Found Pt. 8
I AM THE TRUE VINE
John 15:5 – 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.
John 15:8 – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
This fruit comes from abiding in the Vine- The very life of Jesus Christ flowing in and through our lives.
How do we get connected to the Vine of Christ?
How do we abide in Him and bear fruit for the Glory of God?
RECEIVE HIS LIFE
Without Jesus Christ, we are dead in sin, cut off from the life of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
John 15:3 – You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 15:4 – Abide in Me, and I in you.
Abide – dwell, live, remain, stay, reside
Ephesians 3:17 – That Christ may dwell (make His home) in your hearts through faith.
Get connected to the Vine through faith in Jesus Christ.
RELEASE HIS POWER
John 15:4 – 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.
John 15:5 – 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.
John 7:38 – He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
Philippians – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
As we abide in Christ, the life of the Holy Spirit begins to bear fruit in and through our lives:
The fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of answered prayer: John 15:7
The fruit of people coming to Jesus Christ: Acts 16:31
The fruit of His Presence in our daily lives: Psalm 84:1
Brother Lawrence – “I do nothing else but abide in His Holy Presence: a turning of my eyes on Him.”
Annie, mother of four small children, “Jesus You are here with me, in and around me.”
John 15:8 – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
REMOVE THE BLOCKAGES
Sometimes it seems as if something is blocking the flow of life from the vine.
There can be kinks in our hose!
Unconfessed Sin
Proverbs 28:13 – He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Disobedience
John 15:10 – If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love.
Unforgiveness and Bitterness
John 15:12 – This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Disappointment
Psalm 80:18 – Revive us and we will call upon Your name!
The Holy Spirit wants to restore the joy of our salvation!
John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Discussion Questions
How is the Christian life like a branch connected to a vine?
What is God doing in you and through you by the Holy Spirit?
Are there any kinks in your hose? What are they? How will you remove them?
What practical steps can you take to better abide in the Vine of Jesus Christ?
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 the highest, what is the joy level in your life?
How can the joy level increase?
Memory Verse
John 15:5 – 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.