WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.740 Welcome again. It's just, isn't it great just to be able to worship God together? Isn't that great? 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:11.640 Isn't it just a privilege to be together with God's people and serving and praising Him? 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:24.560 And I just even this morning feel the weight of bringing God's Word to us because we're going to start off a series coming up 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:31.479 in looking at what it means to be a disciple. And today I want to tell us a little bit about some of where we want to go as a church 00:00:31.479 --> 00:00:42.079 even over this coming year. And I don't know if you have ever prayed in your life for your life to be impactful. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:53.239 I don't know if you've prayed for your marriage, for your family, for your kids, to live a life that bears significant fruit 00:00:53.240 --> 00:01:02.780 for God's kingdom. I don't know if you pray that. But today that's what we want to talk about and where we want to go as a church. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:15.240 We're going to talk about fruitfulness. And deep down I think all of us in some way long to have deep, meaningful, significant life 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:24.979 which has purpose. And Jesus is going to tell us a little bit about what that looks like for us individually and us as a church today. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:30.259 So I want to just, I'm just going to go and dive straight into the passage today. 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:35.939 And I want to look at three particular things about this passage. I want to look at the call to fruitfulness, 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:41.039 the nature of fruitfulness, and the power for fruitfulness. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:45.540 Okay? The call, the nature, and the power of fruitfulness. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:49.120 So please just have your bulletin with you. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.160 And we're just going to follow along and go through some of the passage together. 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:55.160 So the call to fruitfulness. 00:01:56.260 --> 00:02:02.580 This passage is set against the context. Jesus is approaching his death. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:06.120 And he's just told his disciples that he's going to go to the cross. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:13.620 And he's walking this path of love, out of love for the Father, and that the world might know his love. 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:18.319 And Judas, the betraying disciple, has just left the room. 00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:26.180 And Jesus uses this moment, one of the last times that he's with them, to tell them who he is. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:34.080 To remind them of who he is and what he's going to call them as his followers to do. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:40.040 And Jesus says one of the seven I am sayings in John. 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:42.420 They're very significant. I don't have time to unpack it. 00:02:42.720 --> 00:02:44.300 But here is what he says. 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:50.700 He says, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:56.660 This isn't a kind of image we naturally go to in Hong Kong. 00:02:56.720 --> 00:02:58.240 It doesn't really resonate with us. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:03.960 But any Jew in the first century knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:12.680 Because the image in the Old Testament of a vine was used to describe Israel, God's people. 00:03:14.420 --> 00:03:16.379 And here's Isaiah 5. 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:21.139 My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. 00:03:21.659 --> 00:03:23.000 He dug it all around. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:25.979 He planted it with a choice vine. 00:03:26.519 --> 00:03:29.840 And expected it to produce good grapes. 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:33.500 But it only produced worthless ones. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:41.439 And you see, that's typical of every time this image is used to describe God's people. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:49.359 It's always in the context of Israel's failure to be who they should be and God's judgment coming upon them. 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:52.219 Because they're producing rotten fruit. 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:57.840 And so when you get to this passage in John 15, it's revolutionary. 00:03:58.079 --> 00:04:04.960 Because it's the only time in the whole Bible where this vine image is used positively to describe somebody. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:11.120 And Jesus here is saying, I am the genuine vine. 00:04:12.320 --> 00:04:17.900 Everything that kind of religious Israel should have been but weren't, that's what I am. 00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:21.139 They were faithless, I am faithful. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.639 They were selfish, I am selfless. 00:04:24.939 --> 00:04:27.660 They were fruitless, I am fruitful. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:37.860 Everything that you and I should be but aren't, he says, I am now that for you. 00:04:40.140 --> 00:04:42.500 And that's actually the gospel message. 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:45.360 You cannot obey God by yourself. 00:04:45.640 --> 00:04:48.120 But Jesus has obeyed for you. 00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:51.260 And so now he says, come to me. 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:52.760 Run to me. 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:54.020 Trust me. 00:04:54.019 --> 00:05:01.959 And as my life, my sap courses through your veins, you will produce fruit. 00:05:03.979 --> 00:05:09.779 And so Jesus goes on to say, there are two types of branches in this vine. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:12.359 Verse 2, he says this. 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:17.259 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:23.899 And every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it may bear more fruit. 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:28.399 So there are fruitless branches and fruitful branches. 00:05:29.039 --> 00:05:32.199 Fruitless branches get cut off and thrown away. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:34.899 Fruitful ones get pruned. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:41.779 So what's a fruitless branch, you may be thinking? 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:48.879 Now if you remember, Jesus is talking to his disciples and Judas has just betrayed him. 00:05:50.299 --> 00:05:55.019 And Jesus, who had hung around with the disciples, he looked like a disciple. 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:58.859 Everybody thought that he was in there, in the in crowd. 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:03.479 But actually the fruit of his life showed that he had never truly followed Jesus. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:08.699 And there's a warning here that Jesus is giving. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:13.139 He's saying, some of us here today are religious. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:15.300 You can be religious. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:16.659 You can go to church regularly. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.759 You can pray. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:24.579 But if you've never come to that point where you say, I need Jesus as my savior. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:26.899 Not I need Jesus because I've got a job interview. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:29.740 But I need Jesus. 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:32.360 I want to follow him with all of my life. 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:37.379 But I see the fact that I stand before a holy God. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:45.080 And the hurricane of his anger at my sinfulness is towards me. 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:47.520 And I have no shelter in the storm. 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:51.500 I have nothing to stop me being thrown away by myself. 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:58.160 But Jesus on the cross says, I have taken the hurricane of God's anger on me. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.040 And he calls us. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:06.420 He says, my death means you can run to me and you can find a shelter in the storm. 00:07:07.320 --> 00:07:09.160 So run to me today. 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:14.340 And if that's you, and you know, my life is not totally wanting Jesus. 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:16.680 I haven't made that commitment. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:20.379 Then he says, run to me for forgiveness today. 00:07:21.080 --> 00:07:22.120 Run to me. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:28.740 Because I can give you the power to obey and not be a fruitless branch which gets thrown away. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:37.500 But if you have trusted in Jesus, the question is not whether you're going to get thrown away or not. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:41.620 You know, and if you doubt it, if you look at your performance and think, man, I'm not a great performer. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:42.780 Well, just look at the disciples. 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:44.899 I mean, they're a complete bunch of prunes. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:46.280 They're complete losers. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:48.800 Like they deny him. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:49.620 They're cowards. 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:50.819 They've got anger issues. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:53.399 I mean, why he would choose them, I don't know. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:57.099 But that's precisely who Jesus is talking to right at this moment. 00:07:57.420 --> 00:07:58.800 People like you and me. 00:08:00.159 --> 00:08:02.699 And he doesn't say the question is whether you're in or out or not. 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:04.879 He says, you're already clean. 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:06.139 And you think, what? 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:07.399 Already clean? 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:08.839 Don't you know what these guys are like? 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:17.800 And he says, because you've heard and responded to the gospel word that I've spoken, the issue isn't in or out. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.819 The issue is now how much fruit are you going to bear in your life? 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:22.240 That's the issue. 00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:30.939 Because, you know, any farmer doesn't plant trees just to kind of make them look nice on the outside. 00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:39.220 Every farmer comes looking at you, looking at the church, looking at our lives, and he wants to see fruit. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:43.360 And so, what he says is this. 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:46.120 And this is interesting. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:50.440 He says, if you're fruitful, what does he do? 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:53.740 If you're fruitful in your life, what does he do? 00:08:54.259 --> 00:09:00.259 Does he make your life kind of smooth sailing, have great kids, holidays in the Maldives every week? 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:01.300 No. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.660 He says, he prunes you. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.639 He prunes you. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:10.720 The word literally means he cleanses you. 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.080 Now, I don't know a lot about pruning vines. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:15.399 Okay? 00:09:15.439 --> 00:09:16.319 That's not my field. 00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:18.379 So, I looked up on a website. 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:21.600 And so, here's what the website said. 00:09:21.939 --> 00:09:22.120 Okay? 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.240 I've never been on a vine-growing website before, but this is it. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:30.480 It said, light pruning doesn't promote adequate fruiting. 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:34.759 Whereas heavy pruning provides the greatest quality of grapes. 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:39.620 Knowing how to prune grapes can make the difference between a good crop and a bad one. 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:40.899 Interesting. 00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:42.319 Jesus knew what he was talking about. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:47.720 Now, frankly, I don't sign up for pruning. 00:09:48.319 --> 00:09:48.559 Okay? 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.679 I'm not going like, hey, would you like some pruning in your life? 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:53.360 And I say, yeah, please, I'd love some of that. 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:54.899 I'm not doing that. 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:58.559 Because pruning is painful and uncomfortable. 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:00.240 It's not pleasant. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:03.439 But it's necessary. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:06.879 And it says, how does he prune? 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:10.199 It says, through his word and conviction of sin. 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:10.919 Absolutely. 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:17.819 But I think the most significant way that God prunes us in our life is through trials. 00:10:18.219 --> 00:10:19.339 Through difficulties. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:23.779 He prunes us through bringing complete morons into our lives. 00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:25.979 That we just want to run away from. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:29.259 He prunes us by bringing change into our lives. 00:10:29.339 --> 00:10:30.899 By pushing us out of our comfort. 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:33.279 He prunes us in all these things. 00:10:33.339 --> 00:10:35.199 And we say, Jesus, why do you have to do that? 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:42.400 And it's not because I need to make you suffer so you'll learn a lesson. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:44.200 That's not what he's saying. 00:10:45.520 --> 00:10:47.720 He's saying, I want to prune you. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.580 Because I've got this vision of the fruitfulness I'm going to make in your life. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:11:00.720 And as you become fruitful, it says, by this my Father is glorified as you bear much fruit. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.759 It's so that God will get glory in your life. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.360 That's why he wants to prune us. 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:12.360 This last year in Watermark, I really feel like, particularly as elders, 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:15.299 we've really sensed that sense of God pruning us. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:19.740 You know, there's been a real season of fruitfulness as a church. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:23.000 And then we've had a season of just upheaval and change. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:27.799 And God's pruning us. 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:32.960 And I'm not saying to Jesus, hey, Jesus, I'd love another round of that. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.519 I'm not saying that. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:46.279 But God lovingly brings his pruning shears onto us so that he is preparing us to bear more fruit as a church. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:50.019 He's bringing us into a new season where he wants us to be fruit bearers. 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:56.039 You know, writer A.W. Tozer, he said this. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.240 And this is challenging. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:03.819 He says, before God uses a man or a woman greatly, he must bruise them first deeply. 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:07.060 I don't like that. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.860 That's not kind of sexy gospel. 00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:13.800 But if you think about it, that's all the way through the Bible. 00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:19.400 He says, how could Joseph cope with his success at becoming the second in command in Egypt 00:12:19.400 --> 00:12:23.640 without letting it go to his head unless he'd gone through the pruning of being in prison? 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:29.419 How could Peter, who was the rock, whose sermons launched the church out, 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:36.639 and still, how could he still stay humble without the pruning of his denial and seeing his restoration in that? 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.919 Moses, 40 years in the desert. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.220 We could go on and on. 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:48.379 And it's true that as an individual, as a church, if we want to glorify God, if we want to be fruitful, 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:54.759 then we've got to be willing for God to prune us out of our comfort, out of our securities, 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:57.139 to let him help us to grow. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.620 So here's the thing. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.700 The call to fruitfulness is basically this. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.140 The mark of a true Christian is somebody who is bearing fruit. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:15.940 But the fruit is always the expression of the root, of where our hearts are in Christ. 00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:22.340 If we're in him, we're secure, but he wants to cleanse us to bear more fruit. 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.980 So that's the call of fruitfulness. 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:27.940 So let's think about the nature of fruitfulness. 00:13:28.140 --> 00:13:29.940 What is fruit? 00:13:30.520 --> 00:13:32.800 We're not talking apples and oranges here. 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:35.860 Jesus isn't saying, become a greengrocer. 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:38.420 Well, what's the fruit? 00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:40.379 Verses 9 to 17 tell us. 00:13:41.020 --> 00:13:42.600 Jesus says, my command is this. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:44.580 Love one another. 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.560 Love one another. 00:13:47.640 --> 00:13:50.220 And love is relational and outgoing. 00:13:50.220 --> 00:14:00.580 Galatians 5 develops this and says, basically, the fruit of the Spirit is, anyone know it? 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:11.379 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.759 That's what Jesus is looking for. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:20.679 But I don't know if you've noticed, he doesn't say the fruits of the Spirit. 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.580 He doesn't say plural. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:22.659 Okay? 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:23.679 It's singular. 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:30.059 So it's not as if there's kind of an apple of patience over here and a kind of orange of joy over here. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.299 And you could have an orange of joy but not an apple of patience. 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.659 That's not the way it works. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:38.120 You see, they actually work together. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:43.120 However, if you have, if you're not patient, you're not going to be loving. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.299 Right? 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:48.000 If you're kind, you're going to be gentle. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.259 If you don't have self-control, you won't be faithful. 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:58.840 And Jesus says, even in this passage in John, he says, if you love others with my love, my joy is going to be in you. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.200 You see, they're all connected. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.600 They grow together. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:07.940 As you look at this list, who here has nailed everyone? 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.240 Okay? 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:09.920 Who's? 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:10.920 Vijay. 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:12.659 Okay, Vijay's great. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:17.940 Just look at Vijay and you see the perfection there. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.480 Patience. 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.860 Who's got that one down? 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.320 Anyone? 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.279 Joy. 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:29.600 Who's always filled with joy when you go to work? 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:38.920 If, like Vijay, you have got them all, then you can just kind of leave now. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:40.720 Okay? 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:51.200 But the point is, we have to be pruned because, precisely because we haven't nailed these things. 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:58.660 And precisely because Jesus wants us to grow increasingly in every one of these, in every part of our lives. 00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:10.199 And the purpose of our church, the purpose of being here, is to enable you and me to increasingly grow and bear this fruit in our lives, in our relationships. 00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:16.379 So bearing fruit is about an ongoing, outgoing love. 00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:22.179 But Jesus also says this fruit is not just about the character. 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:29.299 He also says in verse 16, he says this, you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you. 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:31.859 Literally, I set you aside. 00:16:32.099 --> 00:16:33.199 I laid you aside. 00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:37.559 That you should go and bear fruit. 00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:39.620 And your fruit should abide. 00:16:39.719 --> 00:16:40.839 Your fruit should last. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.879 And what he's saying is this. 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:46.299 He's saying the fruit of that love, the fruit of the spirit can't be kept in. 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:47.959 You know, like a chihuahua in a handbag. 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.620 You can't keep it in like that. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:52.180 Because love intrinsically reaches out. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:58.160 You know, Jesus says to his disciples, you didn't choose me, but I chose you. 00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.860 He didn't wait for you to be pleasant. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.940 He didn't wait for you to be accommodated. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.860 He didn't wait for you to take the first step. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:08.779 He took the initiative to woo you to himself. 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.539 Just as you were at your worst. 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:18.940 And he says, as I have loved you, so now you go and love one another. 00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:22.440 Go to that moron in your office. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.639 That socially awkward person in your CG. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:31.980 Whoever I've placed around you to love them because love reaches out. 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:39.160 You know, when couples first start dating, have you noticed this? 00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:45.019 That they often just kind of cut themselves off from everybody else because they're so obsessed with each other. 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.039 Have you seen this? 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.680 Okay. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:49.000 You know, you used to have a friend. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:57.700 And then, like, every time you try and contact them, they're like, sorry, I've just got to hang out until 1 a.m. every single night with my girlfriend. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.400 Okay. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.019 Have you seen that? 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:05.440 And the Bible says, actually, that's not the way God works with us in the church. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.559 It's not a kind of cozy love-in. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:14.379 It says, my love, when I give it to you, it's like an amazing restaurant where you taste the food. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.420 You taste the love. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.839 And then you want to bring others to taste it too. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:25.400 That's why Jesus says, go and make disciples of all nations. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:28.579 He's actually saying the same thing about bearing fruit. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:32.779 It's not just, come to where I am in my little comfortable sofa. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:38.579 It's not, come to my CG and do whatever we're doing already because that's what makes us feel comfortable. 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.819 And if you don't like it, tough. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:48.220 It's actually, we go as a community to where people are and we look to help them to take the next step towards Christ. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.799 That is bearing fruit. 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:55.639 You know, it's becoming intentional in the ordinary things of life. 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.940 Just the everyday rhythms of life. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.919 You know, you go to the school gate. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:05.899 And instead of just rushing away to get on with your jobs, you look and see the other parents there and you say, hi. 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.139 You ask how someone's doing. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.759 You invite them for coffee or a play date. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:15.940 You pray for opportunities to share Jesus just in the everyday ordinary things of life. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.220 You go to work. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:25.740 And instead of avoiding that annoying colleague who irritates you, you actually every morning start taking the time to pray for them. 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.339 And say, God, help me to love them. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:31.980 Give me opportunities to share about Christ with them. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:35.259 That's what it looks like to bear fruit. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.839 It's the fruit of love. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:42.299 One commentator said this about this passage. 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:52.900 He said, the union of love that joins believers with Jesus can never become a comfortable, exclusivistic huddle that only they can share. 00:19:52.900 --> 00:20:07.680 You see, the fruit of our love mirrors God's love to us who reaches out to us and will discomfort ourselves for others because we know how much we've been loved. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:16.480 I don't know if you know, when you see kids when they're young, the world kind of, they're the center of the universe. 00:20:16.800 --> 00:20:18.100 Like, you've got young kids. 00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:19.920 They're the center of the world, right? 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:25.220 They scream and everyone just gives them food or everyone just tries to clean their nappy, whatever it is. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.240 They're the center of everything. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.380 It's like life revolves around their bath time, their bedtime, their poop time, whatever it is. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:35.500 Now, as they grow, they get more responsibility. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:37.960 Right? 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:45.700 And they mature and then they become, they get to move out and sometimes they get married and then they get kids. 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:49.920 And now it's no longer if I scream, I get whatever I want instantly. 00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:50.759 Right? 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.819 Have you noticed that? 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:57.440 Some people still think that's the case, but yeah, we won't go there. 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:09.299 But if a 30-year-old comes to you and is expecting their parents to come and bath them every night and is saying, 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:13.379 can you organize my bedtime for me, you'd think something was wrong, right? 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:18.899 But that's the same in the Christian life. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.220 New Christians need feeding. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:30.680 So those of us who've been Christians for longer in our lives need to be looking to see how we can feed them. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:32.279 That's the call to make disciples. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.599 It's not a call for super Christians. 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:39.519 It's a call for every Christian, which means we get involved in people's lives. 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:43.299 We look to share and point them to Jesus through the Bible. 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.919 That's what it's about. 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.759 We walk with them through the ups and downs of life. 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.459 That's discipleship. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:57.919 You see, some people say that they're mature, but if you're not reaching out and feeding others, 00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:05.960 then you cannot count as mature because spiritual infants grow to eventually bear that fruit of love, 00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:08.620 which is more concern for others than just for yourself. 00:22:12.320 --> 00:22:13.180 It's challenging. 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:16.300 But some of us are spiritual infants. 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:19.180 We've been in church a long time. 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:27.440 And we say things like, hey, I just need to grow deeper together with the people around me before I can reach out to someone else. 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:31.880 We say, I need to learn more before I can walk alongside someone. 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.160 And all of that sounds wise. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.400 All of that sounds helpful. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:40.880 But what I notice is that when we start off with that mentality, 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:44.580 and we often continue with that mentality, 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:49.139 because when have you grown deep enough? 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:51.779 When have you learned enough? 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:55.559 And I rarely see us saying things like, 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:59.179 teach me so that I can know how to go out and make disciples. 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:03.079 See, Jesus is challenging. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:07.119 And here we want to have deeper community, 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:11.039 but I call us to check our hearts. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:15.899 Sometimes when we just want to be with the people we want to be with, 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:17.920 but if we're not praying for the loss, 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:19.279 if we're not looking to reach out, 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.039 then it may be just a desire for my own comfort. 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:22.720 And God's going to say, 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:25.659 I want to prune that so you can bear fruit of love, 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.539 which glorifies me in your life. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.899 So this year, 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.599 this year, 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:37.279 by the end of 2018, 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:40.220 we are praying and believing that God would enable us 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:42.819 to start a second service in the community center, 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:45.700 to reach out to the people around there, 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:48.700 to go and to make disciples with people there. 00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:52.119 There are so many people who don't know Christ in that area, 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:56.019 and coming to Ebenezer is a barrier for them coming. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:24:00.059 We want to gather a group of people who will be able to reach out, 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.619 a team of 10, 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.599 20 people who will be able to form there 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:07.919 to be able to start something which can impact the people's lives around there. 00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:11.980 We want everyone in the church, 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:14.419 and here's a call for every single person 00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:16.019 who says you're a believer, 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:18.839 to be looking to walk alongside someone 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:22.419 and pointing them to Jesus 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:24.579 within watermark, 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:26.959 and to have one person at least that you're looking, 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.019 who is not a believer, 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.839 who wouldn't call themselves a Christian, 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:34.059 that you say I want to intentionally walk alongside them, 00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:34.899 pray for them, 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:37.159 and look to see if I can share the gospel with them. 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.000 That's the challenge. 00:24:39.179 --> 00:24:41.319 That's where God wants to call us to bear fruit. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.639 But I don't know about you, 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:50.279 because the call for fruitfulness, 00:24:50.439 --> 00:24:52.119 and then the nature of fruitfulness, 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.679 the reality is, 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:56.960 if you're like me, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:59.460 I need a power for fruitfulness, 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.120 and that's the third point, 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:04.180 because I know the problem with this. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.980 I know the problem with this. 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:10.580 If you look to pursue bearing fruit 00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:12.200 as your chief focus in life, 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:13.240 you get worn out. 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.320 You get worn out. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.460 You know, 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.420 a tree that's trying to squeeze out apples 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:20.480 all the time will get exhausted, 00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.560 and discouraged, 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.900 and give up, 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:26.500 because other things crowd out its time. 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.200 But Jesus says, 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:32.060 you can have a strategy and goals all you like, 00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.140 but it means nothing, 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:35.160 unless you're abiding in me. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.940 Here's what he says, 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:39.180 as a branch cannot bear fruit, 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.960 unless it abides in the vine, 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:42.400 neither can you, 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.779 unless you abide in me. 00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:45.420 Apart from me, 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.779 you can do nothing. 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:50.019 Did you hear what he said? 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.240 Apart from me, 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.360 you can do nothing. 00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:56.460 What that means is this. 00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:57.140 It means, 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.700 you can't bear the fruit of love by yourself. 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:01.060 You can't do it. 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.380 I've tried. 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.740 It means, 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:08.360 the only way we as a church will be fruitful, 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:11.039 is if we're abiding in Jesus. 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.680 You know, 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.539 we could have a thousand people in the church, 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:17.259 and if we're not abiding in Jesus, 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.539 it's all outward performance, 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.099 and God will say, 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.019 that's rotten fruit. 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:23.740 But abiding in Jesus, 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.119 that's a strange term. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.839 We don't say that. 00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:27.099 I don't say to my friends, 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.140 who just got married, 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.440 oh, 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:30.680 they're now abiding with each other. 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:31.920 I mean, 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.279 how often, 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.799 when did you last use the word abide? 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.339 Anyone? 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.859 But what we say, 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.519 we say things like, 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.539 they moved in together. 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:43.440 They're sharing their lives together. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:46.220 And the word literally means, 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.000 to continually dwell, 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.000 reside, 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.820 to move in with someone, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.759 in a deep, 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.380 ongoing, 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.680 intimate relationship. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.460 It's what in theological language, 00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:59.100 we call union with Christ. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:03.980 It's having been brought into relationship with him. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:06.080 You don't just sleep in separate bedrooms, 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.799 and then see each other once a week. 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:10.639 Jesus doesn't want, 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.980 a couch surfing relationship with you. 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.579 You know, 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.680 have him for a few days, 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.940 have him there on Sunday, 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.839 but then you've got to live somewhere else, 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.720 for the rest of the week. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.440 He wants intimacy with you. 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:25.339 Because you don't bear fruit, 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:28.299 just by trying hard. 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.960 When you're pursuing intimacy, 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.200 with your spouse, 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.379 what do you do? 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.299 You consciously make decisions, 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:39.000 that will enable your relationship, 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.599 to flourish, 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.259 right? 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.559 You plan time together, 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.700 you communicate together. 00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.819 When your friend says, 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.740 stay for another drink, 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.220 you say, 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.859 I've got to head back to my wife. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.299 Because loving her, 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:50.619 shapes your world. 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.639 That's what it's like with Jesus. 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.839 But I think, 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.559 one of the things, 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.899 that holds us back, 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:01.500 from intimacy with Jesus, 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.799 and receiving his love, 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.879 is that we often think, 00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:06.220 he's offended by us. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.559 We look at our fruit bearing, 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.139 and we think, 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:11.500 it doesn't look great. 00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:13.960 And you know, 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.779 when you feel like, 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.480 you're in the dog house with God, 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:18.220 you tend to, 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.500 avoid him. 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.139 Do you notice that? 00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:22.839 You see, 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:24.359 when I lost my wedding ring, 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.139 the last thing I wanted to do, 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.339 was to come back home, 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.119 to my wife. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.619 Because I hoped, 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.319 I could get away, 00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:32.299 without telling her. 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:35.019 And, 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.579 I wanted to avoid her, 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.720 because I feared, 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.919 what she'd say, 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.059 about my offense. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.319 When I actually, 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.139 opened up to her, 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.539 and said, 00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:44.799 hey, 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:46.440 I've lost my wedding ring. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.440 You know, 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.940 she was so gracious, 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.919 to me, 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.819 that I didn't expect, 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.720 that my love for her, 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.079 grew, 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.419 as I saw her kindness, 00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:57.099 to me. 00:28:57.099 --> 00:29:00.959 Many of us live, 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.859 with that suspicion, 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.699 that deep down, 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.319 God is actually, 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.539 deeply disappointed, 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.319 with us. 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.919 And our religion, 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:07.859 is simply to try, 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.599 and get ourselves, 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.759 on his good side. 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.819 But here's, 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.639 what we need to do, 00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:14.339 we need to learn, 00:29:14.459 --> 00:29:15.579 to run to Jesus, 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.579 rather than run from him. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:19.299 Even in our failures, 00:29:19.679 --> 00:29:20.459 and sinfulness. 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.819 That's the only power, 00:29:22.939 --> 00:29:23.639 to bear fruit. 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.639 I love Peter, 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.240 in the Bible. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.740 You know, 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.180 it's great. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.539 I just love the way, 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.279 it's just so raw, 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.839 and so real. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.339 Peter says to Jesus, 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.640 I'm never going to deny you. 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.019 He says, 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.460 you know, 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.779 Jesus gets arrested, 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.640 and he's like, 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.660 I'm defending you Jesus, 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.160 I'm with you, 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.019 he's got a sword. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.980 He cuts off the guy's ear, 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.880 to defend Jesus. 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:44.019 I don't know how he did that. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.319 Have you ever thought about that? 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.500 That's pretty precise. 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:47.980 Right? 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.480 I don't know what he was doing there. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.259 But, 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.000 but, 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.779 you know, 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.859 maybe he's good at carving, 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.420 I don't know. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.059 But, 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.980 but he gets, 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.039 Jesus has to tell him, 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.900 put it back. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.200 Peter, 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.859 that's not the way we do things around here. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.039 He gets to a courtyard, 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.160 a little servant girl, 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.000 comes and says, 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.900 you were with him, 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.880 and he totally denies ever knowing Jesus. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.920 He starts swearing, 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.980 starts cursing him, 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.480 and Jesus is right there in the courtyard, 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.279 walks past, 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.920 and he turns and looks at Peter, 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.500 and Peter is devastated, 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.240 broken. 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.400 Broken. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:24.360 If you think you've offended Jesus, 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:26.120 Peter experienced it more than you. 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.320 A short time later, 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:30.300 after the resurrection, 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.200 there's a little way out from the shore fishing. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.360 It's been a bad night. 00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.860 Someone on the shore calls out to them, 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.280 and John turns to Peter, 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:38.940 and says, 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.500 hey, 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.519 it's Jesus. 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:43.220 What does Peter do? 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.940 Peter doesn't say, 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.960 tell him I'm in a meeting. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.220 Doesn't say, 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.039 I'm on the phone. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.240 Do you know what it says? 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:54.900 It says, 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.279 he takes off his t-shirt, 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.420 equivalent, 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.639 wraps it around his waist, 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:02.660 and dives into the water. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.019 It says, 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.460 literally, 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:05.779 he threw himself into the sea. 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:08.460 Threw himself into the sea. 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:10.639 Swimming before the boat even gets to the shore. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.720 He's so desperate to get to Jesus. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.519 You see, 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:18.059 from that point, 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.879 he sees Jesus, 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.160 because he knows that Jesus 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.740 is just then so gracious to him. 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:24.139 He loves him. 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.639 He restores him. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:26.099 He says, 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.559 I'm going to make you bear fruit. 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.859 And from that, 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.160 you see, 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:31.240 Peter is an imperfect man. 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:33.779 But Peter knew what it was 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:35.180 to abide in Jesus, 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.799 because he knew 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:38.059 the love of Jesus 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.700 in his life, 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.259 and he knew that 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.279 when he went astray, 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.279 he needed to run 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.519 straight back to him, 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.120 and to pursue him. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.299 Has Peter kept every command? 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:51.779 No. 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:55.839 But when he comes back to Jesus, 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.779 it's that love 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.299 that fuels his obedience. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.839 And as he obeys, 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:01.519 he experiences more of his love, 00:32:01.639 --> 00:32:02.599 and more of his love, 00:32:02.699 --> 00:32:03.839 and more of his love. 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.379 Jesus says, 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:08.039 abide in my love. 00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:10.240 If you keep my commandments, 00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:11.720 you'll abide in my love. 00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:13.139 Don't run away. 00:32:13.699 --> 00:32:14.579 Run to me. 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.779 Pastor Matt Chandler 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:22.039 says that abiding in Jesus 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:24.779 is to fill my life 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.500 with things 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:27.279 that stir my affections 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.940 for Jesus. 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.119 You get that? 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.000 Fill my life 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.799 which stirs my affections 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.420 for Jesus. 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.480 And to cut out anything 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.039 which robs me 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.940 from delighting in Jesus. 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:42.399 You get that? 00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:43.659 You know, 00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:46.119 what stirs my heart 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:47.099 to long for Jesus? 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:49.500 I mean, 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.159 to start with, 00:32:50.199 --> 00:32:50.879 God's word 00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.619 and prayer. 00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:53.939 Individually, 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.240 community. 00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.719 But you know, 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.539 the Pharisees 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.019 were people 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.139 who read the Bible 00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:03.179 more than anybody else. 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.779 They prayed 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.899 more than anybody else. 00:33:08.419 --> 00:33:09.579 So what is the kind of 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.299 intimacy 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.480 that God is looking 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.579 for you in your life? 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.399 It's not to say, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:13.899 okay, 00:33:13.959 --> 00:33:14.679 I read my Bible. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.259 It's a kind of good tick box. 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.720 Now I'm a good Christian. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.859 Or I didn't do it. 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:20.019 Now I'm a bad Christian. 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.859 It's he saying, 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:24.480 I want you to want me. 00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.940 As you come to read the Bible, 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.460 come to ask 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.680 that you want me 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.740 to speak to you. 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:34.059 I want you to come 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.940 and to seek my face, 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:37.000 not my hand. 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.539 Don't just seek me 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.240 to get a whole lot 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.359 of stuff from me. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.240 But will you actually 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.559 seek me? 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.599 For me? 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.500 I wonder, 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.379 do you ever pray 00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:49.180 with desperation, 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:49.700 God, 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:50.500 Jesus, 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.579 I want to know you. 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.480 Or do we just pray, 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:53.779 kind of, 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:53.900 God, 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.640 give me a good life, 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.359 help my kids. 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:55.740 You know, 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.660 those are good things. 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.519 But do you ever get 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.180 to actually saying, 00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.640 I want to abide in you? 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.640 You know, 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.579 and Jesus says, 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.500 when you, 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:06.960 when you, 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.420 my words abide in you, 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.519 when I am, 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.099 when you're abiding in me, 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.900 you pray, 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.860 and whatever I ask, 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.139 you know, 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.019 when you pray, 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.980 give me a desire 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.460 to know you, 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.460 I'm going to give you that. 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:18.139 I'm going to give you that. 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.159 So it's stirring your heart 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.759 and cutting out 00:34:22.759 --> 00:34:23.460 what robs it 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:25.280 from the joy of Christ. 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:26.699 You know, 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.259 I discovered, 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:29.380 and maybe this is a little bit 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.199 too much information, 00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.759 I don't know, 00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:33.139 but every time I went 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.800 to the bathroom, 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:34.840 okay, 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.380 hold on, 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:35.940 wait for me. 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.219 Every time I went 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.599 to the bathroom, 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.639 I discovered my mind 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.440 would just kind of wander 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:41.300 into this little fantasy world 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:42.659 of me being on the throne 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.339 of my life. 00:34:45.279 --> 00:34:45.719 You know, 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.199 you've got a couple 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.920 of minutes in there, 00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.279 whatever, 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.000 however long, 00:34:48.399 --> 00:34:49.319 and it would just wander 00:34:49.319 --> 00:34:50.000 onto all kinds 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:51.099 of unhelpful things 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.719 in my mind. 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.379 And I'd come out of there 00:34:53.379 --> 00:34:54.039 and all of it would be 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:55.139 just be centered around me. 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.480 And I realized 00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:01.079 that I have two minutes there 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.179 where I can either choose 00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.339 to stir my affections 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:03.799 for Jesus 00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.500 or choose 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.859 to let something rob me 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.599 of joy in Jesus 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.839 and center me around myself. 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.219 So I started to get 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.000 just one verse 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.659 from the scripture 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:13.239 and I just try 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:13.920 and memorize it 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.779 in those two minutes. 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.379 One verse. 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:19.039 And it stirs 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:20.059 little by little 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.859 my affections 00:35:20.859 --> 00:35:21.359 for Jesus. 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.519 You see, 00:35:24.879 --> 00:35:26.839 if you're a Christian, 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:28.039 it's not an option 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:29.420 about loving others. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.619 It's not an option 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.819 about making disciples. 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.819 You can't say, 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:35.039 I'm not into that right now. 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:35.940 It's not a good time. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.799 Because it's a command. 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:40.700 But we obey 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.980 out of a security 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:43.080 in God's love, 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.140 not trying to earn 00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:45.420 God's love together. 00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.420 When my wife 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:48.980 tells me 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.560 not to eat 00:35:49.560 --> 00:35:50.200 in the bedroom 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:51.700 and I'm there 00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.680 eating a snack 00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:53.740 and suddenly 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.620 I realize 00:35:54.620 --> 00:35:55.760 the word 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.720 comes in my mind, 00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:59.820 I can carry on eating. 00:36:01.080 --> 00:36:02.060 That's not going to 00:36:02.060 --> 00:36:03.140 flourish our relationship. 00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:04.600 Right? 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.740 Some of you know 00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:06.220 what I mean. 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:08.279 I can stop 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:08.739 and say, 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.319 if I eat outside, 00:36:10.439 --> 00:36:11.579 maybe she'll love me more. 00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:13.759 Maybe she'll think 00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:14.899 I'm an amazing husband. 00:36:16.879 --> 00:36:17.639 That's just 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.939 completely ridiculous. 00:36:19.959 --> 00:36:21.359 Doesn't work like that. 00:36:22.459 --> 00:36:23.019 Or, 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:24.099 I can say, 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:26.399 I'm secure 00:36:26.399 --> 00:36:27.319 in my relationship. 00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:29.639 And I'm going to 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.199 go outside 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.079 because I desire 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:31.939 to please her. 00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:34.819 And as you do that, 00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.660 your relationship 00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:36.780 begins to flourish 00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:38.320 more and more. 00:36:40.600 --> 00:36:41.760 That's what abiding 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.760 and obedience 00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.360 to God 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:44.039 is looking for. 00:36:44.100 --> 00:36:44.480 And I don't know 00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.260 what that looks like 00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:46.019 in your life. 00:36:46.620 --> 00:36:47.320 But that's what God's 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.840 calling each one of us 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.380 to do. 00:36:50.080 --> 00:36:51.100 To abide. 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.320 To pursue 00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.019 Jesus. 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.320 Because when you 00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:56.059 do that, 00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.940 then 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.940 you will see, 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.940 you'll begin to see 00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.920 the people around you 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.680 in a different way. 00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:02.240 God will show you 00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:03.000 step by step 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.500 the people 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:03.980 that you need 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.619 to love, 00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:05.599 which maybe 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.380 you weren't loving. 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.920 And he will push you 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.980 out of your comfort zone. 00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.340 You'll go, 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.300 I don't really 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:12.000 want to do that. 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.860 But then he'll say, 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.199 listen, 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.619 this is where 00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:15.960 my joy is found. 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.960 When you find me. 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:22.900 For us this year, 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:23.579 there's a few things 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.559 that it will look like. 00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.599 What does it look like? 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.519 We're going to stop 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.860 the CBGs meeting together 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.800 for the first five, 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:33.579 six weeks of this semester 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:34.380 and we're going to have 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.880 this CG together time. 00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:37.420 Okay, 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.019 we're going to start 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.980 meeting this Friday 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:39.920 at the community center, 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.620 7.30. 00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:43.559 Because we want to discover 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.780 and learn more about 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.620 what does it actually 00:37:45.620 --> 00:37:46.800 really mean in practice 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:47.599 to help walk 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:48.660 alongside each other, 00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:50.420 to help make disciples 00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:51.440 in the ordinary things 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:52.000 of life, 00:37:52.680 --> 00:37:54.120 to learn how to do that. 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.900 Some of us, 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.760 that will be uncomfortable. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:59.180 But that's okay 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:00.880 because God wants you 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:01.480 to be fruitful. 00:38:05.020 --> 00:38:06.340 We also want to talk 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:07.080 about membership 00:38:07.080 --> 00:38:08.340 this year more. 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.200 We want to push it 00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:11.140 as a way to call you 00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:11.980 and to call people 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.940 to step up and say, 00:38:13.100 --> 00:38:14.340 I'm in for this mission 00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.080 of bearing fruit. 00:38:15.140 --> 00:38:16.080 I don't know how to do it. 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.400 I need Jesus. 00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:21.080 And if you're not a member, 00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.140 we'll be challenging you 00:38:22.140 --> 00:38:23.100 to say yes 00:38:23.100 --> 00:38:24.360 to the call of Jesus 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.180 that he has 00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:26.400 through your life 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.440 in this church. 00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:30.200 Because we don't just 00:38:30.200 --> 00:38:31.480 want to stay comfortable. 00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:36.360 We want to encourage people 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:38.360 to learn to be stepping up 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:39.140 into leadership 00:38:39.140 --> 00:38:40.039 in different ways, 00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:40.720 in deacons, 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:41.420 in preaching, 00:38:41.620 --> 00:38:42.340 in eldership, 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.260 in parenting, 00:38:43.700 --> 00:38:44.840 in different things. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.260 We'll have our new lead pastor, 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:47.740 Kevin, 00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.920 will come in in January. 00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:50.519 He'll take some time 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.079 to settle in. 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:53.699 But I'm just really excited 00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.559 about that time. 00:38:54.860 --> 00:38:55.219 It's going to be 00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:56.960 a tremendous blessing for us. 00:38:58.719 --> 00:38:59.139 But you know, 00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:00.739 a new leader coming in 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.539 is not the secret 00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:03.059 to this church bearing fruit. 00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:05.239 Abiding in Jesus is. 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.039 Right? 00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:08.159 That's every one of us. 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:12.299 Let me close with this. 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.579 As elders, 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:18.059 we talked about the mission 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:18.920 of making disciples 00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:20.239 last week. 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:24.519 And someone once said, 00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.639 the church exists 00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:26.420 by mission 00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:27.759 as a fire exists 00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.400 by burning. 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:29.940 And we believe that. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.259 You see, 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.380 the university ministry, 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:32.079 the great stuff 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.880 that's going on there. 00:39:34.539 --> 00:39:35.539 But I have to be 00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:36.440 just really honest 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.059 with you 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.900 and say, 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.900 as we talked about 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:40.340 what our hearts are like, 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.420 we just have to repent 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.559 before you as leaders. 00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:45.539 Because we realize 00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.019 that actually, 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.159 in our lives, 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:49.639 while we reach out 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.340 to some friends, 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:51.000 while we do 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:52.019 certain things like that, 00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:53.640 when it comes to 00:39:53.640 --> 00:39:54.460 really looking 00:39:54.460 --> 00:39:55.559 at our heart, 00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:57.780 does my heart 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.780 burn with love 00:39:58.780 --> 00:39:59.539 that people might 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.800 come to know Christ? 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:01.539 And does that 00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:02.440 shape the way 00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:03.280 I do things? 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:04.760 Does that shape 00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:05.480 the way I'm just 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.440 thinking and praying? 00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:08.840 Am I desperate 00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.380 that people 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:10.079 would come to know 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:11.360 how amazing Jesus is? 00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:13.539 And we had to 00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.200 look at ourselves 00:40:14.200 --> 00:40:14.640 and say, 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:16.000 so often that's 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.079 lacking in my life. 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:19.299 I can do 00:40:19.299 --> 00:40:20.039 a whole lot of stuff, 00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.239 you know, 00:40:20.279 --> 00:40:20.840 we can organize 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.860 a mission outreach. 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:23.719 And then we do that 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:24.420 and we tick the box 00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:24.719 and we say, 00:40:24.799 --> 00:40:25.440 we did mission, 00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:26.599 but actually our heart 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:28.400 is it filled 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:29.000 with a love 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:30.039 that Jesus has 00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:31.159 for us 00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:32.000 so that we can 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.380 go out 00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:33.139 and love others. 00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:37.000 And as a church, 00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:37.719 I believe that 00:40:37.719 --> 00:40:39.579 we as leaders 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:40.179 just need to 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:41.000 repent of that 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:41.579 before you 00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:42.239 because also, 00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.159 I think as us, 00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:44.159 as a church, 00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:45.299 we need to see 00:40:45.299 --> 00:40:46.379 that that's what 00:40:46.379 --> 00:40:47.339 God is calling us 00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:47.819 to be. 00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:49.159 And some of us 00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:49.980 need to repent 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.440 as well 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:50.859 because if you 00:40:50.859 --> 00:40:51.619 think about it, 00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:54.119 where's my heart? 00:40:55.279 --> 00:40:56.179 Where's my heart? 00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:59.199 Jesus wants you 00:40:59.199 --> 00:40:59.799 to know 00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:00.899 that intimate 00:41:00.899 --> 00:41:01.940 pursuit of him 00:41:01.940 --> 00:41:02.559 in whatever 00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.579 your circumstances 00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:04.539 are right now. 00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:06.279 He's not saying, 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:06.859 here's a list 00:41:06.859 --> 00:41:07.719 of a hundred things 00:41:07.719 --> 00:41:08.019 to do. 00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.379 He's saying, 00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:08.699 I want you 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:09.519 to pursue me. 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.879 Some of us, 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:13.000 we need to repent 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.780 because we've been 00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:14.440 chasing after 00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:15.280 everything else 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:15.840 but we haven't 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.820 chased after Jesus. 00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:21.400 But when we do, 00:41:21.820 --> 00:41:22.619 this church will 00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:23.619 flourish and bear 00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.340 fruit, 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:26.280 fruit that will 00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:26.820 last. 00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:30.239 I want us to pray. 00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:35.000 I want you to think 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.059 in your heart now 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:37.559 and I want to call us 00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.000 actually, 00:41:39.739 --> 00:41:40.719 as the band comes up, 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:41.320 just for a time 00:41:41.320 --> 00:41:41.739 of just thinking 00:41:41.739 --> 00:41:42.440 about repentance. 00:41:42.440 --> 00:41:43.480 What does repentance 00:41:43.480 --> 00:41:44.760 look like in my life? 00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:48.340 Where do you see 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:48.920 your heart? 00:41:50.220 --> 00:41:50.920 Where do you see 00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:51.780 your heart right now 00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:52.240 with Jesus? 00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:58.139 Do you feel distant 00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:59.260 from him at the moment? 00:42:00.860 --> 00:42:01.820 Have you been running 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:02.500 from him? 00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.700 Have you just been 00:42:04.700 --> 00:42:05.559 so wrapped up 00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.480 with all the busyness 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:08.340 that you haven't seen 00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:11.260 the people around you? 00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:14.580 God just says, 00:42:14.780 --> 00:42:15.240 just come, 00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:16.800 run back to me now. 00:42:18.140 --> 00:42:19.440 Ask me to forgive you. 00:42:19.580 --> 00:42:20.580 Ask me to cleanse you 00:42:20.580 --> 00:42:21.460 and you experience 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.300 my grace 00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:23.300 and my love again. 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:26.060 And I want to send you 00:42:26.060 --> 00:42:27.140 out and just show you 00:42:27.140 --> 00:42:27.780 this week 00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:29.000 one person 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:30.320 that you can connect with. 00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:34.059 just spend a minute 00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.559 just spending time 00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:36.280 with God now. 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:41.100 What is God saying 00:42:41.100 --> 00:42:41.640 to you? 00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.600 Just open your hands, 00:42:46.680 --> 00:42:47.620 just let the spirit 00:42:47.620 --> 00:42:49.400 just speak into your heart. 00:42:49.400 --> 00:43:00.119 some of us are tired. 00:43:02.780 --> 00:43:03.820 Some of us just need 00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:04.840 to run 00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:06.360 and say, 00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:06.700 Jesus, 00:43:06.820 --> 00:43:08.160 would you fill me again? 00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:20.659 choose this time 00:43:20.659 --> 00:43:21.859 to just speak to Jesus. 00:43:25.639 --> 00:43:27.179 Am I desperate for you? 00:43:27.179 --> 00:43:57.159 God bless you. 00:43:57.159 --> 00:43:57.619 Father, 00:43:57.779 --> 00:43:58.039 just, 00:43:58.659 --> 00:44:02.079 we can't work up 00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:03.339 and manufacture fruit. 00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:07.920 We can only do that. 00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:11.019 it's only you 00:44:11.019 --> 00:44:11.740 who's going to produce 00:44:11.740 --> 00:44:12.559 fruit in us. 00:44:16.740 --> 00:44:17.400 But Father, 00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:18.180 just admit that 00:44:18.180 --> 00:44:19.019 I need you. 00:44:20.700 --> 00:44:21.760 We need you. 00:44:22.039 --> 00:44:22.880 As a church, 00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:23.820 we need you. 00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:26.240 And I pray 00:44:26.240 --> 00:44:27.480 that you create in us 00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.519 a prayerfulness 00:44:28.519 --> 00:44:30.000 which is so desperate 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:30.880 for you. 00:44:32.280 --> 00:44:33.820 Where we long for you. 00:44:33.900 --> 00:44:34.960 Even in the busyness 00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.639 of our days, 00:44:35.760 --> 00:44:36.599 we're looking to see 00:44:36.599 --> 00:44:37.619 how you can be, 00:44:37.779 --> 00:44:39.339 you can be there 00:44:39.339 --> 00:44:40.900 in that day. 00:44:43.179 --> 00:44:44.619 Make us a church 00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:47.619 where like a barbecue coal, 00:44:48.480 --> 00:44:50.299 which is cold, 00:44:51.219 --> 00:44:52.259 just gets heated 00:44:52.259 --> 00:44:53.159 and heated 00:44:53.159 --> 00:44:54.059 by your love 00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:55.880 till we become 00:44:55.880 --> 00:44:57.039 white hot 00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:58.000 for you. 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:01.199 and as that coal 00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:01.739 burns, 00:45:01.900 --> 00:45:02.039 Lord, 00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:03.380 it will spread 00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:04.920 and touch others 00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.300 and Lord, 00:45:05.340 --> 00:45:06.760 I pray that as a church 00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:07.500 you would make us 00:45:07.500 --> 00:45:08.639 a blazing furnace 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.360 for you 00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:12.340 which produces 00:45:12.340 --> 00:45:13.519 tasty fruit. 00:45:15.780 --> 00:45:16.679 Let us long 00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:17.360 for you more. 00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:18.800 I pray 00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:20.680 in Jesus' name. 00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:21.660 Amen.