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2.The Secret Of Bearing Fruit Is Abiding
I. DISCERNING THE SECRET OF BEARING
FRUIT
A. NOTICE HOW OFTEN JESUS USES THE WORD "ABIDE"....
1. In ten verses, he uses the word ten times! -
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.
[6] If a man abide 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.
[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.
[9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:
continue ye in my love.
[10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love
John 15:4(3),5,6,7(2),9,10(2)
2. Why is this word mentioned over and over again?
Because...
B. THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT IS ABIDING!
1. A branch does not bear fruit by struggling, but by
abiding in the vine...
a. When you walk through a vineyard, do you detect tension
and struggle among the branches as they bear fruit?
b. No! Instead there is a calm & confident resting - an
abiding - as branches draw their life from the vine in order to bear fruit
2. In the Christian life, we experience first a "union",
then a"communion"...
a. When we become Christians, there is first a "union" with
Christ
1) Paul describes this union as taking place in baptism -
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ.; Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us
as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?[4] Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
2) Having "put on Christ" and being "united together" with
Him, our union with Him is like that of a branch to a vine -
John 15:5a I am the vine, ye are the branches:
b. As we "abide" in this union, we have "communion" or
fellowship with Christ in a very close and personal way -
John 15:4a Abide in me, and I in you.
3. This "communion" or mutual abiding with the vine (Christ)
enables the branches (disciples) to bear fruit!
a. The branch receives from the vine the strength necessary
to bear fruit; so the Christian receives from Christ strength
to do what he could not do on his own -
John 15:4-5 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.
b. Of the strength or power available to those in Christ,
Paul
often wrote...
1) In his own life, and in the lives of others -
Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.,
[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus.;
Colosians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according
to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
2) He wanted others to know of the great power available to
them -
Ephesians 1:18-20 The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,;
3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
3) He often gave examples of how this power could transform
people:
a) the Corinthians - 1 Corinthians
6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
[10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.[11] And such were some of
you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
b) even himself - 1 Timothy 1:12-16
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I
am chief.
[16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me
first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them
which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.;
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles,
that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God.[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they
all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
[The secret of bearing fruit is abiding in Christ and He in
us.
Through such communion and fellowship, we benefit from
Christ's strength
so that we may be able to bear fruit and in turn experience
the "abundant life."
Are we abiding in Christ, and He in us? We need not be
unsure, for there
are several signs that will be manifest in our lives when we
are abiding in Christ...]
II. EVIDENCES OF ABIDING IN CHRIST
A. BEARING MUCH FRUIT - John 15:5b He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: .
1. This is the most obvious sign
2. When one is consistently bearing the sort of fruit
described above, that is certainly good evidence of a close relationship with
Christ!
3. Whereas the lack of fruit can be an indication of one of
three things...
a. Either there never was a "union" to begin with
b. Or there was a union, but "communion" is not taking
place, leaving one in jeopardy of being "cut off"
c. Or there was a union but the branch has already been cut
off!
B. THE FATHER'S PRUNING - John 15:2b and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
1. We should expect to see evidence of the Father's work in
our lives, in which...
a. Things that would hinder us are being "cut away"
b. We are ever being developed so as to be more "fruitful"
2. One way that the Father does this is through the Word...
a. Notice John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you. - in the Greek "clean" (katharos) is closely
related to "prune" (kathairo)
b. The Word of God can be a very powerful instrument in the
hands of the Lord - Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of
God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
[13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in
his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom
we have to do.;
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
c. As we read or hear it, it can expose us for what we
really
are, and when received properly, help us make great changes
James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23: For if any be a hearer of the
word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a
glass:
24: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed
3. So if we are not constantly growing through the influence
of
the Word of God, clearly we are not abiding in Christ!
C. A GROWING SENSE OF DEPENDENCE - John 15:5c for without
me ye can do nothing.
1. We will come to realize that apart from Christ we can do
nothing (of real, lasting value)
2. But those who abide in Christ will become like Paul, who
realized the true source of his strength: his union with Christ! -
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.;
Phillipians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the
beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church
communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
D. OUR PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED - 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.,
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit
should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may
give it you.
1. As we abide in Christ, we will find our prayers being
answered
2. Of course, such answered prayers will depend upon several
factors:
a. That we keep His commandments and do the things that
please Him -
1 John 3:22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because
we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
b. That our requests be according to God's will -
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have in him,
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
c. That our requests not be for selfish gain -
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that
ye may consume it upon your lusts.
3. But one who abides in Christ should be able to look back
and see evidence of answered prayers (though not always answered in the way we
expected)
E. LOVE FOR CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE - John 15:9 As the
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
[12] This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I
have loved you.
1. Since God is love (1 Jn 4:8 He who does not love does
not know God; for God is love.) and Christ is God (John 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.),
those who abide in Christ will abide in love -
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of
God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.
8: He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
2. Indeed, Christ commands us to love one another -
John 15:17These things I command you, that ye love one
another.
3. And those who do not love the children of God , have not
known
God - 1 John 3:14 We know that we
have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does
not love abides in death.;
4:8 He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
,
20-21 If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother,
he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot
love God whom he has not seen.
21: And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves
God should love his brother also.
F. AN INNER JOY - John 15:11 These things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
1. Not the absence of trial or trouble, but a joy borne of
the
assurance that Christ has overcome the world, and that we
can
also through Him - John 16:33 These things I have spoken
unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.;
Phillipians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,
Rejoice.
2. Indeed, one of the first visible signs of backsliding (of
not
abiding in Christ) is the loss of joy, especially about
things
spiritual! - Psalm 32:1-3 Blessed
is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
[2] Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not
iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
[3] When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my
roaring all the day long.; 51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
uphold me with thy free spirit.
REVIEW
1. These, then, are just a few of the evidences that we are
abiding in Christ...
a. Bearing much fruit
b. The Father's pruning
c. A growing sense of dependence
d. Our prayers being answered
e. Love for Christ and His people
f. An inner joy
2. To be sure, not every believer who abides in Christ will
have ALL
these blessings in the SAME DEGREE at the same time...
a. But they will be present in some measure, and they will
be strong
enough to be evident (to ourselves at least, if not always
to others)
b. And they should always be INCREASING! - John 15:2
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.;
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. It is good for us as branches to examine ourselves
regularly to see
if we are truly abiding in Christ -
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
a. For the secret of the abundant life is bearing fruit
b. And the secret of bearing fruit is abiding in Christ
c. And so if we are not abiding in Christ, we cannot enjoy
the
abundant life!
The secret to living is bearing fruit;
The secret to bearing fruit is abiding;
What is the secret of abiding in Christ? How can we be sure
to have access to the strength that Jesus provides?
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will save)
would
affirm today; it's the same truth He
attested to as he walked this earth
some 2000 years ago - an exclusive way to the Father
(John 14:6) and that man,
as a sinful creature, is in need of a
Saviour.(John
3:16-21).
