~ Deepening our Relationship with Christ ~
_________________________
Paul J. Bucknell
Deepening Intimacy | Obedience | Assumptions
Means of
Intimacy #1 The Vinedresser | #2 True Vine | #3 Success |
#4 Means of Success | #5 Promise of Abiding | #6 Purpose of Abiding |
#7 Need of Obedience | #8 Need of Love | Friendship John 15:16-17 | Applying the Principles John 15:16 | Summary Principles |
Study Questions | Small Group Questions
Walking With Jesus - Abiding in Christ | Description and Purchase
Purpose: God is the Vinedresser exposits John 15:1 and reveals the intimate way God our Father is involved in every Christian's life. This is step #1 of eight taught in the Abiding in Jesus series on how to be more intimate with the Lord.
Let’s now look at eight points that are taken from these verses that will help us understand how God wants us to be close to Him.
“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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:1-6).
“My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1).
Our Father in Heaven cares for us. He is the vinedresser. As a farmer cares for his vines, so the Lord our Heavenly Father cares for our lives. He uses all means to strengthen us as His branches so we can further carry out His will.
We are ultimately responsible to Him. Our purpose in life goes beyond fulfilling our self-purposes. We care and manage our own lives in such a way that we can accomplish His greater purpose for our lives. We need to accept His care for us. Sometimes it will require hardships so that we may produce more fruit.
Verse 15:1 unabashedly states, ‘My Father’ is the vinedresser. He is tender but tough as a Father. But in the end, we can trust His care for us. Everything will happen for the best (Romans 8:28). We can trust Him in this training process. He wants us to be the best looking and producing people of God!
=> Continue reading Step #2 for intimacy with the Lord: Christ is the true vine.
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Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted:
(C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1988