Living a Life That Counts

“LIVING A LIFE THAT COUNTS” JOHN 15:1-11 INTRO: Christ’s desire for all believers is that we turn our eyes from the temporal, the physical, and the menial, and turn them toward the eternal, the spiritual, and the noble and He inspires and assures us with what He says. He says, “I am the bread of life” and we learn Jesus satisfies the longing of our souls. He says, “I am the light of the world” and we are encouraged to go on in life knowing He will be our guide. He says, “I am the good shepherd” and we are comforted with the assurance that He will provide for us and protect us. I believe it is the heartfelt desire of every born-again believer to be a success in the Christian life. To live a life that counts. To stand before God someday and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21). Let us look in the passage of Scripture and find the key to Living A Life That Counts. Jesus had met with His disciples in the Upper Room. In the Upper Room Jesus observed the Passover meal with His disciples. It was in this room after Judas had left to do his dastardly deed that Jesus instituted the LORD’S SUPPER. He spoke of His death in terms they couldn’t miss. He told them He was going to send the Spirit, and He would return for all who believe in Him. After He had spoken these things, He said, “Arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:31). So, they left the Upper Room and started down the city toward the Temple and Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethesemane. Somewhere along the way He spoke the words we will learn from today. Perhaps He stopped at a vineyard terraced along the hillside at one of the wealthy homes. Perhaps He stopped at the Temple where a very expensive gold vine adorned the entrance into the holy place of the Temple. Either of these two things are possible, but whatever the case, Jesus taught from something very familiar to His disciples. Let us look at His Words so we can find out the key to Living A Life That Counts. FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS WE DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE A GRATIFYING AND NOBLE LIFE. HE ADDRESSES OUR: (1) DESIRE TO BE PRODUCTIVE JOHN 15:8—“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” *What did the disciples need in light of the words of Jesus spoken as they made their way from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane? A. THEY NEEDED ASSURANCE. They needed to know that their lives and their future would have purpose and be productive for the glory of God.

 They had heard the bad news: Jesus was going to leave them and He was going to die (John 13:33—“Whither I go, ye cannot come….”).  They had heard the hopeful news: Jesus said He would return (John 14:28—“Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you…”). And even though Jesus was coming back they knew not when so Jesus promised that the Comforter would come to give them comfort and assurance till He returned.  They needed assuring news: Jesus told them that they could, should, and would be purposeful and fruitful. It was the will of God that they “bear much fruit” (v8). All of us want to know that we can make a difference and a contribution in this life. We want to be productive! We want God to be pleased with our lives for Him. The disciples wanted to be productive for God and make an impact on their world. But to do this…. B. THEY NEEDED ASSISTANCE. No one can be productive and fruitful for God without God’s help. To Live A Life That Counts we need God’s enabling and God’s assistance. Notice vv. 4-5 Jesus says, “…the branch cannot bear fruit of itself…without me ye can do nothing.” Apart from Him we can do nothing of spiritual and lasting importance. All of our efforts apart from God’s enabling are nothing but wood, hay, and stubble which will be burned up at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God has designed our lives to be purposeful and fruitful. And although we may suffer setbacks along the way God purposes to fulfill our desire for a fruitful, productive, and pleasing life for His glory. Jesus addresses our desire for a productive and fruitful life. Then He gives us the… (2) DIRECTION FOR FINDING A FRUITFUL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE JOHN 15:4-5—“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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.” A. KNOWING WHERE TO FIND SOMETHING IS ESSENTIAL. ILLUS: One night a thief broke into the single-room apartment of French novelist Honore de Balzac. Trying to avoid waking Balzac, the intruder quietly picked the lock on the writer’s desk. Suddenly the silence was broken by a sardonic laugh from the bed, where Balzac lay watching the thief. “Why do you laugh?” asked the thief. “I am laughing to think what risks you take to try to find money in a desk by night where the legal owner can never find any by day.” (Today in the Word, November 6, 1993). Many people are looking in the dark for the secret to a fruitful life. And the result is a life of futility and frustration. Relationships? Religions? Rewards? Recogitions? All these have a place in finding a fruitful life. But none of these are the key to a fruitful, productive life. B. KEEPING A VITAL CONNECTION IS EVERYTHING. Jesus handed the key to the disciples on the night before His betrayal, trial and death. Listen to His words in v4, “Abide in me, and I in you, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” The main truth Jesus is teaching in this parable is the importance of abiding in Him to bear fruit. The main point of the teaching here is fellowship, not sonship (1). The disciples could grasp that. The life was not in the branch but in the vine. The branches did not produce grapes, the vine did. The branches were alive and could bear fruit only because of their connection to the vine. Notice v6. To use v6 to teach that a Christian loses his salvation and is burned in hell if he fails to bear fruit is to twist Jesus’ meaning in this parable. To abide in Christ does not mean we keep ourselves saved. It means to live in His Word and pray (v7), obey His commandments (v10), and keep our lives clean through His Word (vv. 3-4). The Christian who fails to abide in Christ becomes like a useless branch, like the salt that loses its taste and is good for nothing. 1 Corinthians 3:15 teaches that our works will be tested by fire. The Christian who fails to use the gifts and opportunities God gives him will lose them (Luke 8:18 and 2 John 8) (2). A constant connection with Christ is essential for a fruitful, productive life. ILLUS: A sign above a door read, “This door isn’t automatic.” Neither is our connection with Christ. There are two dimensions of this vital connection: 1. THERE IS THE DISCIPLINE OF THE FOLLOWER. “Abide in me,” Jesus said. It is our responsibility. God saves us, but He does not make us serve Him. Daily we must discipline our lives so that we follow Him in all things. 2. THERE IS THE DEPENDENCE OF THE FOLLOWER. Jesus said “Abide in me, and I in you..” This speaks of dependence. As we abide in Him we realize and appreciate His presence with us. It is then that we experience a fruitful and productive Christian life. To be a branch in the Vine means we are united with Christ and share His life. As we abide in Him, His life flows through us and produces fruit (3). ILLUS: We are told today that the key to success in the 21st century is to have an unofficial as well as an official network. We are told we must be well-connected to be successful in business and social life in the 21st century. The secret to successful and fruitful living and to Living A Life That Counts has always been to be well connected. And the connection I am talking about is our connection with Jesus! Our desire for a fruitful and productive life is made possible by our life-giving connection with Our Lord Jesus Christ. But there is more. Jesus gives us… (3) DEFINITION TO THE KIND OF FRUIT WE TRULY DESIRE JOHN 15:16—“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” *Because of our connection with Jesus we can expect the best of life. We can offer fruit of the best kind. What is this fruit? : A. A PEACEFUL LIFE (JOHN 14:27). “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” By abiding in Him we are assured to eat from the cluster of peace. Christ’s peace rests deep in the heart, is always satisfying, and will abide forever. When we fail to abide in him, we experience turmoil, unrest and uneasiness in our hearts. ILLUS: Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell on the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-grey clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil (A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos, pp. 45-46). The little bird was peacefully resting confidently in the nest cradled on the little limb. Peaceful living is the product of living confidently connected to Christ. Fruitful living is peaceful living. It is also… B. JOYFUL LIVING (JOHN 15:11). Do we dare desire Joy? Hear what C. S. Lewis said: ILLUS: Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half- hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased (C. S. Lewis). Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Joy is not something you pursue and find it is a product of our constant connection with Christ. ILLUS: To love God wholeheartedly, we must be convinced that our only happiness is in him alone. We cannot believe this until we renounce all other efforts at happiness. If we look to God to supply half our happiness, we can only love him with half our hearts. -- William Law in Christian Perfection (a contemporary version by Marvin D. Hinten). Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 9. Fruitful living is peaceful living, joyful living, and it is also…. C. LOVINGLY LIVING (JOHN 15:17). Hear Jesus’ words, “These things I command you, that ye love one another.” Love for the brethren is a mark of a true disciple (John 13:35). It is truly the fruit of a Christian. ILLUS: The height of our love for God will never exceed the depth of our love for one another. -- Patrick Morley. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 4. Christ loves us and gives us His life and His love. We receive it and we give it! And in giving it, we live a fruitful life. ILLUS: The world isn't waiting for advice about how to solve its problems. It's waiting for somebody to listen to it and love it. -- Keith Miller. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 4. CLOSING: Abiding in Christ makes it possible for us to experience a fruitful, productive, and fulfilling life. Abiding in Christ enables us to Live A Life That Counts! Our connection with Christ is greater than a physical union. It is spiritual and not limited to time and space. If you have to go out of town and leave your spouse for a few days you may miss being physically present. But your relationship with him or her and love goes beyond the physical realm. You are connected with him or her even though you are physically separated. The evidences of the “abiding life” are: a sense of the Savior’s love (v9), obedience to His Word (v10), answered prayer (v7), and joy (v11) (4). Friend, my question to you today is: Are you connected to Christ? Have you ever asked Him to be your Saviour and Lord? If not, you can be connected to Him today by receiving Him by faith. And if He is your Saviour, are you constantly abiding in him? You can by living dependently upon Him and living obediently to Him day by day. NOTES: 1. Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Pg. 251. 2. Wiersbe. Pg. 252. 3. Wiersbe. Pg. 252. 4. Wiersbe. Pg. 252.

(ORIGINALLY PREACHED AT MEADOWSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, PITTSBURG, KS. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2001 BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, REVISED AND PREACHED AT BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY JUNE 28, 2009).