The True Vine

John 15:1-5 NIV
“I AM THE TRUE VINE, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. 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.”
God is our source.
John 15:1-2 NIV
“I AM THE TRUE VINE, and my Father is the gardener. 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.”

He Is:

1. The source of our correction

God’s Pruning Involves:

1. Divine Discipline
   John 15:2 NIV
   “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.”
   Hebrews 12:5-8 NIV
   And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you
   as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the
   LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For
   the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he
   accepts as his child.” As you endure this DIVINE DISCIPLINE,
   remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever
   heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t
   discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are
   illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
   Job 13:15, 20-21 NKJV
   Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him… “Only two things do not do
   to me, then I will not hide myself from You: withdraw Your hand far
   from me, and let not the dread of You make me afraid.”
   God’s Pruning Involves:
2. Divine Direction
3. Divine Disruptions
   Genesis 41:55-57 NIV
   When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh
   for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do
   what he tells you.” When the famine had spread over the whole
   country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the
   Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the
   world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the
   famine was severe everywhere.

He Is:

2. The source of our provision
   John 15:4 NIV
   “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.”
   What does remaining in Him look like?
   • Prayer
   • Profession of God’s Word
   • Proximity to God’s people
   He Is:
3. The source of our protection
   Song of Solomon 2:15
   The small foxes spoil the vine.
   … though foxes are carnivorous animals in the main, they also
   devour plants, so that besides digging their holes in the
   vineyards, and making tracks among the vines and gaps in the
   fences, they actually bite the young shoots of the vines and eat
   the grapes. (Cp. Theocritus, Id. v. 112, where vines are said to be
   spoiled by their deadly bite.) In vine-growing countries, as for
   instance in Australia, foxes when killed have been found with
   nothing in their stomachs but grapes.
   Declaration of Proverbs 3:5-12
   I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not to my own
   understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge Him, and He shall
   direct my paths. I will not be wise in my own eyes; I will fear the Lord
   and depart from evil. It will be health to my flesh and strength to my
   bones. I will honor the Lord with my possessions and with the
   firstfruits of all my increase. So my barns will be filled with plenty,
   and my vats will overflow with new wine. I will not despise the
   chastening of the Lord, nor will I detest His correction. For I know the
   Lord corrects me because He loves me, just as a father loves his son.