Nick Hansen - May 26, 2019 - a podcast by NBC Podium

Produce produce
Defeating distractions
This message is about true Christian “work”. It comes from some of the messages we heard recently.

Not all works are spiritual.
But as Christians we need to have spiritual activity, and spiritual growth, and spiritual fruit.
Recently we have been hearing about the normal challenges that believers face.
We live in a fallen world and there is natural opposition to living a spiritual, fruitful life.
A few weeks ago John spoke on Mark 4

18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

The thorns are difficulties, the worries of life.
The bird is satan (not this specific bird), spiritual forces of darkness that oppress and enslave people, every day.

I notice in that parable that there are many ways for a heart to be unfruitful, but only one way for the heart to bear fruit.
That one way is to receive God’s word with honesty and sincerity. It’s not easy to maintain that kind of heart in 2019.

There are many distractions, temptations, and enemies. And some things are totally necessary and legitimate, but difficult to strike the right balance.
Like, if you’re Canadian you pretty much have to cheer for a hockey team, or at least pretend to enjoy it. Go Blues, Go Mooseheads! It’s just part of life here. But for some people, that can be thorns and weeds.

Or like smartphones… not evil to own an iphone. Or an android phone. These are so useful, most of us rely on them a lot. In general having nice stuff isn’t wrong by itself. But it can be thorns and weeds. If your life’s passion is stylish clothes, you have a problem.

Or, having a good career is important. Very important. But… money can be a problem, and a career can easily be an idol because it has such a big impact on life.
Proverbs 15:16 Better to have little with fear of the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We need to take hold of that deep spiritual peace by prayer.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
John 15
Section 1: Abide v.1-11
In the person of Christ
In the Word
In God’s love
Section 2: Serve one another V.12-17
Acts of service are acts of love
Section 3: Be separate from the World v.18 – 27
Don’t be surprised to find opposition
This chapter Jesus tells us how to live as His followers and as His disciples.

Here you can see the fruit on the small vine that draws life from the big vine.
Getting the fruit plants to optimally produce fruit requires a lot of skill and knowledge
I’m sure there are entire books devoted to the pruning of fruit bearing vines and trees.

What kind of spiritual fruit is there?
Worship. True worship. Not just the performance of music, not music done poorly either.
Worship can be done in silence…
Worship can be in prayer
The key word is ‘abide’ meaning to obey, follow, remain in, or continue in
Jesus said “I am the way…” (14:6)
The branch has no life on its own (v. 5)
Spiritual life is more than works
To follow in Jesus’ way is not automatic
There are ‘birds’ and ‘thorns’
Key element: the word (v.3&7)
Abiding in Christ is staying spiritually connected to Christ.

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