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John 15:1-8 The Vine and the Branches 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.a 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
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LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (1) JOHN 15:1-8
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Introduction Have you ever struggled in your walk with the Lord? “How can I make Christianity work in my life?” In verse 16, Jesus talks about His will for our lives.
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God designed each and everyone of us to be fruitful. Are you bearing the fruit God designed you to produce? What kind of fruit is God looking for in your life? God wants the character, works, will of Jesus to be expressed through you and me.
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The Context Jesus is about to leave the upper room where He had the Passover meal with His disciples. As they walk past the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus begins to talk about vines, vine dressers and fruit.
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Why? Several possibilities. A. The temple door had great vines carved into its doors. B. It was a symbol for the nation of Israel – Psalm 80:8-10, Isa. 5:1-2 C. This vine (Israel) had not lived up to its intended purpose. –Jer. 2:21, Hos.10:1
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So, the True Vine, Jesus Christ had come into this world. What Israel had failed to do, Jesus will accomplish. Jesus wants to teach us the most vital relationship in our lives.
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Why give such a message? Jesus was going away. His work is going to continue through His disciples – John 14:12 The only way to be fruitful for the glory of God is to abide in Him, the True Vine.
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Lesson about Relationships. Why is it so important to understand our relationship with Jesus? Needed to learn how to allow God’s life to flow through us. Let Him accomplish His purpose through us.
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A. New Birth V.2 – “In Me” – Jesus is speaking to people who are in a vital, life-giving with Him. He is speaking those who are saved. No one is considered a branch in the Lord’s Vine unless there is a vital connection to Him
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How many times is this phrase mentioned? How does one get to be “in” Jesus? When does “new birth” happen? When I see myself as a sinner. Sense the conviction of sin and the calling of Jesus to come to Him.
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When I respond by faith to the finished work of Jesus at Calvary. Rom.10:9,13; Acts 16:31 Many are “in” religion, “in” church but that does not mean that they are “in” Jesus. (Matt.7:21-23) Need to be grafted into the True Vine – Rom.9:17
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Before you can have hope of heaven or forgiveness of sin, you must have a relationship with Him. We need to receive the “divine nature” – 1 Peter 2:4 We are “new creatures”. – 2 Cor.5:17 Can you pin point a time in your life when this happened?
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B. Total Dependence The branch has no life of its own. It is dependent upon the vine for its life. The vine produces the fruit through the branch.
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I am dependent upon Jesus as the vine to supply His life flow in me. My life is an extension of His life. We must think, act and live according to this truth.
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Our Problem: We think we are the vine and Jesus is the an attachment. He is there to help us in our goals, our desires, our work etc. He is not an attachment to our lives. We are dependent upon Him.
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Conclusion Jesus is calling us to be connected with Him. Live in fellowship with Him Is that the experience of our life today?
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LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (2) JOHN 15:1-8
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Introduction In our first lesson, we learnt that: A. Jesus calls us into a relationship. B. This relationship involves new birth. C. It demands a life of total dependence.
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Lessons About Our Responsibility 1. Bearing Fruits A vine has one distinct purpose: bearing fruit. This is delegated to the branches. Note the progression in v.2 – “no fruit”; “more fruit”; “much fruit” – v.8
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What does “bearing fruit” mean”? There are three basic fruits that the Lord bears in the lives of His Children. a. Sanctification – becoming more like Him. (Rom.6:22; Phil 1:11; Col.1:10)
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b. Spirituality – We behave more like Him. (Gal.5:22-23) c. Souls – We are burdened like Him. (Rom.1:13) Are we bearing fruit for His glory? We are recognized by our fruit – Matt.12:33
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2. Remain In Me We are called upon to remain (v.4) What does it mean to remain in Christ? A. Do not leave. (Heb. 10:35-39) Need to persevere to do the will of God. Continue to believe in Him.
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B. Remain in His Love –v.9 God love for us is everlasting and unconditional. Our disobedience can remove us from the benefits of His love. Luke 15 – the prodigal son left his father’s loving presence. The father never ceased to love him.
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By his own decision he landed into hardship and trouble. But when he returned, he experienced his father’s love again. Jude v.20 – “Keep yourself in God’s love.
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C. Obey His commands (v.10) We must not think we can ignore the revealed will of God. Or do whatever we want. Obedience is linked with love. The key to remaining is Obeying. What happens when I disobey?
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I remove myself from the flow of God’s Spirit. I grieve the Spirit. (Eph.4:30) John 14:15 – If we really love God, we will obey Him.
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3. Allow Pruning Sin blocks the flow of life in me and robs me of fruitfulness. There may be cares of life, distractions worldliness, attitudes, jealousy, pride that need to be cut out of my life. (v.2) The Father is pruning us to produce more fruit.
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It is a ministry preformed on “every branch”. V.6 says that not all respond properly to the challenging and cleansing work of the Gardener.
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i. There is loss of fellowship –Cast out. ii. There is loss of vitality – withered. No life. Dead and dried up. iii. There is loss of reward.
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Conclusion Being a branch means: a. Bearing fruits b. Remaining in Jesus c. Allow pruning. Has the Gardener performed His purifying and pruning ministry in your life?
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LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (3) JOHN 15:1-8
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Lessons on our Rewards. There are some wonderful things that happen when we live in this intimate communion with Christ. 1. We experience joy. (v.11) Jesus wants to share His joy with us.
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How does this happen? When there is intimacy and fellowship with Him. His joy fills my heart and I am full of joy.
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2. It causes us to love one another. (v.12) This is a high standard of love. How has Jesus loved us? He loved us before we loved Him. Loved us enough to sacrifice Himself for us. Loved us unconditionally.
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Is this possible? Only when I abide in His love. When I allow the life and character of Jesus to flow through me by the Holy Spirit.
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3. It makes us become His friends. (v.15) The obedience we are invited to walk in with God is not a blind obedience without purpose or relationship. It is an obedience that is in partnership with the one we love.
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Abraham was called a friend of God. Heb.11:8 – A friend can be trusted with information. Jesus links friendship with obedience – v.14
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4. It makes our prayers effective. (v.7) There are two conditions for effective prayer 1. Remain in Me. Be obedient to the Lord. Stay in the realm of His will. Stay in fellowship with Him.
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2. Remain in His Word, Allow God’s word to be engrafted in our hearts so that we start thinking right. Then we start doing right. Then we pray right – according to the will of the Father.
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5. Allow Pruning Sin blocks the flow of life in me and robs me of fruitfulness. There may be cares of life, distractions worldliness, attitudes, jealousy, pride that need to be cut out of my life. (v.2) The Father is pruning us to produce more fruit.
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It is a ministry preformed on “every branch”. V.6 says that not all respond properly to the challenging and cleansing work of the Gardener.
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i. There is loss of fellowship –Cast out. ii. There is loss of vitality – withered. No life. Dead and dried up. iii. There is loss of reward.
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Conclusion Jesus is telling us to: -Stay connected with Him. -Live in fellowship with Him. -Draw our life and strength from Him. -Obey Him. -Depend upon Him. -Always move towards Him not away from Him.
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