Abide

ABIDE

John 15:1–17 NKJV

I. — JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE (15:1–3)

1“am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

II. — ABIDING IS THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL LIFE (15:4–5)

“⁴ 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.”

III.–THE DANGER OF THE DRIFT (15:6)

“⁶ 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.”

IV. — ABIDING PRODUCES FRUITFUL LIVING (15:7–8)

“⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you^[a] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

V. — ABIDING LEADS TO JOY (15:9–11)

⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

VI. — THE COMMAND TO LOVE (15:12–15)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

VII. — YOU ARE CHOSEN AND APPOINTED (15:16–17)

“¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.”

Abiding requires intentional practices:

1. Daily Scripture and prayer
2. Obedience in small things
3. Serving others
4. Stay in community
5. Resting and abiding in His presence