Abiding in the Vine

Josiah Ott

Candidating • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Intro:

THANKS again for the OPPORTUNITY to come and SHARE the WORD with you all this morning.

JOSIAH OTT, HONORED TO BE PASTORAL CANDIDATE

LOOKING FORWARD Q&A …+ MEAL

Let’s pray

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Hook:

ELECTRICAL WORK… #1 RULE.....TURN OFF POWER (OR DIE)

COPPER WIRE…NO POWER ALONE.

SUPER CAREFUL

CUT EXTENSION CORD STORY

CHRISTIAN = POWERLESS OUTSIDE OF CHRIST.

CHRIST, THE TRUE VINE ***TURN JOHN 15

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Background:

JESUS + DISCIPLES IN UPPER ROOM (LIKELY) (JOHN 13-17) —THEY LEAVE IN CH. 18

LAST SUPPER/FOOT WASHING = DONE

JOHN 13-21 = LAST NIGHT OF JESUS’ LIFE

IN MARK’S GOSPEL THIS = 2.5 CHAPTERS AT END, NOT HALF!

LAST DAY OF JESUS’ LIFE ADDRESSING 11 DISCIPLES (JUDAS GONE)

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Text: John 15:1-17

John 15:1-17 ESV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

I AM STATEMENT…ECHOES DIVINITY

OT ISRAEL LIKENED TO VINE…JESUS FULFILLMENT/BETTER VINE.

THEY FAILED - HE SUCCEEDED

OT CONNECTED TO VINE (ISRAEL.....NT CONNECTED TO CHRIST.

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2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

2 OPTIONS…FRUITLESS & FRUITFUL

WORD, PRUNE ....καθαίρει.... “TO CLEANSE” (V3)

GOD = ACTIVE IN SANCTIFICATION.

HE PRUNES, CLEANSES, PURIFIES US.

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3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

“CLEAN” here is the same idea as “PRUNE” from the previous verse...

ADDRESSED TO 11, JUDAS GONE!

THESE 11 = FAITHFUL.

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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.

ABIDE = IMPERATIVE.

----DON’T BE A STICK!----

1st commandment to abide = in Christ.

ABIDING = REMAINING IN CHRIST THROUGH FAITH

ALSO UNION/RELATIONSHIP THROUGH SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

FRUITFULNESS NOT DEPENDENT ON EFFORT....BUT, CONNECTION

SOURCE OF LIFE = BRANCH

***SELAH PICKING GARDEN VEGETABLES PREMATURELY....DISCONNECTED = DEAD.

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MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING…CHURCH ATTENDANCE, ETC.

----> ARE YOU CONNECTED TO CHRIST?

EVEN JESUS WAS DEPENDENT ON THE FATHER - DESOLATE PLACES TO PRAY.

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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.

JESUS = VINE

WE = BRANCHES ---WHOEVER ABIDES = SUBSTANTIVE PARTICIPLE.

NOT THE SAME SORT.....HE’S MEDIATOR, GOD, ETC!

APART FROM HIM…NOTHING

GREEK DOUBLE NEGATIVE...“apart from me you are not able to do nothing”

NO POWER/ABILITY TO BEAR FRUIT OUTSIDE OF JESUS CHRIST.

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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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

2nd area of abiding…in Christ then his WORD (TEACHING)

“IF” is a HYPOTHETICAL here…

“IMAGINE IF”....YOU REMAIN ---ASK (IMPERATIVE) IT WILL BE GRANTED.

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ABIDING SHAPES DESIRES....

DELIGHT IN LORD —> GIVE DESIRES OF HEART

DESIRES CHANGE TO MORE GODLY ONES

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8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

THE CHRISTIAN’S PRAYER: “LIVE A LIFE WHERE GOD IS GLORIFIED”

BEARING (What kind of) FRUIT:

THIS PASSAGE - ANSWERED PRAYER, JOY, FRIENDSHIP W/ CHRIST, LOVE, OBEDIENCE,

FRUIT OF SPIRIT, LOVE JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL

FRUITS DON’T SAVE…EVIDENCE OF CONNECTION TO CHRIST!

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9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

3rd command is to ABIDE in Jesus’ LOVE!

HOW? - NEXT VERSE:

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

OUR PART: KEEPING COMMANDMENTS

FRUITFULNESS & PRUNING FROM GOD.

BUT WE DO PARTICIPATE!

FRUIT OF OBEDIENCE

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

FRUIT OF JESUS’ JOY

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

FRUIT OF LOVE

LOVE & JOY = FRUIT JOHN 15 & GAL. 5

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NO GREATER LOVE, DIE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS...

***GOSPEL......CONSIDER CHRIST....DYING FOR US WHILE WE WERE SINNERS........

Roman 5:6-8

PAUL SAYS PEOPLE DON’T GENERALLY DIE FOR A GOOD PERSON!

JESUS WENT to the CROSS....FOR US. AT OUR WORST.

THE COMMAND TO LOVE WAS MODELED IN CHRIST

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14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

FRUIT OF ANSWERED PRAYER

BIG IDEA: To be a Christian means to abide in Christ, and a Christian that abides in Christ is characterized by abiding fruit.

PRAYER for LIFE....ABIDING FRUIT

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17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

LOVE = MARK of CHRISTIAN…1ST FRUIT OF SPIRIT.

LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED US.

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Application:

EXAMINE YOUR LIFE.

NOT PERFECT, BUT BEARING FRUIT.

NOT WHO I WAS, BUT MAYBE STILL IMPATIENT.

C.S. LEWIS....HOW WOULD THEY BE IF THEY WEREN’T SAVED? HOW WOULD THEY BE IF THEY WERE?

CONNECT W/ JESUS THROUGH SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES. INTENTIONALLY

CONSISTENCY VS. LENGTH.

REMAINING/ABIDING = CONSISTENCY

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Supporting Scriptures:

Galatians 5:22-23

John 13:35 ESV

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Takeaway Questions:

What disciplines do I currently have in life that evidence abiding in Jesus Christ? Is there anything I should add?

What do my prayers indicate about my current desires in life?

What fruit have I been bearing for the Father’s glory?

John 15:1–17 ESV

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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

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