Intent John 15:1

William Phelps taught English literature at Yale for forty-one years until his retirement in 1933. Marking an examination paper shortly before Christmas one year, Phelps came across the note: "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas." Phelps returned the paper with this note: "God gets an A. You get an F. Happy New Year."

-God’s Will for Your Life is Fruitfulness

Have you ever found yourself wondering, what is God’s will for my life? We don’t have to wonder, because there are some things that He has made abundantly clear! He intends for us to be fruitful!

I. The Fruitful Life is God’s Desire for You

Jesus makes it clear at the outset that His Father is a vinedresser, the one who cultivates and cares for the vine so that it can be maximally fruitful

You never have to wonder about God’s will in this matter, even when you don’t understand exactly what He is doing; His desire is fruitfulness and He is moving you that way, if you will go with Him!

That is not to say that everything the Lord does in this process is fun or easy; sometimes it will even seem counterproductive. However, it is all part of His purposeful cultivation of your life

Elizabeth Elliot, in her book Let Me Be a Woman, records the story of Gladys Aylward unable to accept the looks God had given her. Ms. Aylward told how when she was a child she had two great sorrows. One, that while all her friends had beautiful golden hair, hers was black. The other, that while her friends were still growing, she had stopped. She was about four feet ten inches tall. But when at last she reached the country to which God had called her to be a missionary, she stood on the wharf in Shanghai and looked around at the people to whom He had called her. “Every single one of them” she said, “had black hair. And every one of them had stopped growing when I did.” She was able to look to God and exclaim, “Lord God, You know what You’re doing!”

Romans 11:33

[33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (ESV)

II. The Fruitful Life has a Defined Purpose

Growth in the Character of Christ

Philippians 2:1–4

[1] So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)

Growth in the Competencies of Christ: What did Jesus do?

He prayed

He studied and taught Scripture

He served hurting and broken people

He trained others to do the same things

In His Steps is a best-selling religious fiction novel written by Charles Monroe Sheldon. First published in 1896, the book has sold more than 50 million copies, and ranks as one of the best-selling books of all time. The full title of the book is In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?

If you had been a teenager in the 90s, you would have probably worn the bracelet and listened to the song by Big Tent Revival! There’s good news though, you don’t have to wonder what Jesus would have done; He’s made it clear in His Word and He intends for you to do exactly that!

III. The Fruitful life is Only Found in Christ

As we close our time together, I want to circle back around to the big truth at the beginning of our passage:

Jesus is the true Vine and the fruitful life is only found in Him

This would have struck His audience because He is taking off from a familiar Old Testament theme, Israel as the vine of the Lord

If He is the true vine, the fruitful life is only found in Him

You can settle into a national identity like the Jews did and not be fruitful

You can follow your heart with passion for “authenticity” and not be fruitful

You can live by the best of man’s wisdom, with discipline and effort and not be fruitful

You can be exceedingly religious and devoted to forms and structures of churches and organizations and not be fruitful

You can only reproduce the life of Christ in one way, to commit yourself to Him

Two prayers to pray:

Lord, show me what is hindering me from being fruitful!

Is there sin I need to confess?

Is there an obedience I need to pursue?

Is there a priority of my life that is not your priority?

Is there a burden I am holding that I can give to You?

Lord, make me fruitful!