KJV John 15
Jesus Is the Vine
1 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.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 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.
First question
1. What is a vine, and why does he use this example to explain the relationship between him and his father and us and Him?
a. A vine is simply a plant that develops branches that in turn produces fruit, and in the right environment it can produce abundant fruit
b. Jesus used the simplicity of nature to relate to the disciples not only a dependency relationship, but one of power and significance for those that accept Jesus as saviour.
c. Jesus was setting his disciples, his followers, his friends up for relational success, spiritual power and immortality.
d. Remember When Jesus told the disciples to seek God first the Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33), or when he said come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt 12:28), or even when he said, do not worry about tomorrow (Mt 6:34) but have faith because he will provide your needs or when he said If you even have faith as a grain of mustard seed (Mt 17:20, 21:21) .... nothing will be impossible for you. Meaning even the mountains in your life can be cast into the seas. You can do what little David done to big Goliath and slay your problems. Achieve what looks impossible. Do you recall when he said, if we ask for the Holy Spirit and you shall receive (Lk11:13)?
He was leading them all as he leads us today to a point of complete uncompromising trust and deep-rooted faith in him, to not only save them, to not only lead others to him but to move on this earth with Holy Spirit Power.
2. So, to his Disciples he implores them to abide in him as he abides in the father. We now understand that We need the Holy Spirit to lead us in order to be the sons of God (Rm 8:14), we understand that without spending time studying and acting upon the Word of God, we cannot be sanctified, (James 1:22) or claim to truly abide with Our saviour. If we spend quality time in daily prayer, maybe not all at once but even throughout the day or evening, God will draw close to us and we will experience spiritual cleansing that we all desire daily (Jm 4:7-8).
3. There is a partnership with heaven that we can have but there is work that needs to be understood and acted upon in order to have a partnership in heaven.
4. There is a gift of eternal life that is offered to humanity but the path to receive the gift is through the vine, through Christ, through receiving into your heart the word of God.
5. There is a victory over our greatest enemies which is self, selfishness, self-worship, self-glorification which is all sin that can be won over but it comes at a price. There must be sacrifice, there must be a striving there must be a forsaking of worldly lusts, worldly pleasures, all things that go against the principles of God must be destroyed in your life.
6. Christ must live in our hearts while the worldly in us dies, our carnal self-dies, our personal selfish ambitions die. We must surrender to Jesus in order to live and receive a higher calling, to LIVE in our created purpose to ATTAIN the immortality that is promised.
7. Jesus said without me you can do nothing. He has a mission for his people. He has a kingdom that will be received by millions, there is a world that needs to be saved and his disciples were being setup to be the salt of the earth, a guide to the lost, a light on a hill. Jesus was making these statements about abiding in him as the work of God on earth that they must do, can only be effective if God is in the centre working his grace and power for the salvation of man. We cannot do this work of leading lost people to the kingdom God, without God leading us, we cannot do the Will of God without being filled with the Holy Spirit. We cannot realise our full potential unless we Love God with all our heart.
QUICK EXAMPLE
When Saul was anointed King of Israel, the prophet Samuel said to him and the people of Israel
KJV 1 Samuel 12
24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
KJV 1 Samuel 12
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
Samuel in the end of this story told Saul that the kingship was to be ripped from Him and given to someone else more worthy. Saul stopped trusting and waiting on the Lord, he stopped being obedient, he started to do his own thing his own way regardless of the instructions or leading of the Holy Spirit. He forgot what it meant to be humble and allowed his blessings his position as King get to his head. He laid aside the God that put him in position. He no longer surrendered to God but surrendered to His own Will and the peer Pressure around him.
Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character. {DA 676}
KJV John 15
6 If a man abides 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.
We sometimes think that those who love us will always put up with our folly, they will always be there, they will always give us pardon. Honestly when it comes to Parents and their Children this is mostly true, the Love of a Godly mother and a father can be compared to how God our heavenly father loves us.
However, the Goodness of God leads us to repentance and the grace He gives us grants us access to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Please consider yourself and those you know who have been in a relationship with their creator, who have learnt who he is, what sin is, what the Law of God is, what he done for us etc. etc. and then decide to back track into a state of lukewarm, double minded and even secular, worldly ways of thinking and even living. To no longer abide with Jesus is to become separated from their saviour, to become reprobate.
Jesus says of himself that he is the Truth, the Way and the Life. How can one expect to stay connected to their source of life if they neglect or reject the nurturing that is being provided through, Faith, Trust in God, or Prayer? if we neglect to study His word, if we neglect in doing is Will, if we neglect in loving our family, or neglect in loving our brethren. How can one stay connected to Jesus? If you neglect your duties and commitment to God. How can one expect to grow in grace, receive favour from God, be forgiven of sins? YOU WHO ONCE R LED BY God now neglect the principles of God has become reprobate. You who once worshipped God, now worships self, you who once said Lord Let your will be done, you now say I do as I will. No different from the Satanists mantra of Do as thy wilt. IF A MAN ABIDES NOT IN CHRIST IT IS THE SAME AS REJECTING GOD
John 15:6 - SDA Bible Commentary 6. If a man abides not. The delusion, “once in grace always in grace,” is denied by this condition. It is possible for those who have been in Christ to sever their connection with Him and be lost (see on Heb. 6:4-6. Salvation is conditional upon abiding in Christ until the end.)
KJV Hebrews 6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The bible uses reprobate more than once follows me to
KJV Titus 1
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
How many men in here would except their wife having another man on the side? How many women would still stay with their husbands if he kept getting other women pregnant. If your child keeps stealing from you how long before trust is completely eroded. How many relationships are broken or even destroyed because loyalty, trust or love have deteriorated.
Is this not what happens when we think its ok to have a little bit of the world and sin in our life, unrepented. Is this not the same thing we do to God when we create or do things that puts the secular before the holy. Is this not what we do to God when we don’t give him our heart and minds. WE start to think that what we do is excused because of God’s grace, because we think that God will always accept us as we are. Sin puts a thick cloud between us and God, secret, hidden, bold, sin all unrepented sin that we refuse to totally give up, drives a wall between us and the Spirit of God.
STRUGGLES WITH SIN
I get it some sins are harder to kick than others. There are major or minor inconsistences with your life, in your relationships within your family and close friends there may be a bad taste of selfishness, ungodly behaviour, evil thinking. God has called us out of our sins many times even directly by the word of God.
KJV Isaiah 59
Sin Separates from God
1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
If you know that you are in trouble, if sin has got a hold of you. Seek help, seek help from your saviour, seek counsel from your trusted pastor or trusted elder or trusted friend. Don’t suffer by yourself.
I have a couple scriptures to help us
He is cast forth - Observe, that person who abides not in Christ, in a believing loving, obedient spirit, is - Cut off from Jesus, having no longer any right or title to him or to his salvation. He is withered - deprived of all the influences of God's grace and Spirit; loses all his heavenly unction; becomes indifferent, cold, and dead to every holy and spiritual word and work. He is gathered - becomes (through the judgment of God) again united with backsliders like himself and other workers of iniquity; and, being abandoned to his own heart and Satan, he is, cast into the fire - separated from God's people, from God himself, and from the glory of his power. And, 5. He is burned - I speak of the lake of Fire Rev:19:20 and 20:15
Detachment as Well as Attachment—A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first, and last, and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a relation of utter dependence to be entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. They must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle with outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment, as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin in all its forms—must be overcome, if we would enter into a union with Christ. The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is, they try to attach themselves to Christ without detaching themselves from these cherished idols.... – {5BC 1143.8}
But there is hope:
KJV John 15
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 it comes to abiding in Jesus, he refers to being covered by the righteousness of God that comes through faith.
And I take the stance and attitude of Paul when he says :
KJV Philippians 3
12 Not as though I had already attained (Righteousness of God), either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also, I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
That means that You have to strive for the prize, you strive, you have to make patient, dedicated effort in gaining the mastery over self, over sin, over those temptations. Gaining the mastery over all things that we put our hands to, promoting JUSTICE, promoting Excellence, PROMOTING Christ like behaviour in BUSINESS. Because we represent Jesus for, we who embrace God are representatives of the Kingdom of God, this is some of the reasons why You have to put the worldly things that are not in harmony with The Word behind you as if it is a disease you are trying to rid yourself of.
When you abide, you OBEY, when you ABIDE, you keep, uphold, respect ALL THE COMANDMENTS and yes with JOY because you have grown to LOVE GOD
Reach forward in your pursuit to be right before God, by allowing Jesus in your heart Keep the conversation going with Jesus, by practicing the 3 foundations of Christian growth, a Prayer life that is continuous, a healthy attention to bible study, and a purpose heart towards sharing the gospel. Reach forward to doing good things, reach forward to a better life, reach forward in giving charity, showing charity, being charitable.
Salvation is before you, and being lost is behind you.
So, press towards not just having one fruit of the spirit not being settled with just being KIND, but be Patient, be loving, be gentle, experience Joy, practice goodness as you have received goodness from GOD, be bold in faith and LOVE Supremely. This is the high calling of God. This is the fruit that those who are God like manifest daily.
I have not apprehended all of this but I press towards it. If Christ’s words in this book is in you. You will grow in faith as you remember how to use it for your and others advantage, for your and others blessing.
The word of God says, The Message of the Cross (representing salvation and grace) is foolishness to those who are perishing the unbelievers, the reprobate) but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. You abide in Christ have the power of God working in you not just to save yourself but to lead others to salvation. This can be our great legacy to be true witnesses of God.
So, as you abide with Christ and his power to change lives is in you. We can claim, believe and bank on the following things. Now remember
Jesus said we shall bear fruits, so let’s un pick his a little longer
James 5:1-6
Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another and ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. CLAIM IT, ITS YOURS. FAITHFUL BASIC PRAYER CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS IN YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS
KJV Luke 11
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
KJV Philippians 4
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
ASK BEILEIVE AND CLAIM THIS PROMSE
KJV John 16
Assurance of Answered Prayer
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
When you go through trials, when you are trying to get over a mountain (academia, jobs, enemies, battles, Satan ). Allow Christ’s words to abide in you as God instructed Joshua who took on the leadership of Israel from Moses his says to him and he says to you
KJV Joshua 1
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
God is glorified when you are faithful, God is gloried when you are obedient
FINALLY
KJV Hebrews 12
Look to Christ and Persevere in Faith
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let me use an analogy from the Olympics track and field but from the word of God. When it comes to your salvation and walk with God
KJV 1 Corinthians 9
Running the Race
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. We ran for the incorruptible crown, we receive true immortality, we receive heavenly glory. The grave of God gives us eternal life.
IF You want this life that I have describe that I also strive for, make that commitment today. If you have heard Christ calling you out from the world to be a new creation, to have a new start with him. As you hear the voice of the Lord speaking Jesus is calling. Send a message to the pastoral team at Oxford. Let us pray for you now, and let Jesus into your heart, Ask Him now to fill your heart with his presence. And begin a life of closely abiding with Jesus. We are promised today, if you hear his voice come e to him.
You might be tired, you might be struggling with sin, you might be lost, you might be having a hard time Jesus is the one for you
KJV Matthew 11
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Can we make a decision for Christ to be the centre of our lives? Can we depend on him as a branch takes life giving nutrients from the vine?
If you want to experience a deep connection and spirit filled life and you want to make this a daily commitment to abide with God, come forward, once again If you hear God’s voice and you have not been baptised through immersion going under the water come forward.