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4th Retreat: The Fruitful Life Session 3

21 October 2006

4th YAG RETREAT- THE FRUITFUL LIFE
Session #3
Saturday, 21 October 2006
Evening Session
Text: John 15
A Fruitful Life is a Result of Pruning
INTRODUCTION

1. Comparisons

a) Ancient Israel

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerated plant of an alien vine?

Jeremiah 2:21

b) Israel in the days of Jesus

Every plant which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Matthew 15:13

2. Concern about the fruitfulness of His disciples
3. Concentration of Teaching on the Subject of Fruit-bearing
4. Challenge to bear fruit

A. EMPLOYING IMAGERY

1. The Use of the Imagery of the Vine

a) Harks back to the Old Testament          (Cf. Isaiah 5)

b) Common place illustration

c) Highly illustrative

2. Understanding the Different applications of the Imagery

a) Jesus as the True Vine          John 15:1

b) God the Father as the Vinedresser          John 15:1

c) Believers as the Branches          John 15:2

3. Focus of the Vine Imagery – Fruit-bearing

a) The problem of not bearing fruit          John 15:2

b) The challenge of bearing even more fruit          John 15:2

4. Appreciating the Relationship between the Vine and the Branches

a) The branch should bear fruit naturally          John 15: 2, 5

b) The branch must abide in the Vine          John 15:4

5. Problem of Not abiding in the Vine

a) The branch will not be able to bear fruit          John 15:2, 4

b) The fruitless branch will be taken away and burnt          John 15:2, 6

6. The Challenge of Bearing Much Fruit through pruning          (John 15:2)

a) Possible because of Christ’s choosing          John 15:16

b) Possible through Cleansing          John 15:3

c) Possible through the Word of God applied          John 15:3

d) Possible through prayer          John 15:7

e) Possible through discipleship          John 15:8

f) Possible through the love of Christ          John 15:9-13

g) Possible through a deep friendship with Christ          John 15:13-15

h) Possible through identification in suffering          John 15:18-25

i) Possible through the ministry of the Spirit          John 15:26; 16:1-15

7. Fear of the Pruning Process

a) Fear of suffering

b) Fear of Loss

c) Fear of God’s will

e) Fear of loss of comfort zone

f) Fear of the unknown

8. Overcoming Fear of the Pruning Process

a) Knowledge of Christ

b) Faith in Christ

c) Hope of bearing much fruit

d) Strength

e) Courage

f) Deeper yielding of self to God

B. EXTENSION OF THE IMAGERY OF FRUIT-BEARING

1. Sermon on the Mount          Matthew 5-7

a) A study of Contrasts          (Matthew 7:15-20)

b) The way to discern false prophets- by their fruits

c) The kind of fruits borne is most revelatory

2. Extension of this basic idea to the Pharisees          Matthew 12:24, 33

a) Opposition of the Pharisees

b) Blasphemy of the Pharisees

c) Revelation of the true spiritual state of the Pharisees – by their fruits!

3. Parable of the Sower          Matthew 13:1-9

a) Sowing of the seed

b) Four different types of yields (fruit-bearing) considered

c) Fruit-bearing is an essential way of determining true faith

4. Parable of the Tares of the Field          Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

a) Tares- the sons of the wicked one

b) The Devil also employs the concept of fruit-bearing in his scheme of plans

5. Parable of the Mustard seed          Matthew 13:31-32

a) Potential of growth

b) Magnificence of growth

6. Parable of the Landowner          Matthew 21:33-41

a) As a means of teaching

b) As a means of warning

C. DEEP PERSONAL CONCERN ABOUT FRUIT-BEARING

1. Soul-searching Reflection needed

a) Many do not do this

b) Many fear this

c) Many avoid this

2. Total Honesty enjoined

a) Many gloss over their sin problems

b) Many dare not be totally honest with themselves

c) But great good can emerge

3. Hard questions to be raised: –

a) Totally unfruitful?

b) Wrong kinds of fruit?

c) Poor yield?

d) Dying branch?

e) Desirous of bearing more fruit?

f) How serious are we about bearing fruit?

g) What are we willing to do to bring about greater fruitfulness?

4. Answers must be found

a) Answers are available

b) All problems may be resolved

c) Fruitfulness is possible

5. Challenge to choose Fruitfulness

a) Natural choice

b) Wise choice

c) Brave but hard choice