WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.259 Well, good morning everybody. If you are new, my name is Kevin. I'm one of the leaders here. 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:15.240 And I know that it is the 8th of January, which means that New Year's feels like a long time ago, right? 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:21.580 Schools are back happening for some of us. Work didn't cease at all. Work just continued. 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:29.060 And so it feels like 2023 is already into full force and Christmas and New Year were a long time ago. 00:00:29.059 --> 00:00:35.019 But that being said, it is a new year and it's a great time to think about the year ahead, 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:39.420 to think about what is it that we're going to give our focus to or our attention to. 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:47.259 What is going to be the fruit of our lives this year in our own lives and also in the lives of those around us in Hong Kong? 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:52.980 How is Hong Kong going to be better off because we've lived our lives this year in 2023? 00:00:52.979 --> 00:00:59.359 And there's, of course, a number of ways that we can think about this year ahead. 00:00:59.779 --> 00:01:03.839 Leo was just mentioning at work, everybody's got KPIs and targets. 00:01:03.979 --> 00:01:08.259 And so maybe you've got some KPIs for yourself this year. 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:15.980 I guess one way to think about it is how can we this year maximize our joy and our pleasure 00:01:15.980 --> 00:01:21.980 and minimize the pain and anything uncomfortable or difficult in our lives this year? 00:01:22.740 --> 00:01:31.360 And so we start off the new year and we have New Year's resolutions for a new year to maximize joy and minimize pain. 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:33.900 And that's not a bad thing. 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:34.800 I love New Year. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:37.519 I love reflecting on the last year and thinking about the year ahead. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:39.399 Those are good things to do. 00:01:39.979 --> 00:01:50.879 But I guess if we're honest, how many of us have the start of the year had New Year, new you, and it hasn't worked out very well? 00:01:51.579 --> 00:01:52.799 And I think there's a couple of reasons. 00:01:52.900 --> 00:02:00.379 The one reason is because just looking at our track record, how many of us have new goals for the year? 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:03.019 And three weeks in, you've completely forgotten about them. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.459 They've gone out the window and nobody can even remember what they said they wanted to do this year. 00:02:08.019 --> 00:02:12.120 New Year's resolutions have a way of having a very short shelf life. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:17.340 But I think there's another reason why that might not be the best approach to this new year. 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:24.360 And the reason is this, 95% of what's going to happen in our lives this year is outside of our control. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:25.640 Right? 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:32.879 I mean, just think how many of us on the 1st of January 2020 could have predicted what has transpired the last three years. 00:02:33.640 --> 00:02:36.080 Most of life is outside of our control. 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:36.340 Right? 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:41.180 And so maybe this year you get that promotion, but maybe you lose your job. 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:45.599 Maybe you find the love of your life and you get engaged and you get married. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.960 Maybe you get diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:54.000 90% of what's going to happen in our lives this year is outside of our control. 00:02:54.300 --> 00:03:00.640 And so what happens between now and December 31st, 2023, we don't have that much control over. 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:03.180 And so thinking, okay, it's a new year. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:03.939 It's a new me. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:05.599 I'm going to make the most of my life. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.400 This is going to be the best year yet. 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:09.879 We have little control over that. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:13.359 But there's another approach we can't take. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:15.919 So the one is, okay, I'm going to sort out my life. 00:03:15.959 --> 00:03:16.840 I'm going to get my life on track. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:21.639 The other approach to think about 2023 is you could call it a religious approach. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.180 If that's a secular approach, here's a religious approach. 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:27.840 You could flip open your Bible to Isaiah 43. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.159 Anyone know what Isaiah 43 says? 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:35.240 Every year somebody texts me Isaiah 43, verse 18. 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:35.860 You know what it says? 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:36.500 It says this. 00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:40.480 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 00:03:41.040 --> 00:03:42.620 Behold, I'm doing a new thing. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:43.240 Right? 00:03:43.480 --> 00:03:45.360 Anybody had that texted to them this year? 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:48.200 I've already had a couple of those this year already. 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:52.339 And so we think, okay, God's going to do a new thing. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:54.619 God's doing a new thing in the world, a new thing in my life. 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:55.739 This is the year. 00:03:56.459 --> 00:04:02.339 But the problem with that approach is that it's often based more on wishful thinking than genuine revelation. 00:04:02.699 --> 00:04:02.859 Right? 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:11.479 And so often when people text that to me, my response is, let's see, maybe, but maybe not. 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:17.860 And so one way to approach this year, 2023, is to think it's a new year, it's a new me. 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:21.899 I'm going to get my life back on track, and this is the year that's going to count. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:30.319 The other approach is to take some verse from that God spoke to Israel 700 years BC about them leaving Babylon and going into Israel 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.620 and trying to think that that'll magically apply to our lives. 00:04:33.620 --> 00:04:38.800 But both of those somehow, if we're honest, life still happens to us. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:41.079 And so here's my question. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:44.000 As we start out this year, is there a different approach? 00:04:44.220 --> 00:04:48.879 Is there something we can do differently than take the reins and say, I'm going to sort out my life, 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:54.759 or to try and apply some magical verse from the Old Testament to think that that's going to wish away everything bad in our lives? 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:56.220 Is there something we can do differently? 00:04:57.420 --> 00:04:59.139 I'm so glad you've asked that question, 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:03.300 because Reza is going to come and read our scripture for us this morning, 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:08.620 and then we're going to see what might Christ want to say to us at the start of 2023. 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:10.500 So let's listen to the reading of God's word. 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:13.819 Good morning, everybody. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.879 Before I read the scriptures, I just want to say my name is Reza, 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.699 and today is Helpers Appreciation Day. 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:24.800 And if anyone of you who don't know me and you have helpers here, 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:30.100 just let me know, and we're just waiting here for us to be together in the community center. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:30.860 Thank you. 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:38.500 The scripture reading for today is from the book of John, chapter 15. 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:42.480 Starting in verse 1, we read, 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:47.819 I am the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser. 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:52.420 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:58.100 And every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:02.800 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.180 Abide in me and I in you. 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:11.180 As a branch can't bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:14.540 Neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:16.319 I am the vine. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:17.759 You are the branches. 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:20.900 Whoever abides in me and I in him. 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:23.899 He it is that bears much fruit. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:27.060 For apart from me you can do nothing. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:32.980 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:37.360 And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:44.860 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:51.780 By this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so fruit to be my disciples. 00:06:52.340 --> 00:06:56.600 As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. 00:06:57.180 --> 00:06:58.540 Abide in my love. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:02.060 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.939 Just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:13.460 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:15.299 This is the word of God. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:17.680 Wonderful, Risa. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:19.439 Thank you for reading that so wonderfully. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:24.779 So John 15, this passage may be familiar to you. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:28.240 We spoke about it at our leaders retreat in October last year. 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:34.839 And again in November, when my father was in Hong Kong and came and preached at Watermark, we gave him this passage. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.939 And so it's a passage that may be familiar to us. 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:47.600 And one of the reasons for that is because as leaders, as we've been thinking about this year and praying about it at the end of last year, it's a passage that kept on coming up. 00:07:47.660 --> 00:07:53.800 And we kind of felt like this is a passage that the Lord really wants us to think about and reflect on for this year. 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:58.780 Now, in John 15, Jesus speaks about three sets of relationships. 00:07:59.400 --> 00:08:10.139 In the last section, verse 18 to 27, he talks about the way that his followers are going to relate to the world as the world persecutes them and opposes their message. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:15.959 And in verse 12 to 17, he talks about the followers of Jesus, their relationships to one another. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:28.159 But those two relationships, he says, are contingent or dependent upon one more important relationship, which is what he talks about in this passage, which is how they relate to Christ. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:33.580 Jesus' big idea in this passage is fairly straightforward. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.120 What Jesus says to us is this. 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:39.379 You are not the center of the universe. 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:45.159 And you are not the source of life in your life. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:51.939 Jesus says, if you want to find life, you are not the source of that life. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.240 You've got to come to me. 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:57.639 Look at how he says in verse one, he says, I am the true vine. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:03.100 Vine imagery was very common in the Old Testament, common in the first century. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:07.600 It was a sign of fruitfulness, a sign of vitality and liveliness. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:11.960 And Jesus straight away says, listen, you are not the vine. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:14.480 Life and abundance isn't in you. 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:15.519 I am the vine. 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:17.060 Look what he says in verse five. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:18.340 I am the vine. 00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:19.860 You are branches. 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:23.480 Whoever abides in me, he it is that bears fruit. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.139 But apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:36.159 To use Jesus' analogy, the way that we tend to think about life is we tend to think of ourselves as vines or maybe a tree. 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:38.860 And we've got all these branches in our lives. 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:41.220 So you've got a work and career branch. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.659 You've got this family and children branch. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.559 Maybe you've got a financial branch to your life. 00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:50.220 And you've got a spiritual faith, religion branch to your life. 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.960 You've got all these dimensions to your life. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:59.400 And the goal is to make sure that each branch has enough resources and attention to make sure that none of them die off. 00:09:59.540 --> 00:09:59.680 Right? 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:03.900 So we give a lot of focus to work and career and some to family. 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.320 But also a little bit to faith and work and finances. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.120 And we've just got to make sure that each kind of branch stays alive. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:13.120 But look what Jesus is. 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:15.259 He says, no, no, you are not the tree. 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.320 You're not the vine. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.560 I am the vine. 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:24.680 You find your life not within yourself but actually being embedded and connected to me. 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:31.700 To the degree that you are embedded into me, says Jesus, that's to the degree that you will flourish. 00:10:32.560 --> 00:10:41.060 Jesus says all the hopes and the dreams that we have for our lives, the energies and the efforts to do something really meaningful. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:52.519 Something really worthwhile to make our lives really count and last are utterly futile and useless if not in relationship with him. 00:10:54.979 --> 00:11:00.599 And if you're not a follower of Jesus this morning, that may sound like a very bold statement to say. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:04.399 But again and again, Jesus is unequivocal about it. 00:11:04.439 --> 00:11:05.539 He's absolutely bold. 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:10.359 Again and again, Jesus will say that all of life is found in me. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:17.079 Jesus says again and again that we are not the ultimate cause of the most important aspects of life. 00:11:17.439 --> 00:11:18.879 Anything real or lasting. 00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:23.419 The source point, the origin, the point of life is found in him. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.379 And you'll notice that in this passage, Jesus actually doesn't give much advice. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:30.919 He doesn't give us three tips for a great 2023. 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:36.079 He doesn't give us a bunch of options or a buffet of possibilities. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:40.319 He really is just describing this is the way that life works. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.140 This is how life was designed. 00:11:42.140 --> 00:11:49.160 When the maker organized life, he designed it in such a way that we find life by being embedded in him. 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:50.520 I am the vine. 00:11:50.680 --> 00:11:51.540 You are the branches. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:56.520 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he or she it is that bears much fruit. 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:58.920 For apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:03.479 Now, the word abide is a strange word, right? 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:06.120 It's not really a word that we use much in English. 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:10.599 Even if you're an English first language speaker, abide is still a strange word. 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:12.259 What does it mean? 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:15.959 Well, some translations translated as the word remain. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:18.500 Remain in me as I remain in you. 00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:20.519 That's a good translation. 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:31.519 The root word for abide, mene, is the word that's often found in the words for continue, wait, endure, persevere in the Greek. 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:35.179 So there's definitely an element of remaining in place there. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:39.259 But sometimes in life, you remain somewhere against your will, right? 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.620 You're incarcerated in prison. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:42.960 You're going to remain there maybe a long time. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:49.060 We heard last week about some people that were in lockdown in Shanghai early last year. 00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:50.660 Maybe you're in hospital. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:52.000 You've got to remain there. 00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:53.160 But maybe against your will. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:55.060 You don't want to be there, but you remain there. 00:12:55.940 --> 00:13:00.379 But the English word abide means more than just stay in place. 00:13:00.900 --> 00:13:03.860 It has an element of embedding your heart there. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.519 There's another English word that is even more strange. 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:09.080 I don't know if you're familiar with it. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.440 It's the word abode. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.440 Anyone know what abode means? 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:18.519 Your abode is the place where you live, your home, where you dwell, right? 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:21.340 And abode and abide are almost identical. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.840 It's just obviously one letter in the middle that's changed. 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:29.519 Your abode is the word that describes your house. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.120 It's where you live. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.320 It's where you return to. 00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:33.900 It's where you rest. 00:13:34.420 --> 00:13:36.000 It's where you go day after day. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:43.220 It's where you replenish yourself for a new day of work or study or to accomplish what you call to do. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:47.040 So it's not just a hotel that you check in and check out of. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:50.379 It's not just the country club you go to for a meal on a Thursday night. 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:57.000 It's the place you come back to to replenish your soul out of which you live for the next day. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:00.940 And so obviously the word abide comes from the word abode. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:04.400 It's not just an activity that you do from time to time. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:07.300 It's the posture out of which you live your life. 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:20.059 And so when Jesus says abide in me, he's calling us to bring every aspect of our multi-layered, multifaceted, complex lives to bring that to him. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:32.599 Our hopes, our dreams, our fears, our insecurities, every aspect of who we are to bring them to Christ and to embed them in Christ so that Christ enaminates and empowers them. 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.699 And resources them. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:47.020 Or to change the analogies, excuse the mixed metaphors, it's like rather than just bringing our lives and plugging them into Christianity for a quick recharge like we do with our phones, 00:14:47.640 --> 00:14:56.759 it's bringing the complex circuit board of our lives and deeply embedding them, plugging them into Christ and saying, Christ empower my life. 00:14:58.020 --> 00:14:58.900 I'm sure you're like me. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.620 Every night I plug my phone in, recharge it. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:04.720 I go to sleep, not interested in what's happening. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.720 It's doing its thing. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.560 And then I wake up. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.679 Okay, now's my chance to really do my thing. 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:11.519 And sometimes we can think of Jesus like that. 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:13.779 Okay, I come for a quick recharge Sunday morning. 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.539 Done for the week. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.879 Now I can go live my life. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:23.539 Jesus says bring the multifaceted complexity, layers, everything that intersects with your life. 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:29.500 Your finances, your relationship, your work, your faith, your hopes, your dreams, finances, sexuality. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.339 Bring them to me and embed them in me. 00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:38.399 Jesus says, I am the vine. 00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.419 You are the branches. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.539 Whoever abides in me, here it is that bears much fruit. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:45.339 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:52.639 Now when Jesus says that you can do nothing, he doesn't mean that you're going to be completely incapacitated. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.100 Right? 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:56.820 Like you're just going to be in a coma on a bed. 00:15:57.500 --> 00:16:00.040 Actually, we can do lots of stuff apart from Christ. 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.240 Right? 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.399 We can be very busy. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:03.399 And you can actually produce a lot of stuff. 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:06.320 We as a church can be very busy this year. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:19.060 But what Jesus says is that though we can be very busy, like John Piper says, all we will do is produce monuments to our own futility and finitude. 00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:27.960 All that our busyness will produce are these statues that show we are finite and ultimately futile. 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:32.840 And this is true for Christians as much as it is for churches. 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:47.600 At our church leaders retreat at the end of last year, we spoke about the fact that churches as a family can be very busy doing lots of stuff, but disconnected from Christ himself and how ultimately that is futile. 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:50.060 And we looked at a couple of examples. 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:57.600 There's a, I think one of the best examples of this, there's a church built in the 1980s called Crystal Cathedral by Robert Shuler. 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:00.060 It was built in Orange Grove, California. 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:09.359 And when this church was built, it was known as the biggest glass structure ever built in the world. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:19.119 It seats two and a half thousand people and it has the biggest, or at that stage, the biggest instrument in the world, the Hazel Wright organ. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:23.839 This insane two and a half thousand seater glass structure. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.519 Do you know that church doesn't exist today? 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:30.519 The building still exists, but the church doesn't exist. 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:32.160 It's completely dead. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.519 Nothing left. 00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:37.819 I think of maybe a more modern example is a Mars Hill church. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.019 Many of us would have heard of this. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:49.259 In 2012, they had 15,000 people, 15 different sites across America, four states, 25 or 35 different services on a Sunday. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:53.259 One of the fastest growing, influential, powerful churches in the world. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:57.180 Within six months, the church was dead, did not exist anymore. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:04.319 And today, Mars Hill is a phrase that is synonymous with epic failure. 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:13.400 Friends, it's very easy to look alive on the outside, to be tangentially connected to Christ, to come to church, to go through the motions, 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:19.240 and yet have no vital union, no connectivity with Jesus Christ himself. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:30.940 And Jesus says that if you're to do anything worthwhile, meaningful in life, you must abide in me like a branch that's connected to the tree, to the vine. 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:40.680 You know, friends, one of my greatest fears for Watermark Church is that we will be a church that is so busy doing so much stuff with so much activity, 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:49.120 outreach events, social just events, training, CGs, programs here, programs there, so busy, and yet we don't care about Jesus. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:52.339 We don't love, trust, or treasure Christ. 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:57.339 That Christ is not the most important thing, and that we lose our connectivity to Jesus Christ. 00:18:58.179 --> 00:19:05.259 And friends, when that happens, we will be our own Hong Kong version of the Crystal Cathedral or Mars Hill Church. 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:10.579 And we can do a bunch of the coolest stuff in Hong Kong, and we can become the most popular church. 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:17.339 But if Christ is not essential, if Christ is not empowering and vitalizing everything that happens, 00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:23.639 if we don't love and treasure Jesus above all things, it will be all utterly meaningless. 00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:30.679 As Jesus so beautifully put it, we will be like whitewashed tombs that look impressive on the outside, 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:33.279 but inside are full of rotten bones. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:40.099 Jesus says, abide in me as I abide in you. 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:47.379 He abides in me will bear great fruit, but apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.799 But what does that actually mean? 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.660 What does it mean to abide in Christ? 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:59.639 Well, I hadn't noticed this before this week, but look at verse 1 and 2 with me. 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:04.460 I've often read this passage, and I read the first few words, I am the vine, 00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:08.700 and then kind of skip over to verse 4, where Jesus says, abide in me, etc., etc. 00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:10.380 But look at what he says in verse 1 and 2. 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:13.160 Jesus says, I am the true vine. 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:15.200 My Father is the vinedresser. 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:18.720 That means the gardener or the keeper of the vineyards. 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:22.340 Every branch of me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:25.520 Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes. 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:28.320 He cuts back that it may bear more fruit. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.099 Well, look at verse 10. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.960 Jesus says, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:37.179 Verse 14, Jesus says, you are my friends. 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.759 If you do what I command you. 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.980 What's Jesus saying here? 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:47.859 Jesus is saying that to abide in Christ means to receive him as Lord. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.539 To submit to him as the highest authority in your life. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.859 Even to submit to his pruning shears. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.179 You know what pruning shears is? 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.920 To prune means to cut off the dead wood. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:07.060 So at the end of each season, the farmer will go to his vineyard and you'll cut back all the branches until it's kind of bare minimum. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:13.860 And if you've ever seen a vine or a grape vine, you think that the farmer has killed the vine. 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:16.220 I mean, he cuts it back so ruthlessly. 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.340 You think, what have you done? 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.460 You just killed your vine. 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.940 I mean, there's nothing left. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:26.580 Jesus says that to abide in Christ means you have to submit to him as king. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.539 You have to submit to him as Lord. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:33.100 You even have to submit to his pruning shears to allow him to have his way in your life. 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:41.820 Jesus says that in order to experience his animating, empowering life, you first have to come to him as sovereign Lord. 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:45.599 You've got to allow him to have his way in your life. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.359 You've got to obey his commands. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.980 You've got to let his voice have the ultimate authority in your life. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.259 And as Abide suggests, it's not just a once-off decision. 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.319 We do it daily. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.720 And so how do you know if you are abiding in Christ? 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:01.740 How do you know if you're connected to Christ? 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:03.859 Well, the passage gives us a couple of thoughts. 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:07.240 Firstly, it says there'll be internal fruit in your life. 00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:09.700 There'll be internal fruit in your heart. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:12.559 Look at what Jesus says in verse 9. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:12.940 He says, 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:15.960 To abide in Christ is to abide in his love. 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:24.279 To know, not just intellectually, but to know experientially, vividly in our hearts, the radical love of Christ. 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:32.440 To go into your work week, onto your university, into your studies, to go into your life rock solid, assured, secure that, 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.380 Yes, I'm a sinner. 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:35.420 Yes, I'm a mess. 00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:38.500 My life isn't altogether, but Christ loves me. 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.319 Christ is for me. 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.460 To abide in his love. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.619 Jesus says in verse 7, 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:47.440 To abide in him is to abide in his word. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:50.400 That means to have his word speaking to you. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:53.460 So that you don't just go through dry tradition and religion, 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:56.960 But actually day by day, Jesus is speaking to you. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.319 He's letting you know his will. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:00.279 He's letting you know it's on his heart. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.120 He's speaking by his spirit. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.319 He's speaking by his Bible. 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:08.920 To have the living word of God actually speaking to you so you know what God wants and desires for you. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:11.900 Abide in Christ and you abide in his word. 00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:14.180 Look what he says in verse 11. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:17.759 Jesus says to abide in him means to abide in his joy. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:22.900 To have the joy of the living God residing in your heart. 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:25.420 Not a frivolous superficial joy. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.519 Not just a frivolous happiness. 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:30.120 A deep seated contentment. 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:38.039 In the ups and downs and the trials and the struggles of life to be deeply content that God is real and Christ is in you and you are in Christ. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:40.960 So how do you know that you abide in Christ? 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:43.420 Well there's internal fruit in your own heart and life. 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.920 But there's also external fruit. 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:49.480 There's fruit that other people see and witness about you. 00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:53.759 I think that's what Jesus means when he keeps on talking about you will bear much fruit. 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.839 You'll bear much fruit. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:24:00.099 Other people will see the change in your life because Christ is at work in you. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:02.039 They'll see you becoming more gracious. 00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:04.039 Seeing you becoming less judgmental. 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.879 More forgiving. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.319 More patient. 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.980 More compassionate. 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:14.460 You know one of my highlights of last year was hearing Kenny's testimony. 00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.619 I don't know if you remember it. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:22.920 Kenny becomes a follower of Jesus around April, May last year through Colin and Kristen's influence and witnessing. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:28.940 And Kenny's wife Katie is kind of on a journey but she's not so sure about Jesus. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.059 But she's you know on the journey. 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:37.740 And one point a month later she says, listen I don't understand everything there is to know about Jesus and Christianity. 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:44.579 But I know Jesus must be true because nobody can change you as much as you've changed in the last month. 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.940 Nobody can change your anger. 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:49.460 Nobody can make you as patient as you've become. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:52.619 I don't know who this Jesus guy is but he's changed you. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.599 He must be real. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.740 You see what Jesus says? 00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:59.299 That those around us will see the fruit of a changed lives. 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.459 But look at what else Jesus says. 00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:03.379 How do you know that you're abiding in Christ? 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.480 Because you'll experience the tender pruning of a God who loves you. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:10.240 Look at verse 2. 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:15.319 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit my Father takes away. 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:23.680 And yet every branch that does bear fruit because they're abiding in me, he will prune that it may bear even more fruit. 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:27.900 Now that might not sound like a very good thing, right? 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:34.660 Jesus says if you abide in him, God is going to bring his pruning shears, his sharp scissors to bear in your life. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:41.660 But as every farmer knows that at the end of the season, unless they prune the vine, that vine is going to die. 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.600 And it cannot produce any more fruit. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:49.480 The only way for it to keep on growing is if they bring their shears to bear on that vine. 00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:53.420 And cut away everything that's no longer useful for the next season. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:26:02.640 Friends, Jesus says that because God loves you and he's committed to you, that if you abide in Christ, there'll come times when God will come to you and say, 00:26:03.060 --> 00:26:04.560 let's look under the hood of your life. 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:06.200 There are things that need to go. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.820 And sometimes he'll cut away sin. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.120 Sometimes he'll challenge character issues. 00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:16.180 But sometimes he may even cut away good things that no longer have a place in your life in the next season. 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:25.820 Sometimes the only way we can continue to experience the fullest possible impact of the inner life of Christ and his spirit is for God to bring painful, 00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:31.340 providential experiences into our lives and cut away all that hinders us from the life of Christ. 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:34.820 And so friends, you and I truly can abide in Christ. 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:42.320 This year, day by day, night by night, at work, at school, at home, in the everyday reality of our life, 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:46.419 to know that we are in Christ and Christ is in us. 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.799 Andrew Murray said this. 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.200 He said, 00:26:49.899 --> 00:27:00.019 There is no reason that you have for coming to Christ in the first place that does not plead with thousandfold greater force, remain in him. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:03.579 And so why did you come to Jesus in the first place? 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:07.079 Was it because you wanted assurance of your sins to be forgiven? 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.799 Maybe you knew yourself a sinner. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.279 You're aware of your guilt. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.960 And someone told you Christ can forgive you. 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:15.200 Friends, do you want that assurance every day? 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.579 Abide in Christ this year. 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:20.299 Friends, maybe you want assurance of his love. 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.819 And you came to Christ and you're flooded with his love. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:27.359 You want to be rock solid, secure in the love of Christ? 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:30.019 Abide in Christ this year. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:34.039 Friends, maybe you're worn out from doing life on your own terms. 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:37.119 Tired, weary, anxious, without hope. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:40.099 So you turn to Christ for rest for your soul. 00:27:40.739 --> 00:27:42.479 You want that every day this year? 00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:44.899 Abide in Jesus this year. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.259 Friends, maybe you want to live with living hope. 00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:50.139 Living hope of the gospel. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.979 Abide in Christ. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:55.919 And every step you'll take will resonate with hope and hopefulness this year. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.379 Andrew Murray says, 00:27:57.380 --> 00:28:20.620 This is what Jesus is saying to us. 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:23.519 In 2023, there's going to be lots of ups and downs. 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:27.639 Challenges, joys, things to celebrate, things to mourn. 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:30.959 You may not be able to minimize all the hardship. 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:33.019 You may not be able to maximize your joy. 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:36.059 One thing we can do, abide in Christ. 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.519 Abide in Christ. 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.659 Let's do that. 00:28:38.719 --> 00:28:39.839 So how do we do that practically? 00:28:40.479 --> 00:28:43.019 Well, let me suggest four very simple practical things. 00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:46.259 Firstly, come to Jesus decisively. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.319 In other words, make a decision. 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:51.400 Nobody just slips into abiding in Christ. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:54.359 Nobody just casually falls into it. 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.539 No, you've got to make a decision. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.700 Who's going to be your priority? 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:00.200 Where are you going to find the source of life this year? 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:04.059 What are you going to look to for hope and joy and meaning and purpose? 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:07.720 Friends, what other source of life are you looking to to empower you? 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:12.440 Where are you looking for truth and joy and rock-solid assurance? 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.880 Choose Christ. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.680 Put your hope in Christ. 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:20.900 Turn from false gods that offer false hopes of salvation and turn to Jesus this year. 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:23.120 And not just once off every day. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.519 Choose Jesus decisively. 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:28.220 But come to Jesus daily. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:32.220 It's not just a once-off decision, a New Year's resolution that we make, 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.440 and then we get on with our lives. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:38.019 Day by day, choose to get to the feet of Jesus in His Word. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.680 Have daily devotions. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.960 Follow the Watermark Bible reading plan. 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:45.440 And day by day, come to Christ. 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:49.880 A branch that only connects to the vine once a week is not very connected. 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:52.400 No, day by day, come to Jesus. 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:54.000 Encounter the living God. 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:57.200 Start the Watermark Bible reading plan. 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.019 It's not too late. 00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:59.140 We're only on day eight. 00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:03.660 We've got 358 days to go this year. 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.559 Come and join us. 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:06.160 But day by day, come to Jesus. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.180 So come to Him decisively. 00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:09.080 Come to Him daily. 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:11.000 Come to Him honestly. 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:16.540 I think one of the temptations for Christians is we know how to put our best foot forward. 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:18.660 We know how to put on the Christian smile. 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.779 We know how to say the right things. 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:23.059 But actually, come to Jesus honestly. 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:27.299 Come and open up the depth of your heart and let Him know what's really going on. 00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:31.180 Friends, redemption starts with confession. 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.599 Wholeness starts with repentance. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:36.039 And freedom often starts with honesty. 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.599 And so friends, come to Jesus honestly. 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:44.779 Come and let Him shine the spotlight of His light into the deepest recesses of your heart. 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:51.899 But the places that you are tempted to hide, the places that you're tempted to let no one else in, open them up to Christ and say, 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.240 Jesus, this is my shame. 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.660 This is my fear. 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.819 This is my anxiety. 00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:59.680 Jesus, come and have your way in my life. 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:07.139 And what you'll find is that what you think is going to be painful and shameful is actually going to be liberating and healing. 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:09.139 Friends, come to Jesus decisively. 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.779 Come to Him daily. 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.259 Come to Him honestly. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:14.759 But finally, come to Him surrendered. 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:17.779 Come and put your hands at His mercy. 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.480 Come to Jesus and say, 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:22.240 Jesus, here's not just a branch of my life. 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.480 Here's my entire life. 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.819 Come and be the King. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.279 Come and be Lord. 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:28.420 Father, here are the keys to my life. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.859 Here are the reins of my life. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:33.259 Take the steering wheel of my life and take me where you want. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:38.339 Jesus, come and have your way in my life this year. 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.619 Friends, come and let Him be your King. 00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:42.479 Let Him be your Lord. 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:44.679 Let Him be your sovereign master. 00:31:45.459 --> 00:31:49.279 And as you do that, you'll find He'll empower you with His life. 00:31:49.959 --> 00:31:53.000 Friends, maybe God isn't doing such a new thing this year after all. 00:31:53.739 --> 00:31:58.419 Maybe He's doing what He's always done, which is ruling and reigning on the throne of the universe. 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:01.340 But He's also coming to us with open hands. 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:03.700 And He's saying, come and abide in me. 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.660 Come and drink of me. 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.860 Come and find your life in me. 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:12.140 Turn from those false gods that offer false offers of salvation. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.420 Come and find your life in me. 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:17.000 Let's pray together. 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:22.920 Lord Jesus, we don't know what 2023 holds, but You do. 00:32:23.580 --> 00:32:25.340 Because You are God and we are not. 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:29.060 But God, one thing we do know with certainty, 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:31.140 that Jesus, You are King. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.000 Jesus, You are Lord. 00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:35.400 And You're calling us to come to You. 00:32:36.380 --> 00:32:39.980 Decisively, daily, honestly surrendered. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:43.519 To open up our lives and to hand over our lives to You. 00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:48.240 Jesus, we must confess that it's sometimes hard to do that. 00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:52.300 Sometimes feel safer for us to be in the driving seat of our lives. 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:54.040 But God, as You've reminded us this morning, 00:32:54.800 --> 00:32:57.160 apart from You, we can do nothing. 00:32:57.640 --> 00:33:00.420 Other than build monuments to our own futility. 00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:02.160 And so Jesus, I pray this morning, 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:04.380 won't You give us faith to trust You where it's hard? 00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:08.380 God, won't You open our eyes to see Your majesty and Your grace? 00:33:09.260 --> 00:33:12.540 God, won't You help us to come and embed our lives in You? 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:18.020 The complexity, the multifaceted, multilayered areas of our lives. 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:21.560 Jesus, help us to come and find our life in You. 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:24.360 We pray this in Your wonderful and gracious name. 00:33:25.020 --> 00:33:25.320 Amen.