THE SOURCE OF OUR SERVICE!

John 15:1–8 NASB95

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

THE PARABLE EXPLAINED:

1. VINE = JESUS

2. BRANCHES = BELIEVERS

3. GARDENER = FATHER

THE PRINCIPLE EXPLAINED:

1. BRANCHES SIMPLY ABIDE.

A.

2. BRANCES CAN ONLY PRODUCE AS THEY RECEIVE NOURISHMENT.

3. A SEPARATED BRANCH ONLY WHITHERS AND DIES.

SOME EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE PRODUCE:

SOME EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE PRODUCE:

HIGH FRUCTOSE FRUIT JUICE

FRUIT LOOPS

_FRUIT SNACKS_

ABIDING PRODUCES A LIFE THAT GLORIFIES JESUS:

1. THE FRUIT OF CHARACTER.

Ephesians 5:22–23 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2. THE FRUIT OF GOOD DEEDS.

2. THE FRUIT OF GOOD DEEDS.

Colossians 1:10 NASB95

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

3. THE FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

4. THE FRUIT OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

Hebrews 13:15 NASB95

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

5. THE FRUIT OF CONVERTS.

Acts 14:1 NASB95

In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.