WEBVTT

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 All right, well, we're continuing on this morning

00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:11.640
 with the teaching of Jesus in John chapter 15.

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 This morning's message is a part two

00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:18.820
 flowing out of what we talked about last Sunday.

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 If you missed last Sunday,

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 you can listen to the sermon audio online

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 on our website under sermons.

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 So I'm just gonna read John chapter 15,

00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:33.840
 verse one to six again,

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 and then just quickly recap the main things

00:00:36.760 --> 00:00:38.539
 that we talked about last Sunday.

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 And then we'll move on to explore this passage

00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:43.079
 a little deeper.

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 So this is Jesus talking in John chapter 15.

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 I am the true vine,

00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.840
 and my Father is the gardener.

00:00:56.619 --> 00:01:01.439
 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,

00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:05.299
 while every branch that does bear fruit,

00:01:05.899 --> 00:01:09.019
 He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.920
 You are already clean

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 because of the word I have spoken to you.

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 Remain in me

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 as I also remain in you.

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 No branch can bear fruit by itself.

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 It must remain in the vine.

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 Neither can you bear fruit

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 unless you remain in me.

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 I am the vine.

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 You are the branches.

00:01:42.580 --> 00:01:44.380
 If you remain in me

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 and I in you,

00:01:46.600 --> 00:01:48.680
 you will bear much fruit.

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 Apart from me,

00:01:51.380 --> 00:01:52.440
 you can do nothing.

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 If you do not remain in me,

00:01:56.020 --> 00:01:58.060
 you are like a branch that is thrown away

00:01:58.060 --> 00:01:58.720
 and withers.

00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.140
 Such branches are picked up,

00:02:02.600 --> 00:02:03.460
 thrown into the fire,

00:02:03.860 --> 00:02:04.840
 and burned.

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 So we talked about how God is the gardener last Sunday.

00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:13.020
 God is at work,

00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:15.340
 like a gardener is at work,

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 to bring about a fruitful vineyard,

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 a people full of good fruit.

00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:24.199
 And we talked a little about

00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:26.539
 what good fruit means last Sunday.

00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:28.560
 It means things like righteousness,

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 justice,

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 love,

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 compassion,

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 honesty,

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 peace,

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 and so on.

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 And these things stand in contrast

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 to the bad fruit,

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 injustice,

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 oppression,

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 deceitfulness,

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 bloodshed,

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 greed,

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 and so on.

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 And we talked about

00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.359
 how Jesus is the true vine.

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 We looked at a couple places

00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:04.959
 where God spoke about

00:03:04.959 --> 00:03:05.780
 the people of Israel

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 in the past,

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 in the Old Testament,

00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:08.799
 with the metaphor of

00:03:08.799 --> 00:03:09.620
 vineyard,

00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:10.500
 and vines,

00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:11.000
 and fruit.

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 And we saw how Jesus

00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:14.500
 stands out.

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 Up until now,

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 the vineyard God has planted

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 has,

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 on the whole,

00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:23.239
 brought forth

00:03:23.239 --> 00:03:24.000
 bad fruit.

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 fruit.

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 And it had to do

00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:27.759
 with the people themselves

00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:29.719
 who were sinners

00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:30.599
 just like us.

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 But now,

00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:34.699
 God has planted

00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:35.939
 the true vine,

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 Jesus,

00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:38.460
 into his vineyard.

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 And he is the true

00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:42.599
 source of life

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 and of all that is good.

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 God has planted

00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:45.700
 the true vineyard.

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 And we talked a little

00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:48.540
 about how

00:03:48.540 --> 00:03:50.060
 we are the branches,

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 those of us

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 who believe in Jesus.

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 We talked about

00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:56.260
 how branches

00:03:56.260 --> 00:03:58.300
 are secondary shoots

00:03:58.300 --> 00:03:59.140
 coming off

00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:00.180
 the primary shoot.

00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:02.360
 And I encourage us

00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:03.240
 to think about

00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:04.000
 whether we have that

00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.100
 straight in our hearts

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 and minds.

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 And finally,

00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:09.140
 we talked about

00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:10.180
 our utter need

00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:12.140
 to remain in Jesus,

00:04:12.139 --> 00:04:13.839
 to abide in him,

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 which means

00:04:14.779 --> 00:04:16.019
 to stay closely

00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:17.379
 connected to him,

00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:19.079
 walking in close

00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:20.419
 relationship with him.

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 So now we want

00:04:23.379 --> 00:04:24.459
 to continue meditating

00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:25.899
 on these words

00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:26.439
 of Jesus.

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 Let's come back

00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:28.599
 to what we talked

00:04:28.599 --> 00:04:29.579
 about last Sunday,

00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:31.419
 that God is the gardener

00:04:31.419 --> 00:04:32.500
 at work,

00:04:33.659 --> 00:04:34.039
 tending

00:04:34.039 --> 00:04:35.279
 and pruning.

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 we see this

00:04:39.619 --> 00:04:40.059
 in verse

00:04:40.059 --> 00:04:41.139
 chapter 2.

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 We see this

00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:45.739
 in verse 2.

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 He cuts off

00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:52.199
 every branch

00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:53.159
 in me,

00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.419
 that's the gardener,

00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:55.059
 he cuts off

00:04:55.059 --> 00:04:55.859
 every branch

00:04:55.859 --> 00:04:56.299
 in me

00:04:56.299 --> 00:04:57.439
 that bears no fruit,

00:04:58.579 --> 00:04:59.459
 while every branch

00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:00.619
 that does bear fruit

00:05:00.619 --> 00:05:01.439
 he prunes

00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:03.039
 so that it will be

00:05:03.039 --> 00:05:04.319
 even more fruitful.

00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.619
 As I said

00:05:06.619 --> 00:05:07.179
 last Sunday,

00:05:07.299 --> 00:05:08.139
 Jesus wants us

00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:09.039
 to come to terms

00:05:09.039 --> 00:05:10.279
 with the mindset

00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:11.139
 of God,

00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:12.500
 the gardener.

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 Just like when I go

00:05:14.799 --> 00:05:16.139
 to all the work

00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:17.199
 of planting plants

00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:17.899
 in my garden

00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:19.199
 and tending them,

00:05:19.799 --> 00:05:20.899
 like some of you

00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:21.879
 did this past summer,

00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:23.919
 what do I want

00:05:23.919 --> 00:05:24.739
 from those plants

00:05:24.739 --> 00:05:25.819
 after all that work?

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 Well,

00:05:28.299 --> 00:05:29.179
 I want as much

00:05:29.179 --> 00:05:30.659
 delicious fruit

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 as possible.

00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:33.359
 God has that

00:05:33.359 --> 00:05:34.259
 same mindset

00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.139
 toward us,

00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:36.459
 he wants to see

00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:38.119
 as much good fruit

00:05:38.119 --> 00:05:39.119
 as possible

00:05:39.119 --> 00:05:40.639
 come from our lives.

00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:42.599
 Now,

00:05:42.619 --> 00:05:43.439
 we have to be careful

00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:43.819
 here

00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:45.339
 that we don't

00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:46.659
 misunderstand Jesus.

00:05:47.479 --> 00:05:48.639
 Jesus is not saying

00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:49.539
 that we need to do

00:05:49.539 --> 00:05:51.079
 enough good works

00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:52.919
 in order to be saved.

00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:55.059
 The Bible is clear

00:05:55.059 --> 00:05:55.399
 on this.

00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:56.219
 We are saved

00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:57.879
 and we are joined

00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:59.859
 to Christ

00:05:59.859 --> 00:06:01.439
 by faith,

00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:04.259
 by believing in him

00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.480
 and not because

00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:07.480
 of good works.

00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:09.480
 God's saving

00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.300
 love comes to us

00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:11.779
 while we are

00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:12.540
 still sinners,

00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:14.699
 still guilty,

00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:16.439
 still people

00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:17.959
 who have sin

00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:19.079
 and do sin.

00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:22.199
 But then once

00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:22.839
 we are joined

00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:23.579
 to Christ,

00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.500
 we begin to

00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:25.759
 grow like

00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.000
 a branch

00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:27.839
 of a plant

00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:28.779
 grows.

00:06:28.779 --> 00:06:30.299
 we begin

00:06:30.299 --> 00:06:31.159
 to change

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 as we drink

00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:33.539
 from the nourishing

00:06:33.539 --> 00:06:34.839
 sap of the vine.

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 We are now

00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:37.839
 connected to the

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 source of all

00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:39.979
 life

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 and of all

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 goodness.

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 And now

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 because of that

00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:45.879
 connection to Christ,

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 we become

00:06:47.359 --> 00:06:48.000
 able

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 to bear

00:06:49.219 --> 00:06:50.399
 good fruit.

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 and God,

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 like a gardener,

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 begins to work

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 on us

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 and in us

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 and through us

00:06:58.560 --> 00:06:59.919
 by the power

00:06:59.919 --> 00:07:01.319
 of his Holy Spirit.

00:07:02.799 --> 00:07:03.639
 And good things

00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:04.339
 begin to come

00:07:04.339 --> 00:07:04.979
 out of us

00:07:04.979 --> 00:07:06.399
 like never before.

00:07:07.859 --> 00:07:08.919
 Our overall

00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:09.739
 mindset

00:07:09.739 --> 00:07:10.560
 and attitude

00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:11.620
 begins to change

00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:13.099
 from living

00:07:13.099 --> 00:07:14.099
 for myself,

00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:16.339
 for my own

00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:16.839
 pleasure,

00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:18.719
 to now

00:07:18.719 --> 00:07:20.779
 living for you,

00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:21.419
 Jesus,

00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.219
 for your

00:07:23.219 --> 00:07:23.619
 pleasure.

00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:25.979
 We begin

00:07:25.979 --> 00:07:26.419
 to pray

00:07:26.419 --> 00:07:27.139
 more and more

00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.219
 that same

00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:28.699
 prayer that

00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:29.579
 Jesus prayed.

00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:31.159
 Not my

00:07:31.159 --> 00:07:31.459
 will,

00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.319
 not what I

00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:32.639
 want,

00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:34.039
 but your

00:07:34.039 --> 00:07:34.359
 will,

00:07:34.479 --> 00:07:34.939
 what you

00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:35.319
 want,

00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:35.959
 be done,

00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:37.000
 Father.

00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:40.239
 We begin

00:07:40.239 --> 00:07:40.819
 to let go

00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:41.179
 of that

00:07:41.179 --> 00:07:41.839
 impulse that

00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:42.379
 we had

00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.539
 to store

00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:44.099
 up for

00:07:44.099 --> 00:07:44.620
 ourselves

00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:45.179
 treasures

00:07:45.179 --> 00:07:45.879
 here on

00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:46.279
 earth

00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:47.099
 and instead

00:07:47.099 --> 00:07:47.639
 begin to

00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:48.199
 store up

00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:48.859
 for ourselves

00:07:48.859 --> 00:07:49.459
 treasures

00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.359
 in heaven.

00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:52.659
 We begin

00:07:52.659 --> 00:07:53.179
 to let go

00:07:53.179 --> 00:07:53.539
 of that

00:07:53.539 --> 00:07:54.099
 desire

00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:54.619
 to get

00:07:54.619 --> 00:07:55.459
 more and

00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:55.759
 more,

00:07:56.059 --> 00:07:56.979
 to establish

00:07:56.979 --> 00:07:57.659
 our own

00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:58.799
 little kingdom

00:07:58.799 --> 00:07:59.979
 here on

00:07:59.979 --> 00:08:00.299
 earth,

00:08:00.359 --> 00:08:00.799
 and instead

00:08:00.799 --> 00:08:01.439
 we desire

00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:01.859
 to see

00:08:01.859 --> 00:08:02.539
 God's

00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:03.019
 kingdom

00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:05.099
 established.

00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:08.259
 Once we

00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:08.719
 are joined

00:08:08.719 --> 00:08:09.379
 to Christ,

00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:10.859
 good fruit

00:08:10.859 --> 00:08:11.939
 begins to

00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:12.219
 grow.

00:08:13.659 --> 00:08:14.159
 But here's

00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:14.619
 the truth

00:08:14.619 --> 00:08:15.159
 that we see

00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:15.659
 coming out

00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:16.080
 of Jesus'

00:08:16.320 --> 00:08:16.920
 words here.

00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:18.700
 God doesn't

00:08:18.700 --> 00:08:19.180
 just sit

00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:19.680
 back and

00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.240
 watch this

00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:20.680
 happen.

00:08:21.960 --> 00:08:22.660
 Now some

00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:23.080
 people do

00:08:23.080 --> 00:08:23.620
 their garden

00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:24.420
 in that

00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:24.760
 way.

00:08:25.020 --> 00:08:25.480
 They plant

00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:25.980
 the seeds

00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:26.260
 in the

00:08:26.260 --> 00:08:26.620
 ground,

00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:27.780
 they give

00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:28.140
 it one

00:08:28.140 --> 00:08:28.900
 good soaking,

00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:30.100
 and then

00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:30.460
 they just

00:08:30.460 --> 00:08:30.940
 leave it.

00:08:31.940 --> 00:08:32.519
 From then

00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:33.160
 on, if it

00:08:33.160 --> 00:08:33.840
 rains, it

00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.240
 rains.

00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:35.560
 If a late

00:08:35.560 --> 00:08:36.300
 frost comes,

00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:36.860
 it comes.

00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:38.340
 If the

00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.480
 plant shoot

00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:40.080
 is about

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.180
 to snap

00:08:41.180 --> 00:08:41.960
 off without

00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.720
 some kind

00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:43.240
 of supporting

00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:44.060
 stake or

00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:44.560
 cage,

00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:46.460
 oh well.

00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:48.759
 We might

00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:49.300
 call this

00:08:49.300 --> 00:08:50.160
 passive

00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:50.639
 gardening,

00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:52.500
 or hands-off

00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:53.259
 gardening.

00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:55.800
 And as it

00:08:55.800 --> 00:08:56.700
 usually goes,

00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:58.759
 the hands-off

00:08:58.759 --> 00:08:59.639
 gardener gets

00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.100
 from their

00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:01.500
 plants what

00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:01.879
 they put

00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:04.300
 in, often

00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:04.860
 a meager

00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:05.560
 harvest.

00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:08.300
 But God

00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:09.320
 is not like

00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:10.300
 that with

00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:10.780
 us.

00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:12.620
 He is

00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:13.960
 an active

00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:14.980
 gardener,

00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.020
 says Jesus

00:09:16.020 --> 00:09:16.560
 here in

00:09:16.560 --> 00:09:17.040
 verse 2.

00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:17.480
 He is

00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:18.379
 hands-on.

00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:18.960
 He is

00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:19.720
 pruning

00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:21.540
 and tending

00:09:21.540 --> 00:09:23.220
 because he

00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:23.740
 is not

00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.600
 content for

00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.520
 a meager

00:09:25.520 --> 00:09:26.320
 harvest from

00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:27.080
 our lives.

00:09:28.920 --> 00:09:29.740
 Let me

00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:30.100
 say that

00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:30.480
 again.

00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:31.980
 God is

00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:32.900
 not content

00:09:32.900 --> 00:09:34.120
 for a

00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:34.520
 meager

00:09:34.520 --> 00:09:35.280
 harvest

00:09:35.280 --> 00:09:36.600
 from our

00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:37.040
 lives.

00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:38.240
 He wants

00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.080
 much fruit,

00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.180
 much good

00:09:41.180 --> 00:09:41.760
 fruit.

00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:44.040
 Let's fast

00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:44.500
 forward for

00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.180
 just a second

00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:45.620
 to verse

00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:46.060
 8.

00:09:47.420 --> 00:09:48.340
 Verse 8,

00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:49.180
 Jesus says,

00:09:49.400 --> 00:09:50.120
 this is to

00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:50.900
 my Father's

00:09:50.900 --> 00:09:51.260
 glory,

00:09:51.400 --> 00:09:51.900
 that you

00:09:51.900 --> 00:09:53.460
 bear much

00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.160
 fruit,

00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:55.580
 showing

00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:56.300
 yourselves

00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:57.220
 to be

00:09:57.220 --> 00:09:58.040
 my disciples.

00:09:58.040 --> 00:09:58.760
 So,

00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:00.840
 what brings

00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:02.000
 glory to

00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.440
 God the

00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:02.780
 Father?

00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:04.940
 That you,

00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:06.280
 that I,

00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:08.400
 bear much

00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:09.120
 fruit,

00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:09.860
 fruit,

00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:11.660
 not that

00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:12.640
 you and

00:10:12.640 --> 00:10:13.080
 I bear

00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.320
 slim pickings,

00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.379
 but that

00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.360
 we bear

00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.720
 much fruit.

00:10:19.400 --> 00:10:20.340
 What brings

00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:21.860
 glory to

00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:22.260
 God the

00:10:22.260 --> 00:10:22.640
 Father?

00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:25.120
 That you

00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:25.580
 and I

00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:26.879
 show

00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:27.580
 ourselves

00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:29.040
 to be

00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:30.180
 a disciple

00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:31.200
 of Jesus,

00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:31.700
 that we

00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:32.440
 make it so

00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:33.260
 obvious to

00:10:33.260 --> 00:10:33.700
 the world

00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:34.200
 that we are

00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:34.740
 joined to

00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:36.260
 him by

00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:37.019
 our lives,

00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:38.319
 by our

00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:39.319
 many good

00:10:39.319 --> 00:10:39.899
 words,

00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:40.740
 by our

00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:41.480
 many good

00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:42.019
 actions,

00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:42.539
 by our

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.639
 many good

00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:44.519
 attitudes.

00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:48.939
 And now

00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:49.980
 the wonderful

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:50.919
 truth here

00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:52.539
 in verse 2

00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:53.019
 is that we

00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:53.340
 are not

00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.200
 left all

00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:55.220
 by ourselves

00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:55.939
 to do this,

00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:56.740
 to make this

00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:58.000
 change in

00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:58.519
 ourselves

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.480
 happen,

00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:00.460
 to bear much

00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.019
 good fruit

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.799
 for God.

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:03.000
 Jesus says

00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.519
 here in

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:03.939
 verse 2

00:11:03.939 --> 00:11:04.439
 that God

00:11:04.439 --> 00:11:05.359
 himself is

00:11:05.359 --> 00:11:06.000
 at work

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.019
 on us,

00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:07.799
 on each

00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:09.319
 branch of

00:11:09.319 --> 00:11:10.079
 the vine

00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:12.199
 to ensure

00:11:12.199 --> 00:11:13.159
 that our

00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:13.759
 fruitfulness

00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.879
 increases,

00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:15.899
 that the

00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:17.259
 good coming

00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:17.759
 from our

00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.359
 lives

00:11:18.359 --> 00:11:19.439
 grows.

00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:22.639
 And so

00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.079
 this is why

00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:23.479
 I often

00:11:23.479 --> 00:11:24.299
 cringe inside

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:24.740
 when I hear

00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.259
 people say

00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:25.759
 things like,

00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:26.699
 you know,

00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:27.439
 it's good to

00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:28.000
 be religious,

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.259
 it's good to

00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.839
 believe in

00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:30.420
 Jesus,

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.740
 so long as

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.040
 you don't

00:11:32.040 --> 00:11:32.540
 get carried

00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.080
 away with

00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:33.280
 it,

00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.200
 so long as

00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:35.540
 you don't

00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:36.500
 become too

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:36.960
 religious.

00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.759
 Sometimes we

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.180
 here in the

00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:40.600
 church are

00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.180
 even tempted

00:11:41.180 --> 00:11:41.820
 to have the

00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:42.639
 same mentality.

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:45.120
 Let Christ

00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.800
 have a place

00:11:45.800 --> 00:11:46.480
 in your life,

00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.540
 but don't let

00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:49.440
 him take over

00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:49.879
 your whole

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.280
 life.

00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.519
 That mentality

00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:54.720
 is the

00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.780
 complete opposite

00:11:55.780 --> 00:11:57.120
 of what God

00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.500
 desires for

00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.100
 his people,

00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:00.259
 for those

00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:00.580
 who are

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.220
 joined to

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:01.620
 Christ.

00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.379
 If we're

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.080
 trying to be

00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:04.779
 content with

00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.540
 just bare

00:12:05.540 --> 00:12:06.379
 minimum fruit

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.060
 in our

00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:07.480
 lives,

00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:09.360
 bare minimum

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.100
 Christianity,

00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:11.639
 bare minimum

00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:12.860
 obedience to

00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.320
 Christ,

00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:14.899
 bare minimum

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:15.720
 Bible reading,

00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:16.600
 bare minimum

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.100
 prayer,

00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:17.759
 bare minimum

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.360
 fellowship,

00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.139
 bare minimum

00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.200
 church involvement,

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.320
 if we're trying

00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:21.840
 to be content

00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.420
 with bare

00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:22.800
 minimum

00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:23.560
 Christianity,

00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.320
 we are

00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:26.279
 completely at

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:27.800
 odds with

00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:28.220
 what God

00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:28.680
 is looking

00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:29.519
 for and

00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.500
 working toward

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.580
 in our

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:31.980
 lives.

00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:33.600
 He doesn't

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.279
 want bare

00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:34.980
 minimum fruit.

00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.600
 He wants

00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.420
 much fruit.

00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.740
 Think about

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.120
 this.

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.759
 Whenever you

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.320
 feel that

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:42.860
 temptation,

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.440
 and we all

00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:43.920
 feel it,

00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.879
 to do bare

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.279
 minimum

00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.060
 Christianity,

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.139
 know this.

00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.040
 God wants

00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:51.620
 the exact

00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.360
 opposite for

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:52.580
 you,

00:12:52.800 --> 00:12:54.680
 and he is

00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:55.460
 going to work

00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:55.840
 on you.

00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:57.440
 He is

00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:57.700
 going to

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.200
 work in

00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:58.360
 you,

00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:58.740
 he's going

00:12:58.740 --> 00:12:59.040
 to work

00:12:59.040 --> 00:12:59.740
 around you

00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.860
 to make

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.300
 you more

00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:02.960
 fruitful.

00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:05.420
 He's going

00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:05.820
 to bring

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.480
 his pruning

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.879
 cheers to

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.980
 bear on

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.240
 you.

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:10.879
 Well,

00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:11.300
 that doesn't

00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:11.800
 sound good,

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.320
 that sounds

00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:12.660
 kind of

00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:13.019
 scary,

00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:15.220
 but deep

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:15.820
 down inside,

00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:16.220
 we know

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.680
 it's good.

00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:17.360
 I mean,

00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:17.720
 what kind

00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.120
 of person

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.360
 do you

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.580
 want to

00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:18.840
 be?

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.259
 Do you

00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:20.519
 want to

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.500
 be like

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:21.799
 the Lord

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:22.220
 Jesus?

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.139
 Loving,

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.460
 compassionate,

00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:29.399
 doing what's

00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:29.740
 right,

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:30.840
 joyful?

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.139
 Do you

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:31.419
 want your

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:31.879
 life to

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.319
 be full

00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:32.860
 of that?

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:34.879
 Or do

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.019
 you want

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:35.399
 to be like

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:35.960
 everyone else

00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.500
 in the world,

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:38.159
 where it's

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.600
 just all

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.259
 about me,

00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:39.860
 selfish,

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:41.439
 stubborn,

00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.240
 greedy,

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.159
 often miserable,

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:45.879
 doing whatever

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.519
 I want and

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.279
 whatever I feel

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:47.600
 like?

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:51.060
 hear this,

00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:52.779
 God's

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:53.159
 pruning

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.560
 comes,

00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.740
 not because

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.440
 he's harsh,

00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.500
 not because

00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.000
 he's just

00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.899
 utilitarian,

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.019
 not because

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.420
 he's like

00:14:01.420 --> 00:14:02.159
 that commercial

00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:02.860
 grower that

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.560
 only cares

00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:04.040
 about the

00:14:04.040 --> 00:14:04.460
 profitability

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.240
 of the

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.560
 plant,

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.240
 no,

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.360
 God's

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:07.720
 pruning

00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.500
 comes because

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:08.879
 he is

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.279
 good,

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:10.680
 because he

00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:11.220
 is loving,

00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:11.720
 because he

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.420
 is kind,

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:14.440
 because he

00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:16.620
 wants from

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.580
 us what

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:17.759
 is what's

00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:19.139
 actually best

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.860
 for us,

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:22.120
 what someday

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.800
 we'll realize

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.280
 is what we

00:14:23.280 --> 00:14:24.020
 really wanted

00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:24.720
 and needed

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.720
 all along

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.560
 in our

00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:26.960
 lives.

00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:30.240
 God's

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.580
 pruning

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.220
 makes the

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.720
 difference

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:33.300
 between us

00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:33.680
 getting to

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.100
 the end

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.400
 of our

00:14:34.400 --> 00:14:34.820
 lives

00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.860
 and being

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.400
 filled with

00:14:36.400 --> 00:14:36.879
 regret

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.139
 at a

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.460
 wasted

00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:38.940
 life

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.139
 as we

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.440
 watch

00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:40.820
 everything

00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.400
 slip away

00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:41.840
 from us,

00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:42.320
 realizing

00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:42.780
 that it

00:14:42.780 --> 00:14:43.540
 doesn't

00:14:43.540 --> 00:14:44.020
 last,

00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:44.700
 that we

00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:45.020
 didn't do

00:14:45.020 --> 00:14:45.360
 anything

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:45.700
 for the

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:46.080
 life to

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:46.340
 come.

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:47.820
 God's

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.060
 pruning

00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:48.460
 makes a

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:48.759
 difference

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.040
 between

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:49.460
 that

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.300
 and us

00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:50.660
 being able

00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:51.080
 to look

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.480
 back

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.320
 and see

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:52.780
 that our

00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:53.120
 lives

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.540
 made a

00:14:53.540 --> 00:14:53.980
 real

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.240
 lasting

00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.480
 difference

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.960
 for

00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:58.420
 eternity.

00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:01.420
 So let's

00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.000
 talk about

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.320
 pruning.

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.580
 When it

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:04.920
 comes to

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.300
 ordinary

00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:05.879
 plants,

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.080
 there are

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:07.700
 different kinds

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.180
 of pruning.

00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:08.820
 Probably the

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.180
 one that

00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:09.720
 most of

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.960
 us have

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.460
 done or

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.100
 are most

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.860
 familiar with

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.280
 is like

00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:13.759
 the kind

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.220
 we do

00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:14.560
 when we

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.019
 prune the

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.399
 hedge or

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:16.759
 when we

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.639
 prune the

00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.019
 bush.

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.419
 We do

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:19.860
 it so that

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.279
 it has a

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:20.960
 nice shape

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.240
 and so that

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:22.620
 it looks

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.039
 good so

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:23.360
 it's not

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.039
 all gangly

00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.860
 and straggly.

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:27.899
 That's not

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.480
 the kind of

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.000
 pruning that

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.579
 Jesus is

00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:30.240
 talking about

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.519
 here.

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.860
 He says

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.159
 that the

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:33.659
 kind of

00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.019
 pruning

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.879
 God does

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.100
 is for a

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.860
 very specific

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.480
 purpose.

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.539
 It's to

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.159
 maximize

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.539
 fruit production

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.799
 on each

00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.480
 and every

00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:42.980
 branch.

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.779
 Every branch

00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.480
 that does

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.079
 bear fruit

00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:47.959
 he prunes

00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:49.139
 so that

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.500
 it will

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.019
 be even

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:50.419
 more

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.039
 fruitful.

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.579
 So we

00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.079
 might wonder

00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:54.659
 how does

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.120
 pruning

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.179
 lead to

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:56.699
 more fruit?

00:15:57.839 --> 00:15:58.419
 Well I'm

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:58.759
 going to be

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.259
 honest with

00:15:59.259 --> 00:15:59.399
 you.

00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.839
 I'm not a

00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:00.719
 plant scientist

00:16:00.719 --> 00:16:01.879
 or an

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.620
 expert on

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.299
 plants but

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:03.740
 the gist

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.120
 of it is

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.659
 something like

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.079
 this.

00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.099
 As a

00:16:07.099 --> 00:16:08.120
 plant grows

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.299
 it will

00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:09.820
 often put

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.840
 energy and

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.460
 resources into

00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.639
 other smaller

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.480
 branches and

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.740
 leaves that

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.159
 are not

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.580
 necessary for

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:17.919
 fruit.

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:19.940
 It's a

00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.299
 plant.

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:22.019
 Being a

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.419
 plant it

00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:22.840
 doesn't have

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.360
 a mind.

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.539
 It just

00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.100
 kind of does

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.639
 what plants

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:25.980
 do.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:26.879
 It's not

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.500
 thinking about

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.639
 maximizing the

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:28.940
 fruit.

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.600
 It's just

00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.139
 following the

00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.139
 programming that's

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.919
 inside of it

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.580
 for the kind

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.159
 of organism

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.680
 that God

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.120
 made it to

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.340
 be.

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:37.860
 It's like

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.019
 a complex

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.980
 living

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.759
 automated

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.440
 machine and

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:41.700
 it just

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.000
 kind of

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.620
 unfolds and

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.000
 does what

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.519
 it does.

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.700
 But then

00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:45.980
 when you

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.639
 introduce an

00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.100
 intelligent

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.820
 mind, a

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.960
 gardener, into

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.460
 the picture, a

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.019
 gardener can

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.720
 take this

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.860
 automated

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.779
 living

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:56.259
 machine and

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.560
 tweak it and

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.560
 make changes to

00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.620
 it and tune

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.259
 it so that

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.419
 this machine is

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.320
 more beneficial,

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.460
 produces more

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:03.940
 fruit.

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.500
 That's the

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.240
 kind of pruning

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.700
 that God

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.339
 does on

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.680
 us.

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.660
 If the

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.120
 goal is

00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:12.640
 maximum

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:14.279
 fruit, then

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.759
 not every

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.440
 little branch,

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:15.940
 not every

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.839
 little leaf is

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.420
 needed on

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:17.920
 the plant.

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.299
 In

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.359
 unscientific

00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.900
 terms, some

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.140
 of the

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:23.940
 plant's energy

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.000
 and resources

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.759
 are going

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.319
 towards more

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.220
 green growth

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.480
 rather than

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.819
 fruit.

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.120
 But there's a

00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.880
 way to channel

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.720
 more of the

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.579
 plant's energy

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.539
 and resources

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.140
 into the

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:35.900
 production of

00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.200
 fruit.

00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:37.660
 How?

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.580
 By cutting

00:17:39.580 --> 00:17:40.300
 off those

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:41.360
 smaller branches

00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.680
 and leaves

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.500
 that are not

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.380
 needed for

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.160
 fruit production.

00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:47.880
 According to

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.580
 Jesus, this is

00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.100
 the kind of

00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:49.620
 pruning that

00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.240
 God is doing

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:50.640
 for his

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:50.980
 people.

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:52.660
 He wants

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.759
 much fruit

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.040
 and so he

00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:55.960
 is cleaning

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.820
 off from

00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:57.519
 each branch

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.400
 the unnecessary

00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.840
 shoots and

00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:00.300
 leaves.

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:03.359
 at the

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:05.299
 least, this

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.720
 means that

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.200
 God is at

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.779
 work on

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.819
 us and

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.440
 in us,

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.200
 making

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.039
 changes to

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.680
 our lives.

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.039
 Now, I

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.279
 would have

00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:14.659
 loved to have

00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:15.000
 been there

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.440
 with the

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.099
 disciples and

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:16.619
 Jesus and

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.159
 probably at

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.539
 this point

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.079
 just put up

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.659
 my hand and

00:18:18.659 --> 00:18:19.379
 ask the

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:19.779
 question,

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.720
 so Jesus,

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.240
 what exactly

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.700
 does the

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.220
 pruning of

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.779
 God look

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.159
 like in

00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:27.639
 our lives?

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.060
 What kind

00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:28.540
 of changes

00:18:28.540 --> 00:18:28.920
 does he

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.420
 make so

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:29.700
 that we

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.180
 bring more

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:30.500
 fruit?

00:18:32.320 --> 00:18:33.140
 But since I

00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.600
 wasn't there,

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.840
 we're left to

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.640
 kind of take a

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.440
 guess at how

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.240
 God prunes

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.220
 his people.

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:38.900
 It doesn't say

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.400
 right here in

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:39.960
 the passage.

00:18:41.300 --> 00:18:42.180
 And I see

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:42.780
 two different

00:18:42.780 --> 00:18:43.920
 ways that God

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.480
 prunes his

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.820
 people.

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.400
 The first way

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:46.780
 is the way

00:18:46.780 --> 00:18:48.160
 that most of

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.100
 us, most

00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.880
 teachers, most

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.880
 pastors probably

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.800
 think of first.

00:18:54.040 --> 00:18:54.900
 And the second

00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.520
 way is in

00:18:55.520 --> 00:18:56.300
 verse 3.

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.960
 So let's

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.480
 start with the

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.079
 first way that

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.639
 God prunes

00:18:59.639 --> 00:19:00.220
 his people.

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.159
 Most Christians

00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:03.359
 look at this

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.539
 and agree that

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.579
 God prunes his

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.220
 people by his

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.099
 sovereign work

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:11.159
 in them, on

00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:12.059
 them, and

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.659
 around them.

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.059
 Now what do I

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.799
 mean by that?

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:16.639
 Let me give you

00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.359
 some examples.

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.539
 Just like with

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.779
 a branch of a

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.079
 plant, God

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.359
 sometimes removes

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.899
 and strips off

00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:26.240
 unnecessary things.

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.339
 from our

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:27.740
 lives.

00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:29.899
 Maybe he sees

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.659
 that our energy

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.539
 and our resources

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.720
 are going towards

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:34.099
 this and that

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:34.740
 and this way

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.440
 and that way

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.619
 instead of toward

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.839
 producing fruit.

00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:39.419
 And so

00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.960
 sometimes he

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.519
 takes away

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.680
 things that

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.279
 would become a

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:45.079
 hindrance or a

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.960
 distraction for

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.259
 us.

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.899
 Sometimes he

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.619
 closes the door

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.419
 on an opportunity

00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.299
 that we'd only be

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.220
 taking for earthly

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.079
 gain, for

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.759
 ourselves, for

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.419
 our own benefit.

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:57.560
 there was a

00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:58.140
 young man who

00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.779
 loved to play

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.380
 high school

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:01.160
 football and

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.920
 football became

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.980
 the most important

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.160
 thing in his

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.519
 life.

00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:05.660
 Jesus was

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.160
 secondary.

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.220
 One day when he

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.840
 was playing, he

00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.300
 was badly

00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:10.680
 injured.

00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.360
 It was bad

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:12.920
 enough that he

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.539
 would not be able

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.700
 to play competitively

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.100
 again.

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.320
 Yet in the midst

00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:18.480
 of his crushed

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:20.500
 ambitions, God

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.240
 was at work in

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.880
 his life, drawing

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.440
 his heart closer,

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.480
 closer to

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.400
 relationship with

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:27.640
 him.

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.440
 And this young

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.240
 man gave himself

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.200
 more fully, more

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.299
 deeply to Jesus

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.799
 and to following

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.200
 him.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.980
 He had a totally

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.920
 different path than

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.579
 he thought he would

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.039
 go on.

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.480
 He ended up serving

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.180
 the Lord in all

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.920
 kinds of wonderful

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.420
 ways, directing a

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.460
 Bible camp, serving

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.180
 as a pastor.

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:46.820
 just like when you

00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:47.620
 prune a branch on

00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:48.120
 a plant.

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.820
 It forever changes

00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:51.299
 the direction of

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.840
 the growth.

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.759
 I know another

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.440
 young man who

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.000
 deeply longed to

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.160
 be married, but

00:20:59.160 --> 00:20:59.940
 after his first

00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.860
 relationship didn't

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:02.019
 work out, he was

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.420
 crushed.

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.019
 God used that

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.980
 also in the same

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.940
 similar sort of

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.220
 way to draw his

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.820
 heart closer, to

00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:12.060
 get his attention, to

00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:12.759
 make him into a

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.680
 compassionate young

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.000
 man.

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.039
 Then he started

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.980
 dating another gal

00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.259
 and that didn't

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.900
 work out either.

00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.320
 Then he started

00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:21.140
 dating a third

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.779
 young lady and by

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.720
 that time he longed

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.519
 so much to be

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.740
 married that he

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.360
 would have married

00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:28.120
 her if she would

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.600
 have had him, but

00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:30.080
 then all of a

00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:31.320
 sudden she broke

00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:31.880
 up with him.

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.299
 Finally, he tried

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.620
 one last time with

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.779
 a fourth young lady

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:39.420
 and this time it

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.160
 all worked out.

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.019
 And to this day

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.660
 this individual would

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.880
 tell you that he

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.840
 is so glad God

00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:47.640
 didn't let him

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:49.080
 marry any of the

00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:51.380
 first three girls

00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.400
 because the wife

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.279
 that he has now

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.259
 he recognizes is

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.259
 the perfect companion

00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.980
 for him and for

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.860
 the kind of ministry

00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.480
 that they're doing

00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.940
 together.

00:22:02.300 --> 00:22:03.360
 Just like with a

00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:05.320
 plant, we sometimes

00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:07.140
 don't know what

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.380
 changes need to be

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:11.300
 made in our lives to

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:11.980
 bring more good

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.299
 fruit.

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.240
 Truly, only God

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.940
 the gardener knows

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.059
 what's best for each

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.680
 one of us.

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.599
 Think about this.

00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:22.299
 If we were in

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.419
 charge of writing our

00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:25.200
 own life story from

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.059
 beginning to end,

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.659
 we probably, most of

00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:29.419
 us, wouldn't include

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.779
 any of those pruning

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.759
 kinds of things.

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.539
 Things that are

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:33.960
 painful.

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.920
 injuries,

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.539
 sicknesses,

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.019
 loss,

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.039
 hardships,

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:42.759
 failures,

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.140
 broken relationships.

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.299
 Maybe you're going

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.019
 through some of those

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.860
 things right now.

00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:53.079
 But could it be that

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.600
 the very trouble in

00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:56.519
 your life that you're

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.900
 facing is the pruning

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.059
 work of God?

00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:03.419
 God working on you

00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.119
 and in you,

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.159
 in his love,

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.460
 to set you up to

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.519
 bear more good

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.720
 fruit in your life

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.000
 for higher joys

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:14.339
 than you ever thought

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.859
 possible.

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.799
 Does God do this

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.339
 sort of thing?

00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.839
 There are other

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.599
 passages of

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.419
 scripture that tell

00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.720
 us yes.

00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.899
 The author of

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:27.299
 Hebrews is likely

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.099
 talking about the

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:29.000
 same sort of thing

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.339
 with a different

00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:30.720
 metaphor,

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.779
 with that of the

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.200
 father-child relationship

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.259
 and discipline.

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.220
 This is what he

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.960
 says in Hebrews

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.900
 chapter 12,

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.660
 verse 5.

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.140
 He says,

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.880
 have you completely

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.980
 forgotten this word

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.660
 of encouragement

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.700
 that addresses you

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.440
 as a father

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.579
 addresses his son?

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.579
 It says,

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.400
 my son,

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.980
 do not make light

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.579
 of the Lord's

00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.039
 discipline.

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.819
 And do not lose

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.460
 heart when he

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.400
 rebukes you because

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.960
 the Lord disciplines

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.019
 the one he loves.

00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.000
 And he chastens

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.259
 everyone he

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.059
 accepts as his

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.380
 son.

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.779
 Endure hardship

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.460
 as discipline.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.619
 God is treating

00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.680
 you as his

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.099
 children.

00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.220
 For what children

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.140
 are not disciplined

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.960
 by their father?

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.119
 And if we skip

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:17.079
 down to verse 10,

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.259
 they are earthly

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.880
 fathers,

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.460
 disciplined us for

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.359
 a little while as

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.200
 they thought best.

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.759
 God disciplines us

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.600
 for our good

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:28.120
 in order that we

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.960
 may share in

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.620
 his holiness.

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.539
 No discipline

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.519
 seems pleasant

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.299
 at the time,

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.819
 but painful.

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.720
 Later on,

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.140
 however,

00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.720
 it produces a

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.980
 harvest of

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.460
 righteousness

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.759
 and peace

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.180
 for those who

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.799
 have been trained

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.259
 by it.

00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.860
 It's a similar

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.660
 sort of idea.

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.660
 God uses things

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.360
 that are difficult

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.619
 and painful

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.740
 hardship

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.339
 to bring

00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.219
 loving correction

00:24:55.219 --> 00:24:57.179
 for our good,

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.639
 for our benefit,

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.199
 so that there

00:24:59.199 --> 00:24:59.959
 will be a harvest,

00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:00.639
 so that there

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.599
 will be fruit

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:03.399
 that comes from

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:03.859
 our lives,

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.679
 that we may share

00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.459
 in his holiness.

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:07.799
 James,

00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.359
 in his letter,

00:25:08.459 --> 00:25:09.039
 says a similar

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.659
 sort of thing.

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.539
 James 1,

00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.199
 verse 2,

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.940
 he writes,

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.759
 consider it pure

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.340
 joy,

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.380
 my brothers and

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:16.819
 sisters,

00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.220
 whenever you face

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.059
 trials of many

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.539
 kinds,

00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.539
 because you know

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.539
 that the testing

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.360
 of your faith

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.960
 produces

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.160
 perseverance.

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.720
 Let perseverance

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.980
 finish its work

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.559
 so that you may

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.340
 be mature

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:34.100
 and complete,

00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.940
 not lacking

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.740
 anything.

00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:38.900
 Here,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.720
 God speaks of

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.279
 how we should

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.460
 welcome trials

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.359
 in our lives

00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.279
 because God

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.119
 produces good

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.779
 character.

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.899
 He produces

00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.559
 maturity

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.200
 in us

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.480
 through them.

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:53.099
 Good fruit,

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.680
 much good fruit.

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.920
 So yes,

00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.839
 God will at times

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.000
 bring the pruning

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.579
 shears

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.920
 to bear on our

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.359
 lives.

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.139
 Jesus says so.

00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:07.299
 Every branch

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.879
 that does bear fruit,

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.119
 he prunes,

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.899
 so that it will

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.639
 be even more

00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.039
 fruitful.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.859
 But isn't it a

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.579
 comfort to know

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:17.619
 that God is the

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.500
 one who holds

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.799
 the pruning shears

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.379
 of hardship

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:22.019
 in his hand?

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:23.899
 Isn't it a

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.599
 comfort to know

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.920
 that God is the

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.000
 one who allows

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.059
 loss and

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:31.079
 difficulty and

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:33.099
 illness for a

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.519
 purpose?

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:33.579
 purpose,

00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.519
 not just

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.059
 willy-nilly,

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.119
 but for a

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.500
 purpose,

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.980
 to cut off

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.480
 the right

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.299
 leaves and

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.000
 the unnecessary

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.960
 shoots in our

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.319
 lives,

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.119
 for maximum

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.519
 fruit,

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.920
 maximum good

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.720
 to come from

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.420
 us and for

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.799
 us.

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:51.859
 And it

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.579
 isn't easy to

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:52.940
 go through

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.339
 this,

00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:56.019
 to be pruned

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.460
 by the

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:56.960
 gardener.

00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.379
 Think about

00:26:59.379 --> 00:26:59.980
 the story of

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.339
 Job.

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:02.000
 what did

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.399
 he say?

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:02.799
 He said,

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.220
 the Lord

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.399
 gives and

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:04.740
 the Lord

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.480
 takes away.

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.720
 Job was

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.159
 pruned.

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.439
 Look at all

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:11.159
 that he lost.

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.419
 He lost

00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:13.899
 everything.

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.939
 God took it

00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:16.559
 away from him

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.399
 and no,

00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:18.279
 Job didn't

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.079
 know in the

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.619
 midst of it

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.099
 why,

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:22.199
 what God's

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:23.059
 purpose was.

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.119
 Not until the

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.839
 very end when

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.679
 God finally

00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.519
 brought about

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.500
 all the good

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.440
 that he intended

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.980
 through it.

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.500
 And he was

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:31.980
 able to look

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.799
 back and say

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.980
 that his

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.839
 life was

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.039
 far more

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.460
 blessed

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.319
 after

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.859
 than it

00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.440
 was before.

00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.220
 So that's

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.640
 the first

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.079
 kind of

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.400
 pruning.

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.059
 The kind

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.299
 that we

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.859
 usually think

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.279
 of when we

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.859
 read Jesus'

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.559
 words here.

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.319
 Our minds

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.099
 often go to

00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.839
 trials and

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.359
 hardships,

00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.380
 difficulties

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:54.940
 that God

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.559
 uses in our

00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:55.859
 lives,

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.339
 to the ways

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.740
 that God

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.579
 sovereignly

00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.639
 directs our

00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:59.259
 lives to

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.859
 keep us on

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.279
 track,

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.619
 going in the

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.279
 right direction.

00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.699
 But then we

00:28:04.699 --> 00:28:05.039
 come to

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.659
 verse 3.

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:07.759
 Jesus,

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.819
 speaking to

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.559
 his disciples,

00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.159
 says,

00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.279
 you are

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.500
 already clean

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.939
 because of

00:28:14.939 --> 00:28:15.759
 the word I

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.240
 have spoken

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.679
 to you.

00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.959
 Maybe you're

00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:19.720
 wondering like I

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.339
 was this week,

00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:20.899
 what on earth

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.579
 does that mean?

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.500
 What does it

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.919
 have to do

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.800
 with all

00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:26.220
 this talk

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.720
 of pruning

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.400
 and branches?

00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:28.920
 You might

00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.420
 be wondering.

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.080
 If you have

00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:31.560
 the latest

00:28:31.560 --> 00:28:33.019
 NIV in

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.420
 front of you,

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.960
 you'll notice

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.380
 that there's

00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:34.860
 a footnote

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.320
 that goes

00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:36.240
 with the

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.220
 word prunes

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.120
 in verse 2.

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.279
 You can look

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.759
 down to the

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.180
 bottom of the

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.720
 page and it

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.300
 says this,

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.840
 the Greek

00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.720
 for he

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.279
 prunes

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.980
 also means

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.259
 he cleans.

00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.720
 So in

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.019
 Greek,

00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.120
 the verb

00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:50.500
 that they

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.120
 used to

00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.320
 describe pruning

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.100
 was just

00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:54.060
 simply clean,

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.740
 to clean.

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:56.180
 They didn't

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:56.940
 have a more

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.800
 specific word

00:28:57.800 --> 00:28:58.400
 like we do

00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:58.940
 in English.

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.160
 So what

00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.779
 Jesus says

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.120
 here in

00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:02.560
 verse 3,

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.259
 it is

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.960
 connected to

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.259
 what he

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.080
 said in

00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:06.039
 verse 2.

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.200
 God prunes

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.060
 each branch

00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:10.180
 to bear

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.800
 more fruit.

00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:11.400
 Literally,

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.300
 he cleans

00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.240
 each branch

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.779
 of its

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.380
 unneeded

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.580
 growth so

00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:15.860
 that it

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.420
 bears even

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.240
 more fruit.

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.120
 But now

00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.720
 Jesus says

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.060
 to his

00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:19.460
 disciples,

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.000
 you are

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.600
 already

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.300
 clean

00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:22.779
 because of

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.300
 the word

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.500
 I have

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.059
 spoken to

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.279
 you.

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.139
 Now I'm

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.500
 going to

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.059
 just be

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.539
 honest with

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:28.740
 you.

00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:29.700
 I'm not

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.940
 100% sure

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.159
 what Jesus

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:32.759
 means by

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.119
 this.

00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.240
 I looked

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.500
 at some

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.720
 good

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.440
 commentaries,

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:35.919
 I checked

00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.299
 out some

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.899
 other sources

00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.419
 and other

00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:38.379
 teachers and

00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:38.720
 what they

00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.099
 say,

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.139
 and it

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:41.559
 seems that

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.180
 they're somewhat

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.839
 unclear about

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.119
 it as

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.379
 well.

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.680
 Jesus has

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.019
 been known

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.519
 already in

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.019
 this gospel

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.619
 to kind of

00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.180
 make a play

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.579
 on this

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.139
 word clean.

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.620
 We saw

00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.240
 that already

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.420
 when Jesus

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.120
 washed the

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.680
 disciples'

00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.400
 feet and

00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.420
 Peter talked

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.680
 about getting

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.740
 a whole bath

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.180
 and Jesus

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.500
 says,

00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:57.700
 no,

00:29:57.780 --> 00:29:58.220
 you're already

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.620
 clean,

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.080
 but not

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.560
 every one

00:29:59.560 --> 00:29:59.940
 of you,

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.080
 referring to

00:30:01.080 --> 00:30:01.380
 Judas.

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.360
 So there's a

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:03.860
 couple different

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.480
 ideas that

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.220
 people have

00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.160
 about these

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.520
 words.

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.120
 Some think

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.500
 that this

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.740
 means that

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.580
 the disciples

00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.540
 are already

00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:12.060
 saved,

00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.580
 that they're

00:30:13.580 --> 00:30:14.280
 already made

00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:15.500
 righteous through

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.000
 faith in

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.320
 Jesus.

00:30:17.020 --> 00:30:17.320
 Of course,

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.040
 Judas is not

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.019
 with them at

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.579
 this moment.

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.200
 He's gone

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.819
 out of the

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.440
 room to work

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.779
 out his

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.180
 betrayal.

00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.339
 Another idea

00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.839
 is that this

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.299
 is a figure

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.859
 of speech.

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.379
 Not that

00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:28.879
 Jesus is

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.139
 saying,

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:29.519
 you are

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.220
 already pure

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.879
 or you are

00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.339
 already free

00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:31.920
 from sin,

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.119
 but that

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.599
 Jesus is

00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:33.859
 saying,

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.680
 don't worry.

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.240
 You guys,

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.099
 as you are

00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.639
 right now,

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.240
 are already

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.019
 in the place

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.559
 that God

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.039
 wants you

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.460
 to be.

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.599
 He's

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.139
 pleased with

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:43.180
 you because

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.440
 you've

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.180
 accepted and

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.819
 believed my

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.159
 word.

00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.319
 A third

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.000
 idea is

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.259
 that we

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.519
 should

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.519
 translate

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.200
 this word

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.680
 clean in

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.240
 verse 3

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.059
 as pruned.

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.240
 You are

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:55.579
 already

00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:56.240
 pruned.

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.880
 Not that

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.240
 you'll never

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.819
 need more

00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.180
 pruning,

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.680
 but that for

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:00.900
 now,

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.380
 God has

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.779
 been doing

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.359
 that pruning

00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:02.839
 at the

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.559
 right moments

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.740
 in each of

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.200
 your lives.

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.500
 And for

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.039
 right now,

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.039
 you are

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.319
 ready.

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.380
 You are

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.900
 set up

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.759
 to bear

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.619
 much good

00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:10.960
 fruit.

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.960
 Again,

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.359
 these are

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:13.920
 guesses at

00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.380
 what Jesus

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.880
 means when

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.359
 he says,

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.619
 you are

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:16.959
 already

00:31:16.959 --> 00:31:17.619
 clean or

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:17.919
 you are

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.239
 already

00:31:18.239 --> 00:31:18.719
 pruned.

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.500
 But one

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:20.839
 thing we

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.199
 can say

00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.679
 for sure

00:31:21.679 --> 00:31:22.439
 is why

00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:24.579
 and how

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.059
 they got

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.619
 that way.

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.279
 Jesus

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.639
 says,

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:27.939
 you are

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.399
 already

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.519
 clean or

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.039
 pruned

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.679
 because of

00:31:31.679 --> 00:31:32.239
 the word

00:31:32.239 --> 00:31:33.099
 I have

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.699
 spoken to

00:31:33.699 --> 00:31:33.919
 you.

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.699
 At the

00:31:35.699 --> 00:31:36.379
 very least,

00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.739
 I think

00:31:37.739 --> 00:31:38.419
 Jesus means

00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.039
 to say that

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.519
 God's

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:39.839
 pruning

00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:41.359
 work doesn't

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.019
 just come by

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.159
 altering our

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.879
 circumstances

00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:45.480
 sacrifices or

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:45.980
 by taking

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.660
 things away

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.500
 in our

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:47.920
 lives.

00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:49.980
 It seems

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.440
 that Jesus

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.020
 is pointing

00:31:51.020 --> 00:31:51.600
 to a

00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:52.300
 second way

00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:53.580
 that God

00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.420
 prunes his

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:54.780
 people,

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:55.160
 that he

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.940
 prunes them

00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:57.000
 through the

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.760
 words of

00:31:58.760 --> 00:31:59.120
 Jesus.

00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:01.380
 Perhaps we

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:01.840
 might say it

00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.260
 this way,

00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.180
 not all

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.980
 change in

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.560
 our lives

00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.260
 has to

00:32:06.260 --> 00:32:07.620
 come the

00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.120
 hard way.

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.020
 Could it

00:32:10.020 --> 00:32:10.360
 be that

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:10.880
 Jesus has

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:11.820
 often spoken

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.859
 and commanded

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.759
 and corrected

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.679
 and rebuked?

00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:15.980
 And these

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.460
 disciples,

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:16.839
 they have

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.679
 often believed

00:32:17.679 --> 00:32:19.379
 and embraced

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.399
 and obeyed

00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:21.000
 and accepted

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.579
 his words,

00:32:21.679 --> 00:32:22.079
 leading to

00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:22.839
 real change

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.159
 in their

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:23.639
 lives.

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.059
 If this

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.339
 is what

00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.039
 Jesus means,

00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:28.679
 then God's

00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:29.419
 pruning work

00:32:29.419 --> 00:32:29.960
 in our lives

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.899
 can come also

00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:31.480
 through the

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:31.980
 words of

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.299
 Jesus and

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.799
 us simply

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.579
 believing them

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.279
 and obeying

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.939
 them,

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.039
 doing what

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.539
 he said,

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:38.599
 putting our

00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.500
 energy and

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.139
 our resources

00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:40.720
 into the

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.139
 things that

00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:41.599
 he's told

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:41.939
 us to

00:32:41.939 --> 00:32:42.179
 do.

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.959
 And this

00:32:44.959 --> 00:32:45.559
 makes sense

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:45.879
 when we

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.639
 hear Jesus

00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:48.059
 say things

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.839
 like he

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.159
 did in

00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.579
 the Sermon

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:49.819
 on the

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.139
 Mount.

00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.139
 Do not

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.659
 worry about

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.259
 your life,

00:32:53.959 --> 00:32:54.679
 what you

00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:55.099
 will eat

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.639
 or drink,

00:32:55.719 --> 00:32:56.019
 or about

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.599
 your body,

00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:56.980
 what you

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.419
 will wear,

00:32:58.459 --> 00:32:59.339
 but seek

00:32:59.339 --> 00:32:59.899
 first his

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:01.459
 kingdom and

00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:02.139
 his righteousness

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:03.339
 and all

00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:03.899
 these things

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.379
 will be given

00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:04.959
 to you as

00:33:04.959 --> 00:33:05.199
 well.

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.379
 If you

00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:07.899
 think about

00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:08.519
 these words,

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.459
 this word

00:33:09.459 --> 00:33:10.000
 right here

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.419
 is a

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:11.700
 pruning

00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.200
 word.

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.560
 It's God

00:33:14.560 --> 00:33:15.539
 speaking through

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.000
 Jesus,

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.779
 telling us

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.120
 that we

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:17.620
 should put

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.300
 our energy

00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:18.740
 and our

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.300
 resources

00:33:19.300 --> 00:33:20.420
 over here

00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:21.420
 towards fruit

00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.200
 production and

00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.200
 not over here

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.120
 to the things

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.440
 that are

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.100
 unnecessary.

00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.820
 And so if we

00:33:28.820 --> 00:33:29.560
 simply accept

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.000
 this and

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.480
 believe it

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.080
 and obey it,

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:31.820
 God is at

00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:32.500
 work in us

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.120
 doing the

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.460
 pruning,

00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:35.180
 bringing about

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:35.820
 the good fruit

00:33:35.820 --> 00:33:36.620
 that he desires

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:37.380
 in our lives.

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:40.120
 and if we

00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:40.860
 disregard these

00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.100
 words,

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.660
 if we don't

00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.180
 listen to

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:42.860
 these words,

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.200
 well,

00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:44.820
 maybe God

00:33:44.820 --> 00:33:45.280
 then might

00:33:45.280 --> 00:33:45.660
 bring the

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.100
 other sort

00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:46.520
 of pruning

00:33:46.520 --> 00:33:47.980
 into our

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.440
 lives and

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:48.820
 put us in

00:33:48.820 --> 00:33:49.460
 a situation

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.840
 where we

00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.180
 can no

00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:50.760
 longer look

00:33:50.760 --> 00:33:51.200
 to these

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.640
 things.

00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:55.140
 So let me

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:56.300
 recap a little

00:33:56.300 --> 00:33:56.900
 bit and just

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.820
 bring this to a

00:33:57.820 --> 00:33:58.160
 close.

00:34:00.020 --> 00:34:00.940
 God is not

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:03.220
 content for a

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.020
 meager harvest

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.960
 from our

00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.339
 lives.

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.660
 When we

00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.259
 believe in

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.039
 Jesus and

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.780
 are joined to

00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.820
 him, he

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.519
 wants our

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.139
 lives to

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.659
 overflow with

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.219
 goodness.

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.579
 And we

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:18.539
 can and we

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:20.980
 will so long

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.659
 as we remain

00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:24.539
 in close

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.739
 relationship with

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.920
 Jesus, the

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.519
 source of that

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:28.960
 goodness,

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.139
 walking closely

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.659
 with him.

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.420
 And praise the

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.579
 Lord.

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:33.779
 Lord, we're

00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.559
 not left to

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.779
 ourselves to

00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.299
 do this.

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.920
 We often

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.400
 falter.

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.319
 We often

00:34:39.319 --> 00:34:39.699
 fail.

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:41.619
 But the one

00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:42.059
 who never

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.480
 falters and

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.920
 never fails is

00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.559
 at work in

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.840
 us and on

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.759
 us and

00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.559
 around us,

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.860
 carefully pruning

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:51.059
 us through the

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.599
 words that he

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:54.380
 speaks and the

00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:55.739
 ways he directs

00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.239
 our path.

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.519
 Let's pray.

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:08.840
 Father in

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.880
 heaven, thank

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.420
 you that you

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.059
 do not leave

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.400
 us to

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:11.860
 ourselves.

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.699
 We know

00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.039
 that we

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.519
 would fall,

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:15.960
 we would

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:16.619
 falter, we

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.139
 would flunk

00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:17.619
 out of it.

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.019
 Thank you

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.599
 that you love

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.319
 us enough to

00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:21.880
 do the

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:24.059
 pruning, to

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.539
 allow the

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.259
 hard things to

00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:25.880
 come into our

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.239
 lives.

00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:28.819
 thank you that

00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:30.399
 one day every

00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:31.179
 single one of

00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:32.179
 us who

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.799
 believes in

00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:34.319
 your name and

00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:34.959
 belongs to

00:35:34.959 --> 00:35:35.959
 Jesus will get

00:35:35.959 --> 00:35:36.719
 to the end of

00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.059
 our lives and

00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:39.299
 look back and

00:35:39.299 --> 00:35:40.119
 not see that it

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.879
 was all a waste.

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:43.480
 we love you and

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.440
 we pray and ask

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.940
 that you would

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:47.760
 produce much

00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.940
 fruit in each

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.460
 one of us through

00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.079
 our church.

00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:53.000
 We pray that this

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.680
 whole community

00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:56.320
 would see that we

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:57.640
 are your disciples

00:35:57.640 --> 00:35:58.059
 Jesus.

00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.740
 We ask this for

00:35:59.740 --> 00:36:00.360
 your glory and

00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:00.800
 your name.

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.119
 Amen.

00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:11.880
 Amen.