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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>In Communion with Christ</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I heard about a
little five-year-old boy who fell out of bed. His cry awakened the
entire household. After his mother had safely tucked him back under the
covers, she said, "Why did you fall out of bed?" Between tears and sobs,
he said, "Well, I guess I went to sleep too close to where I got in." </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Far too many
Christians make the same mistake. They fall out of the bed of life and
go to heaven; yet they slept too close to where they got in. They never
learned the difference between union and communion.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Jesus said in v.5,
"I am the vine, you are the branches." When you trust Christ, you become
a branch in His vine. That is union. But he goes on to say in v.5, "He
who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit." Now that is
communion. Union is the basis of communion. To abide in Christ is a
twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week, fifty-two week a year intimate
fellowship with Him, so that you become a fruit-bearing branch.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>James Merritt, Collected Sermons, <a href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a></span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Our Fuel</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>C.S. Lewis wrote,
"God has designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the
fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were
designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good
asking God to make us happy without bothering about religion. God cannot
give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not
there. There is no such thing."<br>
<br>
C.S. Lewis</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>___________________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The Best Connection</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>You and I live in
the period of history where we have access to more information than ever
before. We have so much information that it produces what has been
called the "Paralysis of Analysis." It was the poet T. S. Eliot who
wrote: </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Where is the wisdom--we have lost in knowledge. </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Where is the knowledge--we have lost in information. </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The beauty of our
faith is that God gave us more than information--he gave us Himself. He
gave us more than rules and outward appearances. He gave us a
relationship with him. Colossians 2:10, "In Him you have been made
complete." Only he can satisfy your deepest longing and bring order to
your innermost being. In Jesus Christ, God's word became flesh. He is
alive! </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Eric S. Ritz, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>_______________________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>What You See Is God's Love</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Carlyle Marney told
about an old man who was asked once, "Have you ever seen God?" He said,
"No, but I have known a couple of Jesuses in my lifetime." That is what
John is talking about. No one has ever seen God, but what you can see
is God's love. </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Mark Trotter, Collected Sermons, <a href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a></span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>______________________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The Right Parts and the Right Instructions</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Have you heard the
story about the man who ordered a tree house over the internet? When the
box arrived, it had printed on the top the words that have become every
parent's nightmare: "Some assembly required."</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The man began to
assemble the tree house (but would you believe it?) as he laid out all
the parts on the floor and began reading the instructions, he realized
(to his dismay) that the instructions were indeed for a tree house? but
the parts were for a sail boat!!</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The next day, he sent an angry e-mail message to the company complaining about the mix-up. Back came the reply: </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>"We are truly sorry
for the error and the mix-up and the inconvenience. However, it might
make you feel better to consider the fascinating possibility that
somewhere today there is a man out on a lake trying to sail your tree
house."</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The point is clear:
To put something together, you have to have the right parts and the
right instructions. This is where faith comes in. The only way you can
put your life together is through faith. Faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Saviour. That's what makes it work.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>James W. Moore, Collected Sermons, <a href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a></span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>____________________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>"I Am"</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>There are seven "I Am" sayings in the gospel of John. I Am the true vine is the last of these sayings.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the bread of life - 6:35</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the light of the world - 8:12 & 9:5</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the gate for the sheep - 10:7,9</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the good shepherd - 10:11,14</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the resurrection and the life - 11:25</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the way and the truth and the life - 14:6</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the true vine - 15:1,5</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Brett Blair, <a shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001h3iPixsPx3VJxfJeACtbAMQ8ToQE1B8Pmu8V68e_V55wYHuj5YtGqNbc3t4g58Ve1r5QbEos_-1f8jJN2MRhRxqRqYtPkl14tpoONbae_BgF1-CPSAZj-g==">www.eSermons.com</a></span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>_________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>From the Vine</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Recently we
experienced severe thunderstorms with very high winds. My neighbor had a
tree which the winds tore off several large limbs. Because the limbs
were large it took him several days to get them cut up and removed.
There was one very noticeable thing about the limbs that lie there on
the ground tore from the trunk of the tree. They died. This may sound
very trite and you may be saying, "well of course they did! A limb
cannot live separated from the tree." I too know this fact, but seeing
them lying there dying drilled home the reality, "apart from the tree
the limb cannot survive." This fact of nature was used by Jesus as a
metaphor for the Christian life. </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I am the vine; you
are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in
me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches
are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:5-6) </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>We cannot live the
Christian life and be fruitful Christians apart from Christ any more
than those limbs could live after being tore off the tree trunk. Every
branch draws its identity, its sustenance, it life from the vine. No two
branches are alike and yet they are all the same. Paradoxical as it is,
it is true. Every Christian is unique and yet every Christian is the
same. Our identity is derived from the Vine. We are known by the Vine.
We receive our sustenance and life from the Vine. <br>
</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Gerald Whetstone, Personal but Not Private</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>No Good If Detached</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>About eighteen
months ago the refrigerator at the parsonage had to be replaced. So we
went to Reliable Home Supply and got a new one. It was delivered and put
into place by two strong fellas. Before they pushed it into the corner I
notice a tag which said: "No good if detached." Can you think of any
other place this tag should be placed?</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Eric S. Ritz, <a href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a></span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>_________________________</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Source of Our Power</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>The story is told
of a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to
visit a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much
home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the
electric lights which he saw everywhere.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>So he bought a sack full of electric lights bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them off and on.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Arriving home he
hung the light bulbs in front of his home and on his and his neighbor's
trees. Everyone watched him with curiosity and asked him what he was
doing, but he just smiled and said, "Just wait until dark--you'll see...</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>The rest of this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons can be accessed at <a href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a>.</span></div>
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