More Fruit | Pastor Grant Ethridge | Liberty Live Church

[music] [cheers and applause] [music] [music] Home is where my life begins, where my treasure is. I'm running home, I'm running home dear. Home is what you have in store, where I will see the glory of the Lord forevermore. Come on church, sit! You're coming, I'm ready, I'm going home. If I can make it up to you, can you come, I'm going home. Dancing through the gates, I hear my Father sing. Wherever, wherever, I hear you sing, wherever, wherever. I hear you sing, wherever, wherever, I hear you sing. [music] Home is where I'm meant to stay, where you've prepared my place. I'm running home, I'm running home dear. Home, I've got two family there, and now I can't wait to see you really what's up here. Hey, come on, you're coming, what? I'm ready, I'm going home. If I can make it up to you, can you come, I'm going home. Dancing through the gates, I hear my Father sing. [music] There is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. There is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. I'm saying there is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. There is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. [music] If I can make it up to you, can you come, I'm going home. Dancing through the gates, I hear my Father sing.

[music] There is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. [music] There is a table that's left for a king, all are invited to pray and believe. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Good morning and welcome to Liberty Live Church. We're so glad you're here with us today. We are one church in multiple locations, and we believe God has a purpose for your life. [FOREIGN] >> If today's your first day at Liberty, we'd love to meet you. So text connect to 40371. Tap the seat back in front of you, or visit us at one of our next step centers after the service today. We can't wait to meet you. [MUSIC] >> Every week, we hear inspired stories about how your generosity is making a difference right here in Hampton Roads and around the world. When you give, you're helping to share Jesus, serve our communities, and see life's change for eternity. You can give through our website, tap the seat back in front of you, or use a given envelope right at your campus today. So, friends, thank you for your ongoing generosity and faithful partnership with all that God is doing through Liberty Live Church. Liberty Family, this is the most exciting time in the life of our church. Right now, and it's called more. More is a discipleship journey that we take together as we pursue more of God and grow in our generosity. God wants to do more in us and in the church. He's able to do exceeding and abundantly more than we could ever ask, think, or imagine. So, catch the vision, join the journey, and text more to 40371. >> You know, there's never been a better time to get connected to Liberty Live Church than right now. Whether you're a young adult, maybe you're a student, maybe you're raising a family. Hey, maybe you're a senior adult. We have something for everyone here, because when we say it's not just church, it's life, we mean it. There's so many exciting things happening.

Let's check out a few of them right now. ♪ >> We're so excited you're here with us today. Because no matter where you are or where you are in life, we believe God has more for you. So come on, Liberty, let's all stand to our feet and get ready to worship together. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Good morning, Liberty. What a great day to be in the house of the Lord. We are so glad you've joined us for church this morning. It's a great day to be in church. I already said that, but I'm just so excited to be here. And we're so glad you're here. And if it's your first time, make sure you let us know. Drop it in the chat. We've already got a lot of first time guests here, Jenny. >> We're the first timers today. I'm so excited. This is Kyle. We didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Jenny. And we want to give you all some shout-outs today for being here. >> Yeah. >> And if it's your first time joining us, text connect to -- >> 40371. >> That's right. And let us know because we want to send you a free gift just to say thank you for joining us here at Liberty Live today. So you want to do some shout-outs?

>> Yeah, let's do some shout-outs. I got Diane in our online platform, BLE. Army mom, Bill McCauley. >> Yay. >> It's a great day to be in church. - It is, I wanna shout out Catherine, first time joining us from Madison, Virginia. - Madison, Virginia. - So first time Deborah from Mississippi joining us today. Shout out to verbena, we are praying for you verbena. Thank you for continuing to let us know how we can be coming to Jesus for you. And we're praying for you. Happy Sunday to Victor and also Gary watching in Norfolk. Norfolk, got people from all over the Hampton Roads area, all over the world. It is one big Liberty family and it is a great time to be a part of the Liberty family. And it's a special day. It's Candy Palooza. - Candy Palooza, yes it is. For those of you who don't know, maybe you're here for the first time, maybe you've always watched online, you can't be here in person. Our kids at every campus are dressed up in their costume best today. - Costume best. - They're gonna leave with so much candy. So maybe you're watching online

and you can get to a later campus. You've got kids home, they're running around, you gotta get 'em out of the house, get some energy out, dress 'em up and bring 'em to your nearest Liberty campus. We'll give 'em more sugar. - Yes. - They will hear the gospel, so that's a good story part. - It's a great day. And we've got a lot of events coming up across all of our campuses across Hampton Roads. So check out our events page at LibertyLive.Church/events and there's something for everybody. - That's right. And right now we're in a very important season, probably one of the most exciting and important seasons we've ever been in the life of our church. It's called More. Pastor Grant last week shared the new seven year vision. He believes that God has given LibertyLive.Church and you can be a part of it. It's today's your first time. Maybe you didn't get a series guide last week. We have these available at every campus. We'll try to show you my cover if I can, 'cause I've been working on the devos. - She's been working on it. - I've been working on it. You can also download it from our website. Just text More to 40371.

We have digital versions available for you. And he's gonna be on page 37 today. - 37. - Talking about more fruit. So there's a place for you to take message notes and then there's a weekly devotion. There's also a weekly Bible study, like you can do a video. My group had such a good conversation on Wednesday night. We probably talked more than we want to talk more. Then we watched the video, just great questions. There's just an excitement in the room about what God's doing in our church and what he wants to do in us. So it's an exciting season and we're glad you're a part of it. - Yeah, Jenny's got about 50,000 women in her group at home. They keep adding every single week. - We do not have that many, but it is a sweet group of ladies. And it's just great to go on the journey together. Like God wants us in community. And we just grow deeper in our faith when we do this with other people. So while you're watching from home, you are not alone. You're part of this online community. So you can access all the same resources you can here at one of our campuses and go on the journey with us. - Yeah, shout out. Army mom, Patty, cake, Michelle, B, S, Mackenzie. All in the chat this morning, shout out to you guys. It's gonna be an incredible day in church. We're so glad you're joining us.

Pastor Grant is gonna be bringing the word this morning. Jenny, are you ready to get to service? - I am ready. Ryan Garel says my microphone is off, but I am ready to get to service. - Some are saying that that Jenny's microphone is off. We apologize for that, but I'm sure you could still hear, maybe. - You could still hear Kyle? - You could still hear me. So you get the worst end of that deal. Anyways, it's gonna be a great day in church. We're so glad you're here and we'll see you later. (upbeat music) - Your morning times, do you have to join this morning? Do you have to join the Lord this morning? If you have to join the Lord you can't bring us this morning and sing with us. (upbeat music) ♪ I've got a river that's flowing inside ♪ ♪ It's full of light, it's ever growing ♪ ♪ I've got a fire and it's always letting ♪ ♪ It all go out, it's always burning ♪ ♪ You're giving me joy ♪ ♪ It's unspeakable joy ♪ ♪ I didn't know you'd pull, unexplainable ♪ ♪ I've got the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I've got a river that's flowing inside ♪ ♪ It's full of light, it's ever growing ♪ ♪ I've got a fire and it's always letting ♪

♪ It all go out, it's always burning ♪ ♪ I've got a river, river that's flowing inside ♪ ♪ It's full of light, it's ever growing ♪ ♪ I've got a fire and it's always letting ♪ ♪ It all go out, it's always burning ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)

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(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) handshake. Tell them you're glad to see him at church this morning. Let's celebrate Believer's baptism together. Family we have three coming to get baptized this morning and I am fired up about it. Come on. Hey first I want you to meet my man Tony. It is Tony's 62nd birthday today. Yeah. And he said on my birthday I want to get baptized. At 16 years old Tony gave his life to the Lord and has been following Jesus and he's been dealing with some help complicate complications and said I'm not putting this off anymore. I need to be baptized and so this morning Tony's with us and I am excited to be a part of this moment in your life brother. Have a seat right here for me. It's a privilege to baptize you my brother in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit buried with Christ and death. And I'm kind of partial to these next two. We got a couple of LWA guys coming down here and they're not just LWA guys they're also part of our Air Force community and they serve our country and I love them both. Man Abel said I've been walking with Jesus over the course the last two years and grew up in church in an eighth grade I was baptized but I knew right then and there I'm doing this for my parents sake I don't actually know Jesus but over the last two years he said I started to take my faith seriously and I want to own my faith and I want to be baptized because I understand what it means to be baptized now. So brother I'm proud of you I see the way you're leading your peers and it is my privilege to baptize you my brother in the name of the father, the son, the Holy Spirit buried with Christ and death. Love you, good luck. I love it and last but not least I got Xavier here man and a really really similar story. Grew up Catholic didn't really have much to do with the faith but

over the last two years has really dug in and with a great community of people around him has started to take ownership and his relationship with Jesus and said I need to quit putting this off I need to be baptized today. So brother it is a privilege to be here with you I know before your last appointment is something that was on your heart and so I'm excited to be a part of this this morning I'm excited to see how you lead your peers to privilege to baptize you my brother in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit buried with Christ and death, raise the walk and do life, come on. (Music) Come on to spin up in your feet, let's continue to celebrate life change in Jesus, salvation is only found in him and it's only about his blood that we can be redeemed, that we can be saved and so we sing with a heart of gratitude this morning. Oh everything changed it's getting harder to recognize the person I was before I encountered Christ I don't want like I used to I don't talk like I used to I've been washed from the inside I've been washed from the inside I know it was a blood, could've only been a blood, I know it was a blood, could've only been a blood I know it was a blood, I know it was a blood, could've only been a blood, I know it was a blood, could've only been a blood, could've only been a blood, could've only been a blood I've been washed, I've been washed from the inside I've been washed, could've only been a blood, could've only been a blood, could've only been a blood ♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I know it was a love ♪ ♪ Could've only been a love ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh I know it was a love ♪ ♪ I know it was a love ♪ ♪ Could've only been a love ♪ ♪ Oh it's like a Jesus ♪ ♪ Come on trust us, we're gonna put your hands together ♪ ♪ Thank you for the blood today ♪

♪ There's nothing we could've done to harness ♪ ♪ There's nothing we could've done to deserve it ♪ ♪ It's really gave it to us ♪ ♪ It's when you're good enough to walk ♪ ♪ Prepare to strive before Christmas ♪ ♪ And the time is only rather planned ♪ ♪ It's never been around to shine ♪ ♪ Or run, it's a gift, it's really gave it ♪ ♪ Then we'll tell you ♪ ♪ For only breath, come on ♪ ♪ Just anybody who wanna be holy ♪ ♪ And righteous, you are a fireside ♪ ♪ Let me tell you ♪ ♪ I'm a fire ♪ ♪ Just anybody who wanna be holy ♪ ♪ So give it ♪ ♪ Just the fire down your head ♪ ♪ Let me tell you ♪ ♪ You wanna be holy ♪ ♪ Oh say, oh say, oh say ♪ ♪ Oh say, oh say, oh say ♪ ♪ Oh say, oh say, oh say ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ Oh we thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh thank you for your blood ♪

♪ Oh we thank you for your blood ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I know it was a flood ♪ ♪ Could've fallen ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I love you all the way ♪ ♪ I know it was a flood ♪ ♪ Only been the one ♪ ♪ Oh it's all about me ♪ ♪ Oh we thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh we thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ How can we thank you enough ♪ ♪ What can wash away ♪ ♪ Nothing but love ♪ ♪ We say it out ♪ ♪ And what can we ♪ ♪ What can we lift your voice ♪ ♪ Nothing but love ♪ ♪ Sing what can wash ♪ ♪ What can wash away ♪ ♪ Nothing but love ♪ ♪ What can we hold ♪ ♪ Can we hold again ♪ ♪ Because the love keeps on ♪ ♪ All branches have been gone ♪ ♪ That makes me quite as long ♪ ♪ And no wonder ♪ ♪ I know it was a flood ♪ ♪ Oh how can we thank you enough ♪

♪ We know it was a flood ♪ ♪ It was a flood that makes me quite as long ♪ ♪ It was a flood that makes me quite as long ♪ ♪ I'm alive, nothing but the blind ♪ ♪ Does anybody want to be holy ♪ ♪ Have a heart and taste, come alive ♪ ♪ Let me tell you, I'm alive ♪ ♪ Does anybody want to be worthy ♪ ♪ Talking to you, what this only one word ♪ ♪ Is this only one that we tell you ♪ ♪ I'm drawn in by the light ♪ ♪ I'm a man in the air ♪ ♪ I'm a man in the air ♪ ♪ I know we want to fly ♪ ♪ To the glory of the light ♪ ♪ I'm a man in the air ♪ ♪ I'm a man in the air ♪ ♪ I know we want to fly ♪ ♪ I'm a man in the air ♪ ♪ Oh, you're saying to Jesus ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on now ♪ ♪ Oh, he's taking on ♪ ♪ He's so divine upon your heart ♪ ♪ How can we thank you enough ♪ ♪ We'll never have enough words to say thank you ♪ ♪ I'll lay in the room ♪ ♪ I'll lay in the room ♪ ♪ I know there was a fire ♪ ♪ But I've only been in love ♪ ♪ I'll lay in the room ♪

♪ I'll lay in the room ♪ ♪ I know there was a fire ♪ ♪ But I've only been in love ♪ (audience applauds) - God, we thank you for the blood of Jesus. We thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus. We thank you for the perfection of Jesus. We thank you that you sent Jesus to save us when we could not save ourselves. We thank you for the truth, that the blood of bulls and goats and their sacrifices could never make us right before you. And that's why you sit yourself. You sit your son as a sacrifice for us. And so we receive the blood of Jesus. There's nothing that can make us right before you, but your blood. And so Jesus, I pray right now that you would wash us with your spirit and your blood. I pray for every person right now, overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Hiding in sin and condemnation. I pray for every person who feels like they're unsavable and unlovable. And I pray right now that the love of Jesus would be poured over them. (gentle music) God, I pray that people would realize that we're made right with you not by our own performance or by our own works or by earning something

that we could never do in and of ourselves. We received the freedom of being saved by Jesus. We're overjoyed that you would rescue us apart from ourselves. It's not a work so that none of us can boast. So this morning our boast is in the blood of Jesus and the cross of Jesus. In salvation that only comes from you. And I pray that every person that doesn't know you, their eyes would be opened even this hour. For those joining us online that your spirit would reach them right where they're at, wherever they are. And they would be surrounded by your love and forgiveness. Do it for your name's sake and for your glory. In Jesus' name we pray, everybody said. Amen, amen, let it be done. You can be seated. I hope you realize already we are all about Jesus around here and we're all about what Jesus has done for us. And I just believe that God has a word for you today and God has so much more for your life. We're going on this journey together, continuing in our series. And I want you to grab your more guides. I hope you brought them back with you. I see some people already pulling them out. And if you weren't here last Sunday or you didn't get a guide for this morning, we have some ushers around the room. And if you'll raise your hand, we'll do our best to grab you a book right now.

to be able to follow along. Take notes in this sermon. Awesome job, guys. Thank you all so much. Just keep your hand raised there coming to you if you don't have a guide this morning. And I'm so excited. We're looking at John 15 this morning what it is to abide in Jesus and to bear more fruit. I want you to turn your attention to the screen as we look at our prayer promise together. [Music] Well, good morning, Liberty. Anybody glad to be in church today? I want to welcome all of the Liberty family and our guests at every one of our locations and those of you who are joining us online, whether it is military families, missionary families, men and women in the correctional facilities. It's a joy to study the Word of God together. Come on, every campus, put your hands together. Welcome all the family. I want you to know that today is a special day. We have candy pillows. A lot of children, a lot of young families, a lot of candy. All right, so your kids are going to be hyped up and going to be so excited and we're glad that you gave us that opportunity to not only bless them and show them that church can be fun, but most of all to point them to the one who made them, who loves them. And I just want you to know God sees you and he sees your family and he loves you. And I believe God's got a word for us today. I want you to take your Bible's turn to John 15, John chapter 15. Let me remind you, hey, there's an election going on. Anybody seen any commercials or anything? I didn't think so. But anyway, hang in there. You got one more week. All right. This coming week, you start even today. You can vote early until Saturday. And then after Saturday, you have to wait until Tuesday, which is election day. And so I never tell you who to vote for. I just tell you how to vote. First of all, then you ought to go vote. Number one, because it's a privilege to live in this country and a privilege to be able to vote. And then number two, I would tell you go vote your Christian biblical values and everybody said, amen. Well, I hope you got one of these guides on your way in. Some of you were here and got it last week. Some of you, you don't have one. And if that's you, just jump up and run out to the hub at all of the campuses and you'll be able to find it. And hey, if you were here last week, got one but forgot to bring it. All right. I got you covered. We got a digital form right here. You can download or just text the word more to 403-71. And we also have this for our online audience that you could follow on inside the book or several things. First of all, you got sermon notes for today. And sermon notes are found on page

36 and 37. All right. And then as you look on page 41, you got the devotion for the week. And then there's small group curriculum. And in the middle, there's a commitment card. You don't do anything with this except take it home. Put it somewhere special. Be praying you, your spouse, your family. And on the 15th of November, the whole church family together will turn those in. So I hope you have your books ready, whether it's digital or hard copy. And let's dive right into the message. You know, when I think about the more initiative and the more series, it's eight weeks of sermons, relax, only two of them have to do with money. Okay? All right. Six are just like today. We're going to be talking about another subject where God has more for your life. We kicked it off last week saying God has more for you and God has more for our church. And when we say God has more, you say more of what? The answer is himself. He has more of himself. And we're going to see it today as we talk about more fruit in John chapter 15. Now, the background of John 15 is the Last Supper Jesus and the disciples have met for Passover. And that's where he implemented the Lord's Supper or community. And all of this is so fresh for me because we just got back from Israel. And while the room today in the upper room is not the same room they met in, the location is the same. And the Kid Drum Valley, where they crossed over and went to the Mount of Olives, is the same in the Garden of Gethsemane is the same. And there, as he prayed, three times farther, if it be possible, let this cup pass for me, but not as I will, but your will be done. And the disciples are sleeping. That Judas would come as the betrayer that would arrest Jesus, and then take Him back to the high priest, to cops his house. And under the high priest's house is a pit. And that's where they would keep prisoners, and we got to go into that pit and be able to read the passage of Scripture and pray together. It's just so vivid in my mind, all the places that we're talking about. And then I want you to know from that pit that would take Him and send Him to pilot and ultimately He would go to the cross. And so what we see here is that He begins to talk about a vineyard

as they move from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane. And some scholars believe they walked by a vineyard, and it's very possible. Other scholars say no on the massive pillars of the temple, and it's a huge structure, the dwelling wall, it's just one part, just one corner of that whole platform for the temple mount. They had the golden vine that wrapped around the columns, and it was massive. And some say that's what He's talking about. The bottom line is this, Jesus didn't pull this illustration out of thin air. It was something that they knew, something that they understood, and He is preparing His disciples for His death. And He's preparing them for the burial and resurrection and ascension back to heaven. And in these final instructions, did you catch that? In these final instructions, He is telling them what a true follower of Jesus looks like. And there's this picture here. He says, "There are those who claim to be followers of Jesus, but look, they bear no fruit, and it's like a dead stick, and it's lifeless. It's not connected to anything." And then there are those branches that are connected to the vine, and they're healthy, and they're growing, and they're bearing fruit. And so I ask you today which one represents your life. As we think about more fruit, number one, write this down. We're talking about more fruit is a picture. It's a picture of your life. It is a picture of Israel. It's a picture of what God is doing in His people. It says here in verse one, "I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener or the vine dresser." Now this "I am" is a seventh of the "I am" statements of Jesus. And when God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, He did so by revealing His name, "I am that I am." And Jesus said, "What?" He said, "Hold on, let me get there." He said, "I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I'm the door." Now what is the door? Listen, it gives you access.

I'm the good shepherd. I'm the resurrection and the life. I'm the way, the truth, and the life. He's not a way. He's not a truth. He's not a light. I'm telling you, He's the way, the truth, and the life. And He says, "I'm the true vine." There are a lot of false ones out there, but let me tell you about, even though there are other religions and other religious leaders, He's the only one who healed the sick, made the lame to walk and the blind to see, and raised the dead, and He Himself rose on the third day and conquered death. There's nobody like Jesus. And so He's the true vine. He's the true vine. And so Jesus is God in the flesh. He is Emmanuel. He is God with us. And I want you to let us all celebrate Christmas. Our family sat around yesterday, around the house, and we were talking about, "Okay, what's the Christmas plan and who's bringing wine and what are we eating where?" Because it's all about food, right? Who's fixing wine and what are we going to eat when? I want you right now to go ahead as you and your family are meeting and make your Christmas plans to be here for Christmas Eve, December the 23rd and the 24th. It's going to be incredible, special. We would love it. We'd be honored if you would let our Christmas Eve service here at Liberty be part of your Christmas tradition. And I'm just telling you, we are going to have a good time. It's going to be kid-friendly. And we are just going to remember who Jesus is, that Jesus is the way the truth of the life. He is Emmanuel. He is the light of the world. picture of who Jesus is and you see it right here. He's all these things and so much more. And when I think about that and I think about Christmas, I think about putting together toys. It didn't matter if it's for a birthday or Christmas or why. If this is Halloween, wake up. Christmas is coming. And I remember his young parent trying to put together toys. And I'm not good. I am mechanically challenged. And I struggle reading the directions and knowing how to put it all together. But if they'll give me a picture, come on somebody, if you've got a diagram, then I can see it. And you don't have to read those directions. Amen.

Just you need a picture. And that's what Jesus is doing. He's giving a picture here that they would understand. Israel in the Bible is God's vineyard. He brought them out of Egypt. He planted them in the land. He actually removed them from the land. And then he brought them back to the land. And ultimately God's complete plan is not fulfilled in a nation or religion. It is fulfilled in a person, the Messiah in his name is Jesus. This is what Jesus is saying to him. Because they understood the vineyard. He's saying, listen, you don't have to be a Jew. You don't have to be circumcised. He is saying, listen, it's not following, keeping the law of the Old Testament. He said, this is what it means to be a follower of God. Follow me. Follow me. Remain in me. Abide in me. That's what Jesus is saying. Have you got it? Say I've got it. Now, just like if he's the true vine and the Bible says what? He is faithful and true. Then also, that would be true about the followers of Christ. The followers of Christ fall into two different categories. Those who are true and those who are false, those who are real and those who are fake. Jesus said, a lot to say about the Pharisees and it wasn't good. Why? They were fakes. They were hypocrites. They were putting on the mask. And I ask you today, are you putting on the mask? Well, as Jesus is talking about this picture of the vine, he gives us here. Look, he gives us a picture of fruit and a lot of different places in the Bible. In Romans 1, he talks about the fruit of souls. Oh, next Sunday, we're going to talk about one more. One more. Why? Because it's all about one more person coming to Jesus. There's more rejoicing in heaven over one who repents. And so I'm saying to you, Jesus leaves the 99 and goes after the one. This more initiative. It's not about more campuses. It's not even about

more money. It's about one more person coming to know Jesus. It's always about one more. Don't miss next Sunday. Then there's the fruit of holiness in Romans 6. Hey, if it's real, then you're going to be becoming more like Jesus. You're going to see what we talk about the fruit of the Spirit in your life that you've been set apart for God. In Romans 15, it talks about the fruit of giving offerings, the fruit of giving offerings. And so as I thought about that, listen, fruit is never for the tree itself. Write that down. Fruit is never for the tree itself. Trees never eat their own fruit. The fruit's for somebody else. And so if it's not for somebody else and it just stays on the tree, it rots. And that's why people who never serve and never give, never think about others. They're empty on the inside. Let me tell you, if you need prayer, pray for somebody. You need encouragement. Encourage somebody. It'll fill you up. The fruit's never for you. It's for somebody else. And for anyone who, last week as we kicked off this generosity and discipleship initiative, if you're struggling, let me just help you put it in perspective. Last week, I barely had enough time to talk about the legacy church network and the school of ministry to equip the other three areas of that vision. We had the history of the church. And there's so much we were trying to pack in last week's message. But I want you to know, we're not going to do less. We're going to do more. So I didn't have time last week to talk about what we already do in international missions. What we already do through 757 strong with local missions. What we already do through sin relief. Every time there's a disaster somewhere in the world, we are sending $50,000 and even more because of your generosity to help those in need to feed those who need a meal and to do it all in the name of

Jesus. Hey, I didn't have time to talk about the adoption fund. Well, we help families who feel called to adopt children or to foster children. I didn't have time to talk about all of our local partners and global partners that we're still going to be working with. Hey, we're not going to do less. We're going to do more. I want to help you get an in perspective. Did you know Americans spend four billion a year with a B, four billion on Halloween costumes? Two billion for adults, 1.5 billion for children, and almost $1 billion for costumes for their pets. Americans in 2025 spent $860 million on Halloween costumes for their pets. And you think we're doing too much for Jesus? Come on, somebody. Hey, you think about Galatians 5? Tell us about the fruit of the Spirit. Now, you know, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. How you doing in your love? How's your joy? How's your peace? You say, don't judge me, pastor. Oh, I'd never do that. Jesus said, judge not that you be not judged. But he also said, you'll know a tree by its fruit. And the fruit of the Spirit is a cluster. You're supposed to have all of these in your life. And so I'm not judging you. I'm just being a fruit inspector this morning, amen.

Hey, listen, he talks about the fruit of good works. The Bible says, blessed are those who died in the Lord for they do rest from their labor and their works. Follow them. You're not saved by good works, but everybody who's saved is going to do good works. And we do it. So we'll have trophies and crowns to lay at his feet. Hallelujah. And then it says the fruit of our lips, Hebrews 13. And so he's talking about our words. He's talking about our praise. It is God's will for us to bear fruit. Machines can't bear fruit. AI can do a lot, but AI can't bear fruit. Number two, write this down. There's, when you talk about more fruit, everybody say more fruit. More fruit is in pruning. Look at what he said in verse two, every branch in me. So we're talking about those in Christ that does not produce fruit. He removes, that's a controversial verse right here. And I'm going to try to explain it as best I can. And he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it'll produce what? More fruit. And so more fruit is in pruning. Now, when he says here, every branch is in me that doesn't produce fruit, he removes. It doesn't mean that if you don't meet the quota,

he's going to kick you out and send you to hell. That's not what he's saying. Those who are in Christ and those who are in me, they're going to go to heaven. But he is saying here, look at this, he removes. That great word is A-I-R-O, I-R-O. And what he is saying is this, it can mean take away, but in many cases in the New Testament, it means lift up. Everybody say lift up. It's a double meaning. You can't bear fruit if you're on the ground and it's dirty and blind and you got moss all over it. No, so the gardener will pick it up, wash it off, put a rock under it, put a stick under it, it's got to be in it to hold it up and get it off the ground. And I am saying to you, I am living proof that God will do that for you. There was time that I was far from God, I was running from God, going my own way, doing my own thing, but God in his love. The father who is the fine dresser of the gardener, he reached down and he picked me up out of that my repeat. Set my feet on a solid rock. He washed me off and cleansed me and put me to bearing fruit again. Come on, anybody have a testimony that God picked you up when you were down? Yes, it can't mean to lose your salvation because works didn't earn your salvation.

And so it just means God picks you up when you're down. Look at that in the Bible, Psalm 33, but you oh Lord are a shield about me. My glory and the what? The lifter of my head. And then Psalm 145, 14, the Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. That's what he does. He lives us up. Proverbs 24, 16, though a righteous person falls seven times. They rise again. Why? Gotta pick you up when you're down. Now, Ms. Tammy, she's got beautiful rose bushes and she'll prune them. And there's some years she just pruned them a little bit and they just have flowering a little bit. Oh, but there's some years. Let me tell you, she pruned them, she cut them down. Nothing but a stick. Those knockout roses, a lady was walking in her neighborhood and said, you've killed your rose bushes. Ms. Tammy said, maybe so, but I'm gonna cut them down and see if they'll produce. And I'm telling you, she cut them down to about a foot or a foot and a half. And that year we had the prettiest rose bushes we've ever had. The more pruning you have, the more fruit you have, the more flowering you have. Pruning is the process that makes us look more like Jesus.

And there are things in your life and things in my life that need to be pruned, that need to be cut out, that waste precious time, precious energy. hurts. Think about your basement. Think about your attic. Think about your closet. And you just, listen, after we moved my mom, her mom and my grandparents' place, we had stuff everywhere. And so finally we just got a dumpster and we just filled it up and it still looks like we didn't throw anything away. But when we started the process, you know what I said? Oh, I don't want to get rid of that. And that's the way it is when Gus starts pruning in our lives. We said, oh, I don't want to get rid of that. And I'm telling you, it is a painful process, but it's important. We're harder spiritually. Are y'all listening to me? Let God deal with you and be willing to let Him prune things out of your life. He knows what's best. Now, rejoicing is important. Praising God's important. Shouting is important. It causes God to be enthroned. It drives the enemy away, but it does not help you grow. Only pruning helps you grow. Listen, we don't grow during the good times. We grow in hard times. And when you think, man, I'm doing good. God says, you need some more cutting. And He's gonna prune you even more. God is not satisfied. He doesn't want you to be satisfied with average mediocrity. He wants more fruit. Everybody say more fruit to be willing to go through the cutting. There's no conquering without cutting. The goal's not comfort. It's fruit. And God will even cut out the good so you can produce the best. One other thing I'd say is this, let God do the cutting in other people's lives. Let God do the pruning in your life. Let Him do the pruning in everybody else's life. You're not a good gardener. Let Him prune out pride and selfishness and self-absorbed. In our flesh, there's no good thing the Bible says. Let Him take out the dead. I'm saying to you, we need to pray. More of you, less of me. More of you, less of me. Well, one of the things in your life that God needs to cut out, hey, why don't you go ahead and cut them out before He has to? It's gonna be easier, gonna be easier if you will listen and cooperate with God. More painful if He doesn't. Number three, more fruit is a process. Now, I don't know if you noticed it, but from verse two to verse five, we've gone from no fruit to some fruit to more fruit to much fruit. Much fruit. So ultimately God's wanting to wash us and cleanse us and prune us and cut us, so we'll have much fruit. Verse three says, you're already clean because of the word that

I've spoken to you. So I'm telling you, pruning involves cutting and cleansing. Go back to chapter 13. What did He say in verse 10? "You are clean, but not every one of you. For He knew who it was, who would betray Him." And that was why He said, "Not all of you are clean. Judas did not remain in Christ. He did not abide in Christ. He was not the real. He was the fake. He was the phony." And so the important thing here is that we let God cut us and cleanse us, and then there's fruit that proves. It gives evidence that we're real followers of Christ. He talks about the washing. He says, you're clean. Through the word that I've spoken, do you understand right now you're getting a shower? I'm not talking about me spitting on the front road down here. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm saying you're getting a... Every time you read the Word of God every day, every time the Word of God is preached, here's what you're saying, clean me up, Jesus. Clean me up, Jesus. And so I hope that's your prayer today. And then I want you to underline how many times it says remain in John 15. It's according to what translation you're using, and I'll say abide or remain, and it's used 10 or 11 times. This is the key. Remain in me and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine. Neither can you unless you remain in me. I'm the vine. You're the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without me. Apart from him, we can do nothing. Hear me. This is not microwave sanctification. It's a process. This ministry is not a microwave ministry. It's 126 years old. You know why we see fruit that we have right now? I'm preaching the Word. Just week in, week out, preach the Word. It does not return void and it produces fruit. And the men of God who are here before me, they faithfully preach the Word, week in, week out. remaining in Christ, building relationships with one another that we see fruit, and we see more fruit, and we see much fruit. Have you got it? Say, I've got it. Remain. I want you to walk by tree. Look up at the branches and listen.

You're not gonna hear a branch, ooh, straining. Ooh, hoping fruit, boop, just pops out, no. Doesn't work that way. No, all it does is just remains attached, and the life-giving sap runs through and produces life. The Christian life's not hard, it's not even difficult, it's impossible. Just that apart from me, you can do how much? Nothing. So it's not in trying harder, or in performance, or business, or activity. It's stay connected. Write this down, a branch by itself does not grow fruit. Remember the picture, at the beginning, a branch off by itself does not grow fruit. No, and it's a picture. That branch over there, dead by itself, the picture of all those Christians who go around there, I don't need to church. I don't need a group, I'm just gonna follow Jesus on my own. No, you need somebody in your life to tell you you don't need to wear that. You don't need to say that. You don't need to do that. You need a mint. You got something in your teeth. Your breath stinks, your attitude stinks. You need somebody who loves you enough to help you get better.

Yeah, I don't know if you don't take much of this sermon or not, but anyway, I... Hey, some of you are trying to live the Christian life on your own, and you're straining, and it's not working, and you're gonna end up with a spiritual hernia. I'm saying to you that we need one another, and I got a preacher friend who said to me years ago, he said, you know, none of us are as good as we think we are. He said, if we could buy ourselves for what we're really worth, and sell ourselves for what we think we're worth, we could live off the profit. Yeah, we're not as good as we think we are. Really fruit, everybody say fruit. It's just a by-product of being connected. Children are the fruit of the womb. Fruit or children are the fruit of the marriage. It comes out of relationship. You cannot be fruitful and not be relational. The offspring of union is fruit. Yes, life comes from God, but hear me. You have to stay connected. Connect and stay connected. Jesus, put your hand to the plow and don't look back. Jumping from one thing to another will never produce fruit. You've got to bloom where you're planted. Hey, this is for somebody. Hey, you can't be fruitful and be flighty. You don't take a plant, move it from this window to this window or this room to this room or this door to that door or inside or outside.

You'll kill the plant. And so you will never see what you could be and never see what God wants to do in your life unless you stay connected. Don't quit, stay with it, remain. Even when it's painful, keep showing up. You cannot get fruitful without faithful. You got to be faithful. Apart from him, you can do how much? Nothing, nothing. Listen, you can't build a house by yourself. You can't raise kids by yourself. You can't build a marriage by yourself. You can't finish a degree by yourself. You can't build a department or build a business or build a church or build a life by yourself, just that apart from me. You can do nothing. So every day you get up, here's your prayer. God, I need you today. Every day you go to work, every day you go to school, every day you go into a meeting. You say, God, if you don't go with me, I don't want to go. God, I need you. Look at what he said in verse six. If anyone does not remain in me, he's thrown aside like a branch and it what, it withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire and they are burned, and if you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask, whatever you want,

and it will be done for you. Well, preacher, I don't like all that talk about burning. Is he gonna send me to hell? Listen, here's what he's saying. Apart from me, you can do nothing. He's talking about those in Christ. So here's what I'm telling you. On your own, it will all burn up. On your own, it's wood, hay, and stubble. But it's with Christ that you have lasting fruit. Fruit that's gonna last for all of eternity. Are you getting anything out of this sermon? And so it's important here that you, that he's talking about here. Pruning is important. And he says, "If our word remains in you, "it's not the word of man, it's the word of God, "it's the word of God that's got to remain in you. "It's not the word of the past or the gossip, "a word of your childhood or word of your youth, "it's the word of the living God." What's he saying to you right now? And that's the way we mature. And that's the way that we grow. So look at what the Psalmist said. Psalm 92, "The righteous flourish like the palm tree, "grow like a cedar. "They are planted in the house of the Lord. "They flourish in the courts of our God. "They will still bear fruit in what?

"In old age, and they are ever full of sap and green." God make it so. Now there are a couple of miracles in the Bible where scholars call it destructive miracles. Like the pigs, when the demons went out into the pigs and they ran over the cliff, we were just there by the Sea of Galilee. And sometimes demons want to stay in that region. They're territorial. They don't want to leave. They want to stay right there. Don't cast us to the bottom of the pit. And then not only that one about pigs, but pigs. Let me show it to you. And Matthew 21, earlier in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. I love Jesus. He woke up hungry. I wake up hungry every day of my life. I was born hungry. See, a fig tree by the road, he went up to it, but he found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said, "May you never bear fruit again," and immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. How did the fig tree wither so quickly? Jesus replied, "Truly, I tell you, "if you'll have faith, everybody say, 'Faith.'" And do not doubt.

Now only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but you can also say to this mountain. Go throw yourself in the sea, and it'll be done. And if you believe, you'll receive what you ask for in prayer. He went up to this fig tree, and he was looking for something to eat. Now, they tell me, I don't know a whole lot about agriculture. I wish I picked up everything from my grandfather. He knew, but they have huge fig trees. And this is what you get. Listen, you get a bud, and you get a leaf, and then you get the full fruit. Bud leaf, full fruit. Bud leaf, full fruit. And so it was a season when it should be budding, and it had leaves, but there was no bud there. And they tell me, you can even eat the bud, just like you can eat the full fruit. And Jesus was hungry, and it had nothing but leaves. And he cursed it. Why was it a destructive miracle? Because it was advertising that it had something that it didn't have. Now hear me. A lot of people claim to be Christians, but there's no fruit in their life. I ask you, does your Saturday night match up with your Sunday morning?

I'm saying Jesus, he didn't like Pharisees at all. Why? Because they claimed they advertised to be something that they were not. Fruit is the physical evidence of the spirit working in you. What did God tell Adam and Eve in the beginning? Be fruitful and multiply. Did he tell Adam be a consumer? We got too many consumer Christians and just consumer Christianity. You know, it's about being fruitful. So I ask you to ask yourself, am I becoming more loving? More kind, more gentle, more long suffering. Jesus, I need you, when you get more of Jesus, you get fruit, and you get more fruit, and you get much fruit. Job's life. So the Lord blessed the last part of Job's life. More, everybody say more. More than the first. That's what I'm praying for. I won't have its best. I want to finish well. That brings me to my last point. More fruit has a purpose. Watch this. My Father's glorified by this that you produce much fruit and prove, give evidence of that you really are my disciples. Prove to be my disciples.

He's saying, if you really are a follower of me, there's gonna be fruit in your life and God's gonna be glorified. Let me tell you, God is happier to answer your prayers than you are to ask for them. He is glorified in you asking in him answering. And who cares that the world's happy as long as God's happy? Who cares that the world approves as long as God is glorified? Oh listen, there's a purpose, everybody say purpose. This is when you're the happiest in life. This is when you're most fulfilled. Real fulfillment is not in making more money or having more cars or going on more trips or more vacations. No, it's in finding your purpose of why God put you here on this earth and bearing fruit. last for eternity. Where you spend your time, where you spend your money, where you spent your life is going to show up in eternity one day. Verse 16, you did not choose me, Jesus said, but I chose you. I appointed you to go, produce fruit, and that your fruit should, what? Remain. Not be burned up. No, remain. So that whatever you ask, the Father in my name, he will give you. Given it shall be given unto you. The Word has got to remain in you. Let me tell you when the Word of God is in you, it'll change what you ask for. I'm just telling you, if you're getting the Word, getting the devotionals, go through the small group curriculum. Hey, we put this together because let me tell you, as you get the Word of God in you, it's going to change how you think and pray about the

more initiative. And it changes the way you think and see life. And so it's so important. The Word changes us. And he said, if you'll ask, I'll give you. I remember what he said in the Old Testament. He said, I'll give you houses you did not build, vineyards you did not plant, olive groves you didn't plant, wells that you did not dig. Just stop right now and think about the doors got open for you. You couldn't open for yourself. Think about how good God has been to you and your life. And one day we want to hear him say, watch this. Well done. Thou good and everybody say it. I can't hear you. Yeah, he didn't say fruitful. No, why not? Write this down. Faithfulness produces fruitfulness. Faithfulness produces fruitfulness. I closed the story. Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book years and years ago called The Secret of the Vine. And he closes the book talking about his own life. He said, I had a midlife crisis. He said, I was burned out in ministry. So he called a respected leader over on the West Coast. He said, kind of come and talk to you. He said, when he got there, the guy said, you're right on time. He said, I know what's wrong. He said, well, I hadn't told you yet. He said, I already know. And he held up two hands, the palm of the hand facing Bruce. He said, the right hand represents your relationship with God. This hand represents you and your career, your competency. He said, this is the way we start out in life. You didn't know anything and you hadn't done anything. And so you were desperate for God. You needed God. Your trust was in him. But all over time, you got experience. And over time, you started producing fruit. And the next thing you know, you have increased but your relationship with God suffered. And as you continue to pursue your career, as you continue to get

better at what you do, your relationship with God really suffered. And then you get to play. There's no fulfillment in it. It doesn't bring you joy. What's the point in living? And so he said, this is where people just push themselves and throw themselves into their work even more. I'm going to work even harder. But fulfillment's not there. Joy's not there. And what happened? People go having a fair. People get their job. People walk away from their family. People commit suicide. People, they walk away from God, walk away from the church. And he said, watch this. He said, Bruce, this is what God wants. Yes, you've been productive. And yes, you've had a great career. He said that God wants you to put him first again. And he said, and that's when both hands are toward heaven. And he said, listen, it's not him producing more fruit. That's not what God's asking for. He's asking for you to remain in him 10 or 11 times in this chapter, remain, remain, remain, abide in me. And if you just fall in love with Jesus, put him first in your life. Oh, you're gonna bear fruit. And here it is. You're as close to God as you want to be. Listen to your pastor. The Bible says, draw near to God. He will draw near to you. It's your move. You have to draw near to God. So whether you're there and you relate to the story and you say, man, I need to come back to God. Or maybe you need to come to God for the first time because there's no fruit, no relationship whatsoever in your life spiritually. Bow in me. Pray this prayer. You say, God, I'm miserable. And God, I'm empty. And God, I repent of my sin. I'm tired of doing life without you. And right now, I ask you to forgive me. Be my Lord. Be my Savior. Take charge of my life. I give you everything. and I believe you're coming again. And I pray that you'd help me to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit, lasting fruit. For all of eternity, God used my life for your glory.

Thank you for hearing my prayer today. In Jesus' name, in every one's name, amen. Liberty family, thank you so much for joining us online. Such a powerful Sunday as we continued in our series of more, and we are going to for the next six more weeks. It's going to be a powerful journey together as we launch this new two-year initiative as a church. And if you decided to believe and follow Jesus this morning and you prayed that prayer alongside Pastor, we want to invite you to your next step. And your next step is to join a group. Your next step is to find a campus. If there's a campus near you, plug into community. And we actually want to send you, as your Liberty online family, a free Bible. So if you text Bible, or text connect to 40371, and you can just write Bible in one of those boxes, Wilson to Bible, straight to you, right to your doors. Just a way to one, to say thank you for joining us today, but two, that's your new playbook for life. That's how you're going to learn and grow and walk with Jesus each and every day. And if you're looking for a church, and this is your first time joining us, we want to be that church for you. If you're close to a campus, I want to invite you to a campus. We have seven of them, but if you can't make it to a campus, you're welcome to join us each and every Sunday online.

And hey, if you need any more curriculum, more booklets, you're welcome to, we have that available. Text more to 40371. We have a website with all the curriculum. You can hear storage, you can hear a special message from Pastor Grant. We have a documentary of the church that you can find online through that. So check out the more website. Just text more to 40371, where you can access that more booklet, that Pastor referenced during his message. And you can hear all about this two year initiative, all about the church and the journey we're taking together. So Liberty, we love you. We're praying for you. And we'll see you right back here next Sunday. (upbeat music) ♪ Deserts for miles, waters run dry ♪ ♪ Can't see the end ♪ ♪ Through the dust in my eyes ♪ ♪ Be in and bruised in the space that I wonder ♪ ♪ I shamed and confused, don't know what to do ♪ ♪ I got nothing to offer ♪ ♪ Who else would I turn to? ♪ ♪ Who else would I run to? ♪ ♪ I know you have what I need, who I need, where I need it ♪ ♪ You are here always near when I don't feel it ♪ ♪ And I know I'm never alone ♪

♪ My heart's still a heart that you hold ♪ ♪ In my wilderness season ♪ ♪ Oh, I know that you're in it ♪ ♪ The space that I wonder ♪ ♪ Now I'll walk it with you ♪ ♪ And nothing I offer ♪ ♪ Is something new ♪ ♪ You are who I turn to ♪ ♪ But we are who I run to ♪ ♪ I know you have what I need, who I need, where I need it ♪ ♪ You are here always near when I don't feel it ♪ ♪ And I know I'm never alone ♪ ♪ My heart's still a heart that you hold ♪ ♪ In my wilderness season ♪ ♪ Oh, I know that you're in it ♪ ♪ Prison and faithful, constant and gentle ♪ ♪ With me wherever I go ♪ Your love never leaves me alone You are present in faithful, constant, gentle With me wherever I go In my suffering sorrow you won't leave me hollow Your love never leaves me alone You are present in faithful, constant, gentle With me wherever I go In my suffering sorrow you won't leave me hollow Your love never leaves me alone What I need, who I need, where I need it You are here, always near when I don't feel it And I know I'm never alone Your presence is where I belong

In my wilderness season You are present in faithful, constant, gentle With me wherever I go You are present in faithful, constant, gentle With me wherever I go I was made to love you Made to only know what's true Made to walk and step with you Somewhere along the way The darkness brought its hope It's not supposed to be this way There's a battle inside of my skull I can't contain it, I can't control I can't take hold of me I know we are listening Re-ignite the dreams You sparked inside me Meet all the devil's voices With the moment of your peace Help me back to your design Re-wire I was made to love you Made to have the faith to see you move So do what only you can do Lord Captivate my thinking And fill my mind with life and peace It's challenging my unbelief Oh, come take hold of me I know we are listening

Re-ignite the dreams You sparked inside me Meet all the devil's voices With the moment of your peace Help me back to your design Re-wire You see my every need # I know you hear my plea # # Come and rewire # # When I'm on my meet and grief # # You are my remedy # # I know you hear my plea # # Come and rewire # # So take my anxiety # # Girl, it's my chemistry # # I know you hear my plea # # Come and rewire me # # Silence the enemy # # I wanna hear you speak # # God, I am listening # # Come and rewire me #