Vine Series

Vine

John 15:1-8

INTRODUCTION

Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Countries were invited to build exhibits to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. The Japanese government constructed a beautiful garden filled with plants from their country. The large leaves and sweet-smelling blooms of kudzu captured the imagination of American gardeners who used the plant for ornamental purposes.

Picture of Kudzu outside of Atlanta, GA

Florida nursery operators, Charles and Lillie Pleas, discovered that animals would eat the plant and promoted its use for forage in the 1920s. Their Glen Arden Nursery in Chipley sold kudzu plants through the mail. A historical marker there proudly proclaims "Kudzu Developed Here."

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted kudzu for erosion control. Hundreds of young men were given work planting kudzu through the Civilian Conservation Corps. Farmers were paid as much as eight dollars an acre as incentive to plant fields of the vines in the 1940s.

The problem is that it just grows too well! The climate of the Southeastern U.S. is perfect for kudzu. The vines grow as much as a foot per day during summer months, climbing trees, power poles, and anything else they contact. Under ideal conditions kudzu vines can grow sixty feet each year.

The USDA declared kudzu to be a weed in 1972!

Common names for kudzu include:

mile-a-minute vine,

foot-a-night vine,

and the vine that ate the South.

T.S. Jesus Talked about a vine also. He talked about a true vine and what’s impact should be upon the world. Turn with me to John 15:1

15:1 "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.

NIV

TO LIVE A DISICPLED LIFE IS TO LEARN THE TRUTH OF THE VINE--YIELD IS EVERYTHING.

It is time for us to discover new wine. Last years fruit is not enough. The occasional grape is not enough. If we are attached to the vine, we should be producing fruit.

1. Admit that Bearing Fruit is elemental to becoming fruitful in our lives vs 2

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.

• You cannot be successful in you Journey with Jesus if you are fruitful.

• You cannot call yourself fruitful unless you are bearing fruit.

• You won’t remain attached to the vine unless you bear fruit.

Listen to the definitions of fruitful

• Yielding or producing fruit

• Conducive to an abundant yield

• Abundantly productive

We have equated fruitfulness with showing evidence of the fruit of the spirit.. but to be truly fruitful we must yield a crop. When it comes to vines, it’s all about the yield.

Kudzu has long vines strong green vines, lush leaves, boy can it grow, but it is not fruitful, it is a weed.

It is not just about green leaves and strong vines (fruit if the Spirit).

Being fruitful is about the yield. It is about actually bearing fruit, reproducing what we have discovered in others.

Too many believers have settled for just growing the vine and not bearing fruit. Do you justify the fact that you have not led others to the forgiver, by raitionallizing that you bear the the furit of the spirit.

Isn’t it time for us to admit, you can’t be furiltful until you bear some fruit.

ABOUT VINES--YIELD IS EVERYTHING.

2. Admit that Bearing Fruit is evidential of a thriving relationship vv 2-5.

2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, . . . . 4 . . . No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.