Are You Connected?

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Since there are a large amount of sermons and topics and illustrations that are posted on Sermon Central, I feel it is necessary to place this disclaimer on all of the sermons that I submit.

These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

While ideas and illustrations are often obtained from many sources including those at sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon titles, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental.

In instances where other ministers exact wording is used, due recognition will be given.

These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely.

May God richly bless you as you read these sermons.

It is my sincere desire that all who read them and hear them may be lifted up to a higher relationship with God.

Most of the scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.

I do at times use scripture from several different versions of the Bible such as NIV, New King James Version, King James Version etc.

Any and all ministers may freely use any of my sermons and post them anywhere that they want to.

After all, it is Gods Word and not our own!

Pastor Ed Pruitt

ARE YOU CONNECTED?

Sunday January 14, 2007

John 15:1-8

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

2 He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

3 You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.

4 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 apart from me.

5 “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.

6 Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

7 But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!

8 My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.

There’s a phrase that has become popular in pop culture today, Being in “the zone.”

The zone refers to that state of mind when everything is clicking for you and you’re doing everything right.

You can’t miss a shot, you’re able to anticipate what the opposition is doing, and you have a quick answer for every question.

Anyone who has ever played sports or performed in public knows what it’s like to be in the zone.

Also, anyone who has ever played sports or performed in public knows what it’s like to be out of the zone—there are days when you don’t think straight, don’t perform well, and nothing seems to go your way.

When it comes to living the Christian life, there’s a zone that we can be in—a zone that makes it easier to walk in faith, live in obedience, see our prayers answered, experience joy, and handle adversity.

It is a zone that Jesus challenges us all to live in.

What is this zone?

Jesus said,

4 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 apart from me.

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Remain in me”?

Where you abide is where you dwell, or (as this Greek can be translated) where you stay.

Abiding in Jesus means remaining in the presence of Jesus throughout the day.

Of course, if you are believer, you are always in the presence of Jesus, because he is with you every minute of every day.

The problem is, sometimes we forget that, and we forget to acknowledge his presence throughout the day.

Too often we begin our days in a mad rush and move forward at breakneck speed all day long, dealing with problems and challenges that drain us of peace and joy, until finally we collapse in exhaustion at the end of the day.

Jesus is telling us we don’t have to live that way.

We can experience an abundance of life and a fullness of joy, if we learn to abide in him.

One reason Celtic Christianity has experienced a resurgence of popularity in recent years is that many have discovered their lifestyles were in many ways similar to our own, and yet, as a culture they learned to incorporate Christ into their daily lives.