11/01/09 “Fruit”
Fruit
11/1/09 HT PM
John 15:1-8 NKJV
John 14:12 NLT
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
This is a HUGE verse! Notice the sizeable statement GREATER WORKS!
John 15:1 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:2
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ◙ takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 15:4
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:6
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you ◙ will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
The book of John is written from a Divine perspective, much of this book focuses on the final week of Christ life. The final week of Christ is a significant focus for every student of Scripture and or follower of Christ. Just to the right of center of this book there are 3 significant chapters John 13, 14, 15.
John 13 – Jesus washes the feet of His disciples
John 14 – Jesus establishes the destination, design and purpose of Heaven and how He factors
John 15 – Jesus speaks of the tri-fecta Fruit / Love / Joy
- Scripture shifts from the natural to the spiritual – Example:
Genesis 1:11 NKJV
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
Galatians 6:7 NKJV
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:8
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
In the above verses we see the shift from things in the natural sense to the spiritual sense. This gives us our base for the teaching here in this moment.
In John 15 there are three key words -Fruit/ Love/ Joy tonight I want to put an emphasis on the first – the word Fruit or fruitfulness.
What about the word Joy? That’s just it! The only way to have Joy is to be fruitful! Joy is experienced through seeing new birth! Like a new baby!
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Take an area of your life right now where you do not feel joy! Ask yourself are YOU being fruitful?? Not do you desire fruit but are you being fruitful? Often we focus on how another is hindering our fruit and forget our assignment to bear it ourselves!
- Hindrance to fruitfulness is our desire to please ourselves. (Selfishness)
- Sin is birthed through what benefits you! Joy is birthed through what benefits another!
Contrast two Scripture –
Genesis 3:6 NKJV
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
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,
Hebrews 12:2
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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Fruitfulness - There is no clear area that He establishes that He wants to see fruit in – He just says BEAR FRUIT! Therefore we assume and apply this as a principle for our life and not limited to one area. God wants you to be fruitful in every area of your life.
You shift from SELFISHNESS to SIGNIFICANCE when you move from consuming fruit to bearing fruit
4 Keys to Fruitfulness.
1. Pruning –
John 15:1 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:2
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ◙ takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Remove the things that hinder fruitfulness
Prune;
- Dead things
- Things in the way
- Not everything you prune back is BAD, just not beneficial
1 Cor 6:12 NIV Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
2. Partnership –
John 15:4 NKJV
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
A central issues in this partnership is understand the difference in Gods authoritative view on partnership vs. our view of appointment view on partnership. To abide in God is to establish Him as the central authority, not the he is simply counsel for consideration for your life. BTW – you will never be able to PRUNE if you do not have an authority source in your life.
3. Purpose –
Live on Purpose – what is the purpose of your life?
John 15:8 NKJV
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Do you live everyday to bring glory to God.
Much of our fruitless outcomes are because we do not do things on Purpose – Live in His Purpose –
4. Promises –
John 15:7 NKJV
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you ◙ will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.