John 15:1 (NIV)
I am the TRUE vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

 

  1. REMAINING begins with BELIEF in JESUS.

 

John 15:2 (NIV)
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

 

PRUNING can be PAINFUL, but it’s necessary to become more FRUITFUL.

 

When experiencing PAIN don’t PUSH Him away, PULL Him in. 

 

John 15:4 (NIV)
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

 

John 15:5a (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. IF you REMAIN in me and I in you, you WILL bear MUCH FRUIT…”

 

The PROOF is in the FRUIT.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Take DELIGHT in the Lord, and he will give you the DESIRES of your heart.

 

John 15:5 (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do NOTHING.”

 

John 15:6 (NIV)
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

 

“Prayer comes spontaneously from those who abide in Jesus… Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus.” (Spurgeon)

 

John 15:7 (NIV)
If you remain in me and my WORDS remain in you, ASK whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

 

  1. REMAINING requires TRUSTING His Word.

 

 

  1. REMAINING requires OBEDIENCE.

 

John 15:8-10 (NIV)
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love…”

John 15:11 (NIV)
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

 

No one is more miserable than the Christian who for a time hedges in his obedience. He does not love sin enough to enjoy its pleasures, and does not love Christ enough to relish holiness. – Carson

  1. REMAINING requires COMMUNITY.

 

John 15:12-17 (NIV)
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

 

 

John 14:15-17 (NIV)
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

 

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