And perhaps
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 the way
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 that we think
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 about it
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 is that if we just
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 have a little injection
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 of Jesus
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 inside of us,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 everything will go well.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 Take this pie chart
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 as an example
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 of the time
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 a person has.
00:19:57 --> 00:20:00 take it as
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 you've got
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 a range of things
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 that you could do.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 You could be doing work,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 leisure,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 health,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 family,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 friends,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 rest,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 parties,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 your personal finances.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 And what we've
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 done eventually
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 is that we've
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 actually gone,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 this is
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 my whole life,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 but then
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 let's play
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 the idea
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 that you suddenly
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 become a Christian
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 and you realise
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 that pie chart
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 has to change
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 and you have to
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 add more things.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 You need to
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 include things
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 like Bible reading,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 you need to
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 include church,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 prayer,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 serving,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 and you're like,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 this is really
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 overwhelming.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 How am I meant
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 to fit this in?
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 I know I need
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to grow,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 but I also
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 have work to do.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 And so maybe
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 if I hear
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 a sermon,
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 maybe that will
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 make me grow.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 I feel a little
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 guilty about my
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 Bible reading,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 so I'm going to
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 read my Bible.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 I'm going to go
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 back to church
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 so that maybe
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 I'm back in God's
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 good books.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 But as you
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 think about it,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 what you'll find
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 out very quickly
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 as you value
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 and prioritise
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 things is that
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 whatever you value,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 whatever is important
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 to you,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 urgent to you,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 will be whatever
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 takes up the measure
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 of that pie.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 You'll adjust
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 the proportions
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 of leisure,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 work,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 family,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 sport,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 based off you.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 And so perhaps
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 the better image
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 is the spoke
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 of a wheel
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and the car's
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 logo on that
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 wheel.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 All the spokes
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 resemble the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 proportions of
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 your life,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 work,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 kids,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 rest,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 all of that.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 But at the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 very centre
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 of the wheel
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 is you.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Whatever you
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 value sets
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 the size
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 of that portion.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 But friends,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 fruitfulness,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 sanctification,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 sanctification
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 is having
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Jesus at
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 the centre
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 of the wheel
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 because all
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 the spokes
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 connect to him.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Putting Jesus
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 first is simply
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 putting him
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 in the right
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 slot of the wheel.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 Not a portion
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 of it,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 but in the centre
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 of it.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 He'll dictate
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 the size,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 he'll detect
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 the proportion
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 and what is even
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 in the wheel
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 and what is not.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 Because when
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Jesus is at
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 the centre,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 do you
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 understand
00:22:19 --> 00:22:22 that you
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 are remaining
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 in him?
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 And when
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 Jesus is not,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 do you
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 understand that
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 you are not
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 remaining in
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 Christ?
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 When you,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 the individual,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 are at the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 centre,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 you are just
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 a branch.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Just like the
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 many individual
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 branches in this
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 world,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 not connected
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 to the vine.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 Verse 4,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 again,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 remain in
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 me
00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 as I
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 also
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 remain
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in you.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 Do you
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 not realise
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 it's the
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 living God
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 who is living
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 and active
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 inside of you
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 that is making
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 the sanctification
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 happen?
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 He's the one
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 who's growing
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 your heart
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 for worship.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 He's the one
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 that is growing
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 you to be
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 more like him.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 And anything
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 that you
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 do,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 anything
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 that looks
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 like good
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 works,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 anything
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 that looks
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 like glorifying
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 God,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 is simply
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 you partaking
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 in what God
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 has already
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 been doing
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 in you.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 And so
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 instead of
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 asking what
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 benefits me,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 what makes
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 me look good,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 what makes
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 my worth,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 my goals,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 what works
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 for my
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 preferences,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 you ask
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 instead,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 how does
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 this honour
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 Christ?
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 How will
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 this express
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 in love
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 for others?
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Does
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 this decision
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 that I
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 make
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 remain
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 and abide
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 with Christ
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 more and
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 more?
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 How does
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 that apply
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 for every
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 decision
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 in my life?
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 And so
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 I've started
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to ask
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 this question
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 of my
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 Christian
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 brothers and
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 sisters
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 when it
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 comes to
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 someone,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 and a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 friend asked
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 me of this
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 as well,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 and it was
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 so helpful
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 for me.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 How has
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 being a
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 disciple of
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Jesus
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 shaped how
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 you think
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 about
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 X,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 Y,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 Z?
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 With
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 every
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 life
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 decision
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 you
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 make,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 work,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 jobs,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 all of
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 it,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 how has
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 being a
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 disciple of
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Jesus
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 shaped how
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 you think
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 about a
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 certain
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 issue?
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Friends,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 when Jesus
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 is at the
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 centre of
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 the spoke,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 we realise
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 that this
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 is the
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 fruitfulness
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 that he
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 longs for
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 and that
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 your union
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 with him
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 assures
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 it.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 And
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 perhaps
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 you're
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 someone
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 in the
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 room
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 that
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 wants
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 bear
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 fruit.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 Perhaps
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 you're
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 someone
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 who
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 longs
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 for
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 change
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 in your
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 life
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and in
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 your
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 circumstances.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 You've
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 prayed
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 long and
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 hard for
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 that
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 change.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 I think
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 Jesus has
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 encouragement
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 for you
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 that perhaps
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 if you're
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 not bearing
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 fruit,
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 have a look
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 at verse
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 two.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 While
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 every branch
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 that does
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 bear fruit
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 he prunes
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 so that
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 it will be
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 even more
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 fruitful.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 You might
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 be going
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 through what
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 might be
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 the pruning,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 the cleansing,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 the trimming
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 that will
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 lead to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 the fruitfulness
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 that the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 vine dresser
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 is longing
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 for.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 But friends,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 don't,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 don't,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 don't,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 don't cut
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 yourself off
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 from the
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 root that
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 will solve
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 you.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Because we
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 live in a
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 world that
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 often says
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 your own
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 way.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 People grow
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 in different
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 ways,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 learn in
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 different ways
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 and those
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 things are
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 true,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 yet we
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 import that
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 wrongly into
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 our view as
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 a Christian
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 as we
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 grow.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 You might
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 think as you
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 see someone
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 who's a wise
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 sage,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 I'm not as
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 on fire,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 I'm not an
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 on fire
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 Christian like
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 them.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 They're just
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 a different
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 species every
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 time you
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 think of that
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 pastor.
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 No,
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 that's not
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 true,
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 friends.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 You have
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 the same
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 source.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 In fact,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 you are more
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 connected to
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 that person
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 in Christ
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 than you
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 are with
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 a blood
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 relative of
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 yours who
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 is not
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 in Christ.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 In fact,
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 you are more
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 likely because
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 you are in
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 Christ to be
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 more like that
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 on fire
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 person than
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 the other.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 And so in
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 whatever way
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 the Lord
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 will,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 you are to
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 become more
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 like Christ.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Go on and
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 be encouraged
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 by someone
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 who is on
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 fire and
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 change.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 Friends,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 there is
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 only one
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 true vine.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 Don't go
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 chasing another
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 vine.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Those vines
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 won't give
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 the vitality
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 and flourishing
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 life that you
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 long for.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 They might
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 give you
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 fruit,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 that thrill,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 that mist
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 and whim
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 of pleasure,
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 but there's
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 none that has
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 died for you
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 so that you
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 might have
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 true life.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 Because Jesus
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 is the true
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 vine.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 So remain
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 in him,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 long for the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 transformation,
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 and remain
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 in a way
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 that longs
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 to be an
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 on fire
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 Christian.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Remain in
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 a way that
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 puts away
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 the selfishness
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 in your
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 life.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 Remain.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 The question
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 is,
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 are you
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 remaining?
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 Do you
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 remain in
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 his words?
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Because it
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 says in
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 verse 7,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 if you
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 remain in
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 me and
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 my words
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 remain in
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 you,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 that the
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 way you
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 walk closer
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 to the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 Lord,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 in the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 vitally
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 interconnected
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 life,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 in the
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 same manner
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 of that
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 overgrowing
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 vine,
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 is that
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 you hear
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 God's
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 word.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 And you
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 might say,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 Ash,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 that's such
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 an easy
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 one.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 Solution
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 to every
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 Christian
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 problem,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 you say
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 it again,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 it's just
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 to read
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 the Bible.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 No,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 by no
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 means am
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 I saying
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 that.
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 Friends,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 if you're
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 reading the
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 Bible trying
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 to get
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 holy,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 less greedy,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 less lustful,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 become a
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 better person,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 more loving,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 more patient,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 to get
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 somewhere in
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 life,
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 you are
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 missing the
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 point.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 Read it
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 because the
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 holy scriptures
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 have revealed
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 to you the
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 living word,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Christ himself.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 Read it
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 not to be
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 fruitful,
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 read it
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 to remain.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Read
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 trusting that
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 Jesus will
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 work on the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 inward change
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 in you as
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 he has done
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 that time
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 and time
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 and time
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 and time
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 and time
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 again for
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 his people.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 And so
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 can I
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 reverse the
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 question to
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 you?
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Do you
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 believe that
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 Jesus himself
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 is the
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 solution to
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 your very
00:28:27 --> 00:28:29 inward need,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 the very
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 change that
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 you are
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 longing for?
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 Not Jesus
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 solving it by
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 what you
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 want,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 but Jesus
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 himself.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 Have a look
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 at the rest
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 of the verse.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 And then
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 ask whatever
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 you wish
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 and it
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 will be
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 done for
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 you.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 There are
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 many things
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 that God
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 welcomes me
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 to pray and
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 ask him,
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 but I just
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 love this.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 I love that
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 he promises
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 me that
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 you and
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 I will
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 grow in
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 obedience
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 as we
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 ask for
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 it.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 He will
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 grow the
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 fruitfulness
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 of your
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 remaining
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 and your
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 obedience.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 obedience.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 In fact,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 you are
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 his fruit.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 The vine
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 dresser wants
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 to grow
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 you,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 shape you,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 and he
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 wants you
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 to commit
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 and give
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 your life
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 to him,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 for you
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 are the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 fruits of
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 his labor.
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 Jesus
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 delights in
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 the fruit
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 that he is
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 working in
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 you.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 In Hebrews
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 13,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 verse 35,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 it says,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 through
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 Jesus,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 therefore,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 let us
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 continually
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 offer to
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 God a
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 sacrifice
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 of praise,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 the fruit
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 of lips
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 that openly
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 profess his
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 name.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 Let's pray
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 in light of
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 that reality.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 Father God,
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 in Christ,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 you have
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 promised us
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 change.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 Get rid
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 of the
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 idols and
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 distractions
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 that hinder
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 our remaining
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 in you,
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 and we ask
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 that you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 might enable
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 a focus
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 our eyes
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 on you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 so deep
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 and so
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 firm,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 a grasp
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 that will
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 not let
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 go,
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 rather than
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 ourselves.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 We thank
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 you that
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 you are a
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 God that
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 will finish
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 what you
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 start.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 And so we
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 ask that you
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 might help
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 us trust
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 in the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 promise
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 that you
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 will make
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 us how
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 you have
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 designed us
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 to be.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 We ask
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 that we
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 remain in
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 you,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 knowing that
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 you remain
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 in us.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 Amen.