John—15:1-8.
Several ideas have been offered for the background of this message to the disciples… Perhaps they were near a vineyard as they traveled from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane… Maybe they were near a synagogue or the Temple… A golden vine adorned Herod's Temple… Vines were also carved on the doors of the synagogue… They could also be found engraved on Jewish coins... Whatever the setting, Jesus says, "I am the true vine..." What is the Lord saying with this statement? How does the vine picture the Lord Jesus Christ, His ministry and life? What messages are found in these verses?
A. A Message of Cheer & Comfort—
John 15:1-2—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.
Four kinds of brances are mentioned in this section on the vine.
1. Branches with no fruit...
2. Branches which bear fruit...
3. Branches with more fruit...
4. Branches with much fruit.. (vs. 5)
If there is no fruit, he taketh it away... What does the Lord mean? In the Greek this word is airo which means "to raise up from the ground; to lift upward…" Vines will not produce in dirt… They need to be cleansed and lifted up on stakes… Our Lord cheers and comforts us too… He has a way of lifting us up so we will be fruitful in our life…
1. He PULLS us up when we are down...
Helen Webb taught at St. Mary's School in Morris, Minnesota… After several years of teaching, she found herself in a strange predicament… Her class of junior-high students were struggling to grasp a new concept in math... By the end of the week, their frustration was becoming very evident, as they were getting edgy with each other...
In a moment of inspiration, she had the students clear their desks and take out two sheets of paper… She instructed them to write the names of every student in the class with a space between the names… In the space, they were to write down the nicest thing they could say about each classmate... Miss Webb used her weekend to put each student's name on a separate sheet of paper and then wrote all of the classmates' remarks on that page…
On Monday, she gave each student his or her page of positive remarks… Before long, the whole class was beaming and she could hear whispers of excitement… The papers of encouragement had accomplished their task so the class was able to resume their normal routine… Helen never again heard about the papers until years later when she learned that one of her favorite students, Mark Smith, had been killed in Vietnam…
After the funeral, Mark's parents gathered with Helen and many of Mark's former classmates… His father pulled something from Mark's wallet and said, "We want to show you something… They found this on Mark when he was killed…”
When Miss Webb saw the two pieces of notebook paper she knew exactly what they were… These pages had been folded and refolded many times… Several strands of tape held the worn pieces together…
Mark's mother said, "Thank you so much for doing that… As you can see, Mark treasured it…" Mark's classmates then started talking about their lists… One kept it in the top drawer of his desk… Another had the list in her diary… One lady reached into her purse and said, "I carry this with me at all times…" She then added, "I think we all saved our lists..." Long after the frustrations of that week in math class had been forgotten, the words of kindness were still being savored… The writing was worn, but the meaning still sparkled like new…
Our Lord is in the encouraging business too… He lifts us up when we are weak and struggling…
In the Amazon jungle, natives have found that when there are no sources of water around, they can find refreshment by cutting into certain vines that are filled with water…
We have strength today and encouragement because of the cutting and piercing of Jesus Christ, the True Vine, on the cross of Calvary… He picks us up that we will be fruitful…
Psalm 27:14—Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Isaiah 41:13—For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
2. His PEACE is Given in the Midst of Instability and Unrest.
Psalm 119:165—Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Isaiah 26:3—Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
"Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into God's hand; and then, when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about…"
3. He PRIES Us from Bondage and Sinful Habits.
Romans 6:22—But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
4. He PROVIDES Healing & Strength for Our Weakness & Sickness.
Hosea 6:1—Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Luke 4:18—The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
5. PROBLEMS & Trials are Countered by God's Provision of Grace.
As Babe Ruth approached the twilight of his career, he was playing in Cincinnati... He was now striking out more often than getting hits, and his play had deteriorated to the point that he was actually getting booed by fans… On one such occasion, after striking out, Babe was walking dejectedly back to the dugout amidst the disdain of the crowd… Suddenly, a small boy, with tears running down his face, ran onto the field and threw his arms around Babe's legs... Ruth smiled at the boy, reached down and took him into his arms, talking to him as they continued to the dugout... The booing ceased… The crowd was so touched by this spectacle that they silently stood in tribute, rebuked by the love and grace from a little boy…
Isn't this the same thing that the Lord has done for us… Our problems and failures leave us defeated at times, but the Lord embraces us with His love and Spirit, giving us the strength to keep walking and try again… In our weakness, we are made strong by His grace…
2 Corinthians 12:9—And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
6. He PROMOTES Courage When We are Afraid.
A woman and her husband interrupted their vacation to go to a dentist... "I want a tooth pulled, and I don't want Novocain because I'm in a big hurry," the woman said. "Just extract the tooth as quickly as possible, and we'll be on our way."
The dentist was quite impressed. "You're certainly a courageous woman," he said. "Which tooth is it?" The woman turned to her husband and said, "Show him your tooth, dear…"
The wife had all kinds of courage for her husband… Beloved, the Lord gives us courage when WE are afraid in order to help us be more fruitful for Him…
Psalm 27:1—The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Matthew 17:7—And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
7. He PARDONS when we Fail & Seek Forgiveness.
1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
8. He PROTECTS from Danger When it's His will for Us.
Proverbs 19:23—The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Psalm 91:1—He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
9. He PROMISED to Care For Us and Give Us Rest.
1st. Peter 5:7—Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Matthew 11:28—Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
10. He PLEDGES to Reward those Who are Faithful.
Matthew 16:27—For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Revelation 22:12—And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
The message of the vine is also a message of cleansing.
B. A Message of Cleansing—
John 15:2, 3—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.
He purges fruitful brances in order to make them more fruitful… The word "purgeth" means "to wash and cleanse…" Cleansing involved pruning of useless shoots and dead wood… Pruning was the most important process in producing fruit… Pruners were trained for two to three years in where to cut, how much to cut, when to cut, and at what angle to cut the vine… That which hindered growth would be removed… Dead wood which harbors insects and diseases and possible rotting had to go... Live wood had to be severely cut back so that the life of the vine goes into the fruit and not into the wood… In the early spring, the vineyards looked like a field of barren, bleeding stumps… In the fall they are full of luscious purple grapes…
Pruning is necessary for fruitfulness… To leave a vine to itself to run rampant and wild would actually be a judgment and a hindrance to productiveness… The fruit would not properly develop… The growth would be meager… For God to let us have our own way is a judgment too… Israel got its own way and they were miserable, weak, and unproductive…
Psalm 106:15—And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
We are pruned of sinful habits and wild desires to bear fruit… The fresh branches of the vine bear fruit, the old dried ones don't…
We need constant freshness and growth in our spiritual walk with God in order to be fruitful…
Yesterday's victories are now in the past…
New battles and victories for Christ need to be won today and tomorrow that we might grow in our faith... A faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken… God may be pruning you right now… Your life may looked stripped and barren, but realize the bounty of fruit and blessings will come in time… Let the Great Gardener do His work in your life…
How does the Lord clean or prune us?
1. We are cleansed through the Word of God.
John 15:3—Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Ephesians 5:26—That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
2. We are cleansed by the blood of Christ.
1 John 1:7—But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Hebrews 9:14—How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
3. We are pruned through chastening, suffering, and trials.
1 Peter 1:7—That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 12:11—Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
4. We are pruned by His removal of that which is dear to us.
Pruning cuts at the bad, good, and the better to produce the best in us… It hurts and also helps… We do not enjoy it, but we need it… We need to be fruitful to be useful...
What fruit is the Lord trying to produce in our lives?
A) Soul-winning
Proverbs 11:30—The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
John 4:36—And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
B) Spiritual Growth
Romans 6:22—But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Matthew 13:23—But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
C) The Spirit of God's Characteristics
Galatians 5:22,23—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
D) The Surrender of Ourselves and Supplying Others Needs.
Romans 15:26,28—For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
E) Service to Christ
Colossians 1:10—That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
F) Speaking Praises to God
Hebrews 13:15—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.
G) Serenity or Peace
John 14:27—Peace 1 leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
H) Shunning Sinfulness & Shame
Matthew 3:8—Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
I) Submission and Obedience to the Lord .
John 15:10—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 are to be fruitful in order to be a blessing to others...
C. The Message of Concord or Unity—
John 15:4-8—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.
When Lawrence of Arabia was in Paris after World War I, with some of his Arab friends, he showed them the sights of the city: the Arch of Triumph, the Louvre, Napoleon's tomb, the Champs Elysees, but none of these things impressed them… The thing that really interested them the most was the faucet in the bathtub of the hotel room… They spent much time in turning it on and off… They found it amazing that one could turn a handle and get all the water he wanted…
Later, when they were ready to leave Paris and return to the East, Lawrence found them in the bathroom with wrenches trying to disconnect the faucet… "You see," they said, "it is very dry in Arabia. What we need are faucets. If we have them, we will have all the water we want."
Lawrence had to explain that the effectiveness of the faucets did not lie in themselves, but in the immense reservoirs of water to which they were attached, and he had to point out that behind this lay the rain and snowfalls of the Alps…
What a tremendous application to our Christian lives… Like the faucet by itself, so as individual Christians by ourselves, without Christ, we are useless… Jesus said, "Without me or severed from me you can do nothing." The lives of many Christians are as dry as the Arabian Desert… They have the faucets of their abilities, their schemes, plans, desires, goals, and wills, but if there is no connection to the Living Water, they do not draw strength from the True Vine, Jesus Christ…
Christ is the vine and we are the branches… We are one in Christ and as branches we are dependent upon Him… We take on the nature of the vine… Without the vine the branches are lifeless… This same truth is illustrated in the New Testament…
Our union with Christ is a....
· Living Union- so we can bear fruit…
· Loving Union- so we can enjoy Him and one another…
· Lasting Union- so we need not fear…
To abide in Christ means to have close fellowship with Him… It involves worship, Scripture meditation, supplication, a surrendered will to the Lord, service, and sacrifice…
1 John 2:6—He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
When we abide in Christ, the results are:
1. Cleansing—vs. 3
2. Fruitfulness—vs.5
3. Answered prayer—vs. 7
4. Glorifying God—vs. 8
5. Love for the Lord deepens—vs. 9,10
6. Joy—vs. 11 (Real Joy is divine…)
7. New life in Christ—2 Cor. 5:17
8. Assurance & Confidence at His coming—1 John 2:28
Are you a fruitful or barren branch? Is Christ the vine of your life?
