Bible Text: John 15:1-8 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: David: Abiding in the Lord
John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
A word picture of God’s relationship to His people
Psalm 80:8-9 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land.
The vine and the vineyard is at the heart of God’s prophetic word and judgment
Isaiah 5:1-7 Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard…So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.
Jesus is the “true” vine
The primary purpose in growing a vineyard is to produce fruit.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Our increase will come as the direct result of abiding in Him
…bear fruit …bear more fruit …bear much more fruit
What are the barriers to fruitfulness?
Neglect: Lack of proper nourishment
Disease
Immature branches
Improper pruning
Separation from the Vine
Lack of care: No Gardner to care for the plants
Verse 5 …for without Me you can do nothing
Abiding
To live with Jesus: Giving place to or obedience; to not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present;
To be obedient and submitted to Jesus: to continue to be, the Lord requires us to agree or concede to His will – submission means to abide
To remain in Jesus: Remain faithful and give Him first priority: to remain as one, to remain faithful to, to obey; to live, to stay, keep our focus on Him.
Abiding in Christ means:
believing that he is God’s Son (1 John 4:15)
receiving him as Savior and Lord (John 1:12)
knowing God and doing what God says (1 John 3:24)
continuing to live the gospel (1 John 2:24)
connecting to the community of believers (John 15:12)
What is the evidence of abiding?
Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits.
It is NOT the existence of the fruit that is the verification of Jesus but the quality of the fruit that represents Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
How do we abide in the Lord?
Abide by giving the Lord our day everyday
Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust him and he will do this…
Abide by giving the Lord our time
Psalm 31:14-15 But I trust in you O’Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands…
Abide by giving the Lord our thanks every day
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Abide by cleaning your heart and soul daily
Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
1 John 1: 8-10
Abide by reading God’s Word everyday
John 20:30-31 Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
Abide by trusting in the Lord
Proverbs 3: 5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones
(Psalm 19:7-10)
Abide by asking God for help
Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.