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After 15, I am a true Vine and my father is a husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch of bearer fruit he purchases, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you're clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you, as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine.
No more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the friendships.
Either abideth in me, and I in him. The same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me he can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cashed forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If he abide in me, in my words, abide in you, Ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein, as my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit socially, be my disciple.
As a father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue, ye and my love.
If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends. If you do whatsoever, I commend you.
As far as I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what is Lord doeth. But I've called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go forth and go and bring forth fruit, that your fruit should remain.
But what aware you shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you.
These things that command you that you love one another.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But because you're not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my namesake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they have not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin.
He that hateth me, hateth my father also. If I had not done among them the worsest, none other men did. They have not had sin. But now have they both seen and hated both me and my father. But this cometh to pass it. The word might be fulfilled that is written in their law. They hated me without a cause.
And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send unto you from the Father.
Even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me, and He also shall bear witness. Because you've been with me from the beginning. We might notice the last words of chapter 14, the Lord says.
Let us go hence. Arise, let us go hence.
Where was she going and taking his disciples with him?
Well, he was on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane. He was really on the way to the cross.
And so we find these next chapters, 1516 and 17 spoken on the way to the garden, because in the first verse of chapter 18.
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Says when Jesus has spoken these words.
He went forth with his disciples over the Brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which he entered and his disciples.
The Lord had before him his suffering and the cross.
And all that he alone.
Could take in. I don't know how much the disciples knew about what was coming, he had told them, but it didn't seem to sink in very far.
But he knew. He knew every bit of what was before him because she although as a man, he walked. Here's a man, yet he is gone. He was gone walking there and he knew all about what was ahead of him.
And in the light of that, if you put that which is said in these chapters in that frame, as it were, I think it helps us to understand many of the things that he said.
And I think it's well for us to remember this, that he was on the way to suffering when he said these things. And if we keep this in mind, perhaps.
It will help the Spirit of God to just make it plainer to us.
And we might be unable to take it in better. Now the Spirit of God always is teaching us, and the Lord by His Spirit would teach us many things. But we know that we have to be in a certain state of soul to take in certain things.
And if we are prepared in our hearts and minds to see what the Lord has said in a framework of this nature that is is going to the cross while he's saying these things, I believe it will will help us to enter into it in view of that.
Wouldn't you say that chapter 13 and chapter 14 which precedes this?
Introduced to this chapter 15 in this way that he is.
Preparing the disciples for the place in chapter 13, that is the perhaps the work of foot washing, feet washing, but then in chapter 14 He is preparing the place for them. He has gone there now, you know, and we and has prepared the place.
And is going to bring the disciples and us to there, but now he.
Is giving that which will produce fruit for the husbandman.
In us, while we are, we might say in the way to that place, he is going to prepare. God has a right to expect that fruit and He is working to get it. He didn't get it out of the old vine in the way that he wanted. It only produced wild grapes.
But now through this abiding in Christ, there's fruit, and more fruit, and much fruit which the husbandman ought to get. He has a right to expect it, and the way is only in abiding in the vine, in Christ himself.
In the 13th chapter, he said.
Having loved his own who were in the world.
And I suppose that that's really what we have in this chapter is not his own review here in this world. He's gone back.
To the Father Jesus, knowing that he came from God and went to God, but his own are left in the world and so the this chapter on fruit bearing has.
In view the place that we.
Occupy here in this world where he was, he's gone up into the glory, but we're left behind in this world. And the desire of the of the Father is that there might be fruit for his glory, even as there was fruit for his glory in the in the life of the Lord Jesus when he was here walking to the glory of the Father.
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And doing those things that were pleasing in his sight.
And now we in a sense occupy that place that he had. We have a place in him before God. But we're here as those who are to be for the pleasure of God and to bear fruit for God even as he. So it's really we're, we're viewed here in chapters 13 and 14. It's more the inner place that we have with him. But here it is the place that we have in this world.
As those who are left behind for a little while.
Awaiting the Lord's coming.
Sees in the believer.
As.
Life, the life of Christ himself. And so the vine then attached to the vine, that very life flows out, does it not? And in thinking of that.
The greatest thing?
In order that there might be fruit or service or whatever.
Is to have the affections.
Centered on the Lord Jesus.
I really believe is what our brother Anderson is bringing before us when he spoke of the cross in view.
And I know that the disciples did not enter in as they should.
When he spoke of the cross, because we find in various places that.
For instance, the 9th chapter of Luke where he spoke of the cross at least twice, maybe three times.
The end result was they were beginning to murmur which of them was the greatest.
And I know that it's true with us that we enter very little into what the cross really means.
But it serves, does it not, as in this chapter, to arouse the affections toward Christ. That is, it isn't how much we love the Lord, it's how much He loved us.
And there we see the measure of it in the cross.
And also we see the measure of the Father's love in the cross. Not that we can estimate that measure, but we see that the measure is there. It's the fullness of the heart of God expressed in the cross of Calvary, and it's the love of Jesus for his people.
It's a love to the father, but the love to his people as well that led him to that cross and so.
I believe that's what's in view in this chapters has been brought out, the affections aroused.
Now this is true in our lives as Christians.
There may be many things that arise and become a question mark in our minds as to what we should do.
And now we should serve.
But I really believe.
Although one can't speak for too much experience in it, I really believe that if our affections are aroused as to the love of Christ, these answers will be forthcoming without difficulty, whatever they may be.
You know, it's a wonderful thing to have the truth of God, and Scripture says that the soul.
Be without knowledge is not good.
But knowledge won't do it in itself.
It's what that knowledge brings us to, and that's the person of Christ because he's the center. Wherever you may read in Scripture, he's always the center. And the highest truths that we have in Scripture, which we find in the the third chapter of Ephesians, is to know the love of Christ.
And there we enter into the fullness of what God is not by a great deal of knowledge in our heads as to details of Scripture which are good in themselves.
But it's the it's to know the love of Christ.
Now that's demonstrated in much detail in the Song of Solomon.
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As the as the bridegroom opens to the bride, little by little, his affections for her, her heart is drawn.
From one thing to another until she's fully in accord with him. When you come to the 7th chapter, I believe that's where the secret we have here in this chapter 2 as well. It's the affections that are in view and the Lord would having pointed to his disciples often the fact that he was going to the cross.
Now he brings in this, which is not really a gospel message as some may use it in this chapter, but it's it's fruit bearing.
If the believer seen in this position down here when Christ will leave them of fruit bearing and it isn't an effort.
It's the result.
Of the soul being taken up with the person of Christ. That's really what abiding in Him is, is it not? There may be things in us that the Lord has to correct, I suppose. And perhaps that's why the 13th chapter comes first, because it says in Isaiah chapter one, cease to do evil.
Learn to do well. If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the fruit of the land.
And so I believe the Lord washing the disciples feet was really preparing them for the ministry that He is giving in these chapters. And there may be with some of us, we would like to enjoy more of His love and of His of communion with Him. But we need to put our feet into His hands and be willing that He should wash our feet.
There are hindrances and so that we need to 1St allow him to apply the water of the word to those things.
It was because He loved them that He was washing their feet. It was because He wanted them to have part with Him. So after He had washed their feet, then He tells them of how He wants to enjoy their company forever. For that's when He comes and receives us unto Himself, and that blessed prospect is before us, that we're going to be in His presence to enjoy His company forever.
But in this same 14th chapter, He tells us that we don't have to wait until that time when we're in the Father's house to enjoy communion with Him. Perhaps we have all noticed that the word translated mansions in the second verse of the 14th chapter is the same as that which is translated abode in the 23rd verse.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loved me, he will keep my words.
And my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. So if we're really looking forward to this time when we'll be in the Father's house in His company forever, then the Lord is telling us why you can enjoy the mansions beforehand. We don't have to wait until that time to enjoy.
Communion with the father.
And with the sun. And if we are enjoying this communion with the Father and the Son, then there will be fruit bearing. Galatians Chapter 5 speaks about the works of the flesh, but the fruit of the Spirit works. Or something that is well, we might say requires energy. But fruit bearing is a very natural thing.
And brethren, if we're in communion with the Lord.
Really enjoying him and his love. The natural result will be fruit bearing. Moses wasn't aware that the skin of his face shone when he came down from the mountain, but having been in the company of the Lord for 40 days and having received some measure of knowledge about His grace to go on with those people in spite of all that they were.
Caused a reflection in his face.
And so as he came down, he wasn't aware of it, but the people were aware of it and saw it. And it says in 2nd Corinthians 3 and verse 18. And we all with open or unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And so I say again, that fruit bearing will be the natural result of communion.
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And I believe that's why the emphasis here is on abiding with Him, because the effort of the enemy is always to get us away from his side. And so we sing, O Lamb of God, still keep us close to thy pierced inside. And all his dealings with us are in order that we might be kept. And when he sees us begin to wander by, then he purges us that there might be more fruit.
Well, it's very beautiful, I think, to take the 13th and 14th chapters as the introduction to what we have here, because I believe we could say that subject of the 14th chapter is communion, and the subject of the 15th chapter is fruit bearing and service. And if any man serve me, let him follow me. And where I am, there shall also my servant be.
Our brother.
Mentioned about.
There was no effort in the matter of.
Bearing fruit.
Well, if we look at the vine with its branches, are the branches putting forth any effort to be attached to the vine?
They're attached. They're attached, but they're hindrances to the Fruit Prairie. That's why we get the Purging mansion.
Those who have fruit orchards or fruit vineyards, they know something about this. They have to do their spray. They have to do the necessary things to keep down the fungus or the mites or the bugs or worms or whatever they might be.
Because there are many things that can come in and hinder the tree or the vine from bearing fruit. And so all of these branches on the vine have to be taken care of properly and purged that they may bring forth fruit. Well, what's it a picture of? No doubt it's a picture of those things in this world.
The things of the flesh, the things of the world.
The things of the enemy that would come in and attach themselves to us to SAP our spiritual strength, so we cannot bear fruit for God. Well, there comes then this matter of exercise about judging those things and going to the Lord about them, and being cleansed from them, being purged, being cleansed by the washing of water, by the word, that we might bring forth fruit.
More fruit, as it says here.
Begins the chapter.
I am the true vine.
Not merely that he says I am the vine, but I am the true vine. And I take it that this is in contrast to Israel.
Israel and Isaiah 5 we know was spoken of as from the figure of being one of the choicest bond, and how that God looked that it might bear fruit, but it brought bear grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.
And so I think we we see in the very beginning here that there is no fruit for God, you might say, in the first man.
Israel would be.
Would stand representative Representative Lee of the first man and the first man with all of the privileges that God could bestow upon him and with all of the light because Israel was a people blessed of God, with light from God and a God-given religion, they, you might say they, they represent the best.
That the 1St man had to offer. But there is no fruit there, it's all found in the second man, the Lord out of heaven. And of course we know that as to the full position, he didn't take that until he went on high. But when he was here on earth, he was morally that the 2nd man, the last Adam, the Lord out of heaven.
And there was, it's only in connection with him. And I mentioned that because.
We you can take the flesh.
And you can educate it, and you can give it the best of religion.
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And the best of morals, but it will not bear fruit for God, neither in the flesh cannot please God. There is no fruit, therefore God at all. It's all found in connection with Christ as the second man, the Lord out of heaven. And those of us who are believers we are, we are associated with him now as that second man.
And the last Adam and our life is is.
Hit with.
Christ in God we are associated with Christ and not the first man. So we want to see that the proper beginning is in our association with Christ now and and you might say new creation and not connected with the old man at all, not connected with man in the flesh.
How that the Lord Jesus comes in and the way you've spoken of and glorifies God.
In the place where the 1St man failed and Israel had been chosen and.
In the 80th Psalm you referred to Isaiah 5, but the 80th Psalm, the vine, was brought out of Egypt.
And then when we come to the second of Matthew.
The Lord Jesus out of Egypt have I called my son. He is introduced.
In the same way as Israel, but he comes in and perfectly glorifies God in everything in which the 1St man failed, whatever position it was, whether it's a vine or a servant. You can find the same things in Isaiah.
Behold, my servant, beginning the 42nd chapter in the 49th and so on, and it starts to refer to Israel.
And then finally you find it refers to the Lord Jesus. So he comes in and glorifies God perfectly in the position in which the 1St man failed. Of course, Israel was chosen out to be made an example of for the whole race. So now we have set before us immediately when we read this chapter, the one who is the true vine. He's, He's the perfect standard right before us.
Association with Christ must be a living thing though, and so we find in the second verse, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. And the sixth verse, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and then gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
There were those who partook of the privileges that Israel enjoyed.
And all those privileges were given to them of God, but unless there was life in the soul, and then there was no fruit for God, even though the place of privilege they occupied was a very wonderful place and given of God. So I believe too, the Lord here is Speaking of Judas, and any other like Him who might partake of all the privileges of being associated with Him.
And there would be no fruit just by accompanying him like Judas did, unless there was really a living link. There must be that or there would be no fruit. And so I think it's important to see this. It's not the thought of some have taken it that a person could be saved and lost again. It is simply.
Israel taken up in the place of profession. There was no fruit for God.
Christianity is brought in in the person of the Son, the Lord Jesus. But just professing Christianity is not enough. There must be a living link with Him. And then, if we are truly His, only as we abide in Him, can there be any fruit for God?
So the branch taken away and those burn shows that there will be a great many who have professed Christianity who will finally come under the judgment of God. And Judas was a sample of that. And that's why when the Lord was washing the disciples feet, he could say to the 11 disciples that they were clean and as we have it here.
Clean through the word that he had spoken unto them. But he also added Angie are clean but not all.
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And he spoke of Judas, who, although he had heard all the Lord had said, like the rest, he never had a living link with the Lord. And this is very clear from the 6th chapter of John, where long before Judas showed his true character, the Lord knew and said, Have not I chosen you? 12 And one of you is a devil? So Judas, although he was identified with the Lord in this way.
Was never a real believer. I suppose some find difficulty with the expression in verse two in me, every branch in me. But what you say is that this is an outward thing, not a living thing. It's association with the Lord in a way, but not in a living way.
And it's entering into the privileges in me really signifies that entering into the privileges of association with him.
But not being united to him in a living way. It's the same thought as in the 11Th of Romans, where we have a little different.
Theme there in connection with the olive branch, it speaks of them being the olive tree that is the place of privilege occupied in the earth and because of unbelief they're broken off and another is graphed in it isn't a believer. It's talking about the fig tree brings before us Israel nationally.
The vine, I believe, brings us before the Israel before us.
Perhaps we could say ecclesiastically and the olive tree rather the place of privilege that they occupied in the earth. And so when it speaks of the fig tree, it's no thought of particularly having divine life, but a nation chosen and blessed of God that only that didn't bear fruit. And then to all the privileges they had spiritually they had, the ordinances of God they had.
As we have in Romans 3. What advantage then half the Jew, and what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way, chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God, so ecclesiastically they were greatly privileged.
And they partook of all these privileges, but many of them were not saved. And as a nation they've been broken off. And now the Gentile occupies the place of privilege that they once occupied. And then again I say when it speaks about the olive tree in the 11Th of Romans, it speaks of the the people who are brought into all these.
Pardon me, here in this chapter I should say the vine.
We have that which ought to have produced fruit for God, but with all the privileges there was none. And the olive tree, again, it brings before us the fact that there are people on earth that are specially privileged, and that is the the Jews had this place. Now the Gentile occupies that place. But we need to remember that in these figures, as our brother said, it's not talking about a living link.
But rather a place of privilege. If there is a living link, there will be fruit.
That would be a good time to ask a question on Isaiah 18. I I think it would be helpful for the young people to hear this a good answer to these verses in Isaiah 18 because it speaks of the sour grape ripening in the flour inverse.
Five, I don't want to get off the subject, but it seems to be on the subject because we're talking about Israel.
In John 15 and those who were with the Lord and the true Vine. And here no doubt a future day, perhaps very close.
Just I'll just read verses 5 and six. I'd like to hear other brethren comment on them. For a for the harvest, when the blood is but is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flour, he shall both cut off the springs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together under the fowls of the mountains.
Under the beasts of the earth, and the fowl shall summer upon them.
And all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. I want to ask. It's been said that in our chapter it's a link with Christ, but there has to be a living link.
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There's the link of profession, and then there's a living link. Now how would you, brethren, explain these verses 5 and six here?
Well, it seems to me that even now.
Israel is in the land.
And I believe they recognize that they have been a special people of God and no doubt are proud about it, that they are special people of God.
But.
They're establishing themselves there, or have established themselves in a way.
But oh, there's so much going on there now, and I believe that's what we have in verse 6.
They beasts, the fowls of the mountains, and are wintering or feasting upon them, The beasts of the earth and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. And further up it speaks about.
Cutting off the springs and the branches, well, they're not going to be left alone in this condition.
Because they've gone back in unbelief, no doubt recognizing in some measure at least their privileges as being a special people of God, having been God, special earthly people. They recognize these privileges, perhaps in a way, and they are privileged people, although they crucified the Lord and they've been rejected as God's people, as a nation.
Up until the present time since that day.
The day will come when they'll be recognized as God's earthly people again, but they're going to have to go through a time of self judgment, and the tribulation will be needed, the time of Jacob's trouble, and they be brought, as it were, to their knees to repentance. And then it will come to pass what we have in the seventh verse, a presence to be brought to the Lord that is a remnant of them.
Will really be in living touch with the Lord.
But those that are speaking about generally here, although they have the privileges, they recognize that they're God's earthly people. That is some time ago, but still they think they are. Well, they're in these privileges. They have a special place and we'll have a special place in the coming day, but they can't enter into it and they're only bringing forth.
A sour grapes.
There's nothing for God in it, no fruit for God. Well, God is being left out on. It's easy to see if you read any of the news at all, you find that God is being left out. They're arming themselves. They're buying arms and making arms and and getting off a great army and they can do great things. We saw that how they defeated Egypt.
They're able for these things, but it's all in the flesh, it's all in their own strength.
And the Lord is allowing them to have all kinds of troubles now, but it will be worse when the great tribulation comes. And there won't be anything for God there until they're humbled. And then those who are really in touch with God, who are livingly in touch with God, they are the ones that will bring fruit for God. And it will of course be the remnant that the Lord keeps for himself and restores.
And they become the nucleus of God's earthly Kingdom, and it's the nucleus of God's earthly people, Israel. But there won't be any real fruit until it's manifested that there are those that are in real touch with God, but the others, they're not in touch with God. And I believe that's that fits into our chapter here, that there are those who are being taken away.
When they don't bear fruit.
Well, all of these that have gotten back to the land that are not really the Lord's, what's going to happen? They're not bringing forth fruit for God, and they're all going to be taken away. There won't be anything left of them. When the Lord comes in glory, all of those unbelieving Jews will be destroyed, but a little remnant will be preserved that will bring.
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Forth fruit for God. I believe there's a a word for the conscience here.
In the second verse, and you may not take it as an interpretation of the verse, but an application to our hearts today, and that is it is possible.
For one to be a believer.
And so put himself into the world in such a way that he may be taken out. And that's a solemn thing.
I'll read this verse in another translation.
In the second verse of our chapter.
It says.
As to every branch in me not bearing fruit.
He takes it away, and as to every branch, everyone bearing fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
No, I realize that we have Judas in the sixth verse. And what a solemn thing it was for Judas to spend 3 1/2 years with the Lord Jesus.
And still, there wasn't the slightest answer to all that grace.
But I do believe that there's a word for the conscience here of the believer in the second verse.
We're living in a day when the world makes a great appeal.
To even to the Christian and he may lose his his spiritual life, shall we say down here he may, he may turn to the world and the Lord may have to take him out.
Of this world you get that that in other scriptures that know you're going into but the principle I believe is there, although what has been said is true that Judas was one who.
It says a man, a man.
And so any man, he was one who had all the privileges, but he didn't respond to them.
An apostate Jew, we would say, one who gave up what he professed and so he goes to the fire. Just a little common connection with what our brother was asking about the 18 of Isaiah. I believe it's important to see that although the vine pictures to us, Israel ecclesiastically.
There was actually no life through the keeping of the ordinances in the Old Testament or.
Going on with the awkward things of the law, there had to be salvation. But it's a little different in Christianity. The Lord introduces himself, I am the true vine, and so there can be profession of those who profess to be an association with the true vine. For a man to say I'm a good Jew, well, the very best of Israel didn't.
Bring forth any fruit for God.
The only ones in Israel that ever produced any fruit for God were those who really had divine life in their souls. And so to profess the privileges of Judaism did not give divine life, but to profess to have received Christ as your Savior is to profess to have divine life and so.
In the 18th chapter of Isaiah, their vine is looked at as bearing some kind of fruit, but it was unacceptable fruit. But when it's in association with Christ, it's no fruit at all.
Because there's no such thing as being associated with Christ and bearing bad fruit. There could be no real association with him, only the profession. And then of course, there's no acceptable fruit for God, no fruit at all. And so that I believe there's a little difference in the vine when it figures Israel and the vine when it figures Christ.
I don't know whether I've made that thought clear, but I believe there is a distinction.
And so in John 15, the Lord Jesus is the true vine. It's impossible to be livingly associated with Him and not to bear fruit. But it would be quite possible to be known as a good Jew, like Saul of Tarsus, going on with all so that he could say concerning the righteousness which is in the law blameless. And what was he bringing forth?
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Shall I say wild grapes? He was persecuting the Church, and that was the very zenith of his.
Going on with what he thought was for God outwardly, but without life.
I think it's interesting to think of the first two that we know of who died after the Lord Jesus. I refer to those two malefactors.
And the one of them had turned to the Lord, and said, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest into thy Kingdom, evidently looked up there, and seen that title over the cross.
And the had his hands nailed down. He had his feet nailed down, but his tongue was loose. He had just a few minutes to bear fruit. And all the fruit that has resulted from that man's confession publicly there, that gospel has been preached so many, many times with so much blessing. Well, I that has been an encouragement.
To bear fruit for the Lord while every believer does bear fruit for God, doesn't he?
I think that's an encouraging thought, brother. I was thinking as we're considering this, that first verse tells us that it's all of God. The vine is Christ our Lord himself, and the husbandman is God our Father. So it's all of him. And that second verse brings out that he's working to have fruit. God is working to have fruit, so is the Lord.
Through the Holy Spirit in US and each one of us that are real.
And we know that ourselves, whether we're real, God has given us His Holy Spirit. How wonderful it is if we're one of the branches that have a living connection with that vine. There is fruit, and it's an encouragement to realize that there is fruit. It's nothing of us, but it's all of the grace of God. And there can be more fruit. I was thinking as it was brought out, that second verse is bringing forth that.
There's fruit and at the end of it it says after purging there's more fruit. But in the 5th and 8th verse it says there's much fruit. You know, God isn't satisfied with just more. He wants much fruit from us. And in the fifth verse there's much fruit because we abide in the vine in Christ. And that's the affections that have been mentioned, going out to Christ, having our hearts.
On him and our thoughts on him. But in the eighth verse, it's much fruit, but it's we are his disciples. You know, it says in the 8th chapter of John, if you continue my word, you shall be my disciples. So it's the word of God that's important and the more we're abiding in him with our affections on Christ.
And the Word of God has its place in our hearts.
There's much fruit. And then I was thinking on the 16th verse how wonderful it is lasting fruit. It's that the fruit should remain. And why is that? Because I have chosen you. It's all of Him. And you know there's fruit from each one who is real. It may be just a little, but when one confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, that's fruit to the glory of God, isn't it?
And it's a shame and a sad thing if some go with just that much, they go to be with the Lord with just that much fruit from their life. As our brother said, it could be to the point where one's even taken out of this scene, there'd be no fruit. But how wonderful it is we can have this encouragement that we can have more fruit for him. Indeed, much fruit and lasting fruit. Little time that's left.
And it all depends on how much.
Where our affections are set on Christ and we have the word of God dwelling in US.
How blessed it is to see on verse three that now the Lord Jesus turns to his disciple.
And he encouraged them by saying, No, ye are clean to the word which I have spoken unto you. He showed to them that there was reality and they need to be encouraged. How blessed there is, isn't it brother? No, ye are clean. Why? Because of the wake that he did in the life. And it's pleasure to notice that beloved people of God, this is an encouragement that is a way for the conscience. And the 1St and the second verse.
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Then he turns to the rest of his disciples, and they say, Now ye are clean.
That I have spoken unto you as blessed, isn't it?
And also in connection with the purging.
It's important to notice that.
There is such a thing as pruning the vine.
It's been said that I'm not a grape grower, but it's been said that.
Grapes won't grow in the same place twice.
It makes us think of the time when when David was going out against, I think it was the Philistines.
And.
He prayed to the Lord.
And he won the battle. But then the next day he prayed again. David could have gone out and said, well, I won the battle.
Last time I'll I'll use the same methods next time. No, no, it's complete dependence. And that's what abiding is, is it not? And so he, he looks to the Lord, and the Lord gives him new instructions for the next day. I use that as an illustration.
But there must be the pruning of the vine. Now one who grows grapes, he looks at the vines and he says, my, that's a beautiful line of vine. I wouldn't want to touch it.
It's so beautiful, it's spread out all over the fence. And why prune it?
Well, you won't get grapes unless you do. I was at a house where I was enjoying some grapes and I I said to the brother, I said you must have pruned this vine. And his wife said he didn't prune it enough. He would have gotten better grapes, but she was born in the area where they raised grapes and she knew, I believe that there is such a thing as.
As realizing that.
There must be the pruning and it's needed in our lives and it's been said that.
The husband men.
Is.
Never, never nearer to the vine than when he's pruning it.
And so if the if there is the pruning necessary and it is necessary with all of us, let's remember who's doing it.
Because we're in his presence and he's near us.
Sometimes we get discouraged when we go through trials and testings, but we always want to remember that the Lord has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, and it's just at that time that He's the nearest to us and can be enjoyed in that way.
During that time of the pruning from the trial.
2nd Corinthians, chapter 4.
And verse 11.
I'll read verse 10 and verse 11 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus at the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body, For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So we know that if the vine is not pruned, there will be plenty of leaves but not much fruit.
And there may be a great deal of outward show things that might attract attention, but the we have to be delivered unto death. And the children of Israel won that victory at Jericho. They had to get back to Jericho to get back to Gilgal or they wouldn't be able to handle a situation that AI and it wasn't until they had got back there.
And there had been a real pruning took place.
At Gilgal that then they could go forward and the Lord granted a victory. So let us remember, if the Lord has ever used us in any way and there has been some fruit in our lives for Him, he's going to have to follow it with a pruning. Just as after the season for the grapes is over, so the pruning takes place then after there has been that fruit.
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And so we must always get into the Lord's presence and acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing.
The snare that Gideon had was after he had won that great victory over the Gideon over the.
Enemies of Israel there, why we find the Midianites, then we find that he wanted to have a remembrance of his victory, and they took off the earrings and he made an effort and it became a snare. And if we get occupied with something that we have done for the Lord.
It's going to hinder fruit bearing. There may be a lot of leaves and a lot of shell and people coming up to Gideons house will say this is a remembrance of a great victory that he won. But it was such a snare that we don't read of another victory following. And so, brethren, and this is good for us all, I believe, if the Lord ever uses us in the smallest way, in any way for him.
And then let us get into his presence, and were delivered unto death, or we bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.
We recognize that it wasn't of ourselves, it was of himself.
And when we take that place, and on our own nothingness before Him, then He can use us again.
What you're saying reminds me of something I just learned rather recently. Agrees with what you say and it's this that in Pauls epistles.
We find him praying for the Saints.
In each of them.
Accept Corinth and a Galatia.
And that is very remarkable. We do believe that he prayed for them. But if you read those epistles.
You'll find that in the Ephesus and Philippi Colossi Thessal Thessalonica where things were going on quite well, he prays for them. You find Lords prayers in in Ephesians, but search Corinthians and Galatians, you don't find him praying for them.
Doubtless he did where they were going on poorly, that surely they needed prayer.
But it goes right to their problems in those epistles. But where the Saints are going on, well, he prays for them. This is a lesson to us. When things are going on well, we need to be praying for ourselves. We're have to get lifted up with pride and get this snare like Gideon. So let's don't forget, we do pray for those who are in trouble and we want to continue doing that. But.
Saints are getting on well. Let's pray for them and ourselves. If we're getting on well, happy in the Lord, Let's keep praying.
Brother here, would you not think of Gilgal in connection with your thoughts the need to return to Gilgal?
After each victory, Israel had to always return there.
And perhaps everyone is not aware of what Gilgal stood for. It was the place of circumcision, That is, when the children of Israel were going to go out against their enemies in the land.
The Lord said to Joshua, make these sharp knives. Well, that we might have thought, surely what they're going to do is make sharp knives for the people of the Lamb, because they're enemies of God. But God said to make sharp knives first for themselves. And so they made the sharp knives. What for first to apply to themselves, then after they had done that.
Then the Lord could lead them to go out against their enemies. But we need that. It's been brought before us. We certainly need to have that.
Knife lifted upon self, and not just once. That's why they did this. They went out, they had a great victory at Jericho. But then they said, oh, AI is just a little city. We can handle that little city. We've had a victory and seemingly a kind of easy victory at Jericho's early. We can handle that little city of 3000. But they couldn't.
And so we do need to get back.
And constantly be lifting a knife upon self, putting self in the place where God has put it. It says always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be a manifest in our bodies or in our mortal flesh. So that's what Gilgal represents, its self judgment.
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Also, isn't it true that we've been talking a lot about fruit bearing, but that we do not need to have any record of the fruit bearing now in our lives? If we just try to do His will and seek to do His will, there will be fruit. And it's just the goodness of God that He doesn't reveal a lot of the things that.
Maybe work through us because we do.
Get happy with those results and proud ourselves. And that's a terrible thing. Then what our brother's been mentioning has to be brought in. But we can leave that all with him. And if it perhaps spread the way of encouragement. If we do hear of something that is fruit. And of course, fruit takes many facets, but supposing there is some result that could be considered fruit for the Lord through us, one of us.
Well, we should remember this verse at the end of five Without me, you can do nothing.
And we'll just have to praise God for it and glorify Him and realize that he just happened to use this vessel that's unworthy. It's hard to get in that frame of mind, but I thank God if there is any fruit from me hasn't let me know because I know how I am. I'd be occupied with it thinking about it. And that isn't what we're talking about, is it?
There will be fruit because God's the husbandman, and if we are, if we are in the vine, in reality, there's going to be fruit. And we can just let that remain until the day of revealing, till the day of manifestation, and it will all be to His glory then.
Is there not a difference between the work of the Father and the work of the Lord in this chapter? Lord Jesus and fruit is really for the Father, isn't it? And the Lord Jesus is the is the instrument that would bring fruit to the Father, like as we find in Hebrews chapter 12, the chastening of the Father.
But the Lord Jesus is the channel, isn't it? Isn't it?
In order to bring fruit to the Father, it wouldn't necessarily be in connection with service, but it would be glory brought to God the Father and the Lord Jesus is the channel through which that comes about.
Read in Corinthians is the answer to what you're saying. The life of Jesus might be manifest. I believe that's the important point there, that.
That life may be seen coming out in many ways, but still it's the life of Jesus manifest. It isn't the individual.
Taking taking a vine, supposing you say I'm going to I'm just going to nourish this vine. I'm going to pour lots of nutrient nuts on it and make it so it will bear lots of fruit. No one will only turn the leaves. If you do that, you get too much food and it it won't. I believe that's the trouble sometimes with us. We think that if we.
Store up a lot of knowledge of scripture that.
There will be something for God, but that isn't the point. The point is communion. Now let's take an example.
It says our brother.
Mentioned the Mary sitting at Jesus feet.
What was the result? Well, at the time of the death of Lazarus, it says many of the Jews that have been with Mary believed.
Was was Mary doing anything? Yes she was sitting at Jesus feet and saw the Jews that were with him believed and that was the fruit really wasn't it that.
It it showed in the life of Mary that she had been with Jesus and that's really fruit bearing down here, is it not?
Has been of so much help to me for a great many years when our brother Gordon's father was still among us. I remember 1 remark he made and it was directed to the young people especially, and I would like to have directed again to them this afternoon he said this.
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Dear young believer, every right thought in your heart about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is fruit for the Father or fruit for God. Now that's very simple. What doesn't require you to do some great things so that you can conclude that you have bore some fruit for God. But if you're occupied with the Lord Jesus in your heart. If you think of a verse like in first Peter 2 until you which believe, therefore he is precious.
You enjoy that?
You think of that from time to time or every day to thoughts in your heart. Glorify the Lord Jesus for what He has done for you. This is fruit for God and every the youngest believer can bear that fruit for him.
That has helped one so greatly all these many years. The Lord is not requiring a great thing for you to do, but simply to enjoy His beloved Son, and He's glorified in that.
Some years ago my wife and I went to visit a man that was on his sick bed.
And he had a sort of a disease that had made all of his body rigid. He couldn't even turn his head.
But he could.
Move his eyes and he had things fixed in front of him to read, and he could move his eyes back and forth to read what was before him, but he couldn't move any part of his body.
Well, we had gone there to read to him and to sing for him.
But after everything was all over and he had spoken some, who do you suppose got the blessing out of that visit? My wife and I got the blessing just to see his joy in the Lord, even though he was lying there rigid and couldn't move.
The joy in his face was from heaven, and we went away from that.
Man really helped and cheered and encouraged to see what the Lord could do, what the Lord meant to him.
It doesn't take a lot of activity to produce fruit for God, I suppose, if we read.
That list in Galatians.
About fruit.
That we would really be struck with this one thing.
That there isn't a thing there that would take activity.
Galatians, chapter 5.
And verses 22 and 23.
But the fruit of the spear is love.
Joy.
Peace.
Long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
That's the fruit of the Spirit.
And it doesn't say the fruits of the Spirit, It calls it the fruit of the Spirit. It's all fruit.
And it can be borne by a person on the sickbed. Perhaps it can't do anything but just lie there and enjoy the Lord. And to be filled with his love, the Spirit of God producing love in him. Joy and peace and long-suffering, I ask. They need long-suffering.
Gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness.
Conference. They could produce it all.
It's been said that a fruit tree, in order to produce fruit, does not jump all over the orchard. It just stands there quietly producing fruit. And those branches they just keep in touch in, tied up with the root or the vine, and they're producing the fruit. But you notice the wind comes along and blows those branches around. That's good for them.
A little tribulation.
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Produces something in the branch to make it attach firmer to the trunk, it's needed. And of course, the purging, the fumigating, the spraying and all is needed as well. Pruning, cutting the tree back, all of this is needed.
But there doesn't need to be a lot of activity to produce fruit.
Go it was mentioned about these nine points.
First love.
And then joy. I'd just like to read the little note that I had years ago. Joy is love exulting.
Peace is love and repose.
Long-suffering is love on trial.
Gentleness is love outflowing.
Goodness is love in action, faith is love confiding, meekness is love yielding, and temperance is love in training.
These things are brought together, are they not, in Malachi?
The third chapter of Malachi.
And verse 16.
Things were in a very low state at that time.
With the nation of Israel.
Perhaps we find ourselves in a low state.
But these verses are, or this verse really.
Ties these things together and gives us real encouragement.
Malachi chapter 3 verse 16 And they that feared the Lord.
Speak often, one to another.
And the Lord hearkened. The Lord hears our conversation, does he not? That we have one with another?
The communications between us and so they that feared the Lord.
They talked about him. They speak of him together and it says.
And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name has been mentioned. Those thoughts that we have in our hearts.
Are taken note of, and God is an account of them.
How sweet this is for each of us, because we can indeed have those thoughts of the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can share them one with another, not only during the meetings but on other occasions as well. And that's really fruit for God.
The real fruit that he takes account of abiding.
In Him and His abiding in us. There's both sides, isn't it? We need to abide in Him, but He delights to abide in US and to fill our hearts with that joy and peace that's been spoken about.
Well, fruit would be doing his will too, wouldn't it? And so if it's his will, that one would be on a sick bed like this man, why that was? He could bear fruit for God there, but if the Lord has sent someone to serve him, by then he's bearing fruit and doing the will of God and going where the Lord would have him.
So Paul had to say in Colossians and say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which thou has received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. There was something that the Lord wanted archipelas to be doing, and he wasn't doing it. If he were to say, well, as long as I'm just sitting here thinking about the Lord, I am useful for him. Well, he was in a certain measure, no doubt. But if the Lord wanted him to do a service for him.
Not doing it, then he wasn't doing the will of God. And so it's very precious that if the Lord places us on a sick bed, or if he puts us in a place where there seems very little in the way of an open door, we think of the Lord Jesus.
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When he went over into the parts of Dalmanusa and there was #1 willing to listen, it says, he sighed deeply in spirit and return.
We might say, well how could that be? If I went someplace and no one wanted to listen, I might think I had missed the Lords mind. But not so with this perfect servant. The Lord Jesus is the perfect servant and so when He went sent of His Father into the parts of Del Minutia, whether they received the message or not, the Lord felt it that they rejected it. But He had done his Father's will.
And so I just say this because.
But not any of us become discontent not to be doing anything. If the Lord has something for us to do, it's a privilege and it's a joy and it's bearing fruit to do that thing for him. But to be doing something that he hasn't told us to do, His leaves and not fruit. First Timothy.
Paul opens up to Timothy with the words According to the commandment of God.
Well, that was at a time when when both Paul was free to do the commandment of God. But it's interesting in line with what you say that the 2nd epistle of Timothy, where Paul was confined now to prison, it says according to the will of God.
Peter tells us about the holy priests.
In the sanctuary, offering up spiritual gifts.
And that's what we are. We're holy priests to be in the presence of the Lord, to OfferUp spiritual sacrifices, to be in his presence. But after that he speaks of us as royal priests, showing forth the excellencies of the Lord.
So we're ready to go out. It seems that he brings before us two things, being in the presence of the Lord and then going out in in service. Well, I believe if there's real fruit for God in our lives, it will issue in that kind of thing serving the Lord in some way and our brother was speaking about.
People not receiving the word well, the young brothers in Tampa.
They are tempting to go out on the street corner now on a Saturday night with the gospel. Well, I it, it really struck me when they told me, well, they seem to be encouraged that they found some opposition when they were preaching the gospel.
And when one was preaching why, somebody opened a window across the street and and turned up the stereo that they had. So it was blaring forth that you could hardly hear anything. Well, that was just a manifestation of opposition. And then somebody came out of a an apartment building. They stood out across the street and they were speaking.
Adverse remarks? Well, these young brothers thought, well, that's an indication that the Lord is working.
And they were encouraged by it.
With the link between abiding in the vine and going out in service, be in.
Verse 16.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that he should go and bring forth fruit.
And that your fruit should remain.
Would that link the two?
Very necessary too, isn't it? It's only as abiding in Christ that there can be doing his will. Otherwise it'll be our own will, and our own will might delight in a great deal of activity. When Saul of Tarsus was saved, he said, Lord, what will thou have me to do?
And I believe it was Mr. Darby that made the remark, he said. It isn't a need that puts us to work, it's the call of God.
And that's very important too. There are needs everywhere. The important thing is to be where the Lord wants us to be and doing the thing that He wants us to do. And sometimes it might be just to sit still, like our brother was talking about Mary. It was God's will at that time that Mary should be sitting at Jesus feet. But there were times, no doubt, when Mary was speaking for the Lord.
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And I'm sure that the result would be that what came forth from her lips was the result of communion with the Lord. And if we are really in his presence, then it says he that believeth on me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly. That is something we've taken in, we've enjoyed. Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. And I'm sure we have all felt at times when we have heard someone.
Speak and that it was something that He was really enjoying in his own soul, and it flowed out in blessing to others. So we must first, brethren, be in His presence, get into the enjoyment of His love abiding in Him. Then that's a sort of an overflow that reaches out to others.