I was six, and my family was spending Easter weekend in southern Indiana with my father’s family. Sunday morning we were headed to Sunday School and church. Cousin Susie told me I would LOVE Sunday School — I wasn’t so sure – I was nervous going to a strange church.
But oh — I did! To this day I still remember two things: the absolute warmth of the teacher (she hugged me right away!) and the little plant we each got to pot and take home as our very own.
She told us to put them in the sun, water them, and watch! From this little plant would spring little branches, and more leaves, because it was ALIVE, just like Jesus.
I took my plant home, and each morning jumped out of bed to see what new growth was there, my heart filled with wonder. It grew and grew and grew!
When Jesus proclaims “I AM the true vine,” so “abide in me,” He was making the point that the only way we can be alive is if we are in Him and He in us. That’s the only way we can bear fruit, because an unattached branch will never be able to do it. You can hang things on a dead branch — but the branch has not produced them.
Tim Keller often contrasts morality with true Christianity. Morality is something you do yourself — hanging things on a dead branch.
You can be moral, and not connected to the vine. You can obey the rules and be quite self-righteous about it. There can even be a certain beauty and order to your life. Keller says you are like a snowflake: perfect, beautiful, symmetrical, and FREEZING. There is no true life there.
In contrast, Christianity is organic. Because you are rooted in One who is ALIVE, The True Vine, as you abide in Him and He in you, you will bear much fruit. If you don’t bear fruit, then you are dead, and you will be cut off and thrown into the fire.
What I see in this wonderful group, and I was particularly impressed last week, is how you are abiding, how you are responding to pruning, and how you are bearing fruit, fruit that will last. I loved seeing the excitement — as in Laura-dancer — of gazing on Jesus as THE GREAT I AM and being in awe. Beholding Him for who He truly is is abiding, is connecting to the vine, and that inevitably leads to fruit.
Real fruit has enemies — “little foxes” that spoil the vines. We’ll consider that.
Catch for us the little foxes that spoil the vineyards (Song of Songs 2:15)Real fruit needs pruning — and it is our Father who tends the vine. All that He cuts is for good. But pruning is painful. (It’s the Stonecutter, or Vine Tender at work!)
To hearken back to Elizabeth’s story of learning to forgive — it was a revelation to her that true forgiveness always involves suffering. Someone has to pay the debt — it doesn’t seem fair that the perpetrator isn’t the one, but often it is the one wronged who must pay. It hurts to let someone off the hook who doesn’t deserve it. And yet that is what Christ did for us. When Elizabeth suffered in order to forgive, she was allowing God to prune, and oh — what beautiful fruit has come from that!
It always hurts to die to our idols — but then LIFE comes. There is never a death without a resurrection.
Last week was important — but oh, this week is too. It’s not as lengthy, because I so want you to keep up.
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study (John 15:1-17)
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
PRUNING
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17) If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here.
7. Read Song of Songs 2:13-17 (Challenge passage — do your best) Often today Song of Songs is applied only to earthly marriage, but it must also be applied to our relationship with our heavenly bridegroom.) Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, comments on this passage, and I’ll paraphrase him at the end. But do your best before you read his interpretation — and apply this to you and Jesus.
A. What does the bridegroom ask of the bride in verse 13? What might this cost in your life?
B. Where is she, according to verse 14, and what does he want of her? What does this mean?
C. What enemy lurks if she does not respond to him and come higher with him according to verse 15?
D. What does she tell him to do according to verse 17?
Hudson Taylor, who knew what is was to take risks (google him and find out about his life) says that this time she refuses him (later she grows and goes higher). He writes: “How many foxes there are in our lives…disobedience to the voice in small things…and the fruitfulness of the vine is sacrificed! … She dismisses him to go to the mountain alone (verse 17) Poor foolish bride! She will find that the things that once satisfied her can satisfy her no longer. (Hudson Taylor, Intimacy with Jesus, Understanding the Song of Solomon OMF)
E. Comments on Taylor?
Thursday-Friday
Choose one of these sermons — the first is 2.50 and is entitled I AM THE VINE —
Click here: http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=17294&ParentCat=6
“Click on the link, then click the arrow next to”‘format”, then click on “MP3 $2.50”, then click “Add to cart”, then click “checkout”. Follow the rest of the directions to download onto your computer.
The second free, and is on the fruit of the Spirit and covers some of the same principles
Click here: http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/how-change
8. Share your notes from the sermon
Saturday:
9. What is your take-a-way for the week and why?
472 comments
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.) – That he is the vine and God is the Gardener. Just as Jesus has to stay in Gods presence we also need to do the same thing with Him and God. We can not grow in our relationship with him or have His presence be seen thru us if we don’t continue to remain in Him and have Jesus remain in us and our hearts at all times. If we choose to walk away than our life will become as he said a dead branch. When I read verse 6 “If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up”. This reminds me of what I’m seeing in my neighborhood, all my neighbors are starting to clean up their yards and rake all the dead grass and branches to the curb that have fallen away from the vine and the city then comes and sucks them all up and turns it all to mulch. This is what our lives will become like if we walk away and don’t follow the teachings of Jesus. Satan will come and suck our lives right out from under us without us even knowing what is happening until it’s too late.
Pruning
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean? – the branches that don’t bear fruit and the ones that don’t remain in Jesus’ presence. What I get out of this is that for those of us who don’t continue to learn Gods Word, and change the way they live by removing all of our ungodly idols will no longer be under the grace and mercy of our Lord. I think it’s saying we need to continue to read the bible, hear the calling of the Lord and decide what road we are going to take. Will we take the narrow path or the wide path. Do we want to be pruned by God so we can grow, or give up eternal life to live on this earth with no effort.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why? The branches that bear fruit are the ones that get pruned. This is Gods way of removing all the dead parts of our lives that are getting in the way of our new growth. It’s a way for Him to remove the old man and bring forth the new man.
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment? – I think Dee, as your friend Rachel said we can learn thru our trials IF our attitude is right. But that is the key I think, we need to be open to the trials and find the message God is trying to tell us. I have been thru trials and will most likely go thru more in my lifetime, which I hope will bring new growth, a new understanding, and a willing heart to hear from my heavenly Father.
My friend that I took with me today to the dr appointment died tonight while attending a movie. I should have been more blunt. I do not know if she was a christian. I do not think that she was. before I left her today I thanked her for going with me and gave her a hug and told her how much I cared for her.
Oh Marjorie, I can’t believe she died that sudden…did she know her heart was bad? I’m so very sorry…how hard this must be for you. Praying for her family and for you; I’m so glad you told her how much you cared for her
How shocking, Marjorie. You must be thinking about this so…may the Lord be with you and her family.
OH i am so sorry!! how hard! I dont know what to say so sending you *hugs* and lots of them!
Oh this must be such a shock. One thing we do know, God loves people so much that He does everything possible to draw the unsaved to Himself. Look how the Lord orchestrated the trip yesterday and how you shared here your desire to witness to her and how we prayed. He is so good and doesn’t waste an opportunity. I think of how God spoke to me and I got saved in a church that didn’t preach salvation! Don’t be tempted to feel her salvation rested on your shoulders, sweet Marjorie. The devil would love to strap you with that burden and false guilt -he’s a liar. You served Jesus well to pray and say whatever you said.
Kim is right Majorie, don’t take this burden on of beating yourself up. God is good and hears our cries. Will be praying for you and her family that God gives you the comfort and strength needed.
Oh, my. What a shock. Praying for you and her family. I agree with Kim. The Lord orchestrated your time with her yesterday, but don’t lay a guilt trip on yourself. You loved her and she knew it. Only God knows her heart, perhaps she is His, although you did not know. She is in God’s hands, tender loving hands.
Praying for you Marjorie. What a shock.
Marjorie, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. You and her family must be hurting so now.
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
He says he is the “true vine” and God is the gardener.
Well, I am not a gardener and I have a lot of trouble when these analogies are made…..trying to understand.
So, a vine is living, it is long and bending. Sometimes it has fruit and sometimes it is just green leaves with flowers. It can take over an area where it is living (think kudzu or morning glory), and for that matter it can sometimes be difficult to get rid of; it is persistent. It can wrap around things, sometimes grow into things, or become all encompassing.
The gardender must keep the vine in control or it loses it’s shape or becomes unruly. If it has grown within objects he might need to remove it or make it turn a different direction. He must water it so it lives. He must make sure it has the right lighting. He can use it’s fruit if necessary. He may sometimes need to cut it to make sure it doesn’t harm other things with it’s growth. He should feed it with fertilizer if it is to bear a fruit for consumtion so it is healthy.
I guess you can take my answers and apply them to Jesus and God, where, for example, Jesus can enter or encompass our lives and God is there to provide the sustenance to keep us in line.
I’m not sure this is what you want, but it is the best I could do making sense of “poetry” which is difficult for me 🙁
I think your overgrowth images are interesting Laura. Sort of like a believer who grows in rapidly in head knowledge, but when pain comes, the growth of the root system is developed, as sort of heart knowledge is cultivated, making us more dependant on the true source of strength.
I work at a vineyard, they prune the vines all winter long. If they don’t, the vines spend their energy producing leaves and small amounts of grapes, the stronger vines can indeed begin to overshadow their weaker neighbors, until none of them are productive.
Hmmmm, maybe one funtion of pruning is keeping us concerned with our own fruitfulness, and less with our neighbors!
Chris, “Like!!” “maybe one function of pruning is keeping us concerned with our own fruitfulness, and less with our neighbors!” 🙂
This is interesting, if not pruned, we become unproductive……hmmmm again 🙂
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I have sensed God moving in my son’s heart, perhaps a result of a fruit God is producing in me? I am not good at seeing growth or fruit in me-other than knowing when God frees me from the hold of an idol and the results are trusting Him instead. I sense His peace inside, and His joy comes. I can tell my son feels more loved by me than discouraged that he can’t measure up to my standards-that is huge! Praise God!
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
Definitely this study. Looking for opportunities God provides to love my boys and husband and the people God has put in my life.
That is a big praise Rebecca!
“I can tell my son feels more loved by me than discouraged that he can’t measure up to my standards”
Bible Study (John 15:1-17)
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
I am the true vine and my father is the gardener.
He is the TRUE vine-Jesus is our only source for abundant life-there is no other-no other person or thing can satisfy our souls and bear vibrant, true, abundant fruit.
My father is the gardener-God will prune us, we can’t prune us so we must trust that He will prune us-and know it will come, and when he does we need to yield to the cut and sting of His pruning scissors. He cares for us, and tends to us with perfect timing, in the right seasons. He is the perfect gardener and we can trust Him.
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
This kind of stumps me a bit. We did this chapter in our study on Sunday nights in our Gospel Group. At first I thought He was addressing believers, but then thought of the Tares and the Wheat and those who are among us who look and act like Christians, are moral, go to our church, yet aren’t truly abiding in the vine-they have a ‘said’ faith but not a real one.
SO, I think those who are thrown in the fire are those who literally think they are Christians but aren’t-I don’t think they ever bear true fruit because they were never truly connected to the Vine soaking up the sap and nourishment from the root.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Every branch that bears fruit he prunes-so that it will be more fruitful. There is a clear distinction here between the branches that don’t bear fruit and the ones who do. The ones who do are the real believers who are one with Him-God prunes them, the ones who aren’t one with Him are the ones who don’t bear fruit that he cuts off from the Vine. If they bear much fruit Jesus said they will show that they are His Disciples.
I would love to have someone correct me if I am off in how I am seeing this passage. I really do want to know.
I agree you with Rebecca.
The publisher has suggested another title that The Stonecutter and I so want to hear from the Lord. I can’t say I have a peace. I don’t want to do what I want to do but what the Lord wants — I so want to know what that is. I know a title can make or break a book, so I plead for your prayers —
what about “from striving to abiding” finding contentment in this discontent world. or something like that:)
i know that that is what the stonecutter lessons did for me and I also know that most woman are seeking contentment, may draw some people in??? just a thought.
Oh, Dee, I am praying. I know you put your heart and soul into the book and have prayed about the title a lot. We will keep praying that there will be agreement in the Spirit between you and the publisher. What about “The Carver”? Perhaps that word doesn’t have as many negative connotations as Stonecutter and is more familiar as well? I am sure you have had many other suggestions. God knows best. I keep praying.
I’m praying now, Dee…for a way that the Lord can show you a title that God wants for your book.
Praying too, for leading for everyone involved.
Father, we ask in faith believing that you will bring a perfect title to all involved in this decision. We choose to rejoice in the process because you said we could put all our hope and trust in you. We remember your word: Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5. Thank you. Amen.
Will be praying about this, Dee.
Lord, I know that You have the perfect title for Dee’s book. I pray that You would reveal it to this publisher and give Dee peace about it. I pray that it would be a title that would draw people to You with hearts burning for holiness. Amen
Will be praying for Gods guidance to be strong in the way he wants you to go in naming your book.
Praying Dee. May He give you wisdom!
7.A. arise and come with ME…this costs me my comfort, he very rearly wants to take me to a place that is comfortable. but I also think HE wants to take me to a point of JOY, a place where only HE can take me and I can only go by following HIM completely…
B. Hiding, wondering that HE could really want HER? and He wants to hear her, to see her, he does not want her to giver her anything or do anything for him at this point….HE just wants to be with her, ABIDE with her.
C. the foxes will spoil the Joy.
D. she told him not now, later….she claims him as hers but then is not ready for him.
E. if we are not faithful, if we do not abide, in the small things the fruit will not grow. it will be eaten by the foxes. I believe that it is not in the big things that we lose sight of God, but in the small mundane things of life, we dont let Him be a part of it and we lose the fruit, the joy, the blessing..
in my life its so true, it was easy for be to obey and adopt special needs girls, to teach every wed. and sunday at church, thats the easy stuff, the hard stuff is not letting the mess in my kitchen, or a failed test, or a rolled eye, steal my joy, make me forget that He is HERE too, here in the little, here in the hard, here in the messy and the mundane, HE is here, He wants my little, my mess…..its I that sends HIM away.
this was not labled as quesion 7 and it was bothering me so i reposted it all as one:) not OCD or anything….really im not!
Love these answers cyndi– find The Song of Songs so fresh and appealing…
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I like the story of Dee going to Sunday School with her cousin, Susie; how she remembers the warmth of the teacher, and the plant she took home. Dee said that as each morning she got out of bed to observe the plant, wonder filled her heart. Perhaps it shouldn’t, but this fills me with a kind of bittersweet sadness – I am saved today, but I wonder what it would have been like to be a child going to Sunday school, to have been a child and experience the childlike awe and wonder of the things of God. I have taught, at one time, 4&5 year olds in Sunday school, so I’ve been able to see it from “the other side”.
The pictures make a very precise contrast between morality, or “hanging things on a dead branch”, or being like a perfect, symmetrical, but freezing, lifeless snowflake – and being alive in Christ – the picture of which is the luscious grapes hanging on the vine.
But, I think, if we go through periods where we are unsure of God’s love for us, or not abiding in His word, we can fall into the morality trap; hanging good deeds on ourselves hoping that God will love us now, or not be mad at us. But we make something very unnatural when we do this.
Exactly, Susan – that last paragraph. How we need to understand the gospel and His love.
Your statement is real food for thought, Susan, “if we go through periods where we are unsure of God’s love for us, or not abiding in His word, we can fall into the morality trap; hanging good deeds on ourselves hoping that God will love us now, or not be mad at us. But we make something very unnatural when we do this.” especially for those of us you are very insecure and seek approval, needing constant affirmation. We “hang good deeds on ourselves hoping that God will love us now”. Oh, my, I can see how I do that. Lord, help me to stop striving and just abide, deeply abide, focusing solely and unreservedly on You.
notes on free sermon..
I listened to this a few weeks ago too, It really hit me between the eyes that some times we are the way we are because that is our strength, not because it comes from God.
humility…hmmmm He is REALLY working on this one with me:)
how do you create love joy peace..WE dont, only the Spirit can.
2 things to grow in grace….crucify the sinful nature, find the things that are more important to you then Jesus and crucify them, get rid of them, smash them into bits…
keep in step with the Spirit….be in love with Jesus…
the whole reason your worried is that you dont SEE how much Jesus loves you…
works of the flesh is something YOU do, the work of the Spirit lusts after Jesus…
pant after what the spirit pants after…
I NEED THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST TO BE SO REAL TO ME THAT MY DESIRE FOR OTHER THINGS TO PALE IN COMPARISON.
You make the sermon sound so good. I’m anxious to listen. I too need the truth about Jesus to be so Real that all else fades.
it is good, you will really like it! I just wrote word for word some of the things he says! soooo good!
Good notes and application, Cyndi. We all need this so.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent?
Mostly abiding for me seems to be this, when I fail in my eating or my thought life, I feel less apt to berate myself endlessly and make my failure into something that separates me from God. I am acknowledging that my standing before God is not dependant on my performance.
I am weak but He is strong…yes JESUS loves me!
If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I definitely have more peace than when I came back to the study, I think that was just prior to Lent beginning.
I feel more grace toward others than before, more concern for people who are lost or hurting. Satan costs so many so much.
Chris, your answer to no.3 resonates with me. I had forgotten how I used to get so caught up in misery when I would eat something I shouldn’t have and it usually ended up making me give up. Since embracing the gospel I quickly remember His abundant love and instead of getting stuck I simply move on. I love this “stone of remembrance”. Thanks for encouraging me today.
You encourage me too Kim, every pink tulip I see reminds me of you!
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
I am off to a rotten start this week eating wise. I have a terrible headache today as a result.
I will continue to abstain from alcohol, and read in the evenings. I will continue to stay on the alert for negative assumptions too.
My son Joe & his fiancé Joanne are moving from NYC back to our area, they should get here tonight. They will be staying a month or two with us until they find an apartment. We are so blessed that he will be close by again, he is a chef & I never thought he would live in Ohio again!
Chris, that’s wonderful news!!
Dee, Thank you for making the study shorter this week. I gained so much from last week’s study but did have a hard time keeping up!
When I started reading the next set of questions, I realized that I can make it through 🙂 Last week, I listened to the sermons at such odd times that my notes weren’t very good.
I appreciate all the work you put in to these studies. Last week’s questions prepared me so well for this week.
Sometimes, I’m kinda dense when it comes to studying Scripture. It’s easy to overlook important concepts in passages in which I am familiar with the words. For example, this morning, I thought “duh.” The good news about the presence of foxes is that real fruit is present. Foxes wouldn’t be lurking around looking for food in dead branches.
I don’t see you as someone who misses much Renee!
I think you have wonderful insights
Thanks for that encouragement Renee.
Love the foxes wouldn’t be looking for food in dead branches!
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser
what are the implications? (There are several.)
Another I AM statement from Christ-He is declaring His deity
That Jesus is the TRUE vine implies there are false vines, things we think will nourish us that don’t
He is the source of life for us
The Father is the vinedresser, he tends each of us
The Father is committed to making us fruitful
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire?
Those that do not abide in the Vine
What does this mean?
If our life is not hidden in Christ, we may not be His, even though we might think we belong to Him.
Matthew 7:23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2,
The ones that bear fruit
why?
That they may be more fruitful
Our pastor goes against the usual interpretation of the first part of verse 2, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away” he feels the first part of verse 2 means that each of us who are in Christ are tended by the Father, the word “takes away”, can be translated ‘takes up’ or ‘lifts up’. Pastor Mark contends that this branch is too weak to bear fruit and needs support to be fruitful.
Here is a link to the message on this text from our church on February 2 if anyone is inclined to hear it;
http://www.leroychapel.org/media.php?pageID=5
The message really fits with our recent studies, I love it when God seems to bring the same message repeatedly from different sources! I recommend the last message in the Counterfeit Gods series on the link too.
Interesting! Will check this out. Thanks, Chris 🙂
Good Chris! I don’t know that I agree — but will try to listen! I know we keep seeing that God knows who is saved and we don’t.
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications?
Jesus says He is the true vine and God is the vine-dresser. He takes it away if it does not bear fruit, prunes if it bears fruit so that it will bear more. We can ask what we desire and it will be done for us. If we don’t abide we will be thrown out like a branch into the fire and burned. By abiding we will have fruit and the Father is glorified and we be His disciples.
http://fox6now.com/2012/03/25/decorah-eagles-eaglet-expected-to-arrive-at-any-time/
I know this is off-topic, but I just have to share the above link. (I don’t know if it will come out as a link here, but copy and paste into your browser.) An eagle’s nest near Decorah, IA is on 24/7 webcam. One eaglet just hatched. Two eggs remain, a few more days incubating for each of them.
Our Lord bears us up on eagle’s wings. This is a wonderful reminder of the Great God we serve and how He watches over all of His creation.
I watch the Decorah Eagles too Chris! I loved that last year all three eaglets fledged, they are such good parents!
Me too 🙂
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
Jesus uses the “I AM”, declaring his deity. Jesus is the true vine and bears much fruit. His Father, who tends and prunes the vine, is committed to bearing fruit. Israel is called God’s “vine” or “vineyard” in the Old Testament, but Israel turns away from God and becomes a wild vine, not bearing fruit,
Jeremiah 2:21 (ESV)
21 Yet I planted you a choice vine,
wholly of pure seed.
How then have you turned degenerate
and become a wild vine?
Very interesting Diane!
6A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
6If anyone who does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
A branch that does not abide in Jesus is thrown away, withers and then burned. I have always assumed that it means that these branches are unbelievers. I found Chris S.’ pastor’s interpretation of the first part of verse 2 interesting. I had never heard that “takes away” could mean “support”, that the Father tends more carefully the weak branches to help them grow stronger. Perhaps this is a possibility meant here.
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
Knowing that God’s pruning of me is done out of his tender love and for my good makes me run more quickly and confidently to Him in my pain. I can trust in His love, even as I am hurting. This reminds me of the allegorical book on the Christian life, “Hinds Feet on High Places” by English author Hannah Hurnard. In the book, “Much-Afraid” and her mentors, “Sorrow” and “Suffering” follow the Shepherd through dangers, toils, and snares to the high places of God’s love. I also am fully aware that the pruning may never stop in this life.
I too have been thinking of Hinds Feet in High Places, about Much Afraid began with the longing for love, but unable to love anyone. About her allowing Christ to do painful surgery on her heart near the end, how though frightened she held still and endured the pain in submisson.
I can relate now on a level deeper than the first time I read that book
6B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. The Father is always at work, pruning as well as fertilizing and doing other gardening chores, helping believers become more fruitful.
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
Jesus abides in us. How cool is that! He is right here! We cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Jesus. If we abide, we will bear not just a little fruit but MUCH fruit. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing of value for God. We bring God glory as we bear fruit, proving we are his disciples. If we don’t bear fruit, we have nothing to make us any different from unbelievers. We abide by keeping His commandments in the same way Jesus kept His Father’s commands. Keeping His commands is not meant in a legalistic, self-righteous sense, but as Jesus kept His Father’s commands – because of His total trust and love for His Father.
Hi friends–just a quick update as this week may be hard to me to finish–at least online. I thank you all so much for your prayers. At this point, they have diagnosed “Thoracic Outlet Syndrome”–a type of nerve compression. The EMG test she wanted to do Thursday is outrageous with my deductible, so I canceled today, I will talk with DR tomorrow and am praying for the DR to have wisdom on next steps, praying for no surgery too! It’s (kind of) funny–one of the sites I read about it said it usually occurs in “type A” personalities who are therefore hard to treat because they ignore symptoms and try to be productive…on and on! ugh! Anyway, I love you all dearly and love this fellowship–I will read just try not to type too much…if I can make myself actually do that. Today I had to use my energy at work, but this I want to share real quick–I work for a church nearby (not actually ours, but a sweet little one) and I had only shared this pain with the receptionist. Well today, the pastor and 4 other staff came in my office and I honestly thought something was wrong, but they told me to sit down and they prayed over me. It was the greatest blessing–I cry thinking of it now, such a tender sweet kiss from my Lord. Love Him so, oh how He loves me!
sorry I went so long and all about me. I am loving this from John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you”
oh elizabeth, Thanks so much for the update. I’m praying for you — and so thankful that you have prayers and support at work.
Will continue to pray for you. Do your doctors or the ones doing the test have any kind of case study grants that you could use Elizabeth?
I love the image of the church staff praying over you!
I smiled too at the type A personality!
Will be praying for wisdom for your Dr. tomorrow.
We will miss your comments so, while you read only….but please take care of yourself, don’t type!
Thanks so much for updating us, Elizabeth. I looked this up on the internet. Wow! I hope physiotherapy and other exercises can alleviate this for you. Praying for pain relief soon and for wisdom for you and the doctors as decisions are made. Sometimes having a diagnosis helps relieve some of the worry. Are you going to be able to continue work? Do you work fulltime and typing a lot?
sweet Elizabeth, I am praying!!
i have similar thing, deep tissue massage and miophasial sp???? release is VERY helpful. find a good massage therapist or a chiropracter who does the miophasial release! “normal” medical people are going to want to drug you and open you up….if you want some ideas of people in your area I can ask my people if they know anyone. relaxation tech. and stretching really helps! praying for you. I suffered for so many years that I want to share with everyone I can the alternitives to “normal” medicine so they dont have to suffer like i did.
Wow Cyndi, that is so cool. I’m happy that you are feeling good!
Agreed… had benefits from myofascial release after an accident (FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_release )
Love how He loved you through the minister and staff. Oh what a beautiful God.
Glad for this information. Will pray your doctor will know if you need that EMG test and that he will have wisdom.
So glad for the support of the pastor and staff. You are obviously loved.
We love you here so.
Elizabeth-so praying for you sister-hate to hear you are in so much pain! So glad God is your comfort and He is loving you through this! love you.
Elizabeth,
I’m going to ask her, but I believe my niece was diagnosed with this when she was in high school and was a swimmer – if I remember correctly, her arms/hands would go numb. The swimming exacerbated it. Oh Elizabeth, praying for you. YOu mentioned before a thyroid (immune) problem – is it Hashimoto’s? I have that – was diagnosed in 2009 – it developed a few months after I had my hysterectomy for endometriosis, which is an autoimmune disease, too.
i won’t say much but had to thank you all for the prayers–and it’s usually best in the morning! Yes,Susan, it’s Hashimotos–though I had a definite hyper phase first and was very thin when diagnosed–sometimes there seems to be episodes of swinging between hyper/hypo for me. Thank you for sharing about you and your niece-you know it just helps not to feel alone!
Want to say this too–I’ve mentioned some of how my family (mom, siblings) view sickness–I mentioned briefly my pain to my mom, who was with my sister at the time, a few months ago and after asking me what I did to cause it, she said to call her when i felt better–anyway, to them it’s such a sign of either weakness or that you must have done something wrong, it’s very hard for them to discuss any problems they can’t fix–it is all seen very negative, so there is a lot of denial–a LOT of “oh, I’m fine!”
But my point in sharing that is how this week is really helping me see the love, and the positive in the pruning. If He is pruning–well, at least there was fruit to prune 😉 And He does it because of love–and He lets me receive the gifts of knowing you all DO really care, and the love of my husband, my staff…gifts I couldn’t see without the pruning. This was amazing timing for me and I am so thankful for how the Spirit leads this study and Dee’s teaching. I pray though that it will stick and should I face the really hard pruning some day–oh that I might be able to use this small one and apply this mindset then.
You are responding in faith to this hardship.
Hard response from some in your family — Jesus is so clear that is wrong theology, but you still see it a lot.
Don’t feel pressed to type. We know you are with us.
Praying for you now, Elizabeth – am so thankful for the support you have, first and foremost from God, and from us here and your husband and coworkers.
Elizabeth, thanks for the updat, but you rest now, okay? Praying!
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.) by loving Him and each other will help us to abide in Jesus. If we truly love Him we will want to always try to please him and do what is right which will help us stay close to him and Him to us.
E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17) If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here. – all Jesus wants us to do is LOVE, to obey His commands. This is no more than what we expect of our own children. I don’t know how many times I would tell my two boys to be nice to people, to respect people, and to not be rude, to listen to what I had to say and to do it. So why do I get upset when these things aren’t done and yet can’t understand why God keeps making me go thru trials for things that I don’t do. Is this a double standard or should just start taking my time out and learn from it.
Good parenting analogy!
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean? Branches with no fruit. Any not abiding in HIM
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?Does bare fruit for even more fruit.
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment? I like Rachel’s comment. We are being pruned now. Simplify is one thing I see here, peeling back over excess. Seeing what is truly important. I see it as a good thing. When I get back in the home I am simplifying for sure! Also, it is helping us all see what is truly important. Christ and each other. Honestly I think about all the stuff in the house and see what I brought to the hotel. I wonder why I even need anything in that house. The truth is I do not. All that is needed is with us and that is even more than enough. Also, a renewed passion to keep our focus on what matters, Christ.
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.) To stay connected to Him. Live by His word not your own. To do it is to walk it out. Rest in His love and when being pruned know you are so favored by your Father He knows there is more by pruning.
E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17) If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here. Do what He commands. Love one another. You did not chose me but I chose you…
Regarding the verses in Song of Solomon, not sure if this is what was asked for.
A. What does the bridegroom ask of the bride in verse 13? What might this cost in your life? He asks her to come away with him. Vs 13 “The fig tree has budded, the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance. Arise, come away my darling; my beautiful one, come away with me!”
To me this verse is saying that I’ve accepted Jesus, that I’m maturing in my walk with Jesus and that the fruit is starting to show in my life and He, Jesus wants me to continue to abide in Him.
B. Where is she, according to verse 14, and what does he want of her? What does this mean? He wants her to come out and face him Vs 14 The Lover to His Beloved: O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
In my mind I think that this is saying that she has fallen away from abiding in Jesus and is ashamed to face Him but He is trying to tell her that it’s ok, and He loves her still and has forgiven her.
C. What enemy lurks if she does not respond to him and come higher with him according to verse 15? The fox or Satan. Vs 15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards – for our vineyard is in bloom.
We need to be aware of Satan and all he tries and keep our households free from sin and away from all that is evil.
D. What does she tell him to do according to verse 17? The Beloved to Her Lover: Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved – be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountain gorges.
Day and night we need to be alert and fast to run from the enemy so we can always be near to Jesus.
Good on Song of Songs — a hard passage. Hudson Taylor interprets vs 17 as she not being willing to go yet, so she asks him to go alone…
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
He who does not bear fruit and he who does not abide in Him are thrown into the fire. I assume this is meaning hell fire but wasn’t sure so I found this from Spurgeon:
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols13-15/chs774.pdf
BY C. H. SPURGEON, 1867 The text SUGGESTS SELF-EXAMINATION. THE TEXT CONVEYS INSTRUCTION and INVITES MEDITATION.
This is long but worth the time.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
For me it seems pruning is a way of life. I don’t enjoy it but I recognize it as part of the way I get where I long to be – near Him. I think surrender and turning quickly towards Him has something to do with how much pruning is needed and how deeply He has to cut. Then I also think there are circumstances which we have no control over which can be seen as pruning. There is always room for improvement, always a need to be more like Him and so I can see why we, like Rachel, should invite it. I like Rachel’s attitude, she seems very mature and willing to embrace it in order to gain the benefits.
Pruning a way of life. Yes. We shouldn’t be surprised!
Just want to thank you for the Spurgeon sermon link, Kim. It is very good.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
I think He wants to prune me in the area of approval/affirmation; so I’m not so reliant on others for my sense of worth and approval, but that I look to Him first for it. I think He is pruning me, using my marriage to do it. At times I yield – which means to forgive, to pray, to be long-suffering. At times I fight – I get upset, angry, resentful and struggle to forgive; I withdraw. Above, in the example Dee gave about Elizabeth and her pruning by learning to forgive, she says “it is the one wronged who must pay…that is what Christ did for us…when Elizabeth suffered in order to forgive, she was allowing God to prune…”
I need to learn to yield to God so He can make something beautiful out of me despite my circumstances.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I think our study has helped me to abide more. I am trying to peer more deeply into just Who Jesus is, and I am seeing Him in new ways. As far as fruit, I am having more self-control over my tongue; I don’t know if this is a “fruit”, but some days when I am upset or distressed by something, I am quicker to look to Him to help me, and my love for Him is growing so that I can come to have peace when I realize that if I have nothing else, I have Him, and He is enough.
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week – this study or something else.
I choose to complete this lesson. I want to learn more and continue building on what we have learned so far.
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
I am going through it now as I have mentioned above. Honestly, I see this as painful but good. Rachel is a gem. She has been through a lot in a short amount of time, and to see how she has been yielding and abiding is amazing and so brings God glory-she has such a mold-able heart.
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
I think, since Jesus was addressing his disciples. He knew after he died and rose again that they would be tempted by their culture to find their identity in other things-especially being ‘of Abraham’-they would be tempted toward idolatry basically-He is saying they will unless they abide in Him. He is talking intimacy here, and I don’t think not abiding relates to the dead branches God throws in the fire. I am thinking it means the pruning purification process-when we turn from Him to other things intimacy wise. I think those of us who are in Him, will have a deep longing to be redeemed from it and to be restored into fellowship with God-I think we can be the live branches that are pre-maturely cut off-our doing not God’s. Yet I believe we will be quickened and He puts in us the desire to pursue Him.
I think truly abiding in Jesus for me now makes me tremble-it is serious!! I was so cavalier about it when I was bound in idolatry-how easily idolatry and temptation-The FOX in the vineyard can come and turn my face away from God-I don’t want to go there-yet there are layers of lies He is peeling back-pruning right now. It would be so easy for that Fox to come in and entice me to desire something less painful. I think since I am overtly and painfully aware of how serious this can hamper intimacy with God-I am more alert to the Fox and by His Grace the Fox won’t win.
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study (John 15:1-7)
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications?
I think it’s interesting that Jesus doesn’t just say, “I am the vine”, but inserts the word “true”. Lots of teachers come along, lots of other religions tell you what you can do to find God and be saved (follow our rules), lots of people will give you their advice and opinions. In today’s world, you can really be lost in a jungle of vines – all wooing you to attach yourself to them!
Jesus stands alone among the many “vines”, and claims, “I am the true vine”. In Him only is found the sap of life. He is the vine that alone can promise life, growth, and fruit.
When I look at the picture of the grapes on the vine, I think of the grapes as clinging to the vine. We cling to Jesus but, He also wont let us fall off. Not only do we have a strong vine to depend on, but the Father is our careful, observant, tender gardener. I’m also seeing the relationship between the Father and the Son; the love and care the Father has for Jesus, and how Jesus glorifies His Father as a life-giving vine.
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
Every branch that bears no fruit is cut off. (v.2)
Anyone who does not remain in Christ is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; picked-up and thrown into the fire. (v.6) – I notice in this verse that this branch has
already “fallen-off” the vine.
What does this mean? In James, it says that faith without works is dead. So, in v.2, it may mean people who claim to be Christians, have a mental assent to the faith, but have never truly been saved, so they are fruitless. In Keller’s sermon last week, he said that people on the broad path can be very moral, but they are doing it to try and save themselves. True fruit is produced not by the person, but by the Spirit.
In v. 6, those who do not remain – could it be those who “try” Christianity; who initially are all on fire, but when trials and troubles come they fall away.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
The branches that are bearing fruit are pruned, in order to make them even more fruitful.
I think of my perennials in the summer. I constantly cut-off the spent blooms to encourage more and more new blooms. Maybe if God didn’t prune us, we’d settle into coasting along, content with the fruit we are bearing, but not being challenged to grow and bear fruit in areas we thought we never could.
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now). Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
I can think of two major prunings in my life. I can’t say that in the midst of them, I appreciated what was happening; at least not at first, or maybe not even in the middle, either – not until the end of the trial was the purpose clear. Perspective, for me, comes from looking back after I’ve walked through it. The first one I’m thinking of, I definitely know that God was trying to get my attention about a huge issue of sin in my life, and the pruning He used was physical, emotional, and mental illness and suffering.
Looking back, it was one of the worst, painful times in my life, but also turned into the best time with God.
Pruning also happens anytime we lose someone we love. When my nephew died, what I experienced, and the devastation I saw that it caused in others I love – it was the most horrific time I’d ever experienced. That’s a time when I might have “dropped off the vine”. But when we lose our ability to hold on, He holds onto us. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Dee decided to do her first online Bible study through The God of All Comfort. The pruning is so painful, but what brings healing is to see the way God comes through, every time.
I think Rachel is very insightful. It’s not easy to “welcome trials as friends”. Usually, we want to know the quickest way out. But I agree with her that attitude is everything. Pruning may even be a way God uses to adjust our attitudes.
Susan, you cannot know how much I needed the reassurance of this statement, “We cling to Jesus but, He also wont let us fall off.” I think I can get into fear I might slip away from Him b/c in the past I would do well for a season but then fall back and I hated this about my life. He is reminding me of His ability to keep me from falling through your post. It seems like the chipping away He is doing now is on my fears and self reliance. I love the image of God as a kind gardener. I like to garden and do whatever is needed to make my flowers flourish. He seems to be telling me He will do the same with me.
love this Kim! cant picture you ever “sliping away” but its cool how you are reasured by the fact that he will never let go.
http://youtu.be/RB1NJV3rG6k
Thanks for the song, cyndi. I needed this today.
Like your pointing out I am the true vine
Its the little foxes that spoil the vine.
How true for me!
That little fox reared it’s deceiving self yesterday at work in the form of my temper. I felt myself getting increasingly agitated and irritable with a new IT person over the phone when I had to explain a problem in patients chart that needed to be removed.
I use to excuse my temper as a poor character trait or something I inherited. But I want so much to overcome this!
Please remember me in your prayers, that I submit to the Spirit and allow the process of change to continue in me.
I want to be a woman of integraty and sincerity!
Praying for you, Laura Marie! I see you have already made progress in that you don’t make excuses for your temper anymore; you come before God and admit it honestly and you desire Him to change you. I will pray along these lines!
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10).
Jesus tells me that I am to remain in Him, and He will remain in me. He tells me that I will never bear fruit on my own; I must remain in the vine (Jesus). If I am not remaining/abiding with Jesus, I cannot bear fruit.
If I am not spending time with Jesus, if I am not reading His Word, if I am not talking to Him and pondering, meditating, learning and growing in Him and His Word; if I stay away from church and if I don’t fellowship with other believers; if I don’t spend any time in private or corporate worship – then I am not remaining in Him and my life will start to unravel. The world with its ideas, media, entertainment, etc…will begin to spoil my fruit and corrupt my thinking.
I’m trying to think here about what Keller said about the fruits of the Spirit – it is the Spirit who produces them in us – it is Jesus living out His life through us. There are many ways that I said above that can shut this down in my life. I know there’s a verse somewhere that talks about “do not quench the Spirit”. We can have the Holy Spirit but can not be cooperating with Him or listening to Him.
I learned this week, as Dee said above, that beholding Jesus is abiding in Him. So pondering and wondering and meditating and looking deeply at Jesus is a way to abide. Bible study is a way to abide. Worshipping and singing to Him is a way to abide. Reading good Christian books to help me grow in my faith is a way to abide.
In verses 9-10, Jesus says to “remain in my love”. He assures me that just as the Father has loved Jesus, so Jesus loves me with that same kind of love. Remaining means then to reject the lies of Satan that God doesn’t love me. It means to turn away from that approval idol that seeks the approval of others most of all, and feels despair when I don’t get that approval. I HAVE the approval and the love of God. Jesus also says I remain with Him if I obey Him. That reminds me of the passage in 1 John where because God is light and there is no darkness in Him – if I choose to sin and disobey Him, I’ve got to let go of His hand and go off on my own. That’s not remaining with Him. Remaining in Him then means to be quick to repent of known sin.
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
I have been avoiding answering this question. Had my suffering been at a lesser cost, had it not been visited my child, it would be much easier to say I would welcome more of it.
I welcome truly, being closer to Christ, I pray that I will be obedient & submitted in trials. But honestly I shudder to think of going through anything like that again. I don’t want to see those I love suffer ever again.
Yet even in this I see my self-obsession. That tendency to think this is all about me, that this happened because of me, to prune me. It has affected & pruned me but Gods purposes are larger than just me, what happened affected many people.
I would have taken my sons place, suffered instead of him. I can see that is what Christ in fact did to win us, to win me. I choose to trust Him, to let go.
This verse came to mind;
Mat 12:20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory
Matthew Henrys’ Commentary;
That he should carry on his undertaking without severity and rigour (Mat_12:20). A bruised reed shall he not break. Some understand this of his patience in bearing with the wicked; he could as easily have broken these Pharisees as a bruised reed, and have quenched them as soon as smoking flax; but he will not do it till the judgment-day, when all his enemies shall be made his footstool. Others rather understand it of his power and grace in bearing up the weak. In general, the design of his gospel is to establish such a method of salvation as encourages sincerity, though there be much infirmity; it does not insist upon a sinless obedience, but accepts an upright, willing mind. As to particular persons, that follow Christ in meekness, and in fear, and in much trembling, observe, [1.] How their case is here described – they are like a bruised reed, and smoking flax. Young beginners in religion are weak as a bruised reed, and their weakness offensive like smoking flax; some little life they have, but it is like that of a bruised reed; some little heat, but like that of smoking flax. Christ’s disciples were as yet but weak, and many are so that have a place in his family. The grace and goodness in them are as a bruised reed, the corruption and badness in them are as smoking flax, as the wick of a candle when it is put out and is yet smoking. [2.] What is the compassion of our Lord Jesus toward them? He will not discourage them, much less reject them or cast them off; the reed that is bruised shall not be broken and trodden down, but shall be supported, and made as strong as a cedar or flourishing palm-tree. The candle newly lighted, though it only smokes and does not flame, shall not be blown out, but blown up. The day of small things is the day of precious things, and therefore he will not despise it, but make it the day of great things, Zec_4:10. Note, Our Lord Jesus deals very tenderly with those who have true grace, though they be weak in it, Isa_40:11; Heb_5:2. He remembers not only that we are dust, but that we are flesh. [3.] The good issue and success of this, intimated in that, till he send forth judgment unto victory. That judgment which he showed to the Gentiles shall be victorious, he will go on conquering and to conquer, Rev_6:2. Both the preaching of the gospel in the world, and the power of the gospel in the heart, shall prevail. Grace shall get the upper hand of corruption, and shall at length be perfected in glory. Christ’s judgment will be brought forth to victory, for when he judges he will overcome. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth; so it is, Isa_42:3. Truth and victory are much the same, for great is the truth, and will prevail.
I find such hope in this!
Chris,
Your observation about pruning is SO WISE: “That tendency to think this is all about me, that this happened because of me, to prune me. It has affected & pruned me but Gods purposes are larger than just me, what happened affected many people.”
SO important to realize that God’s purposes are greater than me. I believe you’re right on target. If I simply look at a tragedy or difficult event as God pruning me, I might even think of Him as somewhat sadistic. After all, He is God — and could create fruit without pruning me. But His purposes and His love are so far beyond my comprehension. He prunes me because He loves me and wants what is best for me. However, we also live in a fallen world; He is faithful. He may ALLOW pruning “as He works all things together for good…;” but that doesn’t mean He hurts others in order to prune me. I can only submit to pruning (and then, not necessarily easily) in the context of acknowledging His love, wisdom, and greater purpose.
have been doing this study with my girls. when we read vs. 17 that says love one another Abby suggested that we read 1 cor. 13 and put that in for love…so this is how we read it.
this is my command that you are patient, that you are kind thay you do not envy that you do not boast, that you are not proud, that you are not rude, that you are not self seeking, that you are not easily angered, that you do not keep a record of wrongs, that you dont delite in evil but rejoice in the truth that you always protect, trust, hope and persevere……with each other.
WOW
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5?
It stood out to me that I can try to bear fruit on my own, but apart from Christ I can do nothing.
What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
I can choose to trust in the love of Christ and draw my very life from Him, I can be obedient and rest in Him, He will supply what is needed, I need only to stay in Him obedient & dependant. He will make me fruitful. My job is not to look for my source of strength and life anywhere else, to obey & believe He loves me.
E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17)
He chose & appointed us, in love He laid down His life for us, He has revealed things to us, He makes us fruitful, with fruit that stays, He gives us the privilege of praying in His name, of seeing answers to our prayers. He is commanding us to abide, for our corporate good & Gods glory.
If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here.
He is asking us to lay down our lives, first to Him, then in love for others.
I thought about this;
Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
And how apart from Him we can never hope to pull this off.
I want to give a praise. Yesterday when I was flossing my teeth a chunk of tooth came out. This morning when I called the dentist the receptionist said she had a 2’oclock cancellation otherwise it would have been next week! I get off at 2 and the dentist is 2 minutes away from my job. Thanking Him for His kindness towards me.
Praise God, Kim!
Thanks, Joyce. Pray it will not need a cap as the cost is $700.00.
A. What does the bridegroom ask of the bride in verse 13?
To come with Him, to follow Him, to stop hiding in shame, to believe He loves & wants her. To not allow sin, & doubt to come between them.
What might this cost in your life?
I need to stop hiding & thinking myself useless, to stop fearing discomfort. To put my hand in His, trusting that He really does want to hear my voice & see my face.
I want to learn to fear more being on my own, that I do responding to His call.
Shory term it will cost me what seems to promise comfort and safety, but I know it really leaves me bored, lonely and unfruitful.
I found this in my inbox from Leigh McLeroy and thought it was worth sharing.
Once upon a time he was small enough to squeeze into an eight year old heart. Today the sea and sky cannot contain him. Way back when, I discovered he could be trusted with smallish disappointments and middle-sized fears; today I know he reconstitutes great big broken hearts and that there is no threat from within or without that can cow him, or authority that can overrule his sovereign will. I used to say when people asked to hear my “testimony” that I met my Savior young and simply grew up with him, because he knew I’d need him early. But now I see that while I was growing up with him, he was out-growing me at every turn. He doesn’t seem smaller as I recall our earliest days together. Instead he gets bigger by the day.
There’s a scene I love in C. S. Lewis’s Prince Caspian, when Lucy is reunited with Aslan, safely held between the great lion’s front legs, feeling his warm breath upon her face.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow you will find me bigger.”
I love it Kim! I know the truth of it!
Yes, me too. 🙂
The quote from Prince Caspian would make a great poster — a reminder, comfort, and encouragement!
Yes, I love Aslan! He is my visual when fear comes.
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I wanted to share these Hudson Taylor quotes, so approriate to our study;
“The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”
“It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change”
And another!
. . . . To let my loving Savior work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power; . . . resting in the love of an almighty Savior, in the joy of a complete salvation, “from all sin”––this is not new, and yet ’tis new to me . . . . Christ literally all seems to me, now, the power, the only power for service, the only ground for unchanging joy . . . .
How wonderful you found these perfect quotes from Taylor!
Good morning ladies! I have been busy with my son’s birthday, and today proves to be another day I won’t be at home. Hoping to catch up tonight and get into the Word and read comments. I pray blessings on each of you! Thanks for being an encouragement to me!
Good morning. Praying blessings on you. Praying for your Ben too.
Okay, I am sorry to be so carried away and post so much, I see Dee why you pointed us to Hudson Taylor!
“I strove for faith, but it would not come; I tried to exercise it, but in vain. Seeing more and more the wondrous supply of grace laid up in Jesus, the fullness of our precious Savior, my guilt and helplessness seemed to increase. Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word. . . . I prayed for faith, but it came not. What was I to do?
When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed to me the truth of our oneness with Jesus as I had never known it before.
“But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.”
As I read, I saw it all! “If we believe not, he abideth faithful.” I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed)! That He had said, “I will never leave thee.”
“Ah, there is rest!” I thought. “I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I’ll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me––never to leave me, never to fail me?” And, . . . He never will.
. . . . As I thought of the Vine and the branches, what light the blessed Spirit poured direct into my soul! How great seemed my mistake in wishing to get the sap, the fullness out of Him! I saw not only that Jesus will ever leave me, but that I am a member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. The vine is not the root merely, but all––root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit. And Jesus is not that alone––He is soil and sunshine, air and showers, and ten thousand times more than we have ever dreamed, wished for or needed. Oh, the joy of seeing this truth! I do pray that the eyes of your understanding too may be enlightened, that you may know and enjoy the riches freely given us in Christ.
. . . It is a wonderful thing to be really one with a risen and exalted Savior, to be a member of Christ! Think what it involves. Can Christ be rich and I poor? Can your right hand be rich and your left poor? Or your head be well fed while your body starves? . . . . No more can your prayers or mine be discredited if offered in the name of Jesus (i.e., not for the sake of Jesus merely, but on the ground that we are His, His members) so long as we keep within the limits of Christ’s credit––a tolerably wide limit!
The sweetest part, . . . is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. . . . So, if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in positions of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trials, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.”
“And since Christ has thus dwelt in my heart by faith, how happy I have been! . . . I am no better than before. In a sense, I do not wish to be, nor am I striving to be. But I am dead and buried with Christ––ay, and risen too! And now Christ lives in me, and “the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
. . . . Do not let us consider Him as far off, when God has made us one with Him, members of His very body. Nor should we look upon this experience, these truths, as for the few. They are the birthright of every child of God, and no one can dispense with them without dishonoring our Lord. The only power for deliverance from sin or for true service is Christ.
And it is all so simple and practical!
“But are you always conscious of this abiding in Christ?” Mr. Taylor was asked many years later.
“While sleeping last night,” he replied, “did I cease to abide in your home because I was unconscious of the fact? We should never be conscious of not abiding in Christ.”
I change, He changes not;
The Christ can never die:
His truth, not mine, the resting place;
His love, not mine, the tie.
whoa, thanks for posting all this, Chris. Quickly scanned, but will read more carefully later. Rich!!
Great stuff. Thanks, Chris.
Thankyou for posting these quotes, Chris. They are all beautiful and rich. I, too, have struggled with unbelief, with doubt, with assurance – I can relate to how he describes how he strived to gain faith. “I prayed for faith, but it came not. What was I to do?” What opened his eyes? That “not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.”
So love the picture that Jesus is not only the vine, but He is ALL – the root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit – and the soil, air, sunshine and showers, and “ten thousand times more than we have ever dreamed, wished for or needed.”
Update on The Vine. I’ve been thinking about the questions (famous last words for me at work, too: I may not always get much written, but I’m always thinking!).
Yesterday, I was talking with someone and he brought up this passage about the Vine and abiding. So encouraging once again to get that the Spirit is delivering the same message from multiple places.
Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night. Instead of playing with my smart phone even LONGER (ok, this is something I could give up for Lent), I grabbed my mom’s Bible and turned to John 15. In the margin, she had written “Abide Remain Dwell.” So, I was thinking about dwelling (before I continued to look at the rest of the passage). Well, that got me thinking about another one of my questions. My question wasn’t so much from a theological perspective, but more from the metaphorical perspective of the Vine: How do we get attached in the first place?
Well, OF COURSE! We are grafted in! Romans 11: 17ff
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
I started thinking about a crab apple tree. When I was little, my parents grafted a couple branches of different apple varieties into that small tree. Many years later, a neighbor was pruning that tree; He pruned off one of the big branches of this (now huge) tree because that fruit (large applies) “didn’t belong there.” My mom was disappointed (but didn’t say anything) because she had grafted in that branch. It’s easy to judge other people’s fruits because they “don’t belong” or don’t look like the “real” fruit. But, because we are grafted in to the Vine, our fruits may differ. We always enjoyed seeing the variety of fruit on one tree!
I thought the words in the passage above were interesting: “if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” Even our belief is not completely of our own volition, but we are called not to persist in unbelief.
Because I am a “wild shoot” who is grafted in, it’s ok that I am different 🙂
Now I have to get back to writing a report for work!!
Loved that story about the crab apple tree, Renee
Yes! We are grafted in. Praise the Lord.
Love what your mom wrote, ““Abide Remain Dwell.” soooo good.
Your posts are always so interesting, Renee – you really like to dig deep!
7. Read Song of Songs 2:13-17 (Challenge passage — do your best) Often today Song of Songs is applied only to earthly marriage, but it must also be applied to our relationship with our heavenly bridegroom.) Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, comments on this passage, and I’ll paraphrase him at the end. But do your best before you read his interpretation — and apply this to you and Jesus.
A. What does the bridegroom ask of the bride in verse 13? What might this cost in your life? To go away with Him. To give all to Him.
B. Where is she, according to verse 14, and what does he want of her? What does this mean? hiding, to come out. For some reason she is afraid to abandon all to Him.
C. What enemy lurks if she does not respond to him and come higher with him according to verse 15? Little foxes that will ruin her.
D. What does she tell him to do according to verse 17? to return to her.
About Taylor, love his quote! Loved reading about his life. I feel just like him. I think that is why I often feel restless. I feel sad because I am not out doing in a foreign land like that. I want that adventure for the sake of the gospel and Christ. I get frustrated living in the Bible belt where everyone has heard the news of the gospel and think they are saved.
It makes my heart leap to think of adventure of sharing the gospel in foreign lands. Oh how I often times feel dissatisfied being stuck where I am however, I know and must believe God has some amazing plan even in that! I keep having to give up all the other outside of the home work I am doing and I am resentful of that. I need to be ok with this mission at home. Oh Lord help me just be a light wherever you place this restless heart of mine.
6 E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17) If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here.
16 You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
If God chose us and we had nothing to do with it other than respond in trust, then it logically follows that when he says he appointed us to bear fruit that abides, that this too is the Lord’s doing. He does the work of pruning, our job is to submit and obey each step in trust, and then the fruit will come. When the pruning is intense, I tend to despair that there is no fruit. Lord, gives me eyes to see Your fruit in me.