Truth and Life | Part 5 - "The True Vine"

1 Samuel 26:18 (ESV)

18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?

1 Samuel 27:1-2(NLV)

“1 David said to himself, “Some day Saul will kill me. There is nothing better for me than to run to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will become tired of looking for me any more in the land of Israel. And I will get away from him.” 2 So David got up and crossed over with his 600 men to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.”

6 So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag that day. Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

Ziklag- "winding", of uncertain derivation

1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

“but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

John 15:1-11(NIV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Jesus knew the disciples needed “A RELATIONSHIP”, and it’s the same for us today.

Vine - (Jesus) He is the true source of life and growth.

Gardener - (God the Father) He oversees growth; prunes for fruitfulness

Branches - (Believers) We must stay connected to the vine (Jesus) to bear fruit

Fruit - Godly character, good works, spiritual growth.

You are not alone - You belong to Jesus

V1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Hebrews 13:5 (AMP)

 “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

Staying connected to Jesus brings Life

V4 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”

Your Life Can Bear Fruit

V5 “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit”

V8 “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit”

You are loved deeply by Christ

V9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

Obedience brings Joy

V11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Our role is to simply remain in him; his role is to supply.