April 28-30, 2018 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 15:1-8 “YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT!”

EASTER 5

April 28-30, 2018

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 15:1-8

“YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT!”

1.     Keep your connection to Christ.

2.     Embrace pruning.

3.     All to the glory of God.

John 15:1-8 (NIV)  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. {4} Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. {5} "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

          Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Yes, He is. Jesus lives. And because He lives you too will live even though you die physically. Have you thought much about that day? That day when for the first time you see Jesus face to face? What do you think He will say to you that you will hear with your own ears from His lips for the very first time? “Welcome home!” “Well done good and faithful servant!” “Good job. You have borne much fruit!” “No way. Not going to happen. Not me,” you think with proper self evaluation and correct Christian modesty. Think again. Did you hear the words of Jesus and were you listening when He talked about bearing much fruit? These words are for you and me and give us an encouraging outlook for the rest of our lives. “You will bear much fruit,” Jesus said. Now let’s see how this is true.

          Jesus spoke these words first to His disciples as they gathered in the Upper Room the night He was betrayed. He had already told them He would be leaving them visibly and then comforted them with the truth that He would return, that they would not be left alone but would have the Holy Spirit. Their lives would not be worthless or in vain. They would have purpose. So do you. "I am the true vine. And again later, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

          These are important words from Jesus. Not only do they make clear the only way to eternal life but the only way to a fruitful earthly life. Jesus said I am the true vine. That means the only legitimate or authentic source of life with God. All others are fakes. The attack on Christ in our country continues from New York City wanting to reject Chick fil a because it is Christian owned to our WELS pastor and his wife who were on the Southwest flight that had the engine failure receiving Facebook rants for daring to give credit to their safety to our Lord God. Too many Americans want no god or a god by whatever name you call him but hear Jesus’ truth. He’s the only real thing. Apart from Him you can do nothing God pleasing on earth. Apart from Him you your fate is the fire of Hell. You can expect the Devil to try to wear you down, pressure you to accept another vine, another source to heaven. It will start with “Well Jesus is my way but maybe there are others.” It will continue with a desire to fit in, a fear to stand out and stand up. Only Jesus is the true vine so pray with me now: “Dear Lord Jesus please keep me connected to you. Do whatever you have to do so I and my family and friends and my church family will always stay connected to you.”

          Now let’s use the picture Jesus provided. He is the vine. That’s the thick almost tree like part. See how it has roots in the ground drawing an endless supply of energy and nutrients from the soil and moisture God provides. Attached to the vine are the branches. Those are the things we normally think of as vines. Their only way to get moisture and nutrients is from the vine. And when it does, much fruit! You see what job number one is, don’t you? Keep your connection to Christ. The Holy Spirit made that connection at your Baptism. That connection has been maintained and strengthened through God’s faith giving Word. This is why you prioritize weekly worship. This is why you do a Bible reading, devotion or Bible story at home every day. It keeps you connected to Jesus so you will bear much fruit. It’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

          A good pruning helps too. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” Did you hear that? Good branches get pruned. Pruning dead or sick parts of a plant make it healthier. Pruning a fruit tree that has too many branches, is too full of itself, protects is from wind damage. Go back to our picture. Those are loving hands with the cutter. God’s hands are even more loving. Jesus’ hands have the marks to prove it. So we need to learn to embrace the prunings that come into our lives. They come from a loving God who helps us bear much fruit. What’s a pruning look like? Normally something that doesn’t feel good. As simple as a reprimand from a teacher, a slow down reminder (speeding ticket) from an officer to the bigger disappointments in life and its hardships. Job loss. Relationship break up. Don’t make the team. Money loss. Maybe can’t play golf for a bit. A prized possession gets ruined. It is loving of God to guide and help us have the right priorities. It is loving of God to humble us when we are getting prideful. It is loving of God to help stay connected to Christ by cutting out of our lives those things that threaten our faith. It is loving of God to work in each of our lives so we will bear much fruit. Let’s learn not to complain about life’s disappointments but to embrace them as prunings from a loving God who is helping us bear much fruit.

          And when we do it gives glory to God. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."  Brothers and sisters, think now of different sort of garden. A rose garden. One that has been meticulously planted, cared for and pruned. And the visitors come to see the roses in bloom and they ooh and ah. They are giving glory to the gardener, aren’t they? When you and I stay connected to Christ, when the word does its work and shapes us and prunes us and when fruits of faith show in our lives it gives glory to God. Sometimes it will be people who do that when they notice your acts of kindness to them, or your hard work and reliability. Sometimes it will be the angels alone who cheer louder than sports fans as your love for God moves you to speak kind words rather than angry ones or to secretly help someone in need. Sometimes it will be God alone as you glorify Him by praying. Praying to God is a fruit of faith. We honor God as we go to Him trusting in His power and love. Our prayers for ourselves and others work as God answers them in the way that is best. “You will bear much fruit,” said Jesus and this gives glory to God.

          Much fruit. Brothers and sisters, when you leave here today I want you to keep that phrase in mind. “Much fruit” your Lord Jesus said. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, like your life here is worthless and has no purpose. Don’t put yourself down or think that you aren’t making a difference. And don’t just look for great big things to do. Much fruit, said Jesus, not one big large one. Your faithful Christian parenting. Your providing for the needs of your family. Your care for your aging mother. Your prayers for missions, for your church, for your grandchildren, your daily hard and faithful work in the workplace, not for recognition or money, but because it’s what God wants you to do, your daily diligence with homework and your refusals to cheat. You will bear much fruit and the day is coming when you will see Jesus face to face and He will welcome you into heaven with the words we all can’t wait to hear, “Well done!” Amen.