Connections

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. We greet you in Jesus' name this morning. This morning I would like to think about connections with you just a little bit. And I'm just going to do something that Jesus did sometimes. [00:00:31] I'm going to talk about something that I know a little bit about. One of these that makes a permanent connection is called a butt connector. You take two pieces of wire, you put them into this connector, and the reason it's called a butt connector is because the wires just come up and butt together. And then you can crimp on one side and crimp on the other with a wire connector, a wire crimper, and you can make a connection. That is one kind of connection. [00:01:01] If this is successful, you can do this in a buggy or a vehicle, and you can make lights work or whatever else you are trying to connect up. There is another connector that's a little bit better than that one. It's called a heat shrink butt connector. You do the same thing, but after you're done making the connection, you use heat on it. And it shrinks the outside and it makes a waterproof connection. It's a little bit superior to the first one. Then there is another one, and we actually call them butt connectors, but really they are not. [00:01:36] I would call them a parallel connector where the two wires pass each other and this is a connector that has a solder seal. It has a solder ring on the inside. You can crimp it like you did the first one, the second one, but then you take heat to it and it shrinks down the outside. It shrinks down the insulation. Not only does it do that, it also melts that solder ring and it makes that connection like it were one wire. [00:02:10] This is the kind of connections that I've been talking with you so far are what I call static connections. Static as opposed to a living or a moving thing. Jesus talked about connections in our lives, connections with him. And I want to read a little bit about that. But I'd like to think with you about some living connections, first of all, in the natural realm. [00:02:40] A number of years ago, I think it was Brother Gary Nestle that shared some trees with us that he got free of charge. And there were certain stipulations, but we were given those trees. We could plant them if we pleased. and we took some of those and planted them and we have the results of that gift to us. So thanks Gary for that. One of the trees that I planted was in the vicinity of my mother-in-law's trailer [00:03:13] and I didn't notice but at some point something happened with that tree close to ground level that made it very weak and very susceptible to being destroyed by a windstorm. I remember one time I saw my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law out ministering to that tree. What they were doing was they were pounding down one of these metal posts and they tied the tree to that post to give it time to heal that weak point. [00:03:47] I remember smiling a little bit to myself and wondering is that going to work and I haven't tried these trees out very carefully but as nearly as I can tell those three trees that are in the same vicinity are of equal strength now what is the difference and why are we talking about connections the second connection that I'm talking about is a living thing and it can get better or it can get worse with time depending on the circumstances [00:04:19] and Jesus talked about a living connection and I'd like for you to turn with me to John chapter 15 and I recognize that I have used this before but Jesus talked about a connection here that can be a strong connection it can be a weak connection but it is subject to change In the static connection that I mentioned, first of all, the best connection you get is at the time you make it. [00:04:52] From then on, it would tend to deteriorate. It will not get better. Right? I think we're together on that. The best, because with time, some of these connections need to, you need to get rid of that connection, make another one, at least for some of these. But with the connection that Jesus talks about in John chapter 15, I'm glad that the best isn't always at the very beginning, but it can get better. That connection can get better. And I'd like to talk about what these connections do for us or what they should do for us. [00:05:31] And I'd like to talk about that just a little bit before I actually read the scripture here that we are well familiar, that we know very well. What is it that this connection with Jesus is to do? I'd like for us to think about that. And maybe we should just go ahead and read and especially notice what is this connection to do? Brother Laverne told us this morning that we do best coming to Jesus without any agenda at all, and I think that is correct. [00:06:11] But there are certain things that Jesus wants to do as we think of having a connection with him, and I'd like for us to notice. Maybe we can just categorize the results from this connection, and I'd like to think about the results with you then. We're not going to spend a lot of time right in the reading of this word, but I would like to just simply draw some truths from this. Jesus said here in John chapter 15, verse 1, [00:06:43] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. In the second verse already here, we have one of the things that is the result of the connection. One of the things that this connection is to do for us. We read that we are to bear fruit. Verse 3, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [00:07:17] 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered. And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [00:07:53] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you, and continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. [00:08:30] This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord doeth. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 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. [00:09:11] That whatsoever ye shall ask of my Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I commend you, that ye love one another. I don't know what you would say is the outstanding part of this passage of Scripture. And you could give several answers and probably be right in those answers that you give. But we notice here that a connection with Jesus Christ is of paramount importance. [00:09:44] And I say that because of what he says here in verse 6. If a man doesn't abide in me, if the connection is severed, he is cast forth. He dies, spiritually speaking, I think is what Jesus is saying to us. I notice that there is a connection between us and Christ. But did you notice that Christ says, it doesn't stop with me. Where is the connection on beyond Christ if you go back? [00:10:17] It names the Father, doesn't it? The Father has loved me, so I've loved you. And so it's a connection not only with Jesus Christ, but it's a connection with the Father. If you go the other way, the connection between Jesus Christ and us brings about what connection? You may respond to that if you care to. Several times he said, this is a connection that if you're connected with me, there's another connection that's going to take place. What are we supposed to do for one another? [00:10:48] Brother Chester? Love one another. He mentions that at least twice, if not more than that. So, the connection, it's important that this connection be there. And it's not just enough that we make the initial connection. Do you notice there is one word that he uses to describe that connection? It says that, if ye abide in me. That is the way that connection is strengthened. Jesus in us, we in Jesus. It's a two-way thing. [00:11:25] As I think of the vine, as I think of plants, I see the work of the vine. The vine supports the branches is what Jesus is saying. But if you know how plants work, you know that the plant couldn't live without the leaves. I don't think so. What do the leaves do? If I understand correctly, if my science is not too far gone, [00:11:55] I understand that the leaves are like miniature factories that actually make the food for the plant. But it has to have the sap from the root that comes up through the vine into the branches and then on into the leaves and through photosynthesis and light, food is manufactured for this. So each one of us has an important role to play. Now if you look at the passage that I just read, what is one recurring theme, what is the one thing that this abiding is to do for us? [00:12:35] Bring forth fruit. It's mentioned in verses 2, 4, 5, 8, and 16 at least and maybe more than that. But you see that it's a recurring theme. It's not just for our salvation. It's not just so that we escape hell. It is so that we glorify the Father. And what is fruit bearing? What do we mean when we say we should bear fruit? [00:13:07] I know that we could answer a number of different ways and probably be right when we say that. I think of one thing when I think of fruit bearing. I think of the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5, is it verse 9? where it says that, let me see, blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. That is one thing, I think that is one of the fruits and peace is also mentioned in Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 [00:13:43] where Paul wrote, I think under the inspiration of the Spirit, but the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance And then he finishes by saying, against such there is no law I'd like for you to think with me just a little bit about those fruits That fruit that I just mentioned [00:14:14] It doesn't, it's not plural, it is singular But the fruit that I just mentioned, love, joy, peace, and you go on down the line. People that have this fruit evident in their lives, as I stopped to look at this, I just simply saw the relationship between bearing fruit and being peacemakers. How many of the fruit of the Spirit help to make us peacemakers? [00:14:47] If we have this fruit evident in our lives, are we going to be rabble-rousers or are we going to be peacemakers? I would just venture to say this morning that we as a people do well to capitalize on being peacemakers. And I'd just like for us to think about ourselves. When there is a discussion going on and we come up to that discussion, am I more concerned about venting the truth, so to speak, or am I more concerned about being a peacemaker? [00:15:26] And you may say, but the truth needs to be told. And maybe that is correct. But I just noticed the scriptures that tell us that we should be peacemakers. Let me see, Paul wrote about that in Romans chapter 12, verse 18, didn't he? He said this, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Now, I am not here to say that you may not give somebody the full load. [00:16:01] I am here to say that we do well. I do well to think very carefully before I do that and to be sure that it is the prompting of the Holy Spirit that is prompting me to do that before I just simply do that. I trust that we as God's people are willing to let God use us to be builders, to be the people that he can use. [00:16:35] As we think of abiding in Jesus, I'd like to look at some of the other things that we do that happen, that are a result of abiding in Jesus. And I'd like to say this. As we relate to one another, I'd like for us to remember that word abiding. You know, it's a relationship that I have with my brothers. It's a living relationship. It's not a static one. [00:17:06] Or the one that I have with my spouse, with my wife. The one that you have with your wife. What happens if we don't cultivate that relationship? I remember very well sitting under the sound of one person that said it's a little bit like this if you do not, if we do not cultivate the relationship and he was talking about the relationship with our spouse it's somewhat similar to not watering the houseplants and I don't think I have to tell you what happens when you don't water the houseplants [00:17:38] I've had that experience there were some plants that I moved off of our deck into our We called our mudroom into the entry in the south side of our house. And since I moved them in there, I was responsible for watering them. And I came to my senses one day and noticed that one plant was losing quite a few leaves. Something was suffering because it wasn't getting water. There was some water added and there was new life given to that plant. But we as people of God, as we relate to one another, [00:18:11] This is not just true in a relationship between a husband and wife. This is true sister to sister, brother to brother. What is it that I do to cultivate that relationship with my brothers? Am I working at making that relationship a living, a vibrant relationship? Or do I neglect it? Do I forget to water it? There is give and take. We as the branches have an important part to do in God's kingdom. And this, we can't, I can't make a parallel in this, but our relationships one with another are important too. [00:18:49] And we do well to remember that it's an abiding kind of thing. It's something that we must give attention to. There is one thing that Jesus says in the passage of scripture that I read that may not be one that we enjoy very much. But in verse 2, he talks about what he does with the branches that do bear fruit. He purges it. He prunes it. [00:19:20] I don't know if you have experienced the pruning of other people or of the Lord or not. I don't know. I wasn't really going to share this, but maybe I'll just simply share this for what it's worth. This past weekend, we had interviews with the ones who were to be in the lot, the candidates for the lot. And then one of the brothers said something that I just simply took note and I just asked him, I said, is there anything, because we have had some to do with the church at Arthur, the church at Pleasantview, I said, is there anything that I should do to clear myself because of what he had said? [00:20:15] Anabaptist, Anabaptist, Anabaptist, Anabaptist I felt that I was pruned in that time in the phone. [00:20:50] And the fact that it seemed like wasted effort made it worse. But I was blessed by one thing that happened the next day as I sat nearly across from him at the fellowship dinner. He just expressed appreciation for what I did. And I don't know what my face said, but it was very different from what I heard the day before. And he said furthermore if you would do it publicly it would mean a lot to me. Well if the Lord could work who was I not to follow what he said. So that's what I did that evening before the message that I preached. I just simply tried to do that. [00:21:33] And I don't know what fruit that will bear, but the point that I am making is just simply that pruning does not feel good. Especially if it seems as though there is no fruit to be seen because of it. The thing that I would like to say to us is that we do not always see the fruit that the pruning brings about. especially as it relates to other people [00:22:06] I think in our own lives God makes that more visible to us but when God prunes in your life or mine I think we do well to just simply be open to what it is that God would like to do in your life or mine even if it doesn't feel very good The end result, the Bible tells us, is the peaceable fruit of righteousness. [00:22:39] And I am so glad for that. And I trust that as we are together, we can just simply ask ourselves, are we peacemakers? I suppose some of us would just simply say, but truth needs to be spoken. And perhaps it does. This is not scripture, but I'd like for you to just consider what somebody said. We must always tell the truth. The counterpart of that is not all the truth needs to be spoken. [00:23:13] And I have found that in my life. And when I was on the phone with that brother, I did not feel compelled to say all of what I consider to be the truth. I think that was a time when not all the truth needed to be spoken. I think that I was more of a peacemaker by doing that. And I don't think I compromised. There is one thing that I did. I think that we need to be very careful. There is one thing that I was careful to do. [00:23:44] I wrote out what I wanted to say. And there was one reason for doing that. I did not want to be a hypocrite in what I said. I wanted to be sure that what I wrote down, and I had several brothers check what I wrote to make sure, but I wanted to be sure that what I said was right. We need to be sincere is the thing that I am saying, but we can be sincere and we do not have to say everything in any particular given situations. [00:24:16] I don't know what it is that brings about pruning in your life. You know, maybe a relationship has gone sour. Maybe there is something that happened at work or a business deal. It may be a brother to brother thing. It may be, it could be any number of things. But I would just, I would just plead with us to hear what it is that God has to say through us. Some of the, some of God's richest blessings come to his people in the form of things that do not seem pleasant at the time. [00:24:50] And I would just urge us to listen carefully to what it is that God wants to do in our lives. And I would just remind us in closing of one more beatitude where Jesus said this. He said, blessed are the meek. Why? They shall inherit the earth. And there is more blessing than just the earth to inherit, but that is one of the blessings that he shared. May God help us to be peacemakers, to be connected with that vine, to have a vibrant, a living connection that isn't getting weaker, but is getting stronger. [00:25:33] And that only happens as we water it, as we abide in him. May God help us to be the kind of people that he can use to bear fruit for his kingdom. Shall we kneel and pray?