The Gospel According To JOHN
Chapter 15:7-27
“THE FRUITFUL LIFE!”
~ In this chapter Jesus yields four insights to a FANTASTIC FRUITFUL LIFE!
Insight #1 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL
! (v7-8)
Insight #2 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL! (v9-14)
Insight #3 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL! (v15-17
Insight #4 – LET’S HAVE A FRUITFUL! (v18-27) Insight #1 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL
! (v7-8)
(v7-8) “ASK what you desire and, and it shall be done for you” - This incredible promise for answered prayer will come to fruition as we abide in Christ and pray according to His Word. Jesus gives the secret to this answered prayer in John 15:8 - By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
~ We read in:
John 14:13 – “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 15:16-17 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
John 16:23-24 - “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
- The words pray, prayers, or prayed are found
~ For what do you need to pray?
A better
To overcome a
For a
Maybe you need
Maybe a
A closer relationship with Jesus, boldness to witness.
~ Observe these special PRAYERS:
- Matthew 6:9-13- Personal Prayer
- Ephesians 3:13-21- Church Prayer
- Acts 4:29-33- Witnessing Prayer
Insight #2 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL
! (v9-14)
(v9-10) LOVE - In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant “love” and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential “love” in them towards the Giver, and a practical “love” towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
Jesus said in John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Paul wrote Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John shared in 1 John 4:9-10 - This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
True LOVE is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
(v11-12) Let us talk Biblical JOY: (Joy, rejoice, rejoices, rejoicing, happy are found 421 times in the Bible, Christianity is an exuberance of mega JOY!)
- JOY defined in the Nelson’s Bible dictionary reads as follows:
But the joy which the people of God should have is
The joy required of the righteous person (Ps 150; Phil 4:4) is produced by
~ The Scriptures speak of:
- His Joy - Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Our Joy in God - Psalm 16:11- You will show me the p5ath of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Our Joy in Prayer - John 16:22-24-Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Our Joy in the Holy Spirit - Romans 14:17 - the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Our Joy in the Word of God - Jeremiah 15:16 - Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.
- Our Joy in evangelism - Acts 8:5-8 - Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great jo+ in that city.
(v13-14) SACRIFICE - Revelation Ch. 5 - “The lamb who was slain”
Insight #3 – LET’S HAVE FRUITFUL
! (v15-17)
(v15) “you are my friends” - Abraham - James 3:21-24 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
~ Proverbs speaks of good friends in:
- Proverbs 17:17 - “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
Proverbs 18:24 - “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”
Proverbs 27:6 - “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses”
Proverbs 27:17 - “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”
(v16-17) Warren Wiersbe writes, “How is it possible for Jesus to command us to
Insight #4 – LET’S HAVE A FRUITFUL
! (v18-27)
- Like in Acts 5:28-42- “Fill your city with Jesus!”
(Finnish Doctor’s witness for righteousness.)