Bible Study - Enough (6) - Our Need for Purpose - John 15:1-8 - April 10, 2016

Bible Study – Enough (6) – Our Need for Purpose – April 10, 2016

This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled “More than Enough: 

How JESUS Meets Our Deepest Needs.”

Our focus scripture is John15:1-8.

JESUS is the vine who empowers us to live productive lives for GOD.

What is the purpose of a vine? It is to produce and support the fruit produced by the vine. It is vital that the vine be healthy and be planted in good, rich, nourishing soil with the right quantity of water and with ideal weather. What better place for the true vine to be planted than in GOD’S vineyard. The true vine, JESUS, and GOD are One.

If the vine produces more branches than fruit, it becomes less productive and needs to be pruned of its branches because its energy and nutrients go to the non-fruit bearing branches. When this happens the quality and quantity of the fruit suffers.

Let’s read in the Old Testament about the vine as recorded in Isaiah 5:1-10:

Song of the Vineyard

1 I will sing about the one I love, a song about my loved one's vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

2 He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted it with the finest vines. He built a tower in the middle of it and even hewed out a wine press there. He expected it to yield good grapes, but it yielded worthless grapes.

GOD carefully cleared the obstacles and cultivated a relationship with the Israelite's. The Israelite's were to be HIS people revealing HIM to the world.

3 So now, residents of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between Me and My vineyard.

4 What more could I have done for My vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes?

GOD had prepared good soil and planted a good vine yet its fruit was worthless. So that left GOD no other choice but to clear the ground.

5 Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.

6 I will make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or weeded; thorns and briers will grow up. I will also give orders to the clouds that rain should not fall on it.

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant He delighted in. He looked for justice but saw injustice, for righteousness, but heard cries of wretchedness.

Judah's Sins Denounced

8 Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field until there is no more room and you alone are left in the land.

9 In my hearing the Lord of Hosts [has taken an oath]: Indeed, many houses will become desolate, grand and lovely ones without inhabitants.

10 For a ten-acre vineyard will yield only six gallons, and 10 bushels of seed will yield only [one] bushel.

Terrible things happen to the nation that abandons and crowds out GOD. The same is true for churches. It happened to Israel. GOD spoke through the Prophet Isaiah that the Israelite's had failed to represent GOD to the world. Therefore, HE would re-establish a new covenant through HIS promised Messiah, JESUS and this New Covenant would not only include the Jews but the Gentiles.  JESUS would be the new high priest and no one would have to go through an earthly priest to have their sins forgiven and the shed blood of an animal.

After the Israelite's were delivered by GOD from Egyptian bondage and delivered safely to Mount Sinai, GOD chose the Israelite's to be HIS People and they in turn, agreed to be HIS people. (Exodus 19 and 20)

GOD proved Himself to the Israelite's by preparing the ground for a bountiful, personal relationship but when harvest time came only worthless fruit resulted. GOD allowed Israel to be destroyed but allowed them to rebuild to usher in the new dispensation which would establish a new covenant which GOD’S Only Son, JESUS, would bring. The new covenant established by the shed blood of JESUS would not only be to the Jews first, but also to the non-Jews or Gentiles throughout the world.  

Let’s explore!

JESUS continued to teach HIS disciples as HE was getting closer to HIS passion.

This is the seventh “I AM” in our series. JESUS’ reference to Himself as “I AM” was intentional. As you may recall, Moses wanted to know the name of GOD and GOD told HIM in Exodus 3:14:

14 God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelite's: I AM has sent me to you."

We began our series of study with JESUS statements which confirm HIM as GOD among them then and us now as the promised Messiah:

“I AM the bread of life.”

“I AM the light of the world.”

“I AM the door of the sheep.”

“I AM the good shepherd.”

“I AM the resurrection and the life.”

“I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father except through ME.”

“I AM the true vine and MY Father is the vineyard keeper.”

Anyone can claim to be GOD but only GOD can give the blind sight, raise the dead, heal disease and manifest Himself through many miracles. The main question is “Are you connected to the true vine” through faith in JESUS?

Let’s read John 15:1-3:

The Vine and the Branches

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.

What did JESUS mean when HE said, HE was the true vine? Truth means to be genuine through and through. Truth was tested. Fruit identifies a vine.

Do you recall, on the Mount of Transfiguration, when JESUS was evaluated by Moses, who represented the Law, Elijah, who represented the prophets and GOD as recorded in Mark 9:2-4 and 7?

The Transfiguration

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There He was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. -----

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”

GOD tested JESUS to determine if there was any sin in HIM or any jot or tittle not met in the life of JESUS as ordained by GOD regarding HIS promised Messiah. JESUS passed with flying colors even though HE was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted. The perfect, sinless Lamb was certified to continue HIS journey to the cross and to pay, in full, for the sins of mankind. 

GOD planted a new vineyard and in HIS vineyard was planted the new covenant of salvation established by the shed blood of JESUS and GOD’S Grace. The Old Covenant was superseded by the New Covenant. The New Covenant is the final covenant. There will be no other way to GOD except through JESUS.

Are you planted in GOD’S vineyard through the miracle of rebirth? Do you abide in the true vine?

2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

Does this verse mean that Christians can lose their salvation? Not those who are true branches. Non-fruiting bearing branches are removed to provide for a healthier fruit producing vine.  Sin can result in an unhealthy branch. These can be sins of commission or omission. Christians lose fellowship and the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through them to produce good and lasting fruit.

Christians may be bearing fruit but pruning produces more fruit. Keep in mind that fruit has seeds for the fruit to reproduce. As fruit is produced more fruit is expected; Good fruit that remains.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

JESUS was speaking to HIS disciples, including Judas, and declared them clean because they had heard the Word and responded to the Word. Putting into action what we learn from GOD is GOD’S desire for all of HIS children.

What does this say about Judas? Luke 22:3:

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve.

Matthew 26:24-25:

24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" "You have said it," He told him.

Did Judas repent when he returned the thirty pieces of silver? Only eternity will reveal truth.

Let’s read John 15:4-7:

4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

Remaining means to abide. Abide means to rest, take solace in and continue to dwell in HIS care. It is relationship. When Christians allow sin to creep back into their lives they cut off their fellowship with GOD. That is why JESUS tells us to remain in HIM. Christians must confess their sins and repent. Repent means to stop sinning. But we sin again! Yes and we confess again and repent. Christians must always be honest with GOD because HE already knows all that we think, do or say. HE knows our hearts. (1 John 1:9)

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

JESUS made it clear that HE is the vine and without HIM the branches cannot exist. The purpose of the branches is to produce good fruit. Salvation produces the relationship. Spiritual growth, reading GOD’S Word, talking to GOD and obedience to HIS calling each day is vital to a Christian’s natural development. Christians are never to forget that JESUS is the vine and we are HIS branches. HE produces the fruit. Our part is to abide in HIM.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Christians must stay connected to JESUS, The True Vine to continue to build our relationship with HIM and to produce good fruit. Some may say "I don’t see fruit in my life." Are you connected to The Vine, JESUS? Are you putting into action what GOD is teaching you through the indwelling Holy Spirit?

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

This on the surface seems to be our opportunity to get whatever pops into our minds. It is in a way but the statement has qualifiers. The qualifier is “If you remain in ME and MY Words remain in you.” When we are in the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST, we seek to do HIS will and not our will. It is not to satisfy our wants and desires but to obediently respond to the will and plan of GOD in our lives. HE removes the mountains; we ask and respond when HE does.

Do you recall what JESUS had to say in Matthew 6:33?

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Let’s read John 15:8:

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Christians are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. As Christians reflect CHRIST in their lives, they honor CHRIST and GOD. They may never know that they have borne fruit just by being obedient when they give a cup of cold physical water or Spiritual water to a fellow traveler who is dying of thirst.

When Christians abide in the vine, it becomes natural for us to obediently serve and when we do GOD is glorified.  

The word “glorified” comes from the Greek word “doxazo.” It is the root word where we get our English word “doxology.” It means to “honor,” magnify,” and “make glorious.”

In lesson four, in this series, JESUS used the word “doxazo” where we see the word glory or glorified used in John 11:3-4 regarding Lazarus:

3 So the sisters sent a message to Him: "Lord, the one You love is sick."

4 When Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Christians “glorify” GOD when they produce much fruit and prove to be disciples of JESUS. Christians glorifying GOD by the fruit they bare and living lives that reflect HIM ranks along with JESUS raising Lazarus from the dead. Now that is exciting!

JESUS admonished Christians to produce much fruit. Copied below is from page 66 of the “Advanced Bible Study, Spring, 2016, written by Rev. Phil Adams, Minister of Education, Haywood Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, TN and published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37235-0175.

“Much fruit refers to the many results of living a life in fellowship with Christ – exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, the fruits of righteousness, the fruits of repentance, and the fruits manifested in bringing others to Christ. “The fruit of the Spirit”, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. We receive the entire fruit of the Spirit at the moment we accept Christ; however, only as we mature in Christ do these qualities of the fruit of the Spirit become more evident in our lives. Some of the qualities may be more evident in our lives than others, but it is incorrect to say that we love but do not have patience, or that we have kindness but not self-control. We produce more fruit as we allow these qualities of the Spirit to mature within us. Christ’s presence in our lives helps these qualities grow and become more manifest within us.

The “fruits of righteousness” are those actions that result from justification we have in Christ. ---- “The fruits of repentance” are those actions that flow from a life lived in humble obedience to Christ because HE has redeemed us – never prideful, but always mindful of our many sins that HE forgave through HIS action on the cross.”

Our part as Christians is to study GOD’S Word, talk to HIM and put into action what the Holy Spirit is teaching us. As we respond in obedience, we grow and mature in CHRIST. Most Christians want instant Spiritual growth and would like for GOD to sprinkle special Holy dust over us and BAM!, we have arrived to full Spiritual maturity. Sorry, it does not happen that way. Spiritual maturity happens as we grow Spiritually a step at a time as we obediently walk with HIM in the Spirit. JESUS is the “I AM!” for your life. 

Blessings!!!