(Play “The Vine” video)

REAL LIVING

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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 are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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.

 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. 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. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”

God Is The Gardner

God manages each of His branches in order to maximize their fruit.

1. God Loves FRUIT

A. What am I offering up to God today?

B. I need to be offering God some fruit!

(Galatians 5:22) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

· God loves the fruit of LOVE in my life.

· God loves the fruit of JOY in my life.

· God loves the fruit of PEACE in my life.

· God loves the fruit of PATIENCE in my life.

· God loves the fruit of KINDNESS in my life.

· God loves the fruit of GOODNESS in my life.

· God loves the fruit of GENTLENESS in my life.

· God loves the fruit of FAITH in my life.

· God loves the fruit of SELF-CONTROL in my life.

2. God Removes the FRUITLESS

(2) ”[God] cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit.”

A. Three kinds of branches:

· Real branches.

· Non-branches.

· Non-branches that “think” they’re real branches.

(Matthew 7:20) “By their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

B. Anyone who does not display the fruit – is simply not a “real” branch.

C. And God “removes” them.

3. God Prunes the FRUITFUL

A. What can a fruitful branch expect to receive from God?

(2) “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

B. Everybody needs pruning!

C. God manages the lives of each of His branches – in order to maximize their fruit.