Joining God's Work

John 15:1–6 NKJV

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Jesus provides an analogy to describe the relationship between the Father, Him, and those who are in His family.

God the Father is the vinedresser.

Abiding in Christ is Essential to Joining in God’s Work

Don’t Roam But Remain in Christ

Don’t Stray But Stay in Christ

Don’t Drift Away But Dwell in Christ

John 15:4–5 NKJV

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. 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.

Character Fruit

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Love your brothers and sisters in Christ

1 Peter 4:8 NKJV

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Joy

John 15:11 NKJV

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Peace

John 16:33 NKJV

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Conduct Fruit

James 3:18 NKJV

18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Hebrews 12:11 NKJV

11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Philippians 1:27 NKJV

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

1 Peter 1:15 NKJV

15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

1 Peter 1:17 NKJV

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

Wives with unbelieving husbands

1 Peter 3:1–2 NKJV

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

Convert Fruit

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Luke 24:47 NKJV

47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

You Cannot Bear Fruit on Your On!

1 John 2:24 NKJV

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

John 8:34 NKJV

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Mark 4:23 NKJV

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Mark 4:24 NKJV

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

Mark 4:25 NKJV

25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Luke 8:17–18 NKJV

17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”