Fruitful Disciple
John 15:1-7 NKJV
These particular passages in the Bible are extremely important because of its proximity to the death and resurrection of
Jesus. It is something that a dying man is ought to say, just when he is about to die. Many of the most beautiful
teachings of Jesus lead to the chapters 13-17 of John.
He began to reveal into us what it means to be his disciples, which it is not something that is mechanically done but it is
life in itself flowing from Him to us. Now it doesn’t mean that we don’t need some self-discipline for the purpose of
godliness. What it teaches is that it all comes to our communion with Christ. I’ve seen so many people get consumed by
the works of the ministry that they themselves have detached from the true source of strength which is Jesus. Apart
from the vital intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and that dependence of God’s daily strength.
Let’s dig into these passage for its wonderful thoughts and somehow got the grasp of what it needs to be fruitful.
(1) Jesus Is The True Vine
John 15:1 NKJV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
He is the true vine. It is refreshing to know that even in this time and culture where people look for people to follow,
culture vibes, conferences, activities, programs and yet our true source is the Vine himself, Jesus Christ. No matter how
tenacious the system of discipleship we have, if Jesus is not our strength we grow weak.
My Father is the Vine Dresser. What does it means to be a vine dresser? He does not only take care of it, water it, put
some fertilizer if it needed to but He prunes it. A lot of our lives is not harvest time but pruning, harvest is just a one-
time event that took place when it’s season, but pruning is a daily bases. Cultivate your relationship with Jesus Christ,
make that a priority and you will be fruitful.
(2) Pruning Is life
John 15:2 NKJV Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He
prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
One of the greatest sign of a true Christian is fruit bearing of some sort, and it goes to say that every branch that bear
fruit He prunes. There is no such things as an absent God in the life of a believer, He is always on every detail of our lives.
(a plantita or plantito goes beyond than just planting and watering. They even pick the right soil combination or even
checking every leaf to see if there are insects on it) There is no true believer who is not subjected to the care of the
vinedresser, pruning, disciplining, rebuking, teaching, correcting and encouraging. Troubles, conflict in life of a Christian
does not mean he is neglected but it means it means God cares so much to take him out of his present state.
(3) Dependence
John 15:4-5 NKJV Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, 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, bears much
fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
A person that doesn’t know much, doesn’t even know much about Christian life but recognizes that he cannot do
anything apart from Jesus Christ will be a fruit bearing powerful individual. The chief characteristic that defines vine and
branch is dependence. A branch broken from the vine won’t last a day, that branch exist in absolute dependence into
the vine. What good does a disconnected branch can do? Nothing. It’s impossible to live a Christian life in some form of
self-reliance, inner strength or self-will. Hold on to Christ as if you are drowning, as if nothing else could save you. In that
they become strong.
He goes on to say. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit. Now in the parable of a sower one converted
gains 30 60 100. Even the weakest gets 30. Some people walk out and say I am not fruitful. You are indeed fruitful, look
at your life, your children, your family and think about what if you haven’t been a Christian. We are fruitful more that we
ever know.
You are the branches. Walk in what He has made you. There may be some part of us that are unredeemed and part of
my humanity that is attracted at times to sin, I know if I will take a bite out of it. It will be miserable and I won’t love it
because I am a Christian.
(4) There is a Warning
John 15:6 NKJV If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and
throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
There is a picture of a great harvest someday and a great judgement that will take place. The branches that do not bear
fruit will be cut off and burned up. But here is something I want you to see. In Jeremiah 32:40 NKJV And I will make an
everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so
that they will not depart from Me. It means that, there may be a season of a believers life that he may say something
that doesn’t sound and even acts like a Christian like, gave in to temptation becoming so bitter and utter all sorts of
hurtful things but could you at that moment deny Christ? You won’t. God put that fear inside of us.
(5) Abide in Word and Prayer
John 15:7 NKJV If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Abiding is dependence. It’s feeding upon God’s Word, internalizing it and a life in prayer. I know many of you struggle in
that area. It’s not a cause of condemnation for you. So many people look unto other people who can carry on reading
the scripture without tiring and praying earnestly. They say they are just spiritual or that is their gift. Let me share you
something, everything I do in Christian life is a fight I have to fight to read the Bible, I have to fight to do prayers
earnestly, I have to fight to love the people I should love the most. We fight because we are desperate.
(6) God Is Glorified In That Fruit
John 15:8 NKJV By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
God is glorified in the fruit, not our own glory. In everything that we do it is for the gain of others. We are not self-
consuming our fruit. Ask in prayer not in our own gain but for the Glory of the Father and the benefit of others.
