Jesus Is The True Vine

The Art of Abiding

15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the Word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 

Jn 15:1–11.

Pruning is

  • An ongoing process
  • An opportunity for evaluation and correction
  • Necessary to maximize the harvest
  • Done in the dormant season
  • Never done during the rainy season
  • Labor and time intensive
  • Done with the future in mind

No one likes to be cut on, but the pruning produces! Trust the process..

THREE THINGS WE LONG FOR

  • FOUNDATION
  • FREEDOM
  • FULFILLMENT

Jesus calls out to us, if you want a true foundation, freedom, and fulfillment, “ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU”

Abide (menō) – to consistently remain in place with expectation of  something to come

Your FOUNDATION, FREEDOM and FULFILLMENT is found by ABIDING IN JESUS

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

1) REAL FRUIT IS FOUND IN THE RIGHT ROOT 

“The Great French Wine Blight”

https://web.archive.org/web/20110726032037/http://www.wampumkeeper.com/wineblight.html

Your foundation matters!

Our world is filled with a multitude of religions, ideas and philosophies about the meaning of life, the way of life and what happens after this life.

What does Jesus say, ”are you tired, worn out, burned out on religion” come…

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Two Choices and Two Outcomes

a) ABIDE in Jesus and you will bear MUCH fruit

“Much” – over and over, or continually fruitful

Remember This: It’s about quality over quantity. Quality will multiply with each season!

b) APART from JESUS you FORFEIT your fruit

Remember: straining is not the way of gaining

Radical Thought: The life of Jesus is not something we work towards, the life of Jesus is what we work from.

When I walk WITH Jesus I begin to walk LIKE Jesus!

Make a DAILY appointment with Jesus

  • A set time, A set place
  • Practice Silence and Solitude

7 If you abide in me, and my Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

2) THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD DOESN’T RESTRICT US, IT RELEASES US

Abiding In His Word PURIFIES Us (Freedom from Sin)

“Already you are clean because of the [logos] that I have spoken to you” (vs 3).

“If you abide in me, my [rhema] abides in you” (vs 7).

His Word washes through us like water works through the vine

“that he might sanctify [the church], having cleansed [his church] by the washing of water with the Word.”  Ephesians 5:26 (ESV)

If you’re not daily in the Word, you are in danger of drying up and dropping your fruit!

Remember: It’s not about getting you through the Word, It’s about getting the Word through you.

Abiding In His Word PRODUCES (Freedom to ask)

“ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (vs 7).

20 Benefits of Being Rooted In God’s Word (Psalm 119)

1. His Word invites His blessings.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. (v. 2) 

2. His Word makes us holy.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word. (v. 9) 

3. His Word brings delight with wise counsel.  

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (v. 24)

4. His Word guards my heart from pride, selfishness, and greed.

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! (v. 36) 

5. His Word offers hope.

And take not the Word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. (v. 43)

6. His Word sets me free.

And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. (v. 45) 

7. His Word heals my afflictions and gives life.

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. (v. 50) 

8. His Word is my hymnbook for praise.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. (v. 54) 

9. His Word is a map through a lawless land.

The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. (v. 69) 

10. His Word sets my example.

Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. (v. 79)

11. His Word helps as I wait.

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your Word. (v. 81) 

12. His Word sustains in trials and tests.

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (v. 92) 

13. His Word is life-giving.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. (v. 93)

14. His Word gives wisdom and understanding. 

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. (v. 99) 

15. His Word is a light in darkness.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path. (v. 105)

16. His Word protects me from the enemy’s traps.

The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. (v. 110)

17. His Word is my shield.

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your Word. (v. 114) 

18. His Word reveals His nature.

Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules. (v. 137) 

19. His Word reveals His promises.

Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. (v. 140) 

20. His Word gives peace.

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. (v. 165) 

When you are in the Word, you know His nature and His promises, therefore your prayers are made potent. 

Eat That Book!

  • Find a devotional plan that works for you
  • A few verses you get in you is better than a lot of reading you don’t remember
  • Use the Bible App (no excuses)

Abiding In His Word brings PRAISE (Freedom to become)

The glory of any vineyard is in the quality of wine it produces

Remember: Being ALL He made me to be is the greatest act of worship!

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

3) TRUE FULFILLMENT COMES NOT FROM WHAT FLOWS TO US, BUT THROUGH US

The purpose of the vine is its wine.

Wine – is a biblical symbol of God’s covenant blessings. It represents joy, celebration, and festivity, expressing the abundant blessings given to us by God.

True fulfillment in life is knowing that my life matters.

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV).

Gal 5:19-21 The works of the flesh are evident (Sour Grapes)

  • sexual immorality
  • impurity 
  • sensuality
  • idolatry
  • sorcery 
  • enmity 
  • strife
  • jealousy
  • fits of anger
  • rivalries
  • dissensions
  • divisions
  • envy
  • drunkenness
  • orgies 
  • and things like these (etc)

These “sour grapes” are the fruit of a life that wasted such grace and mercy on sinfulness and selfishness.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21, NIV).

Galatians 5:22-23 “The Best Of The Vine”

  • love
  • joy
  • peace 
  • patience
  • kindness 
  • goodness 
  • faithfulness
  • gentleness
  • self-control 

“against such things there is no law.”

My fruit is an indication of my root.

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