John 15:1-7 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
WORD OF GOD FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD
VERY BRIEFLY
IF I COULD GET A BAPTIST AMEN A METHODIST NOD AND A SANTIFIED CHURCH HALLEJUAH
I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT
(WHAT YOU NEED IS AN UPGRADE)
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
UPGRADE IS A PHRASE THAT WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH
IF YOU HAVE EVER WALK INTO A CELL PHONE STORE AND THE PHONE IN YOUR HAND IS OLD
9 TIMES OUT OF 10 THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPSENTATIVE IS GONNA ASK YOU
DO WANT TO GET AND UPGRADE
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH AT MC DONALD
AND ORDERED ONE OF THERE MEAL DEAL
THEY ARE KNOWN FOR ASKING YOU IF YOU WANT AN UPGRADE YOUR ORDER
BY GETTING A LARGER ORDER OF FRIES AND A SUPERSIZED DRINK
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
AN UPGRADE HAPPENS WHEN WE GO FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING
AND FROM SOMETHING TO EVERYTHING
IT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO FROM POVERTY TO PLENTY
AND FROM SOWING TO REAPING
AND IT SURE HAPPENS WHEN WE GO FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW TO WHERE GOD WANT US TO BE
IN OTHER WORDS
IN HAPPENS WHEN WE MOVE FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY
AND IT`S CALL AND UPGRADE
AND IT`S MY FIRM BELIEF THAT GOD HAS ONE PLAN FOR EACH OF US RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS NOT A STOPPING POINT
BUT A STEPPING STONE
IN OTHER WORDS
IT`S A SET BACK FOR A COME BACK
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE STILL GOING THRU THE SAME OLD RELATIONAL WOE`S
THAT YOU WE`RE GOING THROUGH LAST YEAR
AND STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME OLD DEAD BEAT PERSONALITIES OF YOUR PAST
AND YOUR BOO CAUSES YOU TO BOO HOO
WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IS AN UPGRADE
BECAUSE GOD BRINGS US ALL TO A PLACE
AND HE KNOWS WE ARE TIRED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH
BUT IN RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD IS DOING
WE ALL SHOULD BE PLEADING OUR CASE BEFORE THE LORD
OUR CASE OF
HOW WE ARE TIRED OF THE NORM AND IN NEED OF AN UPGRADE
IN OTHER WORDS
WE SHOULD WANT MORE OUT OF OUR WALK WITH THE LORD IN 2017
EVEN THOU IT MAY COST US SOME PAIN - SWEAT AND TEARS ON THIS SIDE
BUT WE WILL REAP THE BENEFITS ON THE OTHER SIDE
AND I DON`T KNOW ABOUT
BUT I DID`NT COME TO THE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING/EVENING
JUST TO BE COMING
BUT I CAME THIS MORNING/EVENING
BECAUSE I`M IN NEED AN UPGRADE
AN UPGRADE
IN MY PRAYER LIFE FOR I CAN LEARN HOW LOVE MY EMENIES UNCONDITIONAL
AN UPGRADE
IN MY WORSHIP SO I CAN GIVE GOD MY BEST ALL THE TIME
AS I WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
AN UPGRADE
IN PATIENCE SO I CAN DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN LOVE
WHO GET ON MY LAST BLACK NERVE
AN UPGRADE
FOR MY FAMILY AND CHURCH FAMILY FAITH
SO WE WILL BE A LIVING EXAMPLE AT HOME AND IN THE MARKET PLACE
I WONDER IS THERE ANYBODY HE`RE WHO IS WILLING TO BE HONEST WITH GOD AND YOURSELF
THAT YOU ARE IN NEED FOR AN UPGRADE
BECAUSE GOD WANT US TO HAVE MORE OF HIM AND HIS WORD
(REACH OVER AND GIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR A HIGH FIVE AND TELL THEM )
(WHAT YOU NEED IS AND UPGRADE)
IN THE TEXT
IN THE TEXT BEFORE JESUS GIVES US SOME BIBICAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET AN UPGRADE
AND THERE`S AN UPGRADE FROM GOD IN THE TEXT THAT IS BEFORE US
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
RECEIVE THIS PRINCIPLE ACTIVATE OUR FAITH AND TRUST JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
WELL THE 1ST THING WE MUST DO IS BE RESTORED BY THE WORD OF GOD
BECAUSE IT DOSE`NT MATTER
HOW HOLY AND SPIRITUAL WE THINK WE ARE
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR AND UPGRADE
BECAUSE ALL OF US NEED A LIFT FROM TIME TO TIME
AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN LIFT US BETTER THAN THE WORD OF GOD
IN THE TEXT BEFORE US JESUS IS PREPARING HIS DICIPLES FOR HIS TRIP TO CALVARY
AND HE WAS AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY WOULD HAVE
WITHOUT HIS PHYSICAL PRESENCE
THEREFORE HE ASSURES THEM OF A CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
AND HE ADVISE THEM TO STAY PLUG IN TO THE POWER SOURCE
AND HE TAKES A WALK THROUGH THE VINEYARD AND SAYS
1 {Then Jesus said,} “I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard.
2 He removes every one of my branches that doesn't produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.
NOTICE –NOTICE -NOTICE
God is the vinedresser.
He is the one who planted the vine.
He planted Jesus as the true vine in the incarnation.
God is also the one who prunes the branches.
And as we look at this parable
It is important to understand that the branches that are connected to the vine are believers in Christ.
These branches grow because of their connection to the vine.
AND IF YOU WANT AN UPGRADE
WE HAVE TO BE RESTORED BY THE WORD OF GOD
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WELL NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO BE RESTORED BY THE WORD
BUT THE TEXT ALSO REVEALS THAT
WE HAVE TO BE REPOSITIONED BY THE WORD OF GOD
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO LOOK TOWARD HEAVEN AND SAY
LORD I WANT MORE
BECAUSE IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD
GOD WANTS US TO HAVE MORE
NOTICE WHAT TEXT SAYS
The vinedresser has the wisdom to know how and when the pruning process should take place.
If the pruning process did not take place in the right way and at the right time,
the crops would be adversely affected.
There are times when we wonder why we cannot keep some things.
The reason may be in that God is pruning us that we might produce fruit, more fruit or much fruit.
BECAUSE There are at least two things involved in the pruning of branches.
First, in the pruning process, all dead wood has to be removed.
This is done because dead things are of no value to living branches.
Dead wood provides shelter for insects and disease.
It also takes away the beauty of the branches.
Therefore, the wise vinedresser cuts away all dead wood from branches that the branches might produce fruit.
There are times when we complain about the circumstances of life when we really need to be praising God.
Well second thing involved in the pruning process is that the live wood has to be sometimes cut back.
This cutting suggests pain.
This is a symbol of the trials and tribulations we must sometimes endure.
There may be times when it seems that God is being cruel and unjust in his dealings with us.
But we must remember that the pruning process involves pain.
This pain is experienced that the branches might bear fruit.
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WELL NOT DO WE HAVE TO BE RESTORED AND REPOSITIONED BY THE WORD
BUT THE TEXT ALSO REVEALS THAT
THAT WE WILL BE REWARDED IN THE WORD
Because One of the key words in this passage is the word “abide.”
Abide means to maintain an unbroken connection.
It suggests a constant, active relationship between the vine and the branches.
The branches cannot produce fruit apart from the vine.
Because is no strength or life in the branches unless they remain in the vine.
Even though there is only one vine and many branches,
Jesus the true vine can supply enough sap to give life to all the branches connected to it.
I don`t want anyone to be misled into thinking that all branches that are near the true vine are connected to it.
Because there are some branches that look like they are connected,
But they have no life-giving substance in them.
OH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
It is worth noting how the branches in this parable are connected to the true vine.
They are connected by the word of God.
If there is to be productivity in the branches, the branches must receive the word of God.
If the branches abide in the vine, they abide in his word, his will, and his work.
This abiding produces an upgrade.
Because the fruitful branches are shown in three ways in this text.
There is fruit, more fruit, and much fruit .
And the upgrade comes through a quality of life that comes through spiritual maturity.
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BUT WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS UPGRADE
IS THAT IT`S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT UPGRADES ARE NOT FREE
BUT THANKS BE TO GOD
JESUS PAID FOR OUR UPGRADE ON CALVARY
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ABIDE IN THE VINE
