Pastor Joseph Prince (2nd service live)
It's our privilege when we serve, we get to not that we have to.
Flow with the Lord and be at the centre of His will.
God wants us to prosper, yes, but there is smth wrong if we're thinking of prosperity all the time.
He does prosper (e.g. multiplication of bread & fish with 12 baskets full left over etc)
But He never tells the pple to go and share abt financial deliverance (although He does give financial deliverance).
Compare this with how he always heals and tells pole to go share abt their healing.
Hear God & let the supply come. Don't manipulate others to get what you want.
If God doesn't put it on ur heart (e.g. to give), don't feel condemned, 1 day u'll give.
It's never about our smarts but always about the favour of God.
John 15:1-14
True vine = Israel as vine to supply knowledge of God to other nations (Psalm 80:8)
V4: abide = stay = remain (e.g. stay here while I go to the toilet)
U are already there, not trying to reach there.
Stay where u are as a branch & don't try and be the supplier
V5: I am vine, u are the branches
Vine = supplier of nutrients to branch = Jesus is the supplier = responsible for the fruit
Branch = fruit bearing part = NOT the supplier, producer etc = our role is to just manifest the fruits with a restful and carefree attitude
Many of us are trying to be the vine
We may get the credit, but the source/supply comes from vine.
Same sap tt flows through vine, flows through branches.
What is the secret to bearing fruit?
Remaining as a branch / taking your rightful place as branch and know Who is supplying
He puts us in the vine. It's not our doing that we're in Christ.
When it's time to bring forth fruit, trust the vine to bring forth whatever is needed to bear fruit. (e.g. If there's no rain, trust the vine to bring the water)
When it's harvest time, the vine dresser looks at the vine to see why a branch is not bearing fruit. He doesn't look at the branch.
Similarly for decision making, Lord you are my wisdom.
Let us labour into rest. (Hebrews 4:11)
Labour to rest in the Lord and draw from Him.
Outwardly work, but inwardly resting in Christ so that you don't burn out.
You can't be connected the the vine and not exhibit His qualities. You can't be part of Him and be lazy (e.g.). It just doesn't happen.
Phil 2:13
God works in us both the willingness and performance for His good pleasure
He gives u the desires to do what He wants u to do.
And then he also gives u the performance.
He is the one doing the giving and working.
Gal 5:4
The more we struggle and use self effort, the more we are cut off from God's supply & all tt Christ is to us.
Those who couldn't receive were those who were self righteous / trusting to be justified by the law.
V5: without me u can do nothing
But why is it that we see some people in the world who can accomplish without Christ?
It's bcos what do all those accomplishments avail? If it doesn't last forever, it's nothing.
What it means is u can't do anything that matters in the eternity & permanency of time without Christ.
Common misbelief is that we are doing smth righteous only when we pray, give money to the poor etc.
But actually, bcos we're connected to the branch, all our acts are righteous all the time. Our entire life is a righteous act because it emanates from a righteous vine. Even brushing of teeth, driving etc.
Prayer is a realisation of what/who we lardy are = we are connected to the living vine.
It's not trying to be a branch. God says u already are the branch. He put you there.
The same life & wisdom tt flows in Him, flows in me!
The Christian life is not about feelings, it's abt faith. Feelings can deceive u.
Devil wants us in the realm of feelings = blah, self-pity, unloved, pain
God wants us in the real of faith = same life & health in vine flows in me the branch
Forget the feelings, go by the living vine.
When we see obstacles, deadlines, challenges etc, who do you see as the one being responsible for solving them? You? No, rest in the vine.
"If I don't do anything, nothing will happen" = wrong mentality when we have Christ
"I want very much to abide, I'm trying to believe" = turns abiding / believing into a work
"Look at others around u, it didn't work. This person died" = devil wants you to look around, but don't care about others, just claim the word that for you 10k will fall at your side but won't come near you. Are we any better than that person? No, but we know nothing except to abide in the living God & He will take care of us.
Have the attitude that so what if we die? We'll just go see Jesus. Don't let the devil put fear into you.
Have more faith in the goodness of God.
Why must the 1/10 bad case happen to you? Reverse your faith!
Like Joshua and Caleb, there were giants yes. But compare God to giants/problems & we know God always wins. God is on our side today and with God all things are possible.
Know the person who spoke the word / Bible.
It's easy to believe the word when you know the person who spoke it.
V2: takes away = airo = lifts up
If branch drops to ground in dust, it will dry up & die. (see picture of dry branch on ground)
To help it bear fruit, Jesus will lift up the branch, not kick it away.
Branch needs to cling to something. What are you clinging on / depending on to grow/supply you today? (see picture of vine trellis / cross)
V2: fruit
V2: more fruit
V5: much fruit
1-3 years = root system grows deep and branches go out wide
3rd year (approx) = when vine starts to produce grapes
5 years = quality grapes for wine production
10-20 years = quality wine
Be patient with yourself (e.g. when u start a church or company).
Give it approx 3 years. Make sure God spoke to u to begin with, but if 10 years later there's still no fruit, cut it down. Don't waste time.
1st miracle = God compressed time at the wedding by turning water to wine = God of time
2nd miracle = healing from far = God of space
U don't need God to come down to heal u or take time to give u something. But do u believe?
Vine life flows continuously, not intermittently.
Devil gives lying symptoms.
"Go show urself to the priest." And as they went (based on what the vine said), they were healed. (Luke 17:14)
Use medicine (which cures symptoms) but put ur trust in and depend on God for the healing (at the root).
Use logic when making decisions but depend on God for the final outcome.
Exercise to keep fit but depend on God for health.
1 John 4:17
As he is, so are we in this world = similar to vine & branches
We're right there w Him and He's using all His power there for us & in our interest.
Even the faith I need, I receive from the vine.
Even faith he supplies as a gift from God, not of works lest anyone may boast. (Eph 2:9)
V2: prunes = kathairo = cleanses with water
V3: clean = katharos
Wash the branch of pest, dust, self-pity, envy, resentment, irritability etc
We are cleaned by the washing of water by Word. E.g. anointed teaching tt lifts us up & washes us
John 13:10
Bathed = louo = saved = washed of sins, saved forever
Wash his feet = nipto = wash w water = get into the word everyday
U can hear urself out of fear, but not psyche urself out
Isaiah 40:28-31
Wait = qavah = bind together = like vine also = hope = certainty of good happenings in ur future
Put on helmet of hope.
It's going to b a great day bcos I'm a branch. There's nothing tts going to happen today tt there's no supply available from the vine.
I refuse to worry. All cares are Christ's.
I can expect good things in my future on the ground of the blood of Jesus.
Spend time & stay in touch w Jesus then u will soar first
Take note of order = mount (soar), run, walk
Opposite of the world
Literal renewal of youth
Joshua 14:10-13
See difficulties as food for u bcos we are connected to the living vine
85 years = 40 years old when Moses sent Him. He forgot to grow old.
Don't accept the lies of devil. Reject memory loss as "part of aging process". Even the young forgets, so memory has nothing to do w youth.
We are daughters of Sarah who is the only woman mentioned had her youth renewed in the Bible.
Sarah counted God faithful (Hebrews 11:11)
Count/judge God faithful even if u're not faithful.
It's His faith to begin with, not ours.
See Him holding onto u, not u holding onto Him cos then He won't let u go although we may
Even if I don't have an answer for it, I can still rest bcos he's taking care of it.
Devil wants u to think If u don't do anything, it will fail.
He might ask u what u're gonna do. Ur reply should be, "Me? Not me. Go ask God."
Have the attitude tt, fall lor. It's God's responsibility. He holds me.
