Introduction

Good morning, Church! Today, we're going to dive deep into a profound passage that teaches us about the importance of abiding in Christ, the fruit that comes from this connection, and the cost of true discipleship. It's a passage that's rich, deep and full of spiritual nourishment.

But before we delve into the Word, let's reflect on a quote by A.W. Tozer. He once said, "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One." Just ponder on that for a moment... having God is akin to possessing every treasure in the universe.

Now, let's look at our scripture for today. It's from John 15:1-6:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 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."

Abiding in Christ

When Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches," He is painting a vivid picture of our relationship with Him. Just as a branch is connected to the vine, drawing its life and sustenance from it, we too are to draw our life, strength, and purpose from our connection with Christ.

Definition: The Greek word for "abide" used in this passage is "meno," which means to stay, to remain, to dwell. It's not a passive state of being, but an active, intentional choice to stay connected to Christ, to dwell in His presence, to make our home in Him. It's about cultivating a deep, intimate relationship with Him, where we continually seek His face, listen to His voice, and align our will with His.

A continuous, daily process: It's about waking up each morning and choosing to walk with Christ, to live for Him, to let Him guide our thoughts, words, and actions. It's about surrendering our desires, plans, and ambitions to Him, and letting Him shape our lives according to His will and purpose.

Bearing fruit: Just as a branch connected to the vine bears fruit, we too, when we abide in Christ, will bear the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not fruits that we can produce on our own, but they are the natural outcome of our abiding relationship with Christ.

Not always comfortable or easy: Sometimes, it involves pruning - the cutting away of things in our lives that are not bearing fruit. This can be painful, but it's necessary for our growth and fruitfulness. Just as a gardener prunes a vine to make it more fruitful, God sometimes prunes us, cutting away things in our lives that are hindering our growth and fruitfulness.

Involves a cost: It means dying to self, letting go of our own desires and plans, and surrendering to His will. It means choosing His ways over our ways, His plans over our plans, His desires over our desires. It's a cost that we're called to count, but it's a cost that's worth paying, for the rewards of abiding in Christ - fruitfulness, intimacy with Him, and eternal life - far outweigh any cost.

The Fruit of Abiding

The fruit of Abiding is a metaphorical representation of the spiritual outcomes that result from our continuous connection with Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO