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Scripture

John 15:1–16 KJV 1900

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 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. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 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. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Intro

Jesus uses fruit is an analogy several times.

Israel was very agriculturist culture so the picture was easily understood.

In Matthew 7 Jesus says “We are known by the fruit we produce”.

Good fruit comes from good trees.

Bad fruit comes from bad trees.

Jesus also mentions that sometimes we run into a problem when harvesting certain fruit. “Thorns”

I’m sure all of you desire to be productive fruit bearing branches but I’m also sure that all of us have had a few thorns and thistles along the way.

Today I want to share with you Jesus principle and command about bearing fruit.

Jesus is using the grapevine and the sweet, multipurpose fruit of grapes as an illustration.

We are to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit and fruit that remains.

There are 4 levels of fruit bearing.

1) Bear fruit. (2)

2) Bear more fruit. (2)

3. Bear much fruit (5, 8)

4. Bear Fruit that remains (9 – 16)

a. Bear fruit

This is not really an option – you going to bear some type of fruit – it’s just a question of which type.

Good fruit or bad fruit.

Notice that Jesus commands us to bear fruit not just feed off the vine.

So the question is, What type of fruit are we to bear?

Is it the fruit of the spirit?

Spend your life in pursuit of that which as lasting significance and eternal value! What does He mean by “fruit”? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance Gal. 5:22-23. Those nine qualities describe the only life that’s worth living.

b. Bear more fruit

The indwelling Holy Spirit can help us to get rid of self.

The Holy Spirit cleans houses and hearts – resulting in more fruit.

Another method that Jesus mentions for allowing us to bear more fruit is by pruning (discipline).

It can also apply to cutting back or cleaning out uselessness (worldliness and flesh).

Pruning does not always include just withered limbs but sometimes what may appear to be good limbs so that better and stronger limbs may allow sweeter and more fruit to be produced.

The shaping of the Limb and trimming of the leaves can allow the fullness of the sun (Son) to feed and nurture the vine.

c. Bear much fruit

The greater the level of productivity (fruit bearing) the greater the level of obedience and commitment are required.

The key is in the “abiding

First of all we must be connected to the right vine.

Jesus said “I am the true vine” (1)

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(1 John 5:11 – 12) “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life.”

The best fruit can only come from an abiding branch.

What does it mean to abide?

Linked to, living within, getting sourced from, kept alive by.

It is within the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling within us to bear fruit, overcome obstacles, maintain a testimony, and bear much fruit.

It is like ink flowing through a pen, or electricity flowing through the circuit.

d. Bear Fruit that remains

This is the goal of the church and hopefully of you.

The fruits that remain are Obedience (10, 14)

“keep my commandments”.

Love (12 – 13)

“love one another”

Sacrifice (13, 16)

“Lay down your life” and “go”.

These are the fruit that remain because these fruit can reproduce as seed.

When the branch abides, grows, bears and is pruned it can produce much fruit and fruit that remains.

The fruit that remains can withstand the persecutions, trials, temptations, and pesticides.

Fruit that remains requires maturity in the branch.

There is no shortcut to maturity!

Illustration – It takes years for us to grow into adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen.

The same is true for the fruit of the spirit.

The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed.

Spiritual growth, like physical growth takes time.

In Closing

These are the building blocks for strong root systems/foundations that can withstand and produce fruit that remains.

Will your legacy/testimony produce fruit that remains?

We are commanded to bear fruit (good and abundant), to plant seeds, set strong roots, abide (be connected and free-flowing).

We are to be sweet tasting, nourishing fruit that is desirable and reproducing.

I ask you to consider the four levels of fruit in your life when we began.

Paul writes this “Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ…you…are complete through your union with Christ”

The psalmist writes this: Psalms 1

Psalm 1 KJV 1900

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

john 15:6 “6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”