John 15- Abiding Disciples

John 13-17 occur in the last moments before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. In John 15 Judas is already on the way to betray our Lord.

Known as the upper room discourse

Jesus knows his time is coming. He has known for quite a while. We are quite literally hearing some of his last words before his death. Out of all the things ,lessons, or conversations he could have with his disciples he begins to speak on abiding.

His disciples have been with him daily for 3+ years and as he prepares to leave them “alone” his advice is to Abide?

He’s not giving them church growth pep talks or giving Peter his Pentecost sermon notes. His advice is to Abide?

There is not advice or cliché I can give you for a successful life it is Abide. See these Disciples would see no real success if they didn’t abide.

As we will find out there is no real success apart from abiding.

If you’re looking to have a life that is fruitful and by Heaven’s standards “successful” you must learn to abide.

Abide- To rest, or dwell (in)

He uses this image of a grape vine and it branches to help us understand what it means to abide.

How can we abide? In what do we abide? Why should I want to abide?

Let find out.

The Importance of Abiding

There is no life without Abiding. (John 15: 4-6)

Jesus is the vine- John 15:5

We are the branches- John 15:5

When He made this statement he revealed a HUGE truth.

Jesus is more than just a supplement, or spark, HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE IT’S SELF

Just like a grape branch that is not in the vine is dead so is a person who is not in Jesus!

Unsaved friend know this that if you are not in Jesus you are dead.

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

Believer you must know and realize that Jesus is the source of your life! It is in nothing else!

Colossians 3:4 “4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

See when you are saved you are placed in Christ and his work! God includes you!

Galatians 2:20 “20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Live knowing your life is IN Christ.

Then we are to abide in this state of being IN him!

The idea of remaining (or abiding) in Christ has to do with intimacy of relationship. Jesus Christ is our source, the only One who can provide the spiritual sustenance and vitality we need to be useful believers.

What does it mean to “abide”? It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.

Jesus commands us to! (John 15:4)

How great is that? Jesus tells his disciples to be close to him!

Jesus really wants to be close with you!

Jas 4:8 “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

He even calls us his friends!

John 15:14 “14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Jesus loves us!

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

To Abide and stay close to Jesus is a matter of obedience!

Stay close to JESUS!

To be fruitful we must abide! (John 15:5)

If we abide fruit is a guarantee!

John 15:5 “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.”

Just like a healthy and connected grape branch will yield fruit so will a healthy and connected believer!

AS WE ABIDE IN CHRIST FRUIT IS GENERATED!

There is always fruit where there is life

What is this fruit?

It brings God glory!

John 15:8 “8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

Fruit is Christlike-ness

Romans 6:22 “22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Fruit is Christian Character

Galatians 5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Fruit is wanting to serve God

Col 1:10 “10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Fruit is worship

Hebrews 13:15 “15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

If we are abiding we should be yielding fruit

Look at the sad reality for those who choose not to abide in Jesus.

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.”

If you aren’t seeing fruit you should be concerned. Either you are not in the vine(saved in Jesus) or you are not abiding.

We should want to bring God glory

1 Cor 6:20 “20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

You may wonder how do we abide?

Instructions to abide

To abide in Christ you need his word! (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.” )

We are saved by that word!

Romans 1:16 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

We live by it!

Matt 4:4 “4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Love his word to abide!

Obey Him to abide

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.”

We must stay close to him by obeying His word

Love him to abide

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

John 14:15 “15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

He’s done so much for us loving him should be easy!

Doing these instructions will yield that sweet God glorifying fruit!

Implications of abiding

Those who abide are in the care of the vinedresser

The vinedresser is God

John 15:1 “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

To be abide in Christ places you the care of God!

Those that struggle to produce fruit he will help!

John 15:2 “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.”

Take away- To put up. Like a farmer moving the grapes on the trellis. Those who need help God will help!

He’s faithful!

Phil 1:6 “6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Those who are producing fruit can also expect his care!

John 15:2 “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.”

He will prune.

He cuts away the things that don’t help us yield fruit.

He’ll use his word to do this!

John 15:3 “3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Eph 5:26-27 “26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

There is joy in abiding (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.” )

The abiding life is a joyful life!

Not based on our joy but HIS JOY!

Joy produced in us!

lacking joy? try abiding

Conc- Jesus has invited us to abide. It is for his glory and our good!

We can be fruitful!

We can have Joy

We are in the care of God!

See no fruit?

Abide. Abide. Abide.