Introduction:
• Abide – to remain stable or fixed in state, conform to, continue in place, and accept without objection. – Merriam-Webster
o What does it mean to "Abide in the Vine?"
o Who/What is the Vine?
o What are the benefits of "Abiding in the Vine?"
• Let's Talk About It!
I. The 7 "I AM'S" of Jesus.
All the "I AM" statements were related to an ongoing event around Jesus.
• Jesus responded to the circumstances around Him.
• He used everyday events as a jumping-off point for teachings about God.
1. In John 6, Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. Right after that, He tells them, "I am the Bread of Life" John 6:35 (NIV) - I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never Thirst.
2. Jesus and his disciples were at the Temple to celebrate the Festival of Lights when Jesus announced; I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. - John 8:12 (NIV)
3. They were looking out over hills where shepherds herded their sheep when Jesus said: I AM the gate (for the sheep); whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. John 10:9 (NIV)
4. He went on to say; I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NIV)
5. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he declared: I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. John 11:25 (NIV)
6. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the opportunity to teach them: I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 (NIV)
7. Jesus made his last recorded I AM statement after the Last Supper. He and his disciples were likely walking from the Upper Room to the Garden, where Jesus would be arrested. During that walk, they could have seen a prominent symbol that hung over the entrance to the Temple. The symbol was made of gold wire and beads, delicately twisted to look like a huge golden grapevine. Jesus may have pointed to this golden grapevine when he told His disciples; I AM the true vine. John 15:1 (NIV)
II. The Grapevine
A. Jesus was using a word picture that was very familiar to His men.
1. Grapes were central to Israel's economy.
2. The climate of Israel is ideal for growing healthy grapes.
3. The grapevine has always been a symbol of the nation of Israel.
4. The symbol of the grapevine was on Israeli coins up until the time Rome conquered them.
B. In Scripture, grapevines are used as symbols representing the past, present, and future.
1. The Past Vine symbolizes Israel as a choice vine that disappointed the vinedresser by producing only wild grapes. (Ps.80: 8-19, Isaiah 5:1-7)
2. The Future Vine symbolizes the earth ripe for God's judgment of wrath during the tribulation. (Rev.14:14-20)
3. The Present Vine is the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 REASONS TO STAY IN THE VINE – JOHN 15:1-8
Synopsis: Jesus had been talking to His disciples about having an effective relationship with God. In the days of Jesus, there was a lot of knowledge about God, but there was very little personal relationship with Him. Therefore, Jesus began to teach His disciples about the relationship between Himself and His Church. He used the vine as His example.
In verse 5, Jesus says, "…for without me ye can do nothing…". Plainly stated, without Him, we cannot and will not survive.
1. v.2 "he purgeth it…". Whether or not we choose to believe it, purging is vital to our success. Purging means all the dead and non-productive parts are removed, allowing only the good parts to continue growth. – We need to let God remove the dead, non-productive parts out of our lives.
2. v.5 "bringeth forth much fruit…". We must ask ourselves whether we want a little blessing or a big blessing? We should know that there are more blessings than we will ever know if we only believe God. And Jesus said, if we would stay in Him, we would not just bear a little fruit, but much fruit.
3. v.7 "ye shall ask what ye will…". There are times in life when it seems like we can't get a prayer answered for anything. We pray, fast, and claim scriptures, but nothing seems to work. Often, though, our problem is that we are not connected as we should be. Jesus said if we abide in Him, and His words in us, no matter what it is, just ask, and it is ours! We often can't win the battle, and the real reason we can't is that we are not in tune with Him.
4. v.8 "Herein is my Father glorified…" The most significant reason of all is so the Father can gain glory through your life. He does this by the things He does through you to bless others. (gifts of the spirit, prayer for sick, helpless, bound, bless someone financially, etc.) It's all about Him, not about us!!!
III. Questions to Ask Ourselves
A. Am I connected to and abiding in the vine?
1. If not, why not?
2. How can I enhance my "abiding?"
B. What does it mean if I am not bearing fruit? One of two things:
1. Either we are not attached to the Vine, or our attachment to the Vine has in some way been blocked so that God's power cannot flow into us.
2. It may be that we ARE attached to Christ but have been going through a season of "fruitlessness." What will block our fellowship with God?
a. SIN – Sin will separate us from The Vine. Our only hope is the Cross.
Hebrews 12:1-2
(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.
3. If we are only bearing SOME fruit, God wants us to bear MORE fruit. God wants us to maximize for Him! This is done through the spirit of excellence, and sometimes that means PRUNING!
a. How does God prune us?
• He may move us
• He may have us change jobs
• He may even change our neighbors
• He may move us out of our comfort zones
b. Pruning brings us closer to God. Pruning cuts away the things that hinder growth and harvest.
James 1:3-4
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
c. When the farmer prunes us, We Grow!
Hebrews 12:11
(11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
CLOSING: Where are we in relation to the Vine?
A. Are we connected? If not, we must give ourselves over to Christ
B. Are we growing personally? If not, maybe we need some pruning.
• Trying to do our will in His name brings failure.
• Doing His will in His Name brings success.
• He is the Vine, and we are the branches. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
