That You May KNOW part 4

John 20:31 nkjvBut these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.John 15:1-6   nkjv“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 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. 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. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

❓What fruit do you bear as a result of living for God, abiding in God?  How does the Word of God cleanse you❓

➤  What do these verses teach us about being born again and saved? Becoming a disciple of Christ?  (Deny self, take up our cross daily, and be followers of Him.)  ➤  By these verses we see what Jesus says we will do as His disciples. v8) 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

💥  Is it important to be “DISCIPLES”? ( Followers - Believers - Christlike - Born again Christians)

• It is what we are all called to be and to convert others to becoming! vMatthew 28:19-20) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

💥  God didn’t say go out and make believers or just get someone to pray, but make disciples.➤   According to these verses, if we don’t bear fruit… v6) 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.

⭐  These verses teach us what it is to be a Christian -- a branch in the vine of God.1.    Someone who is IN the vine. v5) 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.  

• A life that produces nothing for God is a life not in the vine.
• These verses are a matter of salvation.  Ephesians 2:8,9, AND 10)

v6) 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.💥 It’s not our works!  But His works He does through us!💥

2.  Someone who is being changed and becoming Christlike. v2b) 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. 

• A believer’s life will be pruned and changed by simply living in Christ.
• It is what Christ does in us and through us that matters.  We can do a lot of “good” things but until we produce what can only come by abiding in Christ, WE CAN DO NOTHING.

3.   Someone who has received the personal spoken word of God to them. v3) 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

• God’s Word is God! Jn 1:1)  If we receive it, it has the power to transform and change our mind, soul, spirit and heart. 
• To cleanse us from darkness and sin.  The Word in our heart can cleanse us from sinning.  His Word will prune us, show us His way.

vPs 119:11) 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. v119:105)  lamp to our feet and a light to our path! ⭐   What are some of the true signs (fruits) of being a disciple? (Saved)

A.   We abide in the love of God.  We experience the overwhelming power of God’s love. (John 15:10) 10 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.  * If you have ever experienced it you know what I am talking about!

B.   We can have the peace and joy that passes all understanding. vJohn 15:11) 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

C.   A Christlike love and compassion for others. vJohn 15:12-13)  12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

D.  A friendship (Relationship) with God. vJohn 15:15)  15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

E.  Most importantly a Christian will bear His fruit! vJohn 15:5)  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.

⭐  What happens in the life of a believer according to these verses?

1.   We bear God’s fruit! v5)  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.

• Jesus could not have made it more clear that as true believers we are to bear fruit.

2.  Our prayers have power! V7)   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.

3.   We become the people that glorify God! v8) 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

⭐   What does this teachI.   We must abide in Him to be saved! v5) “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. 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.

• Become a disciple! v8) so you will be my disciples.
• Follow Him.   (Deny self, take up Your cross, and Follow).  
  • The things that prevent us from going after Him to become like Him.

II.  Be Biblical. v7) 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.  The disciple is the one who listens to and obeys God’s Word.

• It’s the light that shows us how to be Christlike.
  • Teaches us what to deny, bear as a cross, and how to follow.

 ⭐  The more we hide His word in our heart, the cleaner we become from sin and darkness.

III.   Let God prune You. v2) 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.

• Let God change you!  Romans 12:1,2)
• People will know you are His disciples by the love you have for one another.