Sunday, February 16, 2025
I. ENCOUNTER – An Invitation to Abide
John 15 (TPT) 1“I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. 2He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. 3The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. 4So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.
5“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. 6If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned. 7But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. 8When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!
Verse 4-5 In New Living Translation:
John 15:4-5 (NLT) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
II. EXPERIENCE – The Pruning Process
John 15:15-17 (NLT) I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
III. EXCHANGE – From Fear to Faith
John 15:26 (NLT) But I will send you the Advocate —the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 5:6 (NLT) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
V. ENDEAVOR – Standing Firm in Truth
John 16:1 (NLT) I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.
Galatians 6:9 (NLT) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
V. ENCOURAGEMENT – Victory Assured
John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.