As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Verse 5, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. Or you can do something, just not spiritual. [00:03:39] (28 seconds) Edit Clip


God has given over everything john 3 35 god has given to jesus into his hands all things all things god the father has delivered to his son so he may deliver that to all of god's sons and daughters this is why we need to abide not be associated not be a part of the church or denomination not part of taking the sacraments we must abide in him to find strength from heaven and oh how we need it. [00:01:46] (35 seconds) Edit Clip


They had the appearance outwardly of life, but the reality was there was no real sustaining life in them. And that's what good false religion does you. It gets you an appearance, but it doesn't get you any power. It makes you look polished on the outside, but on the inside you're still filled with dead men's bones. [00:16:00] (22 seconds) Edit Clip


So the fruit is the proof. The fruit is not the root. The fruit is not the root. That's Jesus. But connected to the root, the branches bear fruit. By necessity, if we are connected to the vine rightly, we will bear fruit. Jesus said a good tree will bear good fruit. [00:26:09] (23 seconds) Edit Clip


This is why coming to God requires you to be humble like a little child. We come to God and say, I am not self -sufficient. You say, well, I'm thinking about my faith. I'm kind of working that direction. I kind of want to believe in Jesus. He's a compelling person. He's a loving person. Many people I know have been saved and dramatically changed by Him. And I'm working that direction. What do I do, Pastor? Be like the sinner who said, have mercy on me, O God, I am a sinner. [00:08:52] (31 seconds) Edit Clip


We go through life trying to find life. And we strive and we look in every place for life that we're seeking. Has that been working for you? Jesus said there's another way to live. Abide in him. Let him live through you. Let him be the source of life and godliness and energy and peace. [00:29:41] (25 seconds) Edit Clip


He knows exactly how to whisper to your down, your depression. He knows exactly how to aid you in your feelings of inadequacy and overwork. This God is a God in the flesh who came to us. He lives to intercede for us. He provided salvation for all who will believe. [00:05:27] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

John chapter 15, Abide in Me.

With all the challenges of parenting and mothering in particular, I'm sure, we need a source of strength. How might we bear up under all of the difficulties that we face? Society's going crazy. Now, everywhere around us are temptations. Our children are facing things that we didn't have to face, most of us, when we were young. And mothers and dads are right in the fray of it, right in the battle.

How might we on earth find the strength while we await for heaven? Christians, we all know that we have eternal life because of Jesus Christ our Lord. But what of now? How do we bear up under all of these difficulties? You say, well, my children were easy. Well, you're the exception then.

Jesus said there is a resource for us, and the resource is Him Himself. Abide in Me, Jesus said. And He said it seven times. In John 15, verses 1 through 11, seven times Jesus said, Abide in Me. The King James says, remain in Me. I actually like the abide language better. Because remaining isn't... attachment abiding is a dwelling, and so the strength comes not by being associated with Jesus but by dwelling in Him. God has given over everything—John 3:35—God has given to Jesus into His hands all things, all things. God the Father has delivered to His Son so He may deliver that to all of God's sons and daughters. This is why we need to abide, not just be associated, not just be a part of the church or denomination, not just take the sacraments. We must abide in Him to find strength from heaven, and oh, how we need it sometimes.

In counseling, people will say to me, "I hurt. I feel so bad. I'm so sad," and they think strangely that they're the only ones. Do you know of the depression around you? The chronic illness around you? Those in the hospital even today? Those who have surgeries coming up? Others with tests? Some people don't know about the longevity of their employment. Some people are struggling with their businesses. Oh, how we need to abide in Jesus.

Seven times He refrained, "Abide in Me," and you will bear much fruit. And I would just say, if we're not to abide in Him, then upon what resource shall we lean?

John 15:1—Jesus' words: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser, the gardener. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me."

Verse 5: "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing." Or you can do something, just not spiritual. We're busy our whole lives doing something. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and you will bear fruit," spiritual fruit.

Verse 6: "If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch, and it withers. And the branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned." If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. That's a great promise.

Verse 8: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Verse 11: "How wonderful." These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be full. That's what we need. Mothers, that's what you need. You need the peace and joy of God abiding in you by the source—the one who knows you best and loves you most, the one who created you from nothing. He knows exactly how to whisper to your downcast heart, your depression. He knows exactly how to aid you in your feelings of inadequacy and overwork.

This God is a God in the flesh who came to us. He lives to intercede for us. He provided salvation for all who will believe. And for those of us who believe, why would it be simply an outward thing? Why would we simply be associated? Let's dwell well.

I'd like to make three points from this passage and some other scriptures, and then next week I will also dig further into these verses 1 through 11.

The first thing I'd like to say today is that there is a hopeful offer of abiding in Christ in this section of scripture. A hopeful offer. And oh, we need the hope, just like we need the joy. Hope is so energizing. Hope is so energizing. And sometimes when we lose hope, it's because we lose sight of the source of hope.

Look again at verses 4 and 5: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing."

This is agricultural language, isn't it? This is language of the vineyard. There's a gardener here—His name is God. There's a vine here—His name is Jesus. There's a branch here—His name is you. And Jesus promised. He's speaking right to the point of our deepest despair. He says, "I am the source of peace and joy and fruit."

As a mother, probably nothing you pray for more diligently than the salvation, success, humility, and kindness of your children. It's constantly on my mind for my children. I'm praying for the armor of God for them. I'm praying that they would resist temptation. I'm praying that they would fulfill all of God's plan that He designed them for. And I know you're praying similarly.

What a hopeful offer. And I know you're praying that they would be able to fulfill all of God's plan—that He would be able to fulfill all of God's plan. That though we are surrounded with troubles, inconveniences, sometimes chaos, and oftentimes temptation, we are called to dwell in Christ.

What a beautiful and hopeful offer. He, the vine, sinks deep into the soil of God's love. And through Him, that love of God and peace of God flows out to the branches.

Where do the fruit come from? On what part of the plant is the fruit born? On the branches. The vine doesn't bear fruit; the branches do. And the branch is not on their own, but you sometimes live as if you can live all alone and be self-sufficient.

This is why coming to God requires you to be humble like a little child. We come to God and say, "I am not self-sufficient." You say, "Well, I'm thinking about my faith. I'm kind of working in that direction. I want to believe in Jesus. He's a compelling person. He's a loving person. Many people I know have been saved and dramatically changed by Him. And I'm working that way. What do I do, Pastor?"

Be like the sinner who said, "Have mercy on me, O God, I am a sinner." Be like the little child who understands his or her dependency.

So, your children, when they were little especially, were so dependent upon you. Every breath they took. Every breath they took. Every breath they took. Every breath they took. You were caring for it, protecting them in it. Every food they ate, every bite they had, you were preparing and giving it to them or your husband. Someone in the family is taking care.

You need some care as well. Some of you are hurting so bad. As Ike prayed, maybe your mother passed since last Mother's Day. That hurts. Maybe some of you have lost children this year through miscarriage. That hurts so bad. Some of you may be struggling with all of the burdens of just making life work.

This is the God who provides the resources through Himself that we may not grow weary and faint and lose heart. Be encouraged.

See, I don't always feel God's love, but it's there. A hopeful offer and an offer we all need to hear.

Number two, a hopeful offer, but also a sad reality of false faith. I see that in the scriptures too. We're saying that we must dwell and abide and find our very being, our essence, our energy coming through God, our Creator. But the Bible gives us many warnings about the potential of an almost saving faith. The Bible warns us about why some people have said...

The Bible says, which is false, and to the...

The Bible says, "Where is it for us?" The Bible says, "The Bible says," saving experience—almost they believed.

So there are warnings here, and we see those warnings in John as well. Look at verse 2 and then verse 6, chapter 15:

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away."

If God, through the vine—which is Jesus—is the source through whom He has planned for us to live and dwell and have our existence, if that's His plan—and it is—what does He do for those of us who walk sideways of God's will and we discount Him and are unconcerned for His principles or His will in our lives?

Jesus' picture of it is like a branch casually connected to the vine, and He removes it. It's thrown away, and it withers.

You know, the Bible says that the person without God is living in the futility of their mind. Futility. It means your mind doesn't work right. You think it's working right, but it's all feelings.

In the futility of mind is life without God. And the outcome of the futile mind is ruined living. You say, "Well, I don't live so bad." Are you looking from God's perspective? Are you accomplishing His will for your life? Are you serving the ones He places near you?

It's a sad reality about the almost faith. I call it a false faith. Verse 2: "The branches, He takes them away." If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch, and it withers. The branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned.

The Bible clearly shows that it's possible to be associated with Jesus in some proximity but not truly connected. That was my experience. I grew up in church. I was in proximity. I was on the outside looking okay.

When I met Dina, her first question to me was, "Are you a Christian?" And I said, "Well, sure, I'm an American." I was close to the vine, but not attached. I had a head knowledge—or at least some head knowledge. But I’d never surrendered my will to God. I’d never turned over the keys and said, "You drive." I’d never removed myself from the seat of prominence, the throne of life, and said, "God, You occupy this in my place." I’d never invited God into my life and given Him control. That wasn’t me. I didn’t know that. I didn’t know it.

Thankfully, I kept attending Dina’s church until I finally got the message. Thank God for gospel preaching. Somebody, don’t just tell it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank God for it.

Sad reality here: you can almost be there but not truly connected.

A couple of things I want to say about this sad reality. There’s the parable of the soils to consider. And the story of Simon the magician, to think about how the demons believe—appearances are not always reality.

Let’s think about these for a few minutes. The parable of the soils—actually called the parable of the sower—and the soils.

The sower went out to sow, broadcasting the seed of the gospel. Some of those seeds fell on good soil, took root, and grew. Pray that’s the case for all of you. But the warning is, some of it fell on bad soil. There was nothing wrong with the sower. There was nothing wrong with the seed. There was nothing wrong with the potential of the plant.

What was wrong was the soil. One example is the parable of the rocky ground. Let’s read it together: Matthew 13, verses 5 and 6, and then verses 20 and 21.

"Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil. And immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil. There was nothing wrong with the seed. The seed sprang right up. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away, because they were not really connected."

If you had it, they were now just something wrong. Well, what do you want to do? If you remember, we would strike a lot to them.

They had the outward appearance of life, but the reality was there was no real sustaining life in them. And that’s what false religion does—you. It gets you an appearance, but it doesn’t give you power. It makes you look polished on the outside, but inside, you're still filled with dead men's bones.

This is what it is when you have almost religion. When the sun rose, they were scorched, and they had no root. They withered away.

Verse 20: "And as for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word. What kind of people are these? As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself and endures for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away."

This is the story of false conversions. I’m sorry to say that many of my brethren in churches and pulpits today make the gospel so casual. It means nothing other than getting your ticket, signing up, joining the church. That’s not what the new birth is about. The new birth is spirit-born. God awakens your eyes, and you begin to have an appetite for God that you didn’t have before.

For those seeds sown on rocky ground, there was something wrong with the soil. They had no root, and they withered. It was rocky ground, and it was difficult. They started off well, but they finished quickly and badly.

How many of you know people who come enthusiastically to Christ, apparently, and then in just minutes, they’re gone? Days, they’re gone. Weeks, they’re gone.

The Bible says that when people go away, it’s not because they just lose heart and give up. It’s because, 1 John 2:19, "They went out from us because they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have remained with us."

The parable of the soils, and the story of Simon the magician, both remind us that it’s possible to have an almost faith. I think I’ve demonstrated that. Jesus said, "You need this resource through the vine." But then some people are so close, yet they do not truly succeed.

That’s why Jesus warns: if you’re not attached to the vine, you’ll just be taken away and burned.

What good are you as a human without the Creator who made you human and made you unique—that you would walk in fellowship with Him? What good would you be as a branch if you were not connected to the vine?

What good are you as a human without walking in fellowship with your Creator God, who loved you and gave Himself for you, and placed you on this earth to be a witness of His light to all the nations?

Here’s the story of Simon the magician. Acts chapter 8, verses 13, 18, and 20.

"Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized, he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed." Verse 13: no problem.

This man would be accepted in any evangelical church in the United States today. By all appearances, no problem.

What does it say about him? It says he believed. It says he got baptized. It says he continued with Philip, one of the leaders, one of the disciples. He saw the signs and the great miracles, and he was amazed.

Wow, what a thing to observe. You ever wish you could go back to Jesus’ days, watch what He did, see what He did, and hear the testimonies of those He did it for? Wouldn’t that be amazing?

We don’t get to do that right now. We get the better part. And the better part is when our faith becomes sight, and we get to say thank you to Him personally.

I’ve been telling some of the young people, "Make sure you tell your mother, Happy Mother’s Day." How about we get to heaven and say, "Jesus, it’s all for You." And we take whatever rewards we win and lay them at Jesus’ feet. Won’t that be wonderful?

But this meant something was wrong. Verse 18: "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money."

So Simon the magician, he says he believed, he got baptized, he was hanging out with Philip, but then he kept seeing them do dramatic miracles—the apostles, given that special gift by Jesus in the earliest days of the church. When he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of hands, he desired it and tried to buy it.

Verse 19: "And he said, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'"

But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money."

What are we saying? There’s an almost faith—a false faith—that looks on the outside to be perfectly fine. The inner workings behind that corruptness are displayed here by this magician. He thought he could use money to buy power with God.

Oh no. And so outward appearance, no good. Wasn’t good.

How do we know there is such a thing as the sad reality of almost faith? The demons believe. Simon the magician, it says he believed.

Those who are in the vine, it says the branch. Jesus said in verse 1 or 2, He said there, He said there, He said there—the branches are in me. If they’re in me, they’re still going to be cut off. This doesn’t mean you can lose your salvation; it means that you’re in proximity to the vine, but not truly connected.

Demons believe, James 2:19: "You believe that God is one. To a Jew, they believe that there was one God. We believe in one God—three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You believe that there is one God. You do well." But then James says, "Even the demons believe and shudder."

Don’t you think that the demons have an awareness of what is going on? They have an awareness of what is happening. They believe in Jesus—they just don’t believe they’re defeated. Well, I’ve got news for them: the resurrection put an end to that foolishness.

Demons believe it. You see this danger, don’t you? Appearances are not always reality. That’s something we learn from this almost salvation. Appearances are not enough. That’s not what saves us. We don’t have to look the part.

Look at Matthew 7, verses 15 through 23. Appearances are not always reality.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." They’re so effective in their disguise and so effective in their corruption—they appear to be sheep, but they’re not. They’re wolves.

Verse 16: "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit." Factual statements here—this isn’t a question; Jesus said, "This is how it is."

Verse 18: "A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Another time, Jesus says the same language: "Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

Verse 21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." That’s pretty scary.

For us evangelicals who think salvation is just about checking a box, jumping through church procedures—yes, we want to call everyone to believe, yes, we want this. But the evidence of that approach is that we’ve filled the church with tares instead of wheat. We have to tell people there’s a sin issue to consider. We come before God because His wrath remains upon us.

Does God love us? Of course He loves us. He loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son for us.

But then, what would be the reason for all that? Except our condition was death. Our status before Him was judged. Our future apart from Him was hell.

So the appearance of things is not what we’re looking for. Jesus has said it again: "It will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.

So the fruit is the proof. The fruit is not the root. The fruit is not the root—that’s Jesus. But connected to the root, the branches bear fruit.

By necessity, if we are connected to the vine rightly, we will bear fruit. Jesus said a good tree will bear good fruit. And a bad one can have the appearance of good fruit, but not the actuality of it.

Verse 21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." That must be the scariest verse.

Not everyone who says, "Hey, I’m aligned with you." I was talking to one man. He said, "I’m currently unaffiliated as it relates to God." Unaffiliated? Really, you’re disconnected. You’re not just deciding at some future point.

If you’re unaffiliated, that means you’re not attached to the vine. I didn’t say all that to him. I simply said, "We’ve got to do something about that unaffiliation."

Verse 22: "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'"

And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

Now, verse 22 shows that people are claiming, making a case for their situation. Jesus didn’t say they weren’t doing anything. He didn’t challenge that they didn’t do miracles, cast out demons, or perform mighty works. Jesus said, "Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness."

So, we see the hopeful call to be attached to the divine. We see the very real concern about being in proximity to divine but not truly connected—being close to Jesus but not dwelling in Jesus, finding our existence through our own energies instead of through God's life flowing into us.

And then lastly, the joyful benefit of abiding: verse 11.

What is the benefit of all this? Next week, I have a whole list of benefits I’ll share. But for today, it’s simple:

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Mothers, you need some joy. Joy. You’re carrying a heavy burden. You need some joy. You need some energy. You need a source that is perfect for you. Abide in Jesus.

How do we do this? We abide in His word, the scripture says. To what benefit? That we might bear much fruit.

Jesus said seven times, "Abide in me." I think He said six times, "and you will bear much fruit." That’s what we need.

You don’t need to go out into the world with all the challenges at work and at home and in mothering all alone. You don’t need to do all of that alone. But that’s what you’re doing. That’s what you’re living—kind of all alone on your own.

And usually, you do pretty good. But when you don’t, you don’t.

We go through life trying to find life. And we strive and look in every place for the life we’re seeking. Has that been working for you?

Jesus said there’s another way to live. Abide in Him. Let Him live through you. Let Him be the source of life, godliness, energy, and peace.

And this verse says, "That my joy may be in you." What kind of joy do we want? The regular kind? I’ll take the Jesus kind for me.

And then your joy may be full. Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, there are some listening to You today who may have been invited because it’s Mother’s Day, and maybe they never thought about Jesus very much. I’d like to invite them to think and pray.

Maybe they would just come to You and say something like, "I’m thinking, I hear what pastor’s saying, and I know what Jesus said, and maybe I’ve just been searching for life and missing the source of life."

I pray, oh Lord, You would give them the grace they need to call upon You, to ask for forgiveness, to call for mercy, and to believe that You died for our sins and rose again victoriously on the third day.

I pray that You would do that for all of us here, especially mothers. I pray that You would energize and encourage their faith.

Use us, Lord, because we’re connected to You. May we be surprised by joy and peace, and may we be useful for You.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.