Sunday 03:18:12

John 15:1-4 v. 1 Jesus is the vine. This is OT reference to Israel, called the vine and grapes symbolized their fruitfulness in doing God’s work. (Ps 80:8; Is 5:1-7; Ez 19:10-14) The Father is the gardener. v. 2 Unfruitful branches are cut off. Not sure what these are. They are said to be “in me.” But there is something false about them. They bear no fruit and are therefore, cut off. All branches needs cutting. Even the fruitful ones are pruned. The intent of pruning is to become more fruitful. v. 3 You are clean because of the word I have spoken to you. v. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Jesus is going to express how our relationship is supposed to work. He does so by saying, “I’m the vine, you are the branches connected to me.” Our relationship with Jesus is to be a remaining, abiding, living with, dwelling with kind of relationship. Just as a branch receives nourishment from the trunk, so we are with Jesus. Remaining in Jesus is to be constantly living with him. In our homes, at our jobs, in our classes. In our daily lives, we are to abide in Jesus; not just quiet time, but all the time. He is to be our constant companion in successes, failures, troubles, joys, sorrows. Somehow in this abiding relationship with him, we receive what we need to grow and bear fruit. Practice the presence of God. Meditate on these verses. Think about how he is with you throughout the day. Pray to him throughout the day. “Lord, show me how to remain in you. Show me how this results in fruit in my life.” John 15:5-8 v. 5 If you remain in Jesus, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. v. 6 Branches that do not remain in me is thrown away. v. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you. Remaining in Jesus is to be constantly living in his word. Surveys taken of Christians sought to find out how much time the average Christian spends in devotion time each day. The average was 5 minutes or less. That is not enough time to cultivate a relationship with Christ. It may be enough to read some verses, but that’s not abiding. Limited abiding leads to limited fruit. Challenge yourself to have your devotional time to be significant. Spend at least 30 minutes, maybe an hour. Put in the time – it’s not really about the time. It’s about relating with Jesus, engaging God, listening to the Spirit. None of us is perfect. We are all broken sinners. This is why we need to abide with Christ, spend time reading and meditating on his word. Passages on meditating on God and his word: Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night” Psalm 1:2 “On his law he meditates day and night” Psalm 63:6 “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” Psalm 119:97 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Psalm 145:5 “I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Carve out 30 minutes/day. Make it the anchor of your day – to gain your bearings, remember the eternal truths, and get God’s perspective. Think of it as a conversation. Ask God, “come to me, open my mind and my heart.” Quiet your heart and mind. Read the Word. Pray, “what do you want me to hear in this passage?” Meditate, listen. ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication Remember this is about abiding with Christ. v. 8 God is glorified when you bear fruit, it shows you belong to his Son. John 15:9-12 v. 9 I have loved you. Remain in my love. Remaining in Jesus is to be constantly living in and showing his love. Living in his love is to receive it, meditate on the great love that it took to motivate God to send Jesus to die for us. The love that it took for Jesus to die for us. v. 11-12 But to remain in Jesus’ love is also to show it. When you do, there is joy. Study found that the greatest thing someone can do to have more joy in their lives is to do something for someone else.