Remain in Me

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome back to Beyond Sundayand day 30 of anchored in God's
promises.
I can hardly believe we'realmost through this month,
together, day after day, we'vebeen reminded that God's
promises are true, that they'retrustworthy and steady anchors
for our lives.
Today's promise comes fromJesus' teaching in John 15,
where he uses a vivid picture toshow us what life in him looks

(00:21):
like.
He says, I'm the vine.
You are the branches.
If you remain in me and I inyou.
You'll bear much fruit apartfrom me.
You can do nothing.
Jesus compares himself to a vineand us to the branches.
The branch doesn't have life inand of itself.
Its entire ability to grow,flourish, and produce fruit

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depends on being connected tothe vine.
That's the point.
Our lives are not meant to belived independently.
Every ounce of strength, wisdom,and fruitfulness comes from
staying connected to him.
The key word here is remain.
Some translations say abide.
It means to stay, to dwell, tomake your home in Christ.

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This isn't about occasionalconnection like plugging into
God only on Sundays.
It's about ongoing dailyrelationship.
Prayer, scripture, worship,listening, and walking with him
in the ordinary moments of liferemaining in him is less about
striving and more about stayingclose.
It's a decision you and I made.
And here's the promise.

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If you remain in him, you'llbear much fruit.
Not, maybe not sometimes, butyou will.
Fruit looks like charactertransformed by the spirit.
Love, joy, peace, patience,fruit looks like good works that
flow from God's power in yourlife.
Fruit looks like the impact thatlasts beyond you because it's
produced by him.
And notice fruit is the naturalresult of connection.

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The branch doesn't grit itsteeth to produce grapes.
It simply stays attached and thelife of the vine flows through
it.
Jesus is also clear.
Apart from him, we can donothing.
Now, that doesn't mean we can'tstay busy.
We can achieve, accomplished,build and fill our calendars,
but in the eternal sense, thelasting spiritual fruit that

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matters for the kingdom, apartfrom him, it's empty.
This is both humbling andfreeing.
Humbling, because it reminds uswe can't do it on our own
freeing, because it reminds uswe don't have to think about a
bouquet of flowers.
They're beautiful, colorful, andfragrant, but the moment they're
cut from the stem, they begin todie.
They may look alive for a while,but without connection to the

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root, their life is fading.
That's what happens when we tryto live apart from Jesus.
We may look put together on theoutside, but without him.
Our spiritual life, withersconnection is everything.
Where in your life are youtempted to operate apart from
him?
Maybe in your work, relying onlyon your own skills, maybe in

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your relationships, trying tolove others without first being
loved by him.
Maybe in your faith doing allthe right activities, but
forgetting to simply remainclose to him.
The promise is clear, stayconnected, and fruit will flow.
So here's your challenge.
Take five or 10 minutes todayand sit in quiet prayer.
Not asking God for anything, butsimply saying, Jesus, I want to

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remain in you.
Teach me to stay connected.
Then listen, let His presence beenough.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, thank you for beingthe true vine.
Thank you that when we remain inyou, our lives bear fruit that
matters.
Forgive us for the times we tryto live apart from you.
Draw us closer.
Teach us to abide daily momentby moment, so your life flows

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through us.
In your name, amen.
Hey, if this verse spoke to you,maybe send it to someone who
feels weary from striving.
Let this be a reminder thatfruit comes from connection, not
performance.
I hope to see you back heretomorrow for our last day.
Of our series for August ofanchored in God's promises.