you So, Lord we come boldly before your throne room of grace. You said there we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. We bless you and thank you Lord God that we can come boldly because of what you did for us. your your perfect life and your perfect death that became the atonement for whereby now we can have access to your perfect and holy father despite the fact that we ever come short but lord right now we just want to this time lord god for just just to worship and adore you to magnify you to extol you to lift you up So, Lord, every distraction, every high thing that would exalt itself against the knowledge of you, any sin of offense and sin of, what is it, sin of, what is the word I'm trying to say, sin of omission and commission, Lord God, where we neglected to do something you called us to do, where we did something that you told us not to do. Lord, we want to confess it to you, Lord God, because we want nothing to obstruct the intimacy that we have with you. So Lord, forgive us, cleanse us, purge us, purify us. Lord, we know that we're going through many trials and tribulations and tests because you're coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. And so you're using this opportunity to draw us closer to you. You're using this opportunity to open up the eyes of our understanding. You're using this opportunity to bring your people together. You're using this opportunity to draw other people out of darkness into the marvelous light. You're using this time, Lord God, even as the birth pains of the end time signs are coming upon us to accomplish your purposes. So we bless you that you counted us in that number. We bless you that you now called us into the family of faith. We bless you, Lord God, that you called us to be part of the royal priesthood, the holy nation, the peculiar people, the chosen generation. We thank you, Lord, because we didn't earn it. We thank you, Lord God, we earned eternal damnation. But because of what you did, now we have eternal life. And so Lord God, we're grateful. And so as grateful priests, as grateful children, we just want to worship and extol you in this time. Use us, Lord, to bring glory to your name at a time when people will easily mock you. and they will easily blaspheme you, and they will easily make fun of your name and your word. We are the opposite. We are your people, and we know what you've done on our behalf, and we are grateful. So Lord, let this time be a time of celebration and rejoicing. You said the kingdom of God is neither meat nor drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. So Lord, let us experience your righteousness, your peace, and your joy in this gathering. Let us experience your intimate love in this gathering. The love you have for us and the love we have for each other as a result of the love you have for us. Pour out your people, pour out your spirit upon your people. Those who don't know you, let them come to know you. Those who know you, let us know you more intimately. Let us experience you more intimately. You are the God who now abides in us. You are the God with us. You are the God in us. And so, Lord, for that, we're grateful. Let the songs that we sing and the dancing that we do and the musicianship that we do and the preaching that we do, let it bring glory to your name. Let it be a sweet savor into your nostrils. We wanna decrease that you may increase. So we bless you that you're gonna accomplish your purposes. And we bless you, Lord God, because you said salvation is of the Lord. And this thing you said you will not accomplish by our power or our might, but by your spirit. So let your spirit have full reign and dominion, and then get all your glory in Jesus name, amen. Bless the Lord. Bless the Lord. Now we're gonna read together from 1 John chapter four, one through eight. And let's read together. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit of God, Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist. Where have you have heard that it should come? And even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Bless the Lord. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us. He that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love. Amen, bless the Lord, bless the Lord. So now we're gonna come together in song and lift him up. In the meantime, just stay in the attitude of worship. Good afternoon, everyone. It's an awesome opportunity for us to worship the Lord and singing. We've already come into this house. I know that you've pressed your way because I know that you had a week. I had a week. You had a week. But the beautiful thing is we can rest and worship the Lord because we know he's in control. We know he holds everything in his hands and there's nothing that's lost on him or out of sight or he's trying to figure out on your behalf. He's already worked it out. He's already figured it out. He already knows what's going to happen next and we get to just stand in today while he is victorious in our tomorrows. Amen. So, I'm going to ask you this. If you are able bodied and you can stand to your feet, please do so because we're going to worship the lord and singing. This first song just We have someone fighting for us and someone standing beside us, and we don't have to worry. God is good. Lord, you are, you are, you are, you are so, so good. Worthy is the lamb. Worthy is the lamb that was slain. Let's sing together. He's coming on the clouds Kings and kingdoms will bow down And every chain will break as broken hearts declare His praise. Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Let's sing together, Our God. Our God is a lion, the Lion of Judah. He is roaring with power and fighting our battles. And every knee will bow before Him. Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain. For the sin of the world, his blood breaks the chains. And every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb. Oh, every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb. Every knee is going to bow. Every tongue shall confess that he is Lord. Hallelujah. We get to do that now. we get to declare it today we don't have to wait we can worship him in the beauty of his holiness so we're gonna fling open those gates let's sing together so open up the gates make way before the king of kings hallelujah our god who calls the saint Our God, who calls the saved, is here to set the captives free. For who can stop the Lord Almighty? Our God, our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah. He's roaring with power and fighting our battles. Yes! Before him, our God. Our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world. His blood breaks the chains and every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb. Oh, every knee will bow before our God Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah He's roaring with power and fighting our battles Every knee will bow before Him Our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain For the sin of the world, His blood breaks the chains And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb Oh, every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb. I love that. I can just see that picture. Hallelujah. Every knee bowing and declaring that he is God. Hallelujah. The song says this. Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Who can stop the Lord Almighty? No one, nowhere. Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Who can defeat our God? Who can stop the Lord? So we say to the storm. Who can stop the Lord? To sickness and disease. Who can stop the Lord Almighty? No one, nowhere. Who can stop the Lord? Who can stop our God? Who can stop the Lord? Our God is a lion, the lion of Judah. He's roaring with power and fighting our battles and every knee will bow before Him. Our God, our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain. For the sin of the world, His blood breaks the chains. And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb. Oh, every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb. I love that. Every knee will bow. Every tongue shall confess. Hallelujah. That our god, the that He is due worship, that He deserves praise. And it's amazing, like some of us worship Him now, right? We all worship Him, we're believers. But just imagine that there will be worshiping in the streets. There will be worshiping Him from wherever, declaring His goodness, declaring that He is God, declaring that He is good. And they'll be running behind us because we've been declaring for a long time. So we get to worship the Lord. He is precious. Hallelujah. We don't take it lightly. I tell people all the time. We get new grace and new mercy. So we get to give him new worship. So if you're worshiping him from your last week moment, Go ahead and find yesterday's moment. Go ahead and find this morning's miracle and give him worship. Hallelujah. He woke you up this morning. You knew your name this morning. I've learned to stop taking things for granted. I was able to get my legs up and down to walk. I said, Lord, thank you. You are good. Hallelujah. When I got in the car, I didn't blow up. That means he kept all those pieces moving in the right little situation. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I'm rolling on fifteen gallons of gasoline and an ignition and everything is alright. Hallelujah. So, we can worship him from that moment. This moment right now. And if you're having a hard time, just remember where he brought you from. Just remember all the things you were getting into where every day just felt like another another spin on the wheel but now we have that kind of grace that That's why we worship him. That's why it's easy to lift your hands. It's easy to sing out and cry out and it's very easy to say thank you lord. That's the kind of god we serve who deserves worship. Let's sing together. Precious Jesus. I love you. High my voice with your praise, Holy Spirit. I implore thee. Trench my heart as my lips part your praise. Precious Jesus. Let's just stay right there. How I love you. How I love you. And how I lift I need you to see this. I am I am persuaded Lord to love you. I have been changed to bless your name. He changed me. I am Oh, forever to worship thee. Let's sing again. Precious, precious Jesus. How I love you. How I lift high my voice with your praise. Holy Spirit, I implore Thee. Drench my heart as my lips part Your praise. I am persuaded. I am persuaded, Lord, to love You. I am persuaded, lord, to love you more and more. to love you I have been changed to bless your name I am constrained by this great gospel forever One more time. I am persuaded. I have been changed. this great gospel forever to worship thee, Lord. Forever to worship thee. Forever to worship thee. We worship you, Lord. We love you more and more and more with each passing day, Lord. There is no shortage of love that you've shown towards us, Lord. You said you've maxed out on love for us, Lord, so you can't love us anymore and you certainly won't love us any less, Lord. So I am persuaded, God, to love you. I am persuaded, Lord, by this great sacrifice that you have given, Lord. and forever to worship you, Lord. That'll be our posture, Lord. Forever hands lifted, forever hearts raised, Lord. Forever praise coming off of our lips for such magnificent things that you have done for us, Lord. We'll always worship you, Lord, forever to worship thee. Forever and a day, Lord, oh, forever. To worship Thee, I'll be praising You for a lifetime, Lord, forever. Yes. Worship Thee, thank You, Lord, thank You, Lord, forever. It's so good to worship the Lord, isn't it? Amen, amen. You may have your seats if you'd like. Welcome to Transforming Love Christian Center. We're happy to see all of you that have made your way down in person. It's so great to see you walking through the doors, you and your families. It's beautiful. We get to worship side by side. We get to share our testimony as songs go on, as we hug, as we greet. And the Bible says that we are overcome by the words of our testimony. So you being here, you being a light, hallelujah, in person helps someone else. And those of you who are streaming with us online, you are welcome as well. We know that there are 10,000 streaming services all happening at the same time. But God has seen fit that you have landed on this page. And so we believe that his promise for your life today will be yes and amen. So we are happy that you are here. We're happy that you are tuning in and we hope that you are participating and not just spectating. We hope that you're ready with your word and ready to flip those pages and that you are singing along with us. We're here at 1-9-3, sorry, 1-9-3-0-0 Redwood Road every Sunday at 1-30. And you can check us out online at www.transforminglovecc.org where you can find all things TLCC, what we believe, who our leaders are, what we're doing here. You can click on the Bible study tab and get plugged in. A lot of you have gotten plugged in and that's a beautiful thing. You can learn the Word of God and why we worship Him and why He's so good and why we we call Him Savior and Redeemer all right there in Bible study. And so we hope that you will participate. Go ahead and contact us and we'll get you plugged in if you're not already. And if you'd like to give, go ahead and click on the donate tab. There are two ways to give online, kind of online. The first one gives you instructions on how to send a check or money order to the P.O. box that is listed. and follow those instructions to the T because they will help everything run smoothly from there. Also, you can click or you can see the Zelle information and that's where you can give from your account into the ministry to help us do what we're called to do in this particular house. And if for any reason you need assistance, feel free to contact us. There's a button there that allows you to contact us and we'll get you some support and make sure that you have what you need. If you're in the house today, there are prayer request cards on the back table there. You can see the table, and then you can hand it over to the greeter there, Sister Akonke, or Sister Donna, who's sitting on the second row. Those of you who are online, contact us and say, prayer requests. We are a praying church, and we'd love to intercede on behalf of you, your family, your friends. It's what God has called us to do, and we love doing it. All right, so don't feel like you can't share. We want to share in the burden with you in praying on your behalf. With that being said, it's a great opportunity for you to silence your cell phones. I know that we all believe that we come in those doors and it's on vibrate, but then right at Psalms 23, we know what you've been doing all week because your ringtone. So go ahead and silence your cell phones. Our friends will call us in the middle of service, okay? Mine do all the time, and I'll be like, don't shame me in these streets. So please, please, please silence your cell phones. It's a great opportunity to do that. With that being said, have a fantastic Sunday here at TLCC. Amen. Praise the Lord, everybody. Praise the Lord. I see several new faces here, so I'm just going to take a little bit of time and have everybody get up and greet everyone and say hello to everybody. If you recognize somebody, say hello. If you don't recognize somebody, definitely say hello. Amen. Go ahead and greet each other. Amen. Kisses. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. God, Son and Holy Ghost. All right, let's go ahead and reel it in. I want to say to Brother Jathan, thank you so much for helping us out today. with the music and thank you so much, music team, worship leader. Thank you, Keisha and Jamie and Josh. Really appreciate you. It's good to see everyone this morning. It's good to be in the house of the Lord with the church. Amen. Amen. Amen. Good to see so many new visitors today. We're grateful to you. Let's go ahead and pray. Father God, I am honored to be able to speak to your people today, those that you have redeemed and changed and transformed and are continuing to transform, God. I thank you for your word today, God. You know that we are in much need of direction, God. and guidance, Father, to help us to see things in the way that you see them, God, to live according to your word, to live according to your statutes, your commands, God. I ask God today that you make this word plain to me and to all that are hearing these words today, Father. I pray that you would carefully script this sermon, Father, in such a way, Father, that We desire You, that we love You, that we honor You, that we line up with Your purposes for our lives, Father. I pray, God, that Your Holy Spirit will rule and reign through this service, Father. Just have Your way. in whatever way you want to, Father. You know where we are all at today. You know the hindrances, Father, that we deal with, the issues that we deal with, the concerns that we have, Father. You know how we are wired naturally, Father. I pray that you would supernaturally intervene today in such a way, God, that we are encouraged to live this life in such a way that glorifies you. Help me to say what needs to be said today. Bless my heart and everyone else's here, Father. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. I'm gonna go to John 15, verses one through 11. John 15, verses one through 11. Step out of Ephesians for just a moment and say some things. I am kind of embarrassed this morning. I have touched on this passage several times. And for whatever reason, I did not see what was right in front of me. And so I'm kind of like, what? How did I miss this? Jesus kind of gives somewhat of a metaphor. in a way that all of the people that are hearing him could totally understand because of the society that they were in at the time. And then he gives the explanation of the metaphor right in the context. And it's so simple and so clear. But now I think I have a better revelation of what this passage means. And so I can't believe I missed it. But I want to give you what God gave me today, amen, in what I studied this week. And I pray that it will bless your heart. Amen. Going out of the original King James Version. I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it might bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit, of itself except it abide in the vine. No more can ye except ye abide in me. And he says again, I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me ye can do nothing. If a man abideth not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified. that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father loveth me, or loved me rather, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandment and abide in his love. Okay, I'm wrong. Continue in my love. If you keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. There you go. Even as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and your joy might be full. These things I have spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full. I want to speak to you today from the sermon title, True Lasting Joy. True Lasting Joy. Amen. In the early 90s, there was a song that came out by a very familiar artist, one of my favorites, because I'm a kid of the 90s, or I was in my little prime, so whatever you want to say in the 90s. That was when I was doing my thing. It was a song that came out called Be Happy by Mary J. Blige. And I used to love that song. It had this old school Curtis Mayfield kind of sound. And you know, the groove was really killing. And so I was like, oh, I just love this song. And that song would come on, and people would get on the dance floor. They'd flock to the dance floor. And the girls would be singing the song, the lyrics. All I really want is to be happy. Find a love that's mine. It would be so sweet. So we'd all be singing and dancing, whatever have you. And the girls would get up there and start trash talking their relationships that they were in, talking about, I just want to be happy. You know, and why can't we be happy? And if you're not gonna make me happy, this relationship ain't gonna work. Okay. Here's the issue. You are never gonna be happy. Because you're missing the key ingredient to where happiness really comes from. Long-term joy cannot be found where you're looking for it at. Without God being at the right place in your life, you don't even know how to be happy. Here's the thing, saints. God created the whole concept of happy. God created you. And without you understanding God and having a deep relationship with God and being deeply connected to God, you don't know how to be happy. Nobody does. Amen? So in Isaiah 5, verse 1 through 6, we're going to kind of go there for a minute and then we'll come back to John 15. Isaiah 5. Isaiah writes this song and he sings this song to the Lord. And it kind of goes like this. He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle, he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. God took Israel, his people, out of slavery and transported them or transplanted them in a land that was safe, a land that was secure, amen, a land where they were given the best possible conditions. to flourish and to grow and to have success. And then it says, then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes. So there was an expectation that if God did all that for you, amen, all that stuff that it would take for you to be successful, if he did all that for you, that he would get a good harvest in return. But what did God get? He says, but the grapes that grew were bitter. And the King James Version says they were wild grapes. They were bitter grapes. Verse three says, now you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? I've given you everything you need. I've given you the best possible circumstances, the best situation possible. This is God talking here, talking to Israel. Amen? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? Huh. Verse five says, let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will tear down its hedges. and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it. Basically, you said, I will not physically harm you. I'll just remove my protection from you. Whoa. You want to do things your way and not listen to me. I will allow you to get the results and the consequences that come along with doing things in a way to where you will not allow me to be involved in your affairs. Verse six, I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned, keyword, underline that, and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briars and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it. Basically saying, because you did not listen to me, even though I gave you the best possible circumstances, what else can I do? God is saying. He said, because you didn't listen to me, I remove my protection and let you have what you think you want. Amen? Then he explains the song in verse seven. The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of the heavens armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence. I gave you the best possible conditions, and yet you didn't listen to me. God is saying that after all I've done for you, why didn't I get what I should have gotten? Why didn't I get what I expected? Are you hearing me? Key word there was pruned. I removed, My protection, I allowed everything to come in. You didn't know how good you had it. Amen? So what happens is there's no pruning being done because the invaders came in and now the land is just being, it's decaying. Amen? The blessing that you were supposed to have, you don't get because I've removed my protection from you and said, okay, have it your way. Amen? Now, John 15, 1 through 11, our text scripture, our main text. New Testament. Jesus says, I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman. He's the one that's making all the cuts. He's the one that's pruning the garden, pruning the venue. Amen? And he says, every branch in me that bears not fruit, he taketh away, and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, prunes it, that it might bring forth more fruit. So Israel was the prototype, somewhat of a documentary lesson that teaches us about human nature. that if we are wise, we get the opportunity to learn from, saints, amen, how God will now allow some things that we don't like. Not because he's second-guessing himself or learning how to deal with us better. He knows all these things. But he's saying, before I gave you everything and I ended up with wild berries or wild fruit, wild grapes, now, he said, I'm gonna allow some cutting. Amen? So I can get a good return on my investment because we, as a people, if we're totally honest, we have already proven that under the best conditions, we don't know how to appreciate what God has given us. And even in the best of times, for most of us, we can't appreciate what God is doing and we rebel against God and still end up unhappy. Amen? So trouble is allowed for the purpose of Christ-like character. Get the right perspective. What's happening here? Well, some of us, if we're totally honest with ourselves, some of us, we may be suffering not because God doesn't love us anymore. Some of us are suffering and are going through because this tough road that we're on, this rough patch that we're experiencing, is the most gentle path that God can put us on so that we end up looking like, behaving like, and being more like Jesus. Amen? It may not be that God is upset with these saints. Are you hearing me? It could be that God just really knows you. Hmm. And he knows that the tough time could be a tool that changes you and puts you in a place of maturity that you didn't even know that was possible. Amen? So we gotta get a right perspective on what's happening here. Are you hearing me? Some of us, during our so-called easiest and happiest of times, those things ended up in disaster. Amen? And we are left asking ourselves a question. How did I end up here? What happened? I thought things were going well. What happened? Our version of perfect conditions do not always equal godly results. I'm going to say that again. Our version of perfect conditions do not always equal godly results, which will lead us to pure and lasting joy. Okay? So what does God do? He prunes. He cuts. He allows discomfort. That way, in the smelly manure types of situations that are uncomfortable, Christ-like fruit can grow. You learn how to treat people better. Your nasty attitude changes. Mm-hmm. You learn how to have patience with God and with other people. You become more gentle with folks because you know what it feels like to have your spirit crushed. Amen? When you see everything smelling like roses or you experience everything going your way, we're not always the most loving people. Amen? We're not always able to give God a good return on his investment because he's allowing certain situations that we may not necessarily like pruning and suffering. Why? So that he can get Christ-like character out of us. Because when everything was going my way, I didn't know how to treat you. And God got no glory. Amen. It's quiet in here. Now, ye are clean, verse 3, Jesus is talking to his disciples here, not with the crowds anymore, just with his inner circle. They believe his word. They are not totally clued into what he's doing, but you know, they don't understand everything that's going to happen with the cross yet, but they are truly in the faith. So now Jesus says this in verse four, abide in me. Here we go. And I in you, as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. The word abide here, saints, means remain. Remain in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide or remain in the vine, no more can you except you abide or remain in me. Amen? Just like a branch cannot bear grapes if it's disconnected from the vine, you won't display godly character if you're disconnected from Jesus. Okay? Hear me, saints. Israel had the best of circumstances, but they did not remain in God. Amen? They got disconnected And what came out was their default sinful character. Amen? The complete opposite of what happens when you're filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen? So what ends up happening here is if we do not abide in the vine, if we do not stay with Jesus, help me Holy Spirit, if we are not in with Jesus, in remaining with Jesus, then what's gonna come out of you is your default sinful nature, which gives God no glory whatsoever. Amen? He says, I am the vine, verse five, you are the branches. He's saying it more directly here. You are not the vine, I am the vine. Amen? Stop and take that in. You do not have the power to produce the character that will lead to you doing what you were actually really created to do. Amen? Which is living in such a way that you glorify God, which just happens to be directly connected to you getting what you want most in life, which is pure, lasting joy. I'm going to say that again. You, disconnected from the vine, do not have the power to produce the character that will lead to you doing what you were created to do in the first place, which is living in a way that you glorify God, which just happens to be the only way you're gonna get what you really want, which is pure, lasting joy. If you're not doing what you're created to do, you will never find joy. I hope you caught that Saints, because if you didn't, you will waste your time searching all over this planet for something you will never find. You'll never find that joy outside of doing what you were created to do, which is to glorify God. Amen? He that abided in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me ye can do nothing. Without remaining in me you can't bear fruit. The main purpose of the branch is is to remain connected to the vine so that it can bear fruit. Branches that are in the vine bear fruit. If you're disconnected from the vine, you cannot bear fruit. That's the main purpose. So in other words, the branch is not good enough. The good purpose for a branch, or the main purpose for the branch is not to make furniture. It's not to use it to build a house or a boat. Amen? The main purpose for this branch is to stay in the vine and actually display or bear the character of Jesus Christ. Amen. One of the reasons why believers are so frustrated is because we've overextended ourselves, getting involved in these things, these side hustles, and these worldly pursuits that we think we need that are just draining the life out of us. Without remaining in Jesus, everything else will become more important to you, which will still never give you the joy that you desire. Are you hearing me? Maybe I need to do this. Maybe I need to be that. Maybe I need to get myself involved in this. Okay, okay, okay. But if that's not the main thing that you're supposed to be doing, you'll find no joy. Are you hearing what I'm saying? I could be all kinds of things, bro. But if I am not busy bearing the fruit, the character of Jesus Christ, guess what? Temporary happiness, no lasting joy. None. Why is the believer so frustrated? Because we're involved in everything else but what Jesus told us to do. Oh yeah. Busy doing everything else but why we're here in the first place, amen? Verse six. If a man remain not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and men gather them cast them into the fire and they are burned if a man abide not or remain not in me he is cast forth at the branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Now it's certainly true that if you are a professing believer that is not really believer, and you were never born again and you were never saved, it is true that, you know, that the interpretation is that you are only good for being cast into the fire. Yes, that is true. But if you were never connected, And you cannot remain in the vine because you were never in the vine in the first place. So this passage is not speaking of a person who was a believer who suddenly loses their salvation, which is not possible. Amen? And because of sin, you know, ends up being cast in a fire. No. This passage is speaking to true believers. Amen? Because it is also true that true believers can choose for a season to disconnect from the vine, and not remain in the vine, and fall into sin, and ruin their reputation, and tarnish it to the point to where people begin to lose faith in your credibility. Amen? And your character or your reputation is ruined. David was a man after God's own heart, was he not? But he committed adultery and murder and lost the respect in his kingdom, amen, and caused all kinds of harm, not only to himself and to the kingdom, but also to his family. So many times pastors or leaders, you know, or famous evangelists, you know, they slip in the sin and they never recover the influence that they had or the respect that they had before they fail. Why? You know, because they decided to disconnect. There was a season where they were careless, where they decided, I don't have to remain today. And they fell, right? But the same thing happens, not just in a pulpit, the same thing happens in the pews. Amen? You get to messing around with somebody you ain't got no business messing around with? Amen. And everybody will never forget what you did. Am I telling the truth? Oh, girl, here she come. Which one? Remember that girl I was telling you about that was sleeping around, cheating on her husband? Here she comes. Oh, hi, sis. How you doing? How's the family? Never forget what you did. What happened? You disconnected. You did not remain in the vine. Amen? And folks, men, not God, men will throw you into the fire. That's what it says there. Men gather them and throw you into the fire. Amen? You're done. Amen. Verse seven, we're almost done. If you abide in me and remain in me, and my words abide, remain in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you. When you are in the word, the word of God will change what you pray. Oh, I got one prayer. This is a mature message, people. The word of God will change what you pray. Are you hearing me? So many things we ask for will never give us lasting joy. And God, in his mercy, hears that prayer and says, oh, girl, please. I can't answer that because I love you too much. You hear me? I can't do that for you. That's going to ruin you. So many things we ask for are not in the will of God, saints. James talks about we pray and we ask and we ask amiss. We base our prayer list on our lust. Amen? So God says, no, I can't give you that because I love you too much. Amen? Amen. Not only are we praying to display fruit, but you're praying that God will give you more. If you abide in me and my words abide in me, you will ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. Remaining and spending time in the word of God to the point to where it changes what you pray for will guarantee that what you're praying for will get an answer from God. And if I'm gonna pray, I need to hear God say something that's like, yeah, I'll do that. Other than that, why am I praying? If he gonna just tell me no, I have to know his will. What is his will? Act like Jesus, look like Jesus, be like Jesus. Give me more of that. Before I ask you for anything else, make me more like your son, Jesus Christ. Display the character of Jesus Christ through me, amen, so that I can even handle some of the things I'm asking you for. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Verse eight, almost done. Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit, so that you shall be my disciples. By bearing much fruit and asking for more fruit, you prove that the Holy Spirit is in you, saints. Amen? You prove that he's in you, and you prove that you are truly a disciple of God just because of what you're praying for. Are you hearing me? All right. Now, here's the explanation. Help me, Lord. This is a rough one. Jesus says this. All those verses, he's basically saying, remain and remain, remain, remain, remain, remain, remain, remain, stay, stay, stay, stay. Don't disconnect, don't disconnect, don't disconnect. Amen? Then he gives the explanation of all those verses one through eight, starting in verse nine. I'm just going to touch on a few of them and I'm going to get out of the way. This is what I did not see. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Okay, I'm waiting for it. I'm waiting for it. I'm gonna say it again. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. This is Jesus talking to his church. The same love, come on Holy Spirit help me, that the father has for his son. This is my son in whom I am well pleased. That same love that the father has for Jesus, Jesus has that same love for you and me. Okay, hold on to that because you're gonna need that for the rest of your life, trust me. Amen? Okay, that's the same kind of love. He loves, Jesus loves you with the same love the Father loves Jesus with. Are you getting that? Okay, I know that's hard because a lot of us don't even know any kind of love. This is a completely different level of love that you will ever experience, saints. This is the kind of love he has, amen. So he says, so have I loved you, and then he gives a command, continue ye in my love for you, that same love. I want you to continue. Well, how do I do that, Jesus? How do I practically walk out continuing in your love? Are you hearing what I'm saying? That's the question. He says, remain in my love, but how do I remain in that love? Continue in my love. Verse 10 tells us how. If you keep my commandments, ye shall abide, remain in my love. Huh? Then he backs it up. even as I have kept my father's commandments and remain or abide in his love. Help me, Lord. How do I remain and abide in your love? Trust me and do what I say, just as I trusted my father and did what he said. Okay. Jesus loved to do the will of the Father. This relationship between God and His Son that we have been invited to and encouraged to get into as well as privileged to get into because Jesus paid for our sins so we can get into it. That relationship of love is something that we're not used to because it's only found in God and His Son and only experienced through the Holy Spirit who has given us this relationship so that we can appreciate what God has done. Blessed is the man, Psalm 1 says, that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor seated in the seat of the scornful, but his delight His delight is in the Lord, and in his law does he meditate. We saints need to understand that Jesus delighted to do the will of his Father. That's where, don't go ahead and get ahead of yourself, Jamie. We need to pray that we get to the point to where the mindset is not that I have to do God's will, but I get to do God's will. Oh, my delight is to do your will, God. My joy comes from doing your will, God. Because in doing your will, God, I am doing what I'm created to do, which means I get my joy from obeying you. How are you remaining me? You obey me. And you pray to the point to where you're like, Lord, I don't feel like it, but I know this is right. And I'm going to do your will until you begin to bring the light by doing your will. I just love your law. In your law, do I meditate. and in that I become like a tree planted by the river the water that bring forth fruit come on Holy Spirit and it's season my leaf will not wither and whatever I do my leaf gets green you watch your health you watch your health your leaf won't wither why because you're doing the will of God Ah, help me Holy Spirit. So then Jesus says this, these things I have spoken unto you. What things? About abiding, about remaining. Huh? I've spoken to you these things about abiding and remaining and obeying God's word. Okay? Doing his commandments, keeping his commandments, what will be the result of it? that my joy might remain in you, not sometimes, not when things are good and only when things are good, that my joy might remain in you even when things ain't good, that my joy will be in you and your joy will be full or complete. Amen? Saints, let me just say this before I get into this last part. You will have nothing to show for your willful disobedience, but pain and joylessness. That's all you'll get. It'll look pretty at first, but it's a trick of the enemy. And you'll end up in a place where there will be no joy. Amen? I thought that we was getting married. Well, you was in sin. And you asked Jesus to co-sign the contract on your sin. And that's why it didn't work out. And that's why you married, but you ain't happy. You didn't do God's will. You didn't obey him in the front end. Are you hearing what I'm saying? He said, obey me. Jesus said, I will give you my joy. My joy that Jesus comes from is not the same thing as your my joy. Me and your joy, it's not the same thing. It's joy that comes from Jesus. It's his joy. Are you catching that? It's joy that's based on what makes Jesus happy. Not joy that is based on what would make me happy. It's the joy that Jesus had. Not what you think would make you joyful. Hebrews 12 and two says it this way. Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy that Jesus had is more powerful than what you think would cause you to have joy. My joy will be in you and remain be consistent. Amen? It's joy that enabled Jesus to persevere through suffering. It's joy that has already been tested and proven. Amen? It's joy that it will work no matter what you're dealing with. No matter what you're going through, Jesus is saying, I will give you my joy because your joy ain't cutting it. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Jesus had enough joy to endure the cross of Calvary. Jesus had enough joy that while he was in pain, Jesus was able to die for our sins, even though he was not guilty. He was able to die a death that we deserved. He was able to move and bypass hell for us when we should have been going there. Jesus was innocent, and he was able to do it anyway. How did he do it? He said, I got my joy that I want to give you. He was able to, Jesus was able to have enough joy so he can hang out with Judas. Woo! Oh! He could eat fish dinners and chicken dinners with Judas. Huh? He could, you know, hang out with Judas after the church service. Jesus had enough joy where he could love Judas. Jesus had enough joy that, well, knowing all the while that Judas was going to do him in and betray him, Jesus had the ability to know what Judas was going to do and hang in there and keep his eye on the big picture anyway. Jesus had enough joy that while dealing with heartache, pain, trouble, threats, he had the ability not to allow those things to derail him from his mission. He had enough joy to go through it all and keep going. Jesus had enough joy to where he did not allow his meager temporary accommodations to discourage him from obeying his father's will and receiving his reward. Talk about bad living conditions. We get discouraged and upset if we got a downgrade from a house to a studio apartment. But can you imagine leaving heaven and coming here, where the angels were worshiping you and saying, holy, holy is the lamb of God. Holy, holy, holy. And Jesus comes from heaven to come down here and deal with people that don't even know how to recognize him. Are you God? Are you really the son of God? Should we ask for somebody else? Can you do another miracle to prove who you are? Jesus came here, didn't even have a place to lay his head. He had enough joy. Instead of receiving the worship that he deserved, he dealt with human beings questioning who he was. Are you hearing what I'm saying? Jesus had enough joy to leave heaven and come down here and deal with us. This is the issue, saints. He said, my joy I give you. The reason why we fall apart in tough times when things don't happen is because we lean on what would make us happy and not what made Jesus happy. He said it was the joy of the Lord that is our strength. We have no strength because we're talking about what we think is joyful or what we think will make us, you know, elated or happy. Meaning that I think this will bring me joy, but Jesus is saying, no, what I have for you is not the same thing. Amen. And you won't make it unless you have my joy. What makes Jesus happy is not what's gonna make us happy, saints. Are you hearing me? That's the reason why we don't have lasting joy. Why don't we have lasting joy? Because our joy is dependent on these circumstances and these temporary things. Jesus says, my joy is dependent on one thing and one thing only, that the Father is pleased with me. I get excited about doing the will of my Father. And I can be excited about that no matter what I'm dealing with, no matter how bad it gets, no matter how much I'm struggling. He's saying, I give you my joy that your joy may be full, that my joy would remain in you. Psalm 40 and eight says, I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. Obedience is not presented as the evidence of the love of God, but it's the actual means for remaining in the love of God, doing His will. We delight in the privilege to obey Him. This is the key to lasting joy. When I do what's wrong, I don't know about you. Maybe this hasn't happened to you. Come help me, Jamie. But when I do what's wrong, my joy leaves. You ever notice that? There's a distance. There's a disconnect. Why? Because I'm disobeying my father. Huh. I don't feel that safety. I don't feel that wall of protection. You ever, you know, do something wrong and then get in your car and be like, oh, I better really pray. I want to make it home. You heard me, God? I shouldn't have been where I was. Can you just get me home? I shouldn't have said what I said. I should have never come out of my mouth. What happened? There's a disconnect. When I do what is godly, I feel protected, strengthened, not because I've earned it, but it is the power and the means for me to stay and remain in his joy. Jesus says, my joy I have given you. I have given you my joy. So no matter what you are dealing with, saints, the joy remains. Do you believe that? Okay, so here's the thing. What kind of joy are we missing out on because we've decided to halfway obey God? What kind of joy are we missing out on because we've taken time off from obeying God? What kind of joy are we missing on because we decided it's not that important for me to remain connected to God by keeping His commandments close to God? I'm not talking about you losing your salvation. I'm saying that when you sin, there's a disconnect. And that disconnect takes away that joy. What would happen to a person who just decided to surrender all? What could God do with a man or woman who just said, you know what? Here's my life. Help me to do your will. I'm just going to receive whatever you decide. And I'm going to have joy in spite of what's happening because what's most important to me is my deep felt connection with you. Huh? What happens to a person that decides by the grace of God to get up and do that on a daily basis? How far could you go in your joy? Now I know for a fact, I've got history when it comes to me and God and me doing it my way. I know how that feels. I got a PhD in my way. You can't tell me about those results. I've lived them and I've had them. What I do not know, saints, even as your pastor, is what it feels like to decide, you know what, I'm just going to do it your way and see how much joy I get. I don't know how happy I really could be. All I really want is to be happy. I don't know what's on the other side of that. What if I get up and do that today, and then decide to do it again tomorrow? I'm just gonna do your will. I'm just gonna decide that my joy, whether I feel it right now or not, is doing your will. Remain in me. How do you remain, Jesus? Keep my commandments. What's the example of that? Well, I keep my Father's commandments and remain in His love. Why don't you try keeping my commandments and remain in my love? And my commandments and the Father's commandments are not different. They're the same. And I'm getting this result, so much so that I could go to the cross and die. for something I didn't even do, for the joy that was set before me. I endured the cross and despised the shame. And what was his reward? Every knee shall bow. Every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. All power has been given. to Him, amen? All power is in His hands now. What would happen if we just trusted God and surrendered to God? What would happen? My prayer for TLC this morning, and this is a mature message, I get it, because I'm struggling just like you are. My prayer this morning is that God would give me a desire to love His will, to love His way, to love His commands, and not operate from a place where I have to. Is there anybody else's prayer? Well, I'm not looking at it like, I guess I better not lie. I guess I better be consistent today. I guess I better put that substance down. I guess I better step away from that relationship. I guess I better do what you asked me to do with my finances. I guess I better ask you to help me with what I say. Let you control my mouth. I guess I better trust you with who you want me to marry. Huh? Versus letting my sinful preferences make a choice for me. The stuff I'm used to. Huh? I guess I better believe you can give me better than I can give myself. I guess I better obey your commandments. No, I get to. I get to. It's my privilege. Everybody doesn't have this privilege. I'm so grateful that you even given me a mind to want to serve you. I'm so grateful that you put it in my mind to even think like this. I know that's coming from you. That's my prayer this morning. Let's stand. Let's stand. Father God, I come to you today, first of all, asking for forgiveness of my sin. Asking you to set me free. from my sinful choices. I desire to have long lasting joy. And it says in your word that this joy comes from keeping your commandment. And I know I cannot do that in and of myself. I know I need your power to do that. Father, I ask you to change my heart. Help me to look at what you're saying as a privilege and not a burden. Help me to desire your will and your way. Cause your statutes to be my joy, your commands to be my joy, so that you can produce the kind of character in me, Father, that will give you glory. And I will be found doing what you created me to do, which is directly tied to me having the joy that I seek. I know, God, in my heart that even as I'm praying this prayer, that you're going to have to make some adjustments. I know good and well there's parts of me, Father, that wants to rebel. I'm asking God that you gently deal with me on those issues and bring me into conformity with your will. Help me to glorify you, God. Help me to be like Christ. Help me to get out of my own way of receiving the joy that you have for me. Jesus said he obeyed you and that was his joy. And Jesus said He wants to give us His joy and that that joy will remain in us. Help us to do your will, God. These things I ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.