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.

LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (1) JOHN 15:1-8

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.

 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.

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.

 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

 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.

 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.

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.

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

 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.

 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

 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?

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.

 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.

 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.

Conclusion  Jesus is calling us to be connected with Him.  Live in fellowship with Him  Is that the experience of our life today?

LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (2) JOHN 15:1-8

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.

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

 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)

 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

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.

 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.

 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.

 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?

 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.

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.

 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.

 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.

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?

LESSONS FROM THE LORD’S VINEYARD. (3) JOHN 15:1-8

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.

 How does this happen?  When there is intimacy and fellowship with Him.  His joy fills my heart and I am full of joy.

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.

 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.

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.

 Abraham was called a friend of God.  Heb.11:8 – A friend can be trusted with information.  Jesus links friendship with obedience – v.14

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.

 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.

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.

 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.

 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.

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.