October 16 2016 Connecting with Jesus - "I am the vine"
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Connecting with Jesus - "I am the vine"
John 15:1-8. "I am the true grapevine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. He prune the branches that do bear fruit, so they will produce even more." "You've already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me and I will remain in you for a branch cannot produce fruit if it severed from the vine. You can not be fruitful unless you remain in me." "Yes I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.","Anyone who doesn't remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned." "But if you remain in me my words remain in you. You may ask for anything and it will be granted. When you produce fruit you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my father."
FOUR VITAL STEPS TO LOVING JESUS AS OUR VINE
1. I start my connection to Jesus by believing in him.
John 14:6 " I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.
John 15:16. You didn't choose me. I chose you.
2. I strengthen my connection to Jesus by obeying him.
John 15:10. Jesus says, "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love. Just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in His love."
John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command. Underline that. He says, I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now, you are my friends since I have told you everything the Father told me."
John 15:6-7. "Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be granted."
3. I show my connection to Jesus by loving others.
John 15: 12-13. "This is my command. Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
4. I see my connection to Jesus in my joy.
John 15:11. "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Memory Verse: John 15:5. "Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing."
