Sermon Cloud

1. God's plan is for fruitfulness in my life.  John 15:1-6  To bear fruit, I must abide in Christ.

a. To abide is to have a living connection illustrated by the connection a branch has with a vine.

b. Through this abiding (living connection), and only through abiding is fruit produced. (verses 4,5)

c. God's design and intent is to lovingly work in me to secure fruit, more fruit (v.2), and much fruit (v.5)

2.  Jesus givea a helpful portrayal of abiding.  Verses 7-10  What does it mean "to abide?"

a. When I abide in Christ, His words abide in me.  v.7

b. When I abide in Christ, I pray and have confidence my prayers are answered. v.7b.  This is not a "magic formula" to get what I want. When I am abiding in Christ, and His words are abiding in me, then the expression of what I want and desire in prayer is never contrary to the mind and will of Christ. 

c. When I abide in Christ, I have a love that obeys.  v. 9-10

3.  The Product of abiding is fruitfulness.  A fruit of abiding is joy.  v. 11

a. As a product of abiding, I do not manufacture it myself, nor can I have the product apart from the abiding.

b. This joy, produce by abiding, is:

His joy.  Not counterfiet. Not the joy of the world.

Abiding joy.  There is a constancy about it. It doesn't "come and go."

Ful joy.  Nothing lacking, completely satisfying, and I can't imagine wanting or needing anything more or anything else.