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Message Notes
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…” —John 14:16
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” —John 15:1-5
Abide - to remain, or to stay or to dwell.
“To Abide means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.” —Warren Wiersbe
How can we know that we are abiding in Christ?
- We will bear spiritual fruit.
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” —John 15:5
Three characteristics of spiritual fruit: (Tony Evans)
It reflects the character of the tree.
Fruit is visible.
Fruit is always for the benefit of others.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22-23
- Love – for those that do not love in return.
- Joy – in the midst of painful circumstances.
- Peace – when something you were counting on doesn’t come through.
- Patience – when things aren’t going fast enough for you.
- Kindness – towards those that treat you unkindly.
- Goodness – towards those that have been intentionally insensitive to you.
- Faithfulness – when friends have proved unfaithful.
- Gentleness – towards those who have handled you roughly.
- Self-control – in the midst of intense temptation.
. —The Wonder, Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley
- We will experience the Father’s lifting up and pruning.
“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” —John 15:2
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” —John 15:6
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” —James 4:8
- We will see prayers answered.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” —John 15:7
“Our biggest problems are only solved in the presence of God. God-ideas are revealed in the presence of God. Prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do.” —Mark Batterson
- We will experience a deepening love for Christ and for others.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” —John 15:9
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:12-13
- We will experience joy.
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” —John 15:11
“Joy is internal stability in spite of external circumstances because of the knowledge that God is in control.” —Tony Evans
- We will experience friendship with Jesus.
“You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” —John 15:14-15
What can we expect when we are not abiding in Jesus?
John 15:5 – Apart from me you can do nothing.
How can we make sure that we are abiding?
- Total Dependence
- Total Surrender