1-24-10 Fruit of the Spirit 6: John 15 and Fruit

John 15 and Fruit

John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every 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. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide 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. ⁵I 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. ⁶If 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. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

I.          Verse 1 the work of the husbandman in the fruit bearing process

II.         Verses 2-3 – The Purpose of the Word in the purging Process? “purge” to cleanse or purify by separating or carrying off whatever is impure.

III.        Verses 4-5 – “Abiding” is the key.  Abide comes from the Old English word  gebidan  ge- denoting onward motion + bidan "to remain or dwell" To continually remain or to continually dwell.

Numbers 35:25 ²⁵And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

IV.        Verse 6 – The worthlessness of fruitlessness

V.         Verse 7 – Fruit and answered prayer.

VI.        Verse 8 – God is glorified through our fruit. (Misinterpreting the meaning of fruit is why many who have had the privilege of seeing lots of souls saved become proud.)

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.