"Plugged In”
- John 15:5 -
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing"
To make it plain…nothing works unless it’s plugged in. I know, I know what about batteries you swiftly say back??? They will soon let you down friend and you’ll need more. When something is unplugged, it doesn’t work. It doesn’t do what it is intended to do. Batteries are temporary (you need everlasting instead of ever ready). I compare that to doing things our own way, using our own methods and in our own power. Not utilizing the power plant that is connected to the wire. Side note!!! I’ve seen radios come with cords, which are seldom if never used. They are already paid for, but we would rather go out and spend $6.00 on temporary power over and over again…unbelievable, but oh so true. My original title for this our next message was to be: “Life Support System”, but the Lord had me change it to “Plugged In”. And by now I think you know were we are going with this message.
The first man Adam’s sin unplugged us from our life giving source…God. The first man and then his mate were so plugged in. So much so that the Father came down in the cool of the day to fellowship. The first couple was given the most awesome paradise on the globe with all its pleasures. Plugged into presence, power, and provision…not to hateful wouldn’t you say??? God breathed life into Adam with the power source if you will, His Spirit.
My how sin messed up and messes up lives. But you know what…man chose to disobey God. Through his choice, the human race has suffered. Since then man has for the most part been Godless. Meaning we have done most on our own, coming to the 21st century with the idea that we don’t need Him or even believing there is a God. Just like a light that is plugged in. We have unplugged it and decided to walk in the dark. And they don’t even realize that they are…wow.
God didn’t create us as robots but as free moral agents. Free to choose, make our own decisions. We can plug the light in or not…our choice. I would rather be plugged into God…how about you??? In our main verse we read that He is the vine. So to say… He is God we are not. He is the source of life. Jesus calls Himself the vine, because as a vine imparts/provides sap (life) to its branches. So Jesus gives us His own divine strength and provision. The branches come from the vine. They are not of themselves. Jesus makes us…we don’t or can’t make ourselves. We are not… to repeat God or capable of being divine. We need Him to literally survive. We might think we are getting by without His help, but the fact is He is helping and we don’t realize it, even the atheist…because He loves them so…amen.
How do we get plugged back in you may ask??? Repenting is the cord that plugs us back in…praying provides the current that flows through the cord that keeps us connected. John the Baptist knew that repenting plugged us back in: (Matt. 3:1, 2) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus, God in the flesh brought the message of repenting: (Matt. 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. The disciples got the message from their Master: (Mark 6:12) And they went out, and preached that men should repent. The Apostle Peter: (Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And the Apostle Paul knew the key: (Acts 17:30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. We, all of us who are members of the human race, must, have to repent to attain that great reunion with our Heavenly Father. He created mankind for one purpose, to fellowship with Him. We thinking we don’t need Him is so absurd. I so need Him…did I tell you that yet???
Charles Spurgeon said that fellowship with God is the richest privilege fallen man can have. I am always in awe when I think that Almighty God loves me and that He has a plan for my life. He is not out to get me because I’m a sinner, but He is out to get me so I’ll be His again. Is that amazing or what??? What grace and mercy, my what a Friend we have in Jesus.
Trying to live life without the Lord is like living on a life support system. I grabbed an explanation and definition of such: Artificial life support systems that use medical technology to aid, support, or replace a vital function of the body that has been seriously damaged. Such techniques include artificial pacemakers, dialysis machines, and respirators. The use of life-support systems to prolong the life of a patient who has suffered apparently irreversible damage to a vital organ.
Our support system of the heavenlies was taken away when sin entered the human race. Few throughout history have sought to get “plugged back in”. They would rather live on artificial life support. Thinking that they can get by just fine. Excuses surface like: There is no God. God is not concerned about me. And the old familiar “I’m just fine…I don’t need God. Here is one of many scriptures that fits that type of individual, (Jeremiah 2:13) - For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. You need to do this: (Prov. 3:5-10) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Friend, you need light so you plug it in. You need heat, you pay you’re bill. You need gas, you fill up. Many of you for some reason think you don’t need “plugged in” to God. Don’t you want the best that heaven can provide??? Plug into His healing. Plug into His delivering power. Plug into His life changing Gospel. Plug into His free gift of salvation, the greatest miracle of all.
Rely, depend, put all of you trust in Him…now. As I said before, He so desires your fellowship. Get connected/plugged into the Lord today friend. And you who have drifted from shore, you know hat to do…so do it…now, don’t wait one second.
God Bless,
Mike
