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Episodes
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Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Abiding and Fruit
John 15 July 16, 2023
I. Introduction:
A. How many of you have ever snorkeled or scuba dived by a coral
reef?
1. Picture of coral reef
2. They are loaded with many different beautiful views and unique
beautiful fish swimming there.
3. That is the way I feel about the metaphor in John 15 of the vine
and the branches, which helps us understand our relationship
with Jesus.
a. I have thought about, studied, and read about this passage for
decades and I am still overwhelmed by the beauty of the
truths and the new things I keep finding!
b. That is my way of saying it is worth your time, to jump into
this passage and swim around in it over and over again!
B. Since Don did such a great job of preaching through this passage
about two months ago, I am going focus on two key aspects of it
this morning. What abiding means and what is the fruit in this
passage!
C. Let me remind you quickly of the big picture of this passage as Don
presented it to us that morning:
1. God’s pruning goes before God’s produce
2. God will work in you to produce fruit through you
3. God promises to answer our prayers
D. The heart of the truth of this passage can be summarized in verses 4
and 5.
1. V 4 presents it negatively, while v5 presents it positively!
2. Read v4-5
3. Simply stated: apart from Jesus we cannot bear fruit, abide in
Jesus to bear fruit!
4. Another way to say it is: it is impossible to bear fruit for God
unless you abide in Jesus.
a. Note “cannot” speaks to our inability
b. “Bear” speaks of the bringing something forth, producing
something, giving birth to something!
c. “Of itself” speaks to the fact that we are not the source of
fruit, we are not the ones who bring about or produce
fruit! All by ourselves, we cannot do it!
5. Fruit bearing is something that can only happens when the life
of the vine (Jesus) flows into and through the branches (the
believer) to produce the fruit!
• Let me start by looking at John 15 to see
II. What is the fruit?
A. Fruit is simply an internal invisible power or life working within a
plant, tree, a vine, a person to produce an external visible
expression.
B. Fruit is the main driver and theme of this passage as bearing fruit is
talked about six times in this passage as we see a movement from –
no fruit, to fruit, to more fruit, too much fruit!
1. Fruit is the means by which the Father is glorified. Read v8
C. So the question I want to answer today is what is that fruit that is
borne by us when Jesus life is operating in us?
1. Many with the gift of evangelism or a strong bent for the
mission Jesus gave us interpret fruit here as people who are
saved!
a. While people being saved is one expression of the fruit, I do
not think the context nor the rest of the New Testament
supports it as the only kind of fruit in this passage.
2. Listen to these other expressions of fruit in the New Testament
a. Winning others to Christ – Romans 1:13, John 4:35-38
b. Holiness – Romans 6:22
c. Giving of your finances – Romans 15:28; Philippians 4:17
d. Fruit of the Spirit (character of Jesus within and through us)–
Galatians 5:22-23
e. Righteousness Philippians 1:11; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18
f. Giving thanks Hebrews 13:15
g. Goodness, righteousness, truth - Ephesians 5:9
h. Various forms of ministry - Romans 1:11-13
D. So whenever you are displaying the internal character of Jesus you
are displaying the fruit of the indwelling Jesus within you. When
you are ministering to saved or lost people, especially in the areas
of your giftedness the outcomes of that upon other people are
evidences of fruit of Jesus working through you.
1. So when someone encourages someone who is discouraged the
fruit is when God actually encourages that person through you
2. So when someone helps someone else in need the fruit of that is
that God meets a need in that person’s life
3. So when someone with the gift of mercy feels with and gently
cares for the person who is hurting the fruit is that they feel
comforted, understood and seen.
E. My best definition of fruit is John 15. Fruit is any expression of
Jesus’ character in that person, or any expression of Jesus through
their unique make up and giftedness that impacts others.
F. As you answer the following question I think you will see why I
believe that
1. What kind of fruit does an apple tree produce? apples
2. What kind of fruit does a peach tree produce? peach
3. What kind of fruit does an orange tree produce? orange
4. What kind of fruit does a grape vine produce? grape
5. What kind of fruit does a Jesus vine produce? Jesus
G. It is the unique expression of Jesus’ life through you in light of the
way he uniquely designed, gifted and called you!
H. I remember being in seminary and working for a man who grew up
as a farmer and had a large garden in his back yard!
1. He had a peach tree in his garden which I loved eating tree
ripened peaches off.
2. One day he told me that in the past, he had grafted a branch
from a pear tree into a peach tree, and then he asked me “what
kind of fruit do you think that branch bore?”
a. I guessed pear – he said no! I said peach – he said no
b. He told me it was a completely different kind of fruit that
had characteristics and taste of both a pear and peach mixed
together as one!
I. I believe that is what fruit looks like through each individual
uniquely made and gifted believer/branch that is plugged into the
vine Jesus.
1. Jesus expressing himself in and through branch Pat is going to
look very different from Jesus expressing himself in and
through branch Kim.
2. Jesus expressing himself in and through branch Pat Peglow is
going to look very different from Jesus expressing himself in
and through branch Don Kauffman.
3. Etc etc. etc.
• All of this fruit is dependent upon
III. Abiding in Jesus!
A. So what does it mean to abide in Jesus?
1. I think to understand this passage we need to understand that the
word abiding has two aspects to its meaning and two aspects to
its application!
2. The two aspects of its meaning – one aspect has to do with time
and the other with place
a. Time – to remain, stay or continue in some state or place
b. Place – the word is also used to indicate a dwelling place, an
abode, someone’s residence or home.
1. Read John 14:2 – dwelling places
2. Read John 14:23 – abode – our residence, our home
c. So the PBP definition is simply continue to be at home with
Jesus! It is that ongoing close and intimate relationship with
Jesus.
3. The two aspects of its application have to do with our union and
our communion with Jesus
a. Union – has to do with our position in Christ as being in
Christ or our one with or our mutual indwelling with Christ
where Jesus is in us and us in Jesus –
1. Read John 14:20 – you in me and I in you
2. Read John 14:10 – when Jesus speaks of this mutually
indwelling relationship between him and his Father, he
talks about the Father abiding in him
3. In Paul’s language he calls it being “in Christ”
b. Communion – has to do with our practice or walk with
Christ.
B. While we see in John 14 that we are in union with Jesus. In John
15:4 and following, he is talking about our communion with
Jesus.
1. But verse 4 is a command, an imperative! A decisive decision
and action Jesus is calling them and us to (those who are already
in union with Jesus) where we continually remain at home with
Jesus!
2. That is where Jesus would be comfortable with my life and I am
comfortable with Jesus’ life. We are at home with one another
day in day out, moment by moment.
C. Thus, who I am in the deepest part of my being is consistent with
the way I live my life. My position in Christ is one with my walk
with Christ.
1. When I am walking in intimate fellowship with Jesus – praying,
meeting him through his Word, obeying him, living for him,
trusting him, a life filled by and controlled by the Spirit then his
life is expressing the fruit of Jesus life in and through me
2. When we do not fellowship with Jesus – not praying, not
meeting with him and feeding on his Word, disobeying him,
living for yourself, not trusting him but living by your own
strength no fruit is expressed in or through us.
D. I believe the greatest expression of abiding is a continued reliance,
dependence, trust and faith in the indwelling Jesus to live his life
through us.
1. Paul says it like this – Galatians 2:20
III. Closing application
E. Do you see the fruit of the character of Jesus growing and
developing within you?
• Do you see Jesus working through you to bless others in a
way that has no explanation except for God himself?
1. If you do, it is evidence that you are abiding in Jesus and
bearing fruit for him
2. If you do not, then there needs to be some things addressed in
your relationship with Jesus
B. Is your lifestyle one where Jesus would be comfortable going along
with you every place you go, would he be at home in your mind,
your desires, with your tongue, with your relationships, your habits,
your entertainment, etc.?
• Are you comfortable with and delight in going along with
Jesus’ thoughts and desires as expressed in his Word and
shaping your whole life around his Word?
1. If you do, it is evidence that you are abiding in Jesus and
bearing fruit for him
2. If you do not, then there needs to be some things addressed in
your relationship with Jesus
V. Response
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
The Holy Spirt, the Helper, the Comforter,
John 14:16-20, etc. July 2, 2023
I. Introduction:
A. When we are job hunting, often we are so focused on what the salary will be
that we overlook the benefit package that makes the offer much better than we
realize.
1. Many people see salvation much the same way.
a) They focus on the main salary of forgiveness now and heaven later, but
they are not plugging into all the benefits that come with it.
b) In Ephesians 3 Paul summarizes the benefit package of salvation as
being blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ
Jesus.
2. This morning I want to talk about one of those benefits, one of those
spiritual blessings
a) In my experience, this benefit has become one of the most precious and
valuable gifts to me in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
b) The indwelling Holy Spirit of God!
B. If you remember, the upper room discourse is about the truths that were
essential for Jesus’ followers and us to know during the time between when he
returned to his Father in heaven and when he comes back for us.
C. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit two times earlier in the book but in the few
chapters of the upper room discourse, Jesus spoke about this gift six different
times.
1. We first heard about the Spirit when in chapter three Jesus was talking
with Nicodemus about salvation and letting him know that being born
again was a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
2. Then again in chapter 7 at the great feast when Jesus cried out in 7:37c-39
a) Here Jesus says the Holy Spirit is going to quench the deepest thirsts in
our life and he will dwell in our deepest part of our beings flowing like
a river of water.
b) John tells us Jesus was speaking of the Spirit whom they had not
received yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified by ascending back
to the Father.
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• Now in the upper room discourse we see Jesus repeatedly coming back to and
emphasizing this precious gift as one of the essentials truths they must not forget
after he leaves them
II. Holy Spirit
A. As I read note that Jesus is basically telling his followers that while he is gone
they will not be left as orphans but Jesus will actually come and dwell within
them by means of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit is going to bring the presence, power and help of the Jesus into
their lives
2. Watch for this as I read John 14:16-20
3. Jesus is telling them that the Holy Spirit will not only be with them but in
them, dwelling within them bringing to them the very life, power and
presence of Jesus.
B. Helper is a word that is very broad and covers a bunch of different areas.
1. It means one who helps by comforting, encouraging or mediating in behalf
of someone.
2. He is the one that comes along side us to help us with whatever we need to
do God’s will in our lives
C. Note that he was with them but in the very near future, he would be in them.
Point out v17
1. That is what Jesus means when he will not leave them as orphans when he
returns to the Father but the Holy Spirit will be indwelling them, living
right in them, to be there to help them and us.
D. Note in v19 he speaks of his death and resurrection but in v20 he says it will
be in that time period after his resurrection and ascension that they will
understand that he is in the Father, they will be in Jesus and Jesus will be in
them, obviously by means of the Holy Spirit. Reread v20 and cross reference
with v17 “in” you
E. I want you to note the context both before and after this. Read v 15, 21
1. Both before and after it is talking about obedience.
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2. Now at the start of v16 the great majority, but not all of translations have
the word “and” to start the verse. This is there in the Greek and is a
connective that links the obedience of v15 with the coming of the Helper
in verse 16.
3. I think the primary way the Holy Spirit helps us is by enabling us to obey
what Jesus wants us to do.
4. Is that not why the Holy Spirit was originally promised in Ezekiel 36 –
Israel’s disobedience got them in big trouble and God promised them in
new covenant the following: Read Ezekiel 36:26-27
a) God by means of his Spirit would cause them, enable them to walk in
obedience to him and even create in their hearts a carefulness,
attentiveness, a vigilance to obey God’s Word.
F. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus Christ living in
them/us to help us with whatever we need to live for Jesus in these days.
• There are some other references to the Holy Spirit that come up in this discourse
that I will briefly take you to, because most of them we will come back to in
future messages in this series.
III. Other references to the Holy Spirit in upper room
A. Read 14:26 –
1. Remember there were many things in the book of John that Jesus taught
the disciples that they did not understand. The promise is the Holy Spirit
will remind them of these things and help them understand the significance
2. The Holy Spirit will be sent in Jesus’ name – that means the Holy Spirit is
coming to officially represent Jesus to us!
B. Read 15:26, 27 - the Holy Spirit will be working right along with us
witnessing about Jesus to the world as we witness to them.
C. Read 16:7 – the Holy Spirit coming to them and living in them, as their helper
is actually an advantage to them over having Jesus’ physical presence with
them.
D. John 16:8-11 – in these verses it speaks about how the Holy Spirit will
convict/convince people regarding sin – righteousness and judgment. We will
give a complete message to this
E. Read 16:12-13 – here Jesus promises the future inspiration of the rest of the
New Testament. we will give a complete message about this
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IV. Ministries of the Holy Spirit in other portions of the New Testament
A. Regeneration – makes us a new creation and puts the new life within us
B. Sealing – locks us in and guarantees our salvation until Jesus returns to
receive us to himself
C. Teaches us – he gives us the ability to understand the meaning and
significance of God’s Word
D. Leads and guides us
E. Baptizes us into Jesus – he is the one who puts us into Jesus just like we saw a
few minutes ago where you are in me and I am in you
F. Fills us – makes his presence and power known in every area of our life so
that we are living under his influence rather than the influence of our best
efforts
G. Assures us deep within that we are children of God
H. Prays for the believer
I. Gifts us supernaturally with various different gifts as expression of Jesus in
and through us to bless others
J. Sanctifies us – that means that he breaks down the control of the flesh in our
lives and fills us with more and more of the resurrected life of Jesus. That is
how we are made more like Jesus!
• I think now you can see why I think the Holy Spirit is one of the most precious
and valuable gifts Jesus has given to us in these days!
V.Application
A. Now that we know some of the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us in these
days; how do we plug into this benefit?
B. I want to say there are three ways the first is prayer
1. Hebrews 13:20-21- this is a prayer of benediction, a prayer for blessing.
Read
2. Blank check here regarding whatever we need to do God’s will!
3. Note it is the indwelling Christ who equips us with this
a) Cross reference Philippians 2:12-13
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C. The second way is faith
1. Turn and read Galatians 2:20
2. It is not I who is living my life now but Christ in me – remember – you in
me and me in you!
3. The life we live right now is a life of faith in the one who lives in me to
supernaturally express his life through me!
4. Illustrate: Jesus calls me to obey him in some specific way (not be angry or
anxious or to be forgiving and pure, etc.) we have one of two options to go
about it.
a) First, we can trust ourselves by trying very hard, setting up
accountability systems, following certain steps, being real sincere and
committed this time
b) Or we can put no trust in ourselves and rely upon the one who lives in
us to do a miracle in and through me enabling me by his life living
through me.
5. Turn and read Galatians 4:19
6. The Christian life is more about the life of Jesus being incarnated within us
than us becoming better imitators of what Jesus did.
D. The third way is to walk with the Holy Spirit in obedience. Let him lead you!
1. You cannot walk with the Spirit unless you are going in the same direction
he is going.
2. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about:
a) If he says, “this is the way walk in it” – then go that way!
b) If he says you are going in the wrong direction – then stop and say no
to that
c) If he says release something – then let go of it
d) If he says be still – then wait
e) If he says go – then go
E. So when Jesus went to be with his Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to live
within us forever to help us live the life God wants us to live!
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VI. Response
A. As we sing this last song, I’m going to ask you to actually pray it to the Lord
as you sing and respond as the Holy Spirit would lead you.