Bible Study - Disciplines (6) - Joining GOD'S Work - John 15:1-8 - February 28, 2021
Bible
Study- Disciplines (6) – Joining GOD’S Work – February 28, 2021
This
is our sixth and final lesson in this series of study entitled, “Spiritual
Disciples: Becoming More Like JESUS.” (It is long but worth your time to read,
digest it and apply it.)
Our
focus scripture is John 15:1-8
Believers
are to join GOD’S work both in the church and the world.
As
you may recall, this scripture was addressed in a previous lesson. It is one of
my favs. The only way we become part of the true vine, JESUS, is through faith
in JESUS. This is foundational. Once a person accepts JESUS as his or her
Savior, that person becomes a part of the living vine, JESUS. The Christian
builds upon that foundation of CHRIST in you, the hope of glory. The living
vine, JESUS, connects every Christian to the body of CHRIST, The Vine. The
nutrients for Spiritual growth, vital to a Christian’s growth, flows through
the vine. The vine is the conduit of living water.
We
know from our study that when we receive JESUS as our Savior, we are not only
grafted into the living vine but we receive Spiritual Gifts to function as a
branch of the living vine. What is the purpose for us to be branches of the
true vine? It is to bear Spiritual fruit.
JESUS
was preparing HIS disciples, both then and now, for the things that had to take
place in order for HIM to fulfill HIS mission upon earth in the flesh. It was
vital then and today, that Christians see and understand why they must be grafted
into the true living vine of JESUS to function in GOD’S Kingdom upon earth.
Time
management is a vital part of serving our LORD. As I was writing this lesson, I
thought about my lawn and spots that needed grass seed. I was distracted
searching for the right grass seed. Satan can use distractions to rob us of the
time needed to focus on our time with HIM and to prepare. Scripture reveals in Ephesians
5:16 - 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Upon earth we are subject to time and Satan knows
that, so he leads us to chase things that rob us of being efficient. Even when
we are part of the true vine, we need to focus on where GOD is working and
whether or not we need to join GOD in that work. Dr. Henry Blackaby teaches in “Experiencing
GOD,” when we want to be active in GOD’S Work, look around us to see where GOD
is working and then join HIM in that work as HE leads. The key is, where GOD is
at work and not where there is lots of activity. That takes a gift of the
Spirit, discernment.
JESUS was preparing HIS Disciples for the critical events
coming up in HIS life and their lives in the days ahead. Consider the Apostle
Peter. Peter was willing to fight to the death for JESUS. Yet, in a few days
Peter would deny JESUS three times. Why? It was because Peter considered JESUS
to be an earthly king and not the King of KINGS. If that was the end of the
story for Peter’s life, that would be sad indeed. But what do we read in the
scripture? Peter wept, repented and faithfully served his LORD, Savior and King
of KINGS, JESUS. Peter preached at Pentecost and thousands accepted JESUS as
their Savior. GOD still had to work on Peter as a dedicated Jew to remove
tradition. Peter still ate only the things approved for Jews to eat. That was a
barrier if Peter was to expand the ministry GOD had planned for him. GOD dealt
with the food issue in a special way. It was a pruning issue in Peter’s life.
Do you recall when GOD dealt with Peter about not eating certain things the
Jews considered unclean but the Gentiles ate them as recorded in Acts 10:1-16:
Cornelius’s
Vision
10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius
(a gentile who supported the Jews and was seeking the right relationship with
GOD), a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He
was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many
charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About
three in the afternoon[a] he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who
came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”
4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it,
Lord?”
The
angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a
memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to
Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He
is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he
called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those
who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to
them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s
Vision
9 The next day, as they were
traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about
noon.[b] 10 He became hungry and
wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a
trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object
that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to
the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed
animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A
voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never
eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”
15 Again, a second time, the voice said to
him, “What
God has made clean, do not call impure.” 16 This happened
three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.
Was
this GOD’S way of pruning Peter so he would bear more Spiritual fruit through
ministry to the Gentiles? YES!
What
does GOD need to prune in our lives for us to be more effective in reaching and
ministering to others? What in your life needs to be pruned? GOD chooses!
FATHER,
here I am, as I am, I ask YOU to reveal to me what is in my life that needs to
change for me to be more like JESUS and to serve YOU. Once revealed, I need for
YOU to help me to change.
Let’s read John 15:1-3:
The
Vine and the Branches
15 “I
am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. 3 You
are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
The gardener has full authority over the garden.
What will be planted in the garden; the world. The gardener begins to prepare
the ground to receive that which will be planted – obstacles such as trees,
weeds, rocks, poor soil, etc. have to be dug up and possibly removed or used to
decorate the garden. The soil must be tilled, fertilized, watered, and tended
for the intended crops to thrive. There needs to be a source for water and a
plan to keep the weeds and unwanted things from taking over the garden. The
garden must have the right amount of light, temperature, humidity, moisture,
fertilizer, micronutrients and the list of tending the garden goes on.
Once the garden is planted, it must be cared
for and the harvest must be planned and reaped at just the right time. Then the
product from the garden is distributed to those who can be nourished by it.
GOD planned for the redemption of mankind
from the consequence of sin, before the foundation of the world. GOD knew that
mankind, which includes woman, would sin and HE had a plan to redeem mankind
from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death. GOD made mankind with the
freedom to choose. HE did not make mankind like robots. All humans have the
right to choose.
This scripture is the last of the “I AM”
statements in the Gospel of John:
“I AM”: “the bread of life” (John 6:35); “the
light of the world” (John 8:12); “the gate of the sheepfold” (John 10:7,9);
“the good shepherd” (John 10:11,14); “the resurrection and the life” (John
11:25); “the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Then last but not least JESUS
stated, “I AM the true vine.”
In Psalm 80:8 - You dug up a vine from
Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
The Israelites, the national vine, were
transplanted from Egypt to Israel, the promised land. JESUS made it clear that
the focus was not on a physical location, Israel, but upon HIM, The True Sinless
Son of GOD, WHO gave HIS sinless life as the “true eternal living vine.” GOD
had raised up JESUS to draw all people to HIM through faith in JESUS, not the
physical location. The law had been fulfilled and sin had been paid in full by
JESUS and confirmed by the physical bodily resurrection of JESUS according to
the scriptures from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
WOW! My prayer is that all who read this
will see the love and beauty in what GOD has done for each of us. HE is worthy
and HE makes all who place their faith in JESUS worthy to be called
“Sons/Daughters of GOD” through the miracle of Spiritual birth.
With that in mind, notice as we go to our
next scripture, we, those of us connected to the true vine, still have choices
----
Let’s read John 15:4-5:
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, neither can you unless you remain in
me. 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.
Being connected is the key. What connects us
to the true vine? Faith in JESUS!
As humans, even Spirit born humans, GOD never
takes our right to choose from us. We all have baggage from our past – DNA,
family backgrounds, influences from family, friends, choices that lead us into
certain addictions and the list goes on.
It takes the power of JESUS in a person to
break these traits and tendencies. As a Christian, we still have to make
choices. We have to take off our old clothes and put on our new clothes which
have been washed in the blood of JESUS by placing our faith in JESUS. There are
times when we want to patch our new clothes with old fabric. But that does not
work. We must go to our FATHER and confess our sins and let HIM weave a new
patch for our new clothes. That is true confession.
One critical choice is for us to remain. When
you have questions take them to GOD, reach out to fellow Christians, pastor,
Bible teacher, read GOD’S Word asking GOD to reveal truth to you. Often, we have
to search for truth. Satan feeds us false notions and information. When our
Spiritual foundation is challenged, Satan is ready to accuse us that we are no
good and we have fallen from GOD’S Grace. That is a lie. How much Grace does
GOD give us when we place our faith in JESUS? It is sufficient to get us to
Heaven. Yes, once saved from the consequence of sin, always saved. GOD never
leaves us or forsakes us. Our part is to return to HIM because HE waits for us
to return. GOD is always ready to welcome us with HIS open arms.
Don’t let Satan rob you of the joy of your
salvation.
Let’s read John 15:6-8:
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. 7 If you
remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be
done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by
this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be[a] my
disciples.
What can remove a Christian from the vine?
Nothing! The Apostle Paul put it best as recorded in Romans 8:37-39 - 37 No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, 39 neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But when Christians stop growing
Spiritually, remove themselves from the fellowship of believers, they grow
Spiritually cold. Christians must stay connected to the vine and to fellow
members of the true vine. Being a Christian is being in right relationship with
GOD through faith in JESUS.
What about the branches that will be cut
off and burned? Those never were in right relationship with GOD through faith
in JESUS. They were talking the Christian jargon. But there are those who were
in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS but they stopped growing
in their relationship. Have they lost their salvation? NO! But they have lost their
rewards. Consider 1 Corinthians 3:7-15:
7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the
one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now he who
plants and he who waters are one,[b] and each will
receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are
God’s coworkers.[c] You are God’s
field, God’s building.
10 According to God’s grace that was
given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,[d] and another
builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can
lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is
Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold,
silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s
work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be
revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s
work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work
is burned up, he will experience[e] loss, but he
himself will be saved—but only as through fire.
What
does verse 15 reveal? Consider the building materials used in verse 12 which we
use to build upon the foundation of JESUS. Which building materials will burn?
Which will be left in the rubble after the test by fire? The question is, “What
building materials are we, as Christians, using to build upon the foundation of
salvation through faith in JESUS? The materials we choose or what GOD leads us
to choose as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit?
What is the message from GOD to all people of
earth? It is as Christians, we are to never, ever give up on GOD through faith
in JESUS. Stay connected to the vine, JESUS, by reading GOD’S Word, prayer
(talking to GOD and listen) and putting what is revealed into practice. Who
teaches you and enlightens you as you read GOD’S Word and put into action what
GOD reveals to you? It is the in dwelling Holy Spirit. Trust the still small
voice of GOD.
JESUS gave us a parable that addresses this
as recorded in Luke 15:11-32:
The
Parable of the Lost Son
11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his
father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So, he
distributed the assets[d] to them. 13 Not many days
later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant
country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country,
and he had nothing.[e] 15 Then
he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his
fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from[f] the pods that the pigs were
eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses,[g] he said, ‘How many of my
father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of
hunger![h] 18 I’ll
get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up
and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father
saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in
your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick!
Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s
celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead
and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So,
they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he
came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the
servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told
him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back
safe and sound.’[i]
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go
in. So, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father,
‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders,
yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came,
who has devoured your assets[j] with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for
him.’
31 “‘Son,’[k] he said to him, ‘you are
always with me, and everything
I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
This is a precious parable. JESUS was
referring to Israel but it is applicable to every person lost in sin. JESUS is
the loving Father Who waits for every sinner to choose to come home. This is
for those who have never accepted JESUS as their Savior or those who have
accepted JESUS as their Savior but have been led away by the desires of the
flesh. JESUS stands ready to welcome all back home. Keep in mind that GOD looks
at your heart, your core, the real you. Your spirit is clean and pure because
it has been washed cleaned by the shed blood of JESUS. Put on your Spiritual
clothes through faith in JESUS. What takes place?
JESUS said it best in John 5:24 - 24 “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him
who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
Words of truth spoken by JESUS, as we
approach Easter. There is no better time to come to the foot of the Cross and confess
our sins and renew our commitment to serve our LORD JESUS. HE chose you before
He made the world. (Ephesians 1:4 - 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Blessings!!!
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