The Fruitful Believer Series

Introduction

As I wrote this message, it is clear that things are not right in the world. There are ongoing struggles as a result of COVID-19 and the response by politicians and globalists. These last two years have brought tremendous uncertainty, pain, and have divided people over masks and the use of mandates to intimidate and pressure people into getting the so-called experimental vaccine.

These draconian mandates have divided further our country already strained politically and racially which has largely been instigated by these same politicians. In Atlanta, there is a church that requires churchgoers to show proof of vaccination before they can attend services and in Nevada, a church is holding separate services for the unvaxxed and the vaxxed, and in Canada, pastors are being thrown in prison for speaking out against these mandates to their congregation. The truth about these events over the last couple of years has been largely skewed and even hidden. This past week, the CDC quietly released that the death rate among 18-49-year-olds was up 40% (not related to COVID). There is a massive propaganda push against those who chose not to be a part of the experimental vaccine. While cruise ships entirely full of vaccinated passengers and crew experience outbreaks of positive tests and over a half a million people have made official claims of vaccine injury to the CDC.

A little closer to home, the struggle of life can be overwhelming. We have lost family members and close friends. Our dollar buys less at the store. Travel is difficult. Pain is real and life can be hard.

“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. (Isaiah 8:12)

To put a finer point on it, I think Jesus had all of this in mind (and more) when he told his disciples, John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” Jesus told his disciples this because their hearts were troubled and had reason to be troubled. In fact, Jesus himself found reason to be troubled in the heart during his ministry on earth (John 12:27; 13:21). The fact of the matter is this world will give you plenty of reason be troubled and Jesus warned his disciples that they would experience troubles in this world. (John 16:33)

Isaiah 7:9 “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

But Jesus wasn’t just telling his disciples to live a “don’t worry, be happy” kind of life. Jesus is warning his disciples not to let the troubles of this world shake their faith in him but live a life of ever-increasing faith. What we need to hear today from the Lord is we need to cultivate our faith more than ever. Faith banishes distress and Jesus knew that this world would give them plenty of reasons to be distressed.

It is against this backdrop that Jesus speaks the words of John 15:1-11: Chapters 13-16 of the Gospel of John are words given to Jesus to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. They had just shared the Passover meal, Judas has left to go betray him, and they are on their way to Gethsemane and these are the words of Jesus to his disciples to not allow their hearts to be troubled and their faith vanquished:

“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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1–11)