The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on May 31, 2026.
John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
The world is getting more and more evil–violence, perversion. Satan is after the young people. Many are relying on the government to care for them when we really need to rely on God and then do our part. Right before Jesus goes to the cross, knowing the suffering to come, he tells the disciples to abide in him: abide in the vine saying I am the true vine. The most important part of a tree is the trunk as the roots send nutrients all the way to the branches. Jesus is the source of all we need. Jesus is the vine. God is the husbandman or the gardener. He keeps it growing. If a branch (you and I) doesn’t bear fruit, God gets his heavenly chainsaw out and purges us. It’s not punishment. He’s trying to make us better. He wants people to see Jesus and be drawn to him by our lives. Be alive inside—abide in Christ. God is tending, shaping, and overseeing. Are you connected to the source? In everything we do? Fruitless branches are removed. If there is sin in your life, remove it.
Look at verses 3-6. We are cleansed through the Word of God. This is showing us that we receive the nutrients that help us produce fruit of a healthy branch. It’s important to have spiritual growth, and that cannot be done without the Word of God. So, again in verse 4: Abide in me, and I in you. The only way is through the Bible. Read it. Study it. It’s an everyday willingness to abide and learn. Why? To let HIM shine! To abide is to remain. It’s a continuous relationship. If not, what happens? It is cut off from the trunk and dies. Then it’s burned. All we need to avoid this lies in and comes from the Vine. Note in verse 5 it says without me ye can do nothing. Nothing means nothing. If we’re not tapped into the Vine, we can do absolutely nothing for HIM. You must be connected to Jesus.
In being connected we are cared for. We grow as we abide. Busyness is not being fruitful. Abiding transforms us through the Word and our prayer life. Verse 8 says the purpose is this: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Glorify God by bearing fruit. Galatians 5 reminds us what the specific fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. If we show these to people and live accordingly, we will produce fruit.
Be like Jesus. Abide in Him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 