LIVING THE FRUITFUL LIFE

John 15:1-8 "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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are

already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the

branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in

Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they

are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

A.Jesus used illustrations from nature often.

B. In John 15 Jesus uses the illustration of the vine and the branches.

C.There are some very significant lessons for us as Christians in this section of scripture.

I. CHRIST IS THE VINE - THE SOURCE OF NOURISHMENT FOR GROWTH

A.John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

B. IF WE ABIDE IN CHRIST WE WILL BE HOLY - Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

II. CHRISTIANS ARE THE BRANCHES - THE FRUIT PRODUCING PART OF THE PLANT.

A. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

B. VINES ARE PLANTED TO PRODUCE FRUIT - Ezekiel 17:8 It was planted in good soil by many waters, To bring forth branches, bear fruit, And become a majestic vine." '

C. BRANCHES PRODUCE FRUIT TO GLORIFY GOD - Isaiah 60:21 Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.

III. CHRISTIANS MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE VINE TO REMAIN ALIVE..

A.WE MUST REMAIN IN HIM - John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.1.John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch

cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

2.John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

3.John 15:10 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.

4.1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

5.1 John 3:24a Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.

III. CHRISTIANS MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE VINE TO REMAIN ALIVE.

B. HE MUST REMAIN IN US - John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 1.1 John 3:2b And by this we know that He abides in us,

by the Spirit whom He has given us. 2.Romans 8:9-11 But you are not in the flesh but in the

Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

3.1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him

IV. CHRISTIANS WHO REMAIN IN CHRIST PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT

A.John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

B.FRUIT OF HOLINESS - Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

C.FRUIT OF SOULS - Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

D.FRUIT TO GOD - Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

IV. CHRISTIANS WHO REMAIN IN CHRIST PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT

E. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

F. FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - Philippians 1:10-11

that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

G. FRUIT OF GOOD WORKS - Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

V. WITHOUT CHRIST WE CAN DO NOTHING

A.John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

B.CHRIST STRENGTHENS US - Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

C.CHRIST’S SPIRIT STRENGTHENS US - Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

V. WITHOUT CHRIST WE CAN DO NOTHING

D.CHRIST’S POWER STRENGTHENS US - Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

E. GOD STRENGTHENS US - 1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

YOUR FRUIT?A.Are you in Christ?B. Is Christ in you?C.Are you bearing fruit for Him?D.Are you taking advantage of the

strength and power from Him?

HAVE A FRUITFUL WEEK