2009-11-08
The Parables of Jesus - The Vine and the Branches Abide in Christ
Steve Lane

A. Introduction/Review
Luke 24: 27,44 Yet, to not understand the parables enough to respond is a spiritual...
Micah 7: 1 He goes out into the vineyard to harvest, and there are no grapes.
Isaiah 5 Planted a vineyard; prepared everything; sour grapes (Luke 3: 7)
Self-deception and stubbornness are gateway sins.

B. Help and Preparation for Abiding in Christ
Many great saints of the past have used tools in the form of lists or reminders.
Jonathan Edwards - 70 resolutions.
Whitfield and Wesley were noted for their nightly self-examination list.
The surrender sheet - good reminders.
These lists will not be our focus, but rather the source of a Christ-like life and fruit.
After instituting the Lord's Supper (Luke 22: 14 - 20) and walking through the quiet...
Defining fruit and abiding:
Galatians 5: 22 - 25
Romans 8: 5 (key)
James 3: 13 - 18 (harvest and righteousness)

At the heart of fruit is a seed. That seed is to produce other plants.
Repentance is the only way to deal with stubbornness and self-deception.
MENO: to abide, live, continue, remain, endure, tarry, stand.

"The living union with Him, the experience of His daily and hourly presence and keeping... Therefore my brother who wants to learn to abide in Jesus, take time each day, before you read, while you read, and after you read, to put yourself into contact with the living Jesus, to yield yourself distinctly and consciously to His blessed influence."

~Andrew Murray

C. The Vine and the Branches - The Living Union With Christ (John 15: 1 - 8)

While this parable has stern warnings, it is not about losing your salvation. There is an open secret here to living the abundant life: union with Christ and dependence upon Him.

John 15: 1 - 2 Being with the branches does not make you alive and connected.
Fruit is expected, but it does not come by self-effort.
John 15: 3 You must maintain a union and connection, but He will do it!
There will be trials that will make you more fruitful.
John 15: 4 Almost a plead: there is no other way you can do this.
Philip's translation: branch cannot bear fruit unless it "shares the life of the Vine."
John 15: 5 - 6 This is it! The sign of not being connected to the Vine is no fruit!
Providing joy and abundance and refreshment to those around you - this is expected. This is a union by faith (Romans 6)
John 15: 7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you...
Take a minute and surrender yourself to abide in him before Communion.