Abiding in Jesus: The Source of Spiritual Fruit

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of abiding in Jesus, as illustrated in John 15. This passage is a powerful reminder of our need to remain connected to Christ, the true vine, to bear spiritual fruit. Jesus, on His way to the cross, used the analogy of the vine and branches to impart crucial lessons to His disciples. He emphasized that just as branches cannot bear fruit without the vine, we cannot produce spiritual fruit without remaining in Him. This abiding is not about our efforts but about staying connected to Jesus, allowing His life to flow through us.

We delved into the practical aspects of abiding, starting with the importance of staying in God's Word. Abiding in Jesus means immersing ourselves in Scripture, allowing His words to dwell in us richly. This is not merely for information but for transformation, as His Word shapes our lives. We also discussed the necessity of prayer, aligning our desires with God's will. Prayer is not about presenting a wish list to God but about seeking His heart and allowing Him to shape our desires.

Furthermore, we explored the concept of glorifying God through our lives. Bearing fruit is evidence of our discipleship, and it brings glory to God. Our lives should reflect Jesus so that others see Him in us. This is not about perfection but about a genuine pursuit of Christlikeness.

We also touched on the importance of love in our relationship with Jesus. Abiding in His love means keeping His commandments, not out of obligation but as a response to His love for us. This love is transformative, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him.

Finally, we considered the fullness of joy that comes from abiding in Jesus. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the eternal hope we have in Christ. It is a joy that overflows, impacting every area of our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Abiding in Jesus requires staying in His Word, allowing it to transform us from the inside out. This is not about acquiring knowledge but about letting His Word shape our lives and actions. [58:20]

- Prayer is essential for aligning our desires with God's will. It is not about getting what we want but about seeking God's heart and allowing Him to guide our wishes. [01:04:35]

- Bearing fruit is evidence of our discipleship and brings glory to God. Our lives should reflect Jesus, showing others what it means to follow Him. [01:08:37]

- Abiding in Jesus means staying in His love, which is demonstrated by keeping His commandments. This love is not about legalism but about a genuine relationship with Christ. [01:15:56]

- The fullness of joy comes from abiding in Jesus. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the eternal hope we have in Christ. It is a joy that overflows, impacting every area of our lives. [01:24:44]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[46:19] - Introduction to Abide Series
[55:39] - The Vine and the Branches
[58:20] - Abiding in the Word
[01:04:35] - The Power of Prayer
[01:08:37] - Bearing Fruit for God's Glory
[01:15:56] - Abiding in Love
[01:24:44] - Fullness of Joy
[01:34:02] - Response and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Abiding in Jesus

Bible Reading:
- John 15:1-11

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 15, what analogy does Jesus use to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers? How does this analogy help us understand our dependence on Him? [55:39]

2. According to the sermon, what are the practical ways mentioned for abiding in Jesus? How do these practices help in bearing spiritual fruit? [58:20]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the evidence of true discipleship, and how is this connected to glorifying God? [01:08:37]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of love in our relationship with Jesus, and what is the significance of keeping His commandments? [01:15:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of abiding in Jesus challenge the idea of self-reliance in spiritual growth? What does it mean to let Jesus' life flow through us? [58:20]

2. The sermon emphasizes prayer as aligning our desires with God's will. How might this change the way we approach prayer in our daily lives? [01:04:35]

3. What does it mean to bear fruit in the context of John 15, and how does this relate to our identity as disciples of Jesus? [01:08:37]

4. How does the sermon explain the connection between abiding in Jesus and experiencing fullness of joy? What might this joy look like in different life circumstances? [01:24:44]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current engagement with Scripture. What steps can you take to immerse yourself more deeply in God's Word this week? [58:20]

2. Consider your prayer life. How can you shift your focus from presenting a wish list to seeking God's heart and aligning your desires with His will? [01:04:35]

3. Identify one area in your life where you can bear more spiritual fruit. What practical actions can you take to reflect Jesus to others in this area? [01:08:37]

4. Think about your relationship with Jesus. Are there commandments you struggle to keep? How can you view these as a response to His love rather than an obligation? [01:15:56]

5. Joy is described as overflowing and not dependent on circumstances. What is one specific way you can cultivate this joy in your life, regardless of your current situation? [01:24:44]

6. How can you actively pursue a deeper love for Jesus in your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this relationship? [01:15:56]

7. Reflect on a recent challenge or trial. How can the eternal hope in Christ help you find joy and peace in the midst of it? [01:24:44]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Transformative Power of Scripture
Abiding in Jesus requires immersing oneself in His Word, allowing it to transform from the inside out. This is not about acquiring knowledge but about letting His Word shape our lives and actions. When we dwell in Scripture, we invite the Holy Spirit to work within us, molding our character and guiding our decisions. This transformative process is ongoing, requiring a daily commitment to engage with God's Word and let it influence our thoughts and behaviors. [58:20]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to immerse yourself more deeply in God's Word, allowing it to transform your thoughts and actions?


Day 2: Aligning Desires Through Prayer
Prayer is essential for aligning our desires with God's will. It is not about getting what we want but about seeking God's heart and allowing Him to guide our wishes. Through prayer, we open ourselves to divine guidance, learning to desire what God desires for us. This alignment is a process of surrender, where we lay down our own agendas and seek to understand and embrace God's purposes for our lives. [01:04:35]

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one desire or goal you have that you can bring before God in prayer today, asking Him to align it with His will?


Day 3: Reflecting Christ Through Fruitful Living
Bearing fruit is evidence of our discipleship and brings glory to God. Our lives should reflect Jesus, showing others what it means to follow Him. This fruitfulness is not about perfection but about a genuine pursuit of Christlikeness, where our actions and attitudes mirror the love and grace of Jesus. As we abide in Him, His life flows through us, enabling us to impact the world around us for His glory. [01:08:37]

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally reflect Christ's love and grace to those around you today, demonstrating the fruit of your discipleship?


Day 4: Living in Love Through Obedience
Abiding in Jesus means staying in His love, which is demonstrated by keeping His commandments. This love is not about legalism but about a genuine relationship with Christ. When we obey His commands, we express our love for Him and experience the fullness of His love in return. This obedience is a response to His love for us, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His character. [01:15:56]

"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." (John 15:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one command of Jesus that you find challenging to keep, and how can you rely on His love to help you obey it today?


Day 5: Experiencing Joy Through Abiding
The fullness of joy comes from abiding in Jesus. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the eternal hope we have in Christ. It is a joy that overflows, impacting every area of our lives and providing strength and resilience in the face of life's challenges. As we remain connected to Jesus, we experience a deep and abiding joy that transcends our circumstances and fills us with hope and peace. [01:24:44]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy in your life today, regardless of your current circumstances, by focusing on your relationship with Jesus?

Quotes

To abide in Jesus is to stay in his word. And we talked about last week, that word abide literally means to remain. It means to stay. See the, the branch did nothing. He, the branch didn't come from another tree and attach himself to the olive tree. The branch grew out of the vine. Guys, that's how salvation happens. We believe in Jesus. Jesus gives us the growth. Like Jesus, does all the work of salvation for us. It's not like we come to him and say, look at all the fruit that I bear. And he said, oh, I could really use you for my kingdom. Come attach yourself to this vine. That's not how it works. Instead, Jesus is the one who gives the growth. [00:58:52] (39 seconds)


And if we stay connected to Jesus, fruit will grow. It's amazing. And so this is what Jesus promises. He says, if you're going to abide in 2025, then you're going to have to stay in my word. And here's what I love about it is he says, you'll stay in my word. You'll abide in my word. And he gives a promise. My word will abide in you. Isn't that amazing? Like, think about that. That's not just, you know, a thing. Well, you bet you guys better read your Bible, but it's a promise that as we consume the word of God, the word of God is making its home inside of our lives. [00:59:46] (44 seconds)


Church, the bottom line is that we've kind of eliminated all the excuses to not be in God's word. It literally now boils down to this desire. It's no longer about competency. It's no longer about whether or not you can understand it. No longer about whether or not you should read it or listen to it. It's no longer. I left my Bible somewhere and can't find it. We don't lose our phones and there it is. Well, sometimes we do, but it's, there it is right there. And guys like we have, we have more access to the word of God than any other generation has ever had in human history. [01:02:06] (48 seconds)


To abide in Jesus is to pray. To abide in Jesus is to pray. I love this. Jesus says, if you abide in me, ask whatever you wish. And so here's what happens. When we abide in Jesus and we pray, we pray until Jesus aligns our wishes with his will. Because if we're not careful, we'll read this passage and we'll say, great. God's a genie. Ask whatever you wish and it will be granted to you. So you're saying all I got to do is read my Bible every day this week. And all I got to do is say a few prayers and I'm gonna get whatever I want. No, that is not what God's word is saying. [01:04:24] (51 seconds)


Oh God, I don't know how I'm going to pay this bill. Please provide for us. Oh God, I'm so lonely. I just, please give me friends or give me a spouse or a maid. Like, like we're good at praying for the things we're desperate. But what about just the ho -hum everyday things that we wish for? You know why we don't pray for them? Because we can do them on our own. And the power of God is not needed. It makes me wonder if so many followers of Jesus today have not built a life for themselves to where God is actually unnecessary in their lives. [01:05:37] (42 seconds)


Church, to abide in Jesus, to abide in Jesus is to continue to grow. Like what if the branch was trying to bear fruit without the vine? Like what if the branch was trying to bear fruit without the vine? Like what if it just said, I don't need this and backed away from the vine? It's impossible. It's impossible for this to bear fruit without being intimately attached to the vine. It's impossible. Well, guys, it is. You have to have a relationship with God to bear fruit. You have to love him. And this is exactly why Jesus came. Jesus came because we were all branches that were separated from the vine. [01:21:44] (49 seconds)


Jesus said, the whole reason I'm telling you these things is that my joy, you know what that word joy means? Joy. It means joy. So that my joy may be in you, not the world's joy, not your joy, but his joy. Did you know, Jesus? Jesus was a joyful person. Did you know he still is? That he's alive and that one of the marks that he had of his life here on earth was his joy. And he says the same joy that I have. If you'll abide in me, I'm giving you that joy. And that your joy. Now, do you know what this version of joy means? Joy. That your joy may be full. [01:25:51] (62 seconds)


Jesus says, bring your mops, bring your buckets, bring your plow trucks, because we're about to have a floor just ruined. Ruined by the overflow of joy that I'm going to bring into your life. And I don't want to explain this away. Do you know why? Because I want it. I want joy. I don't want to be told it's okay to just sit by yourself in isolation and be miserable. That's the life of a Christian. No, it's not. No, it's not. Now, this word joy doesn't mean worldly happiness. Because you know what? The Bible also says it was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross. [01:27:11] (54 seconds)


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Transcript
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