Don’t Neglect The Living Vine

Text: John 15:1-11

Introduction

Who in here today likes to share with others? How many of you parents like watching your children practice a lack thereof, lol? Every one of us has to be taught to share and why that is important. Sharing is not something we are naturally inclined to do. Humanity is naturally inclined to be selfish, inward focused, and self preserving.

I’ve got great new? Your ready for it? God is great at sharing!!! More specifically, He is great at sharing the benefits of His nature with anyone who will receive Christ as their Savior. Even beyond that, he desires for you to receive the maximum available eternal inheritance through Christ. Right here right now, a born-again believer has the privilege of sharing His life and knowing His will. However, every born-again believer has the responsibility of “abiding” in Christ and “obeying” Christ.

Within our text today, we will take time to meditate on the responsibility of “abiding” in Christ. Why abide in Christ? What are the benefits? What are the dangers of not doing so?

1) Who Is The Vine?

If we are all honest, we are all tapping our lives, our hearts into something, organization, person, etc, in efforts to find purpose and to be able to look back and say, “Look at the good I did. I should be proud of that.”

While being a part of helpful organizations, being dedicated to healthy habits, and surrounding yourself with positive people are great additions to your life, there is only ONE VINE!

A. Jesus is the Exclusive vine for your life

“I am the true vine”

This is the seventh and last of the “I AM” statements.

There is nothing better for you to come to understand than to know who Jesus Christ is!

For Jesus to say “I am the TRUE vine” is equal to say, “I am not like those FAKE vines.”

LISTEN…we as God’s children are not to be living off of substitutes!!!

Jesus being our vine is equal to say, Jesus is the authority over my life!

What is a vine? (show the pic)

You can’t help but notice it’s strength and durability.

It is a life source that was there before the branches came into existence.

It is the who secret of the branches life, strength, vigour, beauty, and fertility.

The sap and juice than flow from it is the origin of power and the only reason the leaves, buds, blossoms, and fruit.

There has never been a time when a vine brought harm to it’s branches.

How does that translate to Jesus being the vine?

Like a vine, Jesus carries to all His branches, everything pertaining to life, endurance, quantity, and quality.

There is never a moment when we should fear what will come from Christ when you belong to Him through faith.

Because Jesus is the LIVING VINE, everyone connected to Him is living also!

We have a LIVING relationship with the living Vine!

2) Who Are The Branches?

Verses 3-5

A. Where do they come from?

They originate from within the vine.

1 Corinthians 15:22 “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

B. How do they reach their full potential?

The branch on it’s own is weak and useless.

It can either “bear” or “burn.” You can’t build with branches.

Jesus is calling these men to be fruit bearing branches.

The only way they can grow is through “abiding” in the vine!

Examples: A marriage creates the union but not the communion. If there is going to be communion, it must be done by daily love and devotion. A shepherd brings sheep into the flock but can’t force them to follow him. The sheep must remain close to receive protection and provision.

What does “abide” really mean?

Is it all wrapped up in some emotional work up in a worship service?

Is it something that automatically happens when you trust Christ?

‘Abide’ means to to remain in close close fellowship so that His life can work in and through you. You yield to the Vine and the vine produces the fruit.

What things are involved in abiding?

God’s Word, Prayer, confession of sin, loving and edifying your brother, following through in obedience, faithfully worshipping.

John 15:9–10 “9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

LISTEN…there are no special feelings, but there are special evidences that speak to wether or not you are currently abiding in Christ.

Prayers are answered — John 15:7 “7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Your love in deepening for Jesus — John 15:9 “9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

Your love in deepening for other believers

You experience more joy — John 15:11 “11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

A good survey list:

Word, prayer, confession, obedience, worship, relationships, fruit.

C. To what purpose do they grow?

It is to the glory of God!

Like a grape vine, it’s fruit is meant for others to enjoy.

It never produces to be inward focused, but outward focused.

Abide for your wife, children, friends, church family, the lost.

Fruit is not produced in you just trying harder!

I’m going to be more_____________.

You must get closer to Christ!

3) Who Is The Vinedresser?

A. God the Father is the exclusive Vinedresser

A vinedresser has all authority to care for the vines.

When it comes to pruning, it can either help the whole enterprise or jeprodize it.

People have to be trained or they can destroy an entire crop.

I’ve read where some vineyards will invest two to three years to train ‘pruners.’ They need to know where, how much, and at what angle to cut when they prune.

Pruning is the cutting away of dead and living tissue.

cutting away wood that can become diseased and attract insects.

cutting away healthy tissue promotes both better quantity and quality.

B. The Father prepares the branches for growth

I don’t know of a genuine Christian who wouldn’t say, “I want God to make me more fruitful.”

But there are plenty of Christians who complain and even run away from the things of God when God begins the ‘pruning’ process!

To be honest, God would be bringing greater judgement on you just leaving you the way you are and let you live your life any way you want to.

If God is pruning you, HE LOVES YOU!

Your Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you. Sometimes He cuts away the dead wood that might cause trouble; but often He cuts off the living tissue that is robbing you of spiritual vigor. Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery that removes what is bad. It can also mean cutting away the good and the better so that we might enjoy the best. Yes, pruning hurts, but it also helps. We may not enjoy it, but we need it. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 356.

Sometimes you have too much of some things:

Word, entertainment, hobbies, social media, worries about what people think of you, too much involvement in things that don’t matter, relationships, habits, etc.

a) How does God prune us who are His children?

He uses His Word to bring about conviction and spiritual cleanliness.

(v2) ‘purge’ comes from a word this is in other places translated ‘clean.’

(clean) John 13:10 “10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

Sometimes He must chasten us.

Possible remove something precious to us, later on, you recognize the greater spiritual crop. God knew what He was doing.

Abide in Christ, more fruit, more pruning, better quality and quantity fruit.

God will always bring a bigger and better crop through your life.

God is NEVER abandoning you!

C. The Father removes the un-fruitful branches

It is unwise to build a theological doctrine on a parable or allegory. Jesus was teaching one main truth—the fruitful life of the believer—and we must not press the details too much. Just as an unfruitful branch is useless, so an unfruitful believer is useless; and both must be dealt withWarren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 356–357.

It is heartbreaking to witness a once abiding fruit-bearing branch reach a point of losing the blessing of fellowship and service.

We would call that someone who is severely backsliding.

You can have the best seed, soil, equipment, fertilizer, and best intentions, but if you don’t have life, you don’t have a crop!

The picture is not that of someone losing their salvation, but someone under divine discipline.

John 6:37 “37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

1 John 5:16 “16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”

Conclusion

Are you living your Christian life based on yesterday’s connection, surviving on what God did for you 4 years ago, or are you staying connected to Jesus to experience Him afresh?