How do you know?

How do you know?

April 27, 2025

John 15:1-6

Are there any green thumbs in this room? You know who you are, the ones who can make anything grow from the ground with almost no effort. Yeah, you people make me so frustrated. On my property, the only thing I can keep alive (and the jury is still out on this) is my kids and my dogs.

I have tried gardens every year for the past 10 years and the best thing I can grow is weeds. I have watched the videos, gotten the books, bought the shoots, seeds and the plants, and nothing seems to like to grow.

The most frustrating plant on my property is self-inflicted. I thought when I moved in that I would grow a beautiful grape orchard. They are so beautiful and wonderful in the spring and the fall. It should look like this:

Instead I get this:

You know what is the worst thing about this? It took me 10 years (not kidding) to get these from shoots to this. You want to know why? If my neighbors put down weed killer (2-4D) and it drifts over to my property in the heat of the summer, that 10-year-old plant dies within two days. Or, if we get a hard frost in the spring when the buds are out, that plant dies for that season.

But, do you know why I keep these plants? My fondest memory of my dad was sharing with him the juice I made from them. It was like one of the last things I remember giving him before he died.

This is one of my most valuable memories. The fruit was not much, but the memories will be with me forever. What that fruit produced was more than the sweet taste of juice.

It is no wonder that our Lord uses this as one of His last metaphors and the last of the “I AM” statements before going to the cross. It fits so well and so right for where the disciples would be mentally. Remember where they are. We left off in John the upper room. Jesus had just excused Judas to betray Him, told Peter that he would deny Him, taught that He was the way, the truth, and the life, promised to send the HS, and now told them, “let’s go”, meaning let’s leave the upper room.

Let’s read 15:1-6

It is important to get that Jesus is still teaching, still caring for and mentoring His followers as the sun is setting on His ministry. It is late in the evening on the night of His arrest. They are on their way to the garden of Gethsemane, or they may be IN the garden now.

He took this opportunity to give the disciples one of the most vivid illustrations that would stick with them throughout all time. It challenges still today. As I preach this sermon, I want you to ask yourself these two questions, “Are you part of the vine of Christ? If so, how do you know?”

Our Lord uses a masterfully constructed metaphor to teach us the last sermon He will give. The Gardener=God the Father. The Vine=Jesus Christ our savior. The branches = well, that’s where we need to spend some time.

1.             The Gardener

Jesus Himself tells us who the “vine dresser” is greogos or farmer; tenant farmer who tills the ground”.

I know we have farmers in this room. Do you know what a nonworking farmer is called? Skinny! They don’t work, they don’t eat. In short, farmers are the hardest-working people I know. Their hands are calloused, their knees are shot, their backs need chiropractic’s and their families appreciate them. I have never met a farmer with soft hands.

The definitions of that word “greogos” screams of an active, working and toiling heavenly Father engaged in the work of His field. He is ENGAGED, intimate and applies His personal touch. One only needs to drive by a field and see the absence of the farmers’ touch. The fields that bear the footprint of the farmer are bursting with radiant growth.

Church, I spent my week asking God to remind me, show me, validate that I am in fact part of the Gardener’s field. When I defined that word “Vine dresser” I sat in my office and wept. Brothers and sisters, your hearts are the field the Farmer is working.

May I ask, have you felt, seen, or looked down in the field of your heart and seen the footprint of the farmer? Please say that you have! Please, look in the dirt of your heart and see His touch. For the child of God, they will see the footprints of the Farmer. How do you know He has been working the field of your heart? You look like, act like and behave like the Vine.

But let’s now look at what he did for the vine. When it comes to Christ our Lord, He planted the shoot, the vine of salvation. Isaiah 53:2

Who has believed what he has heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground; [1]

Jesus is referred to as the vine in the OT and is showing Himself to be the vine, prepared for from the time of creation for this day. God Himself prepared the soil for the Vine. He set all of the players in place for Christ’s earthly ministry and what He was about to do on the cross. Nothing was left unprepared.

Most specifically, to push the metaphor a bit more, the great Vine dresser has prepared the soil in our hearts for the Vine. As the parable of the seed being cast in both Luke and Matthew, Jesus teaches that the soil that receives the seed will determine it’s fruit. The good soil, the hearts prepared by the Vine dresser who has tilled it, cared for it, and prepared it will receive the vine of salvation. The others will not.

In the right season, in every generation, the Gardener is still at work, still preparing the soils of man’s heart, still preparing for the Vine of salvation. The prospect of this act drives the Gardener to keep pests out that would destroy that vine. No power of hell can keep that vine from being planted. No bug, varmint, 2-4D spray from a neighbor will keep that vine from growing in the soil prepared by the Gardener.

The vine will grow and produce the branches. But, those branches are not left to grow on their own. They are to be pruned.

Prune: kathairo= cleanse; clean; purify. He cleans! He purifies the branches attached to the vine! It is an action of cutting away by the use of a sharp knife. What is He cutting away? Sin. Our sin nature for sanctification. Our rebellion and our distractions. These that I speak of are NOT the ones cut away and burned! These are the those who are producing fruit. These are believers.

That sharp object that is used is never dull, never changing, and never yielding. It is a double-edged sword that at times crushes the stubborn hearts. Are you seeing where I am going with this? Jesus says it Himself!

Vs 3 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you[2]

We, true believers, are pruned by the knife of the word. Prune (make clean) by the Word spoken to and into us. We love, we abide, by the WORD spoken into us. We do not worship the printed page. We worship the author who plants into our hearts the Word that prunes our stubborn hearts as He speaks the truth of salvation into us. Hebrews 4 says that the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword…”

People say that we have a really high view of the Word of God, to which I would say, how can we not? That sharp two-edged knife cuts away, leaving marks of correction and direction. Better to be pruned by God and His Word than left unclean and separated from the hands of the Gardener!

Notice what those branches are attached to.

2.             The Vine

Vs 1 “I am the true vine…”

By saying it this way, Jesus clearly teaches that there are other vines. I am the TRUE vine. Let us not miss the “I AM” statement. It is the last of 7 claims to deity that Jesus uses in the book of John. John wants us to know that Jesus is who He claims, 100% deity, the second member of the triune God. “I AM” ego emi.

By saying the “true” vine, there are other vines.

this is called the Virginia creeper. It is toxic and can kill you. My grapes look a lot like this!

Jesus is making a clear point. Satan will always have his cheap imitations. Some are very convincing, even causing other followers of Christ to make assumptions. Even some followers of Christ will look at others and say, “Those guys are in Christ.” But, in reality, they are not. Even those attached to the wrong vine will be so deceived and say, look, I am bearing fruit! I am one with Christ!

Matthew 7:22

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.[3]

Some are producing fruit, yet not of the TRUE vine. Now do you see how Jesus can say, I never knew you? Yes, He knows them, but the intimacy of being IN the vine versus outside the vine is completely different. Being IN the vine means fruit of the vine. If we, who are in Christ are apart of His vine, we produce pure, righteous and Christ like fruit.

If however, we are a part of the vine of the world, we do produce fruit. It can even be the right color, right texture and feel. But, it is still poisonous and deadly. That is why we must be fruit inspectors. We must look at where those branches are connected. What vine is producing their nourishment?

3.             The branches.

Vs 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.”

In the context of this passage, the branch is specific. We must read John’s writing correctly. John, is writing about the disciples here. The point is that the branches here disciples apart from Judas. Remember, Judas was a part of Jesus’s inner 12. By now, they had to be wondering where he was. It is now later in the evening, surely Judas would have been missed. The branch that was apart of the vine is now cut off.

We need to be careful when we read God’s Word and not forget the contexts. The application is still for us. On His walk to the garden, Jesus is saying that there are those who are IN the vine, and those who are not. Judas and others are false branches. Allow me to use another picture for my point.

The most frustrating thing I deal with are these little sucker shoots. I hate these things! If I don’t get out there weekly and pull or cut these away, there will be no fruit. These will choke out the other branches and the spring growth. They are NOT part of the vine! They come from the root ball in the ground. They never stop! They keep growing and sucking the life out of the fruit.

Here is the clear application. There are those who attach themselves to the vine of Christ. They look the part and will even, for a season, demonstrate leaves that look like the vine they are attached to. These people love being around and attached to the vine. But, they are not OF the vine. They will eventually choke and kill the real branches of the vine.

We see this all the time in churches across America. When trials and pruning of the Lord happens, they are cut away. They are separated from the vine to protect the branches that are apart of the true vine. They may have unimaginable talent, pretty and polished. But, in the end, they will be cut away.

These are those who could even be in church ministry and not be called by Christ to be fruit-bearing.

4.             Produce the fruit of Christ.

Vs 4 , 5 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.[4]

It is time to define the word ABIDE: meno: means remain, stay, reside. Imagine that calm when your toddler finally falls asleep in your arms or on your chest. Or that calm peace you have when you are with a loved one and you don’t need to talk but just be with them.

Now, imagine please, that constantly. Resting in the place of the life sources of your soul. Imagine please, being in the presence of the peace of the world and you have nowhere to go. That peace will rest on you when you are resting in Him.

That is to abide. When we do this, the result is not subjective or left to guess. The result is fruit-bearing! It causes the believer in Christ to persevere during the trials of life. Matthew 24:12-13

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved[5]

John MacArthur writes:

    “The people who persevere are the same ones who are saved, not the ones whose love grows cold. This fact does not suggest that a person’s perseverance secures salvation. Scripture everywhere teaches precisely the opposite: God, as part of His saving work, secures a believer’s perseverance.”

Where does the perseverance provided by God come from? That VINE! Our life source is grounded, rooted, and attached to that vine. We are secured by that vine. We are never off on our own!

When I prune my vines, the branches cut away do not continue to live. They die. Also, last I checked, no branch jumps off that vine on its own. It is cut away or pruned. All an act by the Vine Dresser. In short, our life source for perseverance is only found in Christ and Christ alone while secured by the Father.

But, what does that look like, pastor? How can I know that I am of the True Vine and bearing His fruit? Everyone WILL bear fruit. Be it nasty bitter or what is intended large and sweet berry’s. I am so glad you asked. We have talked about these measuring tools before, and I think it is important to use them again.

Let’s look at your fruit. The first measuring tool would be your time. Where do you spend the time of your week? We are actively promoting men’s and women’s ministries. It is the hands and feet of our community and our body of believers. Are you active in those? Are you active in the church? Are you actively being Christ to your community?

How often do you think about the things of God? How many days to you spend in His Word? Look, church, there is no such thing as participation ribbons in God’s kingdom. Just because we come to church does not mean that our fruit is pure.

The other measuring tool would be your talents and treasures. Remember these are on lone from God. They will be measured not for salvation, but for accountability. For much has been given to each of you, and much will be required from you. Where are you using these talents?

Vs 6 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.[6]

Our fruit should demonstrate that we are abiding IN HIM. But, if I look at our time, talent and treasure, would it say that we are abiding in Him or would it say that it is of the branches that will be cut off? It’s a real question that we all have to grapple with.

Each year, I walk by my grapes, I see the ones that are producing fruit and I do everything I can to make sure they are protected. Even at the cost of the other thick, full of leaves, branches. I’ll cut away the ones that “look” good in exchange for the ones with grapes on it.

James would say in 2

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister[7]…18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works[8]

Faith is ALWAYS associated with the result, the fruit of our faith. There is no shortcut. There is no such thing as sideline Christianity. I am fascinated with people professing Christ, yet they rely on movies or YouTube for their spiritual growth. I am fascinated by people professing Christ, yet never opening His Word. I am fascinated by people professing Christ and bash His bride the Church.

You see, our fruit is a direct result of what our branch is attached to. If we fall into the category as to not bear fruit and yet we are attached to the True Vine, it is only a matter of time before the Vine Dresser (God) will start to prune. It could look like:

Discipline: Hebrews 12:5,6 “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives[9]

The good Father will use trials, illness, and even death to correct His children. I am praying for each of us that the correction and pruning is such that it takes little to correct our behavior.

I know that I set the bar very high. For some of you with soft hearts, I want to say something very important. On my vines, there is no such thing as a perfect branch. I have never left a branch untouched. Each branch has had to be manipulated, pruned, adjusted and corrected. Brothers and sisters, there are no perfect branches!

In God’s kingdom, the smallest and weakest branches produce the sweetest and largest fruit. When I see people who knew that we launched MBC always ask, “so how’s it going.” Eventually, they always ask, “How many people come?” I know it should not frustrate me. But, I want to say the fruit of Godly teaching and the fruit of men and women’s hearts are that of the True Vine.

If I said that it would sound condescending and arrogant. But it is so true. Look, is MBC amassing great numbers? No. But, ladies and gentlemen, although many of the branches in this room are small, they are producing great fruit! We get ourselves in trouble when we compare our fruit and branch size to others.

I look around this room and see a lot of great branches of the vine. You know what they all have in common? They all have deep pruning marks from the Vine Dresser. These markings may have been painful, but what those pruning marks have produced is nothing short of eternal. Praise God for those pruning marks!

You may ask, how do I get those marks? Again, the Word of God. Abide in the Word and you will be abiding in Christ. When you do, allow His Word to do what it does best, prune away the death in exchange for the fruit. Do not resist the cutting away of the sin!