JOHN 15

The Pruning (vs. 1-3)

“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.

1. God wants to prune me to promote spiritual

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   and health.

2. The Lord will cut off the

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   weight in His Church when necessary.

3. Where there are areas of my life that are consuming too much of my

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   and attention without producing meaningful fruit, I should expect the pruning shears of the Lord.

4. There is an ongoing

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   that needs to take place continuously in our lives because of the sinful world we live in.

Additional references:
Psalm 80:8-9, Colossians 1:10, Hebrews 12:5-11, Ephesians 5:26, John 13:10

The Product (vs. 4-6)

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.
John 15:4-6

1. The mark of a

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   branch is abundant fruit that serves as a blessing to others.

2. The branches draw their

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   and nourishment from the vine.

3. What spiritual, eternal fruit can we produce on our own?

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   !

4. Lack of

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   is a serious concern in the Kingdom of God.

5. Our

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   isn’t found in church membership or good works, but in Jesus.

Additional references:
Ephesians 3:17-19, John 10:10, Galatians 5:22-25, 2 Corinthians 3:5, Philippians 4:13, Matthew 21:18-19, Matthew 7:15-20

The Purpose (vs. 7-8)

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.
John 15:7-8

1. When there’s a mutual indwelling relationship between me and Christ Jesus, I will begin to develop a

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   and
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   that are in sync with His.

2. The point of prayer is not getting what I want, but

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   and discovering what He wants.

3. The purpose of fruitfulness and good works in my life is not to bring myself glory, but to bring

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   glory.

Additional references:
John 14:13-14, James 4:3, Isaiah 43:7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16