ABIDING IN ABIDING IN JESUSJESUS

" " I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; (or lifts (or lifts up),  up),  and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it

may bear more fruit.”may bear more fruit.”              John 15:1, 2.           John 15:1, 2.

Jesus With His Disciples in the Upper RoomJesus With His Disciples in the Upper RoomThe fifteenth chapter of John describes Jesus The fifteenth chapter of John describes Jesus earnestly teaching His disciples. They are in an earnestly teaching His disciples. They are in an upper room in the city of Jerusalem. They have upper room in the city of Jerusalem. They have observed the Passover and observed "The observed the Passover and observed "The Lord's Supper" for the first time. Lord's Supper" for the first time.

Jesus has given them an example of servant Jesus has given them an example of servant ministry by washing and drying their feet. It is ministry by washing and drying their feet. It is the night before He would be crucified on the the night before He would be crucified on the cross of Calvary. He is preparing them for His cross of Calvary. He is preparing them for His departure back to heaven and their new ministry departure back to heaven and their new ministry after He is gone.after He is gone.

The time Jesus has available for instruction has The time Jesus has available for instruction has come down to a matter of minutes.  come down to a matter of minutes. 

What is the subject that is so important that Jesus What is the subject that is so important that Jesus will use these precious moments to speak to His will use these precious moments to speak to His disciples about?  disciples about? 

He begins to speak about a grapevine, a He begins to speak about a grapevine, a vinedresser, branches, and grapes.  vinedresser, branches, and grapes. 

Surely, He has a great truth in mind that He wants Surely, He has a great truth in mind that He wants to convey to His disciples. to convey to His disciples. " " I AM the true vine, and My Father is the I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;bear fruit, He takes away; (or lifts up),  (or lifts up),  and every and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”bear more fruit.”                       John 15:1, 2. John 15:1, 2.

OUR TRUE REASON FOR LIVING OUR TRUE REASON FOR LIVING In His last message before His passion In His last message before His passion

and death Jesus wanted all who would and death Jesus wanted all who would come to know Him as Savior to come to know Him as Savior to comprehend that He leaves them on comprehend that He leaves them on planet Earth for one compelling reason, planet Earth for one compelling reason, and that Reason has something to do with and that Reason has something to do with bearing fruit. bearing fruit. Here are the essential elements:  Here are the essential elements: 

1.       JESUS IS THE VINE. 1.       JESUS IS THE VINE. The vine is the trunk that grows out of the The vine is the trunk that grows out of the ground from 36 to 42 inches high. The vine ground from 36 to 42 inches high. The vine ends in a large gnarl from which branches grow ends in a large gnarl from which branches grow in both directions along a trellis. in both directions along a trellis.

2.       THE HEAVENLY FATHER IS THE VINE 2.       THE HEAVENLY FATHER IS THE VINE DRESSER OR KEEPER OF THE VINEYARD. DRESSER OR KEEPER OF THE VINEYARD. His one goal is to enable the branches to His one goal is to enable the branches to produce the largest amount of fruit as possible produce the largest amount of fruit as possible

3.       EACH OF US BELIEVERS ARE THE 3.       EACH OF US BELIEVERS ARE THE BRANCHES.BRANCHES. The branches are tied to a trellis or propped up The branches are tied to a trellis or propped up with sticks to with sticks to

1). Let air circulate,1). Let air circulate,

2). To provide the maximum amount of 2). To provide the maximum amount of exposure to sunshine, and exposure to sunshine, and

3). To allow fullest access for tending and 3). To allow fullest access for tending and harvest.harvest.

The primary function of branches is to bear fruit. The primary function of branches is to bear fruit.

Solomon’s Temple Crowned With FruitSolomon’s Temple Crowned With Fruit

4. THE FRUIT IS GOOD CHARACTER 4. THE FRUIT IS GOOD CHARACTER QUALITIES AND/OR GOOD WORKS. QUALITIES AND/OR GOOD WORKS.  “Fruit” is the overflow of God working within us  “Fruit” is the overflow of God working within us to produce something good that flows out of us. to produce something good that flows out of us.       The first Psalm teaches us that the man who The first Psalm teaches us that the man who delights in and meditates on God’s word delights in and meditates on God’s word ““will be like a tree planted by streams of water, will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings for its fruit in its season, whose leaf that brings for its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."prosper." Psalm. 1:3-5. Psalm. 1:3-5.

After telling us that we have been saved by After telling us that we have been saved by grace through faith the Apostle Paul proceeds to grace through faith the Apostle Paul proceeds to inform us, inform us, “For we are His workmanship, created “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”them.” See Ephesians 2:10. See Ephesians 2:10.

Perhaps the most helpful revelation of all are Perhaps the most helpful revelation of all are these words, “these words, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,  longsuffering, kindness, goodness, joy, peace,  longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control…”faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22, 23. Galatians 5:22, 23.

And to all this we add the words of Jesus, And to all this we add the words of Jesus, “By this My Father is glorified, that you “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” bear much fruit.” John 15:8.John 15:8.

We bear outward fruit when we allow God We bear outward fruit when we allow God to work through us and as a result, bring to work through us and as a result, bring Him glory. Every arena of life, therefore Him glory. Every arena of life, therefore becomes an opportunity to bear fruit. becomes an opportunity to bear fruit.

FOUR DISTINCT LEVELS OF FRUIT ASSESSMENT FOUR DISTINCT LEVELS OF FRUIT ASSESSMENT     Jesus identifies four levels of spiritual condition in which Jesus identifies four levels of spiritual condition in which

His followers find themselves at any given time:His followers find themselves at any given time:   

        1.      1.      No fruit No fruit – – “Every branch in Me that does not bear “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. fruit, He takes away. (or lifts up)(or lifts up) . .” . .” 15:2a 15:2a 2.      2.      Some fruitSome fruit – “ – “...every branch that bears fruit, He ...every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it.”prunes it.” 15:2b 15:2b3.3.            More fruit More fruit – “…– “…that it may bear more fruit.” that it may bear more fruit.” 15:2c 15:2c 4.4.            Much fruit Much fruit – “– “…he who abides in Me, and I in him, …he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…” bears much fruit…” 15:5. 15:5.

These statements reveal that each These statements reveal that each believer is either producing no spiritual believer is either producing no spiritual fruitfruit at all or a clearly defined level of fruit. at all or a clearly defined level of fruit.

We have also seen that as a human vine We have also seen that as a human vine dresser works with each vine to make it dresser works with each vine to make it more fruitful the heavenly Father is more fruitful the heavenly Father is working with each one of us. His purpose working with each one of us. His purpose is to nurture us from no fruit to fruit and is to nurture us from no fruit to fruit and then more fruit and on to abundant fruit. then more fruit and on to abundant fruit.

Are we satisfied with where we are in our Are we satisfied with where we are in our fruitfulness. fruitfulness. As a believer in Christ Jesus it is likely that just As a believer in Christ Jesus it is likely that just as the nature of branches is to produce fruit as as the nature of branches is to produce fruit as abundantly as possible even so our spiritual abundantly as possible even so our spiritual nature yearns to produce abundant fruit that nature yearns to produce abundant fruit that brings glory to God. brings glory to God.

Let us look more fully at the four levels of Let us look more fully at the four levels of spiritual condition to see how we can grow in spiritual condition to see how we can grow in fruitfulness.fruitfulness.

THE BARREN BRANCHTHE BARREN BRANCH     "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away.”away.”    John 15:2John 15:2. .

This statement has been a source of perplexity and This statement has been a source of perplexity and debate among Bible scholars.debate among Bible scholars. The first step in clearing The first step in clearing up the confusion has been made by Greek scholars.up the confusion has been made by Greek scholars. The words “takes away” are translated from the Greek The words “takes away” are translated from the Greek word “airo.”word “airo.” The meaning of “airo” is better understood The meaning of “airo” is better understood in the sense of “take up.”in the sense of “take up.” This is the way it is translated This is the way it is translated when the disciples “took up” the twelve baskets of food when the disciples “took up” the twelve baskets of food after the feeding of the 5000. (Matthew 14:20).after the feeding of the 5000. (Matthew 14:20). It is It is translated “bear” when” Simon was forced to pick up the translated “bear” when” Simon was forced to pick up the cross of Jesus and carry it for Him. (Matthew 27:32). cross of Jesus and carry it for Him. (Matthew 27:32).

The second step in clearing up the confusion has come The second step in clearing up the confusion has come from professional vine dressers. They inform us that from professional vine dressers. They inform us that new branches have a tendency to trail down and grow new branches have a tendency to trail down and grow along the ground. Rain causes them to get muddy and along the ground. Rain causes them to get muddy and mildewed. The vine dresser walks the rows of vines with mildewed. The vine dresser walks the rows of vines with a bucket of water. When he sees a muddy branch he a bucket of water. When he sees a muddy branch he lifts it up; washes it off and then wraps it or ties it to the lifts it up; washes it off and then wraps it or ties it to the trellis where it can get the most air and sunshine. In a trellis where it can get the most air and sunshine. In a short time the branch is thriving with fruit. This also short time the branch is thriving with fruit. This also clears up verse 3 where Jesus said to His disciples, clears up verse 3 where Jesus said to His disciples, ““you are already clean because of the word which I have you are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”spoken to you.”

For the Christian sin is like dirt. When he or she For the Christian sin is like dirt. When he or she lies down in it they get dirty and fruitless. God lies down in it they get dirty and fruitless. God will call that Christian to His word to seek will call that Christian to His word to seek cleansing. cleansing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:91st John 1:9..It is wise to hear; confess, and be forgiven and It is wise to hear; confess, and be forgiven and cleansed. cleansed.

If the Christian defiled by sin does not heed If the Christian defiled by sin does not heed God’s call to cleansing then God will begin a God’s call to cleansing then God will begin a process of discipline. God doesn’t begin the process of discipline. God doesn’t begin the discipline as a result of random sin through discipline as a result of random sin through weakness but because of a pattern of behavior weakness but because of a pattern of behavior in which we have come to tolerate sin in our life. in which we have come to tolerate sin in our life.

God’s process of discipline is detailed in Hebrews,God’s process of discipline is detailed in Hebrews, “ “…My son, do not despise the chastening of the …My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are reproved Lord, nor be discouraged when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”receives.” Hebrews 12: 5,6. Hebrews 12: 5,6.

·         God is the source of the discipline ·         God is the source of the discipline ·         He disciplines all of His children ·         He disciplines all of His children ·         He does it because He loves His children ·         He does it because He loves His children

When God disciplines His children He is cleaning When God disciplines His children He is cleaning them up like a vine dresser cleans his branches. them up like a vine dresser cleans his branches. The goal is to make the barren branches fruitful. The goal is to make the barren branches fruitful. The concluding statement in regard to God’s The concluding statement in regard to God’s discipline is found in verse 11 of Hebrews 12:,discipline is found in verse 11 of Hebrews 12:,  “All discipline for the moment seems not to be “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceable trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.fruit of righteousness.

Let us take note of the steps in God’s Let us take note of the steps in God’s discipline: discipline:

1.    A verbal warning.1.    A verbal warning. “…do not…be discouraged when you are “…do not…be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” rebuked by Him.” Hebrews 12:5aHebrews 12:5a. . This rebuke may come in the form of This rebuke may come in the form of a pricking of our conscience; a pricking of our conscience; a timely word from another Christian, a timely word from another Christian, a sermon, etc. a sermon, etc. What if we pay no attention ? What if we pay no attention ?

2.   Chastening begins. 2.   Chastening begins. “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.” “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.” 12:5b. At this level we cannot ignore the 12:5b. At this level we cannot ignore the pressure. It may take the form of friction pressure. It may take the form of friction within our family; pressures at work; within our family; pressures at work; meaninglessness in  church services; broken meaninglessness in  church services; broken fellowship with God or problems in health or fellowship with God or problems in health or finances. finances. We need to begin seriously searching for dirt We need to begin seriously searching for dirt in our life with the intent of cleaning it up. in our life with the intent of cleaning it up. What if we don’t What if we don’t

3.    We enter the time of scourging.3.    We enter the time of scourging. “And scourges every son whom He “And scourges every son whom He receives”receives” Hebrews 12:6Hebrews 12:6.. “Scourge” is the word used to describe “Scourge” is the word used to describe how the Roman soldiers whipped Jesus how the Roman soldiers whipped Jesus with “a cat of nine tails.”with “a cat of nine tails.” See John 19:1See John 19:1. . How can our loving heavenly Father do How can our loving heavenly Father do this to a son or daughter He loves?this to a son or daughter He loves? 1) Because we are clinging to sin with a 1) Because we are clinging to sin with a rebellious attitude against God.rebellious attitude against God. 22)). . He wants to clean us up so we can be He wants to clean us up so we can be fruitful fruitful

Giving up the sins that keeps us fruitless is called Giving up the sins that keeps us fruitless is called “repentance”. “repentance”.

We change our mind about tolerating sin because We change our mind about tolerating sin because of benefits we enjoy of benefits we enjoy and acknowledge the harmful effects sin has on and acknowledge the harmful effects sin has on us, on others, and on our relationship with God.us, on others, and on our relationship with God.

We begin to value the potential of supernatural We begin to value the potential of supernatural fruitfulness that will be ours when we walk in fruitfulness that will be ours when we walk in unmarred fellowship with God. unmarred fellowship with God.

We are now ready for a breakthrough into We are now ready for a breakthrough into fruitfulness. fruitfulness.

THE LEAFY BRANCH WITH SOME FRUIT THE LEAFY BRANCH WITH SOME FRUIT “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes…” “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes…” John 15:2bJohn 15:2b

When we have dealt with willful sin and asked When we have dealt with willful sin and asked God to enable us to put it out of our life He God to enable us to put it out of our life He cleans us; allows the refreshing winds of the cleans us; allows the refreshing winds of the Holy Spirit to refresh us and lets the sunlight of Holy Spirit to refresh us and lets the sunlight of His presence shine upon us. In a short time His presence shine upon us. In a short time there are lush and healthy leaves…and fruit. there are lush and healthy leaves…and fruit. Yet, this is not our Savior’s ultimate goal. Yet, this is not our Savior’s ultimate goal. There is more. There is more.

THE BRANCH WITH HEALTHY CLUSTERS OF THE BRANCH WITH HEALTHY CLUSTERS OF GRAPES GRAPES “…every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it “…every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”may bear more fruit.” John 15:2b, 2c.John 15:2b, 2c.

Pruning has to do with cutting off the excess so Pruning has to do with cutting off the excess so that the sap flowing from the vine can produce that the sap flowing from the vine can produce more fruit.more fruit. God begins cutting out the excess God begins cutting out the excess things in our life so that we can bear more things in our life so that we can bear more spiritual fruit.spiritual fruit. These things are not “sins”.These things are not “sins”. They They are the unnecessary things that use up our time, are the unnecessary things that use up our time, energies, finances, and emotions and drain away energies, finances, and emotions and drain away our ability to be more fruitful.our ability to be more fruitful. Anyone who has Anyone who has ever made a commitment to ministry has ever made a commitment to ministry has discovered that ministry brings them in conflict discovered that ministry brings them in conflict with activities in their lifestyle with activities in their lifestyle

Using the metaphor of Jesus Using the metaphor of Jesus their decision about what stays and what goes their decision about what stays and what goes makes the difference in whether they produce a makes the difference in whether they produce a fourth of a basket or half a basket of fruit or fourth of a basket or half a basket of fruit or more.more. Giving up wholesome things that have been an Giving up wholesome things that have been an important part of our lifestyle can hurt.important part of our lifestyle can hurt. Yet, in Yet, in the lands of the vineyards a bountiful harvest is the lands of the vineyards a bountiful harvest is considered crowning the year with joy… …considered crowning the year with joy… …regardless of what else happened.regardless of what else happened. This will also be true of the fruitful ChristianThis will also be true of the fruitful Christian

THE BRANCH ABUNDANTLY FILLED WITH THE BRANCH ABUNDANTLY FILLED WITH FRUIT FRUIT ““Abide in Me, and I in you…he who abides in Abide in Me, and I in you…he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” John 15:4a, 5b. John 15:4a, 5b.

Here is a branch that has more lush clusters of Here is a branch that has more lush clusters of grapes than it has leaves. The secret is grapes than it has leaves. The secret is unrestricted flow of the sap from the vine into the unrestricted flow of the sap from the vine into the branch and results in bountiful fruit. branch and results in bountiful fruit. Jesus revealed the meaning for believers is Jesus revealed the meaning for believers is abiding in Him and Him in the believer results in abiding in Him and Him in the believer results in much fruit. much fruit.

What does it mean to abide in Jesus? What does it mean to abide in Jesus? It doesn’t mean putting in an appearance at It doesn’t mean putting in an appearance at church on Sunday morning to say hello to Jesus church on Sunday morning to say hello to Jesus and then living as if He doesn’t exist the rest of and then living as if He doesn’t exist the rest of the week. the week. Looking back at the vine and the branch we Looking back at the vine and the branch we learn that at the point where the branches meet learn that at the point where the branches meet the vine holds the answer. the vine holds the answer. The branch that has the largest, strongest, least The branch that has the largest, strongest, least obstructed connection with the vine is the one obstructed connection with the vine is the one that produces the most abundant clusters of that produces the most abundant clusters of grapes. grapes.

This means that fruitfulness is not us producing fruit for This means that fruitfulness is not us producing fruit for Him. It means that when we live in close fellowship with Him. It means that when we live in close fellowship with Him that He produces the fruit through us. The secret is Him that He produces the fruit through us. The secret is to to abideabide. Jesus uses the word six times. Abide means . Jesus uses the word six times. Abide means to: to: Live in His presence. Live in His presence. Make Him our best friend. Make Him our best friend. Share with Him our deepest concerns. Share with Him our deepest concerns. Tell Him how much we love Him and need Him. Tell Him how much we love Him and need Him. Worship and praise Him from the depth of our hearts. Worship and praise Him from the depth of our hearts.

Seek to know His mind from the scriptures. Seek to know His mind from the scriptures.

From this deeper relationship He will do great things in From this deeper relationship He will do great things in us that will flow out from us to others and fruit will be us that will flow out from us to others and fruit will be produced. produced.

What does an abundantly fruitful Christian look What does an abundantly fruitful Christian look like? This is a question that cannot be answered like? This is a question that cannot be answered because each of us is unique by physical birth, because each of us is unique by physical birth, spiritual birth and God’s purpose for us. Just as spiritual birth and God’s purpose for us. Just as the sap flowing from the vine is out of sight the the sap flowing from the vine is out of sight the work Jesus does in each of us is out of sight but work Jesus does in each of us is out of sight but fruit is produced that brings glory to God fruit is produced that brings glory to God according to God’s unique purpose for us.according to God’s unique purpose for us.

What we become as a person will impact others in a far What we become as a person will impact others in a far greater way than we ever imagined. greater way than we ever imagined.

What we do will accomplish more because it originated What we do will accomplish more because it originated with Jesus and has His supernatural blessing on it. with Jesus and has His supernatural blessing on it.

May each one of us be filled with a burning desire to abide May each one of us be filled with a burning desire to abide more deeply and fully in Jesus and Him in us. Abundant more deeply and fully in Jesus and Him in us. Abundant fruit will come that brings glory to God.fruit will come that brings glory to God.