The Vineyard Church (John 15:1-17)

Remember John the Baptist's call? "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8 NIV)  We are not only called to return home to The Father.  We are also supposed to live like we are in His household again, working as His team.  How do we do this?

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8 NIV)

We stay connected to Jesus.  His Spirit is sent to us as a down payment.  His Spirit is in us like God used to dwell in the temple.  Our bodies are now His Temple.  As He remains in us the rest of our lives, His Spirit gives us the wisdom to know what He wants and the power to do our part.  We can only produce fruit when we remain in Him as He is in us.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-17 NIV)

God's desire for our lives is not mindless trust. He has given us more than enough reasons to trust.  His desire for our lives is not robot-like obedience.  Our obedience comes from knowing He loves and cares for us.  God wants to work all things together for our good.  When we trust Him and love Him back, everything falls into place.  We see situations the way He wants us to see them.  We see people the way He sees them.  We see the world as He intended it to be.  Then we live that garden walk.

How about you?  Are you a branch of the True Vine - staying connected to Him?  Do you remain in His love, keeping His commands?  Is your joy complete?  Is your life driven by love?