- Life Transforming means impacting, changing.
- Bears Fruit
- I am the true vine and my father is the vinedresser (Jn 15:1)
- Image of the vine was applied to the nation of Israel (Jer 2:21, Ps 80:9-16, Is 5:1-7, Ezek 15:1-8, 17:1-21, 19:10-14, Hos 10:1-2)
- Jesus is the real covenant nation/people.
- True branches bear fruit (Jn 15:2)
- I am the true vine and my father is the vinedresser (Jn 15:1)
- Fruit is produced by abiding in Christ. (Jn 15:4)
- How can we abide?
- 1st by his sacrifice, 2nd by his Spirit, 3rd by the Word, 4th by Prayer, 5th by obedience to the word (Jn 15:9-11)
- What Kind of Fruit?
- Much Disagreement: Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23); person’s actions (Matt 7:15-23); Converts (Mt 28:19-20)
- Fruit is Answered prayers (Jn 15:7-8)
- How can we abide?
- Ezra is a model of a life transforming walk that bore fruit (Ezra 7:6,10)
- Devoted to Studying the Word requires Time and understanding
- Devoted to Observing the Word requires acting on new insight
- Devoted to Teaching the Word requires teaching others what we learn. (Ezra 8:21)
- Prayer (Ezra 8:21)
- We pray because the results are beyond us
- We prayer and fast as a sign of dependence upon God (Mt 4:4)
- Consistency and Risk
- Fruitful lives require consistency and risk. (Ezra 8:22)
- Confessions have practical consequences
- Risk requires prayer (Jn 15:8)
- Where are you being called to risk beyond comfort?
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