I Am the True Vine
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. John 15:1-2 (ESV)
God’s People lives to be Fruitful or Spiritually Productive.
Brothers and Sisters, of the Christian Faith our lives count for the Kingdom of God.
God’s Ultimate Goal in Saving us was and is for us to be Conformed to the Image of Jesus Christ and Live Lives that Produce Spiritual Fruit.
This is Fruit for the Kingdom.
He has redeemed us to be A Fruitful Community of Believers that display Christ-Likeness in a Christ-Less World.
I have come to a point in life where I have never wanted my life to count for eternity more than I do now. I have never loved the Gospel Message like I do now.
I want my remaining days to be spent On the Gospel and in the Gospel.
Many who claim the name of Christ, it seems that Our Practice of the Christian Life is becoming Desired Passivity rather Desired Participation.
Passivity is often a cover-up for Disobedience. Passivity can make you feel good about what you Don’t Do. Rather than gratefully rejoicing about the things God give you the Privilege to do and you Are Doing.
I want Spiritual Fruit to Abound and Surround my life and my concentric circle of contacts, the fruit of the life of Jesus Christ live out in Godly Character, the FRUIT of the Spirit.
The Fruit of Souls Saved, the Fruit of Men and Women Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ.
My Impact and Influence for the Kingdom of God requires my Participation not my Passivity.
If this is your Passion for your Christian Life John 15 tells us Clearly how Spiritual Fruit must be Produced.
It will teach us about God’s Part in the Process, Our Responsibility in the Process and also we will be challenged to think more seriously about those of us who profess Christ and yet continually manifest ongoing habits of FRUITLESSNESS.
In our text Jesus is on a Divine Time-Table, He is about to face His Providential Predicament of being Crucified on the Cross.
Knowing this He spends His last evening with the men He loved most deeply. John said, in chapter 13 and verse 1,
[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (ESV)
Love is a very personal thing, yet love always tells on its possessor. Love will ALWAYS let you know WHO AND WHAT A PERSON LOVES.
Facing A Providential Predicament Jesus deep concern is for the Faith Future and Function of His Disciples in the world. This is Demonstrated in the Teaching He has for them.
Jesus Nearing Removal from Earth is not a Removal of Concern for the Life of His Disciple on earth, because He is completely in tune with God’s Will Himself and for them.
And what He is about to do is the Father’s Will ( Die on the Cross) and He wants them to Remain Faithful to the Father’s Will.
Sometimes God Will for your Life can be Disturbing to Others, when they don’t understand God’s Will.
And the only way they can Remain Faithful to God’s Will is to be Personally and Spiritually Connected to the Person of Christ and By Totally Embracing His Words and Teaching by Faith.
So if they are going to Live Productive Christian Lives and be a Fruitful Community, they must understand that their Connection to Christ and their Compliance to His Words are to be their Necessity in Living Productive Christian Lives.
In these 8 verses He teaches on Spiritual Productivity. We must read study and meditate on these truths.
- Jesus Christ is the Only Sufficient Vine – He declares, “I Am The True Vine”See the vintage of the Branches is always dependent first and foremost on the quality of the Vine into which they are Attached. Your ROOT Attachment will Determine your Fruit ProductionChrist Alone is the Only Sufficient Source for Spiritual Productivity. Life Vitality and Nourishment that we need to Live the Christian Life and Produce Fruit Pleasing to God ONLY COMES in Connection with Jesus Christ.
- God the Father is The Only Sufficient Vine-Dresser – 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.
If we are to be Productive in Our Christian Lives we NEED someone to CARE after us so that we can be FRUITFUL.
Notice God the Father carries out 2 Task for to types of Branches.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes (Cut off, remove destroy) away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes ( cleanse or purge), that it may bear more fruit.
- One Branch Must be Cleaned Regularly
- One Branch Must be Cut Off Permanently
The Beginning to A Fruitful Life is the Connection to Christ and the Caring Concern of the Father.
The Proof is in the Fruit.