I'm Darrell Betty. Thank you for tuning us in. As we continue our series, The Identity of Jesus, here tonight, we'll be in John chapter 15, verses 1 through 27. And I call this Bible study tonight in John 15, Living with Him in Me. As we get into the wonderful Word of God, God has some wonderful things that he wants to do as we embark on this wonderful teaching to unveil the invitation to abide in Christ intimately and bear fruit that glorifies God. You know, may we deepen our understanding tonight as we're living with Him in me, cultivating and enduring a relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the vine. God is the vine dresser. and you and I are the branches living with Him in me. Take your Bibles to John chapter 15 verses 1 through 27. Here, Wednesday in the Word, Servants for Christ, April the 3rd, 2024, the 24th of Adar 2, 5784 of the Hebrew calendar. I want to welcome every one of you to Crossroads Baptist Church, Bethel Crossroads Baptist Church. We'd love to have you. to come and be with us. We're located at 450 Iron Hill Road, Taylorsville, Georgia 30178. Come on and be with us. Step into our sanctuary and discover the joy of worshiping with us, where every soul finds its song and every heart its home. As we look at on behalf of Pastor Keith Dipsy, come and worship with us for Sunday school at 10 a.m., morning worship at 11, And then, remember, this coming Wednesday night, we're out for spring break, so we'll not be having our Bible study, nor with our kids for Christ with Rusty and Lynn Lanier. But next Wednesday, if the Lord doesn't come back, we'll start back up from 6 to 7. You come and join us and be with us. We'd love to have you join us. Now, here comes our Bible trivia for John chapter 15. What fate awaits the branches that do not bear fruit? Huh? They wither and die, A. They are pruned for growth, B. They are replanted in fertile soil, C. Or D, they are cut off and thrown into the fire. Well, the answer is D. John chapter 15, verse six, they are cut off and thrown in to the fire. I thank God if when we look at that, actually, As we get into the book of John, we're reminded of how God, one of these days, is going to prune each and every one of us. And I'm glad that he said, 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. How sad that that's coming, one of these days. But there's many that have never made a Now we look at each of the chapters of the Book of John and we've related to each chapter a Hebrew alphabet that tells a summary about each one of the chapters of the Gospel of John. Here in the 15th chapter of John we have the Hebrew letter Samech and it's a symbol of support, protection, and memory with a numerical value of 60. The Hebrew letter Shemek is often described as having a circular or an oval shape and it looks like a closed loop or a circle with a slight opening on one side. The design of the Shemek is often with a smooth rounded appearance. It resembles the shape of a wheel or a ring and the circular design of the Shemek symbolizes support, encirclement, and completeness. reflecting its spiritual significance in Hebrew mysticism and interpretation. And so, when we look at this, the Hebrew alphabet can be seen through the interpretation because when we see this 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it represents a completeness or rest, a combination of the numbers as well. And so when we look at how that it talks about the relationship between Jesus, who represents completeness and grace, and his disciples, it emphasizes the concept of a spiritual completeness and the importance of an abiding in Christ. And so the Semitic, as it's shaped like a circle, or support. It symbolizes that that we see of basically a trellis that here is a pictorial from the Paleo script which looks like a ladder but it means to lean upon to support and is seen in this pictograph of a spine with side ribs as we depend on the spine to keep us upright. or it's the picture of a trellis that supports and holds up the spouting vine. And lastly, it depicts a leaning staff for one's hand to grasp and one's body to lean upon to support its full weight. And so, These three pictorials, all of the summit, means 100% dependence upon God for everything that we say, think, or do. Abba, Father, we understand what Jesus meant by calling to us, abide in Him, for without Him to lean upon, we can do nothing. And so, John 15, 5, I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever abides in me, I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, For apart from him you can do nothing. And that is how the 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet relates to the 15th chapter of the book of John. Here we're gonna be talking about the relationship of Jesus to the people of the world in verses one through five. Then the relationship of Jesus to believers in verses nine through 11. And then the relationship of believers to believers in verses 12 through 17. And then lastly, the relationship of believers to the world, dealing with persecution in verses 18 through 21. Now, Helen Keller said, how spiritually blind are men that they fail to see that we are bound together. We rise or fall together, we are dwarfed or godlike, free or chained together. Now, how spiritually blind are men that Helen Keller was saying, they fail to see that they're bound together. We rise or fall together. We're dwarfed or godlike or free or chained together. Helen Keller, when she made this quote, it speaks to the interconnectedness and interdependence of humanity, emphasizing the spiritual blindness of those who fail to recognize the fundamental truth the meaning of spiritual blindness. And so, some people are spiritually blind because they cannot perceive the profound connection that binds all humans together. This blindness stems from a lack of an awareness or understanding of a deeper spiritual truth. When we're bound together despite our differences, Helen Keller asserts that humanity is bound together by invisible ties. the connection that transcends the distinctions of our race, of our nationality, of our creed, that we're all a part of a human family sharing a common destiny and responsibility toward one another. She talked about how that we rise or fall together, and the idea that our destinies are intertwined as individuals, that we cannot exist in isolation, and that every one of us are inseparable. We either succeed or fail as a unified whole, and our actions impact one another's lives. We're dwarfed or godlike, and the potential of being one in which humanity has been dwarfed and cannot come together. And so when we recognize all of this, Helen Keller knew best when she quoted this for us. But first of all, we see the relationship of Jesus to the people of the world in John chapter 15 verses 1 through 8. Let's pause for a moment of prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts open, Lord, to receive your word. And Lord, as we get into the scripture of John chapter 15, guide us to understand how to abide in the word. May your wisdom and love fill our hearts. And Father, bless our church at Bethel Crossroads. Bless our pastor, our deacons, and all of our ministries of our food pantry. And God, every one that sits under the worship of God, may we all give breath and glory to him that deserves everything about our Lord and Savior, to give glory and honor to him, that we may reach every lost person that crosses our path and share the love of Jesus Christ, that we are a divine and Lord as God, is the vinedresser. Lord, you're the branch, and I pray that you'll bring us together into the live to sow in a lost sinner and bring them into the family of God before it's too late. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name. Amen. Now, when we look, we see, first of all, Jesus, the vine, God, the vinedresser, and the man, the branch, the unfruitful branches that are taken away in verse two. the fruitful branches in verses two, three, and four, and the unattached branches in four, five, and six, amen, that we look at. And so when we begin to realize that all of our lives that we go into and begin to look and realize what God wants to do, we see here The Word of God, living with Him in me. Notice how I've got it in green, in me, in me. That's why I called this Bible study, the 15th chapter of John, living with Him in me. Jesus is like a grapevine, and those who follow him are like branches. He says, I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. But he goes on and he says, every branch in me that beareth not fruit, notice, he taketh away. Ariel, the unfruitful branches is what it means. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it. He's talking about cathiaro, or purged or cleansed, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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. 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. And so when we look and realize the connection between the believer and Jesus is crucial for the spiritual life. Because God helps believers grow spiritually by removing the things from their lives that hinder their growth, just like a gardener proves a vine. And in verse 3, we understand that the Bible helps clean and shape believers spiritually. In verse 4, that will sustain connected to Jesus is the vital for spiritual health. And I'm glad that when we do that, and growth, just as the branches need to stay connected to the vine to stay alive, one of the hardest habits to develop in the Christian life is the habit of consistency. Being the same way, doing the same thing, day after day after day, you can't truly be successful in any endeavor until you establish consistency. And so a team that plays good some of the time may win some games, but they won't win championships. A restaurant that has good food only some of the time will eventually be empty all the time. A relationship in which two people treat other well on some days and yet bad on other days is going to fail. And so there has to be Consistency in the Christian life the same way doing the same thing day after day praise God Until we begin to have that habit forming in our lives that begins to give us something of a pattern Something of a trellis Something that the Lord begins to prune us that we run up that vine in that trellis and that keeps us healthy Boy, you know what you can eat some junk food, but you know what? you won't be healthy. A Christian that walks with Jesus one day and walks alone the next is a Christian who will never experience power in their life. Consistency is the key to success in any endeavor. And when it comes to making jokes, humor is something that we often associate with the whim of feeling good as in you've got to feel funny to be funny. Two of the most successful comments in recent years is Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. Both of them attribute their overwhelming success to a habit that they developed early in their careers every day. They sat down and they wrote jokes, whether they felt funny or not. You see, successful novelists say the same thing. Great writers write every day, regardless of how they feel. The same is true with musicians and auditors. I love what the painter Chuck Close said, inspiration is for amateurs. But the rest of us just show up and get to work. You see, some Christians approach the Christian life like amateurs. They wait for inspiration. They wait until it feels good to worship, or to witness, or to give, or to be obedient. And when they're feeling it, they're really good at it. And when they're not feeling it, well, they just put it off for another day. And the greatest, and by greatest, I mean the most effective Christian that I know are the ones who are committed to living the Christian life every single day, regardless of how they feel. If you want to live a great life, You need to live it consistently for 10, for 20, for 30, or however many years that you have left. But the reality is, listen, for all too many of us that we can't live consistently for two or three days, let alone two or three decades. Many of us, and I mean specifically saying us, because I'm included, we struggle with being the same way, doing the same things for a consistent period of time. We know what it's like to walk in victory some of the time, but not all of the time. You know what? Verse 5, he says, without Jesus, believers can't do anything spiritually, meaningfully. He's like the power source for our lives. Jesus introduces the imagery of the vine, portraying himself as the true vine and his disciples as the branches, and he sets the stage for the intimate relationship between believers that we share with our Lord and Savior. And so, through the metaphor of pruning, Jesus brings on the process of spiritual refinement, and God likened it to the gardener that prunes away the excesses in our life, purifying us through his word, nurturing spiritual growth. And I'm glad that when we live in the imperative to abide in Christ continually, just as branches draw substance from divine believers, We get the spiritual vitality and the fruitfulness by remaining steadfast, connected to Jesus, praise his mighty name. Hallelujah. And so we are living with him in me. Amen. Do you follow me? And so Bruce Springsteen wrote about this same thing because some of the things that he said is that basically every one of us, when we begin to go through life, that we lose basically the ability, some of the ability to continue on and do what we're doing. He wrote a song about this, praise God. And in that song, I'm glad that he began to write to us about basically He said some of the things that he wanted to talk about, that he wanted to know why, that he explained that he intended to walk to, well, basically, when we look and realize what Bruce Springsteen did from a young life all the way to being an elder singer all of his life, he began to set an example that no matter what, some days, you've got to keep going no matter what. And I'm glad it talks about there was a man one day that he was trying to go to work and it was windy. And it was so windy and he'd take one step and then knock him back two steps. And so sometimes in life, Bruce Springsteen, basically some of the songs that he wrote basically says, you know what? Whenever you take a step and the wind knocks you back, The boss looked at him and he said, how did you finally get to work? And the employee says, well, I gave up and I turned around and I started walking back home. Well, windy days work exactly that way. But the one step forward and two steps back principle doesn't work that way. Anyone who has lost and gained weight can tell you. However, it doesn't have to be that way because however, in our personal life, in our professional life, from Bruce Springsteen, your spiritual life, your financial life, your family life. All you got to do is continue to do all the time what you normally do every day and when you do that you begin to have a pattern. When you form that pattern, you become consistent, victorious, and it begins with knowing who you are in Christ. Amen. Change is what the Christian life is all about. Every one of us, Jacob was a rascal and he was a wrestler, but he held on. He held on to the Lord and he had a limp in his step, but he held on. Moses became a fugitive. but later a leader. Every one of us, as we go through life, we've got to recognize that that consistency, that perseverance, whatever you need is available. I'm glad that this day, one day at a time, that's all we've got to do is continue to go forward. I'm glad the Lord said, give us our daily bread. And why? He said, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. He said, because in his words, each day has enough trouble of its own. We have a difficult time developing and trying consistency. But all we've got to do each and every day of our life is continue to go forward. And that's what the Lord is wanting us to do. Amen. The relationship of Jesus to the people of the world. Praise God. Every one of us, when we look and realize what the Lord is wanting to do. Praise God. Each and every one of us, as we look and know that the relationship Jesus was facing the most terrible scene in all human history. The Son of God was about to be murdered at the hands of men. All that he had to face was weighing ever so heavily upon his mind. And everyone that he was in contact with, he had come to save every one of them. Few were responding in a genuine way. And he was even facing the collapse of his own inner circle. Most tragically, they were falling away. One disciple was in the very process of betraying him, Judas. The leader of the disciples was to die three times, even by cursing Peter. The other disciples were to flee and desert him. And you know what? Then there was the world of men that was rejecting him. The religionists who strongly professed to know him and live for God, and the non-religionists who had no attachment to God and professed none. He had come to save them all, and not one was standing with him in his most needful hour. The thought of it all raced through his mind. And as he thought, he recalled the vine of God and described it in the Old Testament. You know, I'm glad that here is a great lesson for every one of us, amen, that we see. Because he tells us that as he said that Jesus the vine, the vine dresser and man the branch. He goes on down that he begins to tell us more that in verses 7 and 8, attached branches results in promises. And I'm glad that each and every one of us, Jesus is the true vine. He's genuine. He's not false. He's not counterfeit. Amen. God is the vine dresser. He's the one that carefully planted the vine. Christ and waters and feed the vine. He's the one that cares for, looks after, watches over the vine and the branches. He's the one that prunes and purges, cleans, protects. Amen. Men are the branches and they're all judged on the basis of how they relate to the true vine. But I'm glad that when we look at this, those unfruitful branches did not become attached to Christ. They listened to Jesus and the gospel. They opened their ears. They made a profession. They were baptized. They seemed capable of bearing fruit. They appeared to be fruitful branches. But you know what? The branches are unfruitful. They are in the vine, a part of it, but they simply bear no fruit. What does that mean? Unfruitful branches do not relate enough to Christ. They do not draw enough nourishment from him to draw life, to bear fruit, to continue in the vine. Unfruitful branches are not genuine enough to bear fruit. And so there's more profession than possession. There's more pretending than being. There's more deception than truth. There's more counterfeit than real. Unfruitful branches become apostate and deserters. Men and women who abandon the faith is who I'm talking about. And so God taketh away the unfruitful branches that's there. Amen. And so here we see That as he goes on and he begins to tell us that fruitful branches are pruned, amen, all the bad spots and less buds, misdirected shoots, discolored leaves are pruned off. And so believers have areas and things that must be cleaned away and cleared up areas of thought. and attitude, behavior, and relationships, commitment, service, willingness, passion, and motives. And so the purpose for pruning is onefold, to prepare the branch to bear more fruit. And so the purpose is not to punish, not to hurt and damage the branch. No, the fruit a believer is to bear, the different stages of that fruit bearing, All believers are not 100% fruit bearers. Some bear 60%. Others bear 30%. There are degrees of fruit bearing of commitment and dedication to Christ. Sometimes pastors have to operate with a lot of members that are only running at 10 or 20% of the fruit that they should be buried because they're so into themselves. They're so vain. They're all about me, myself, and I, that they don't begin to put others in front of themselves. And so we realize that they're to be purged. And what is he doing? And what is he not doing? When a man comes to the Word of God sincerely, the Word of God begins to show him where he or she fails and how he or she fails. The sins of commission and of omission, praise God. Branches are cleansed by the mirror of the Word of God. Branches are cleansed by abiding in Jesus. And I'm glad that it can mean a promise. Abide in me and I will abide in you. it can mean also a command see to it that you abide in me and I in you because the believer is cleansed by continuing in Christ and remaining faithful praise God and so when we look and realize that that unattached branch is out and it's off by itself. It's not abiding in the vine, it's not attached, and so it's off by itself. To say that a branch must be attached and abide in the vine apart from Christ, just as a branch is suspended out in some kind of mid-air, lying on the ground without any attachment to the vine, is lifeless and meaningless. And so man on earth, without the attachment to Christ, is lifeless and meaningless. The unattached and suspended branch is of and by itself all alone upon this earth and it's doomed by itself. And so, listen, it can't bear fruit, not real permanent fruit that is acceptable or that is pleasing to God. And so, Our character is to be acceptable to God according to Galatians. According to Romans, any good or righteousness that is acceptable to God. And I'm glad that every one of us, when we look and realize that that unattached branch does not understand the nature of bearing fruit in life, the fact that he or she can do nothing, cannot live and produce life apart from God. And so we see of that unattached branch is doomed, cast forth to wither and to be gathered and cast into the lake of fire and burned, amen. And so he says it's withered, it's to be dried up, peeled, become sapless and bare, and it loses energy and it loses strength. And so I'm glad that that's that day of judgment that's going to arrive for many people. Amen. They've been gathered and God having his angels gather up all the unattached branches, all that offend and them which do iniquity is coming soon. And so he says, attach branches, the results and the promises. Because what is he going to tell us in verses seven and eight? He says, listen, He tells us this. He says, as he goes on, in verse nine, he has loved the believers. He has one great charge for believers, continue, abide in his love. He goes on, he says, he has one great purpose for believers, the completion of their joy. He goes on, listen, and he says, if a man abide not again in me, he's cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. But in verse 7 he says, if you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. In verse 10, if you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. People that don't stick with Jesus will miss out on the spiritual life that he offers. Praying according to God's will is powerful and it's effective. But he said in verse 8, when believers live out their faith and do good things, it brings glory to God, and it shows that they truly follow Jesus. Here in verse 9, he loves his followers just like God the Father loves him, and he wants them to experience that love. And then he says in verse 10, that when we follow Jesus' teaching, it shows love for him. It brings joy, amen. And in verses 6 and 7, Jesus warns against the consequences of spiritual detachment from Him. Those who sever their ties with Christ face spiritual barrenness and eventual separation. Abiding in Him empowers believers to pray effectively and align their desires with God's will. And so in verses 8 down to verse 11, we see the authentic discipleship bearing fruit that glorifies God by abiding in Christ's love and abiding in His commandments. And I'm glad the joy and fulfillment of that wonderful circumstances comes in his life, amen. And so here, I'm glad that when we begin to study and learn, when we have his thoughts and desires controlled by them, we're motivated and we're controlled by them. And so the thought is that a believer must take the words of Christ. And I'm glad that through the promises and the results of abiding in Christ, that the attached branch receives nourishment. That's the answered prayers. The branch is attached to the vine, and the vine is always nourishing the branch, sending its life-giving food and drink to the branch, amen. And so the branch glorifies God by bearing much fruit, the righteousness, the godly character, the converts. And so the branch proves that they're a disciple by bearing fruit. And I'm glad there are ways to tell if a person really is attached to Christ. Do they bear fruit? Do they live righteously or do they live shamefully? Do they bear love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? Do they lead the lost to Christ? You see, that's the relationship of Jesus to the people of the world that we're talking about. But also, It's the relationship of Jesus to the believers. Jesus has a very special relationship, a relationship that delivers us from the existence that is barren, that is empty, that is lonely, that is unmeaningful, and that is sad, praise God. And so through that, we see, as Helen Keller said, if the blind put their hands in God's, they find their way more securely than those who see but have not faith or purpose. And so I'm glad that every one of us, when we look at the profound understanding of the power of faith and purpose of individuals through life's challenges, physical limitations, faith in God's guidance suggests that an individual who are physically blind but have faith in God find their way more surely than those who have sight but lack faith. Helen Keller emphasizes the importance of spiritual insight and trust in God's guidance, which can provide a sense of direction and assurance even in the absence of physical sight. Purpose in life, I'm glad, highlights of having a sense of purpose and knowing that individuals who are blind, faith and purpose serves as a guiding mark for them, praise God. the relationship of Jesus to the believer in verses 9 through 11 that we've talked about so far. Here in verse 11, he has one great purpose for believers, the completion of their joy. And so through that, we see the supreme command of believers to love one another and the supreme standard of believers, the love of Jesus, the supreme bond of believers, friends of Jesus, Here, as we look at it, he says, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Verse 15, Henceforth I call you not servants, but the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father. I have made known unto you. And so I'm glad that when we look at the verses, that Christ is his son, his only son, and God loves Christ with an obedient love. God loves Christ with a supreme love. And I'm glad that the reasons why the father loves Christ, Christ said that he loves believers with the same kind of love, that very same love that God has for him, that natural love. Christ loves us because we're God's children. Because we're brothers of his. Because we are in the household and the family of God. And Christ loves us with an obedient love. Because we believe God. Because we diligently seek him. Because we obey his commandments. Christ loves us with that supreme love as well. Because we pay the supreme price of obedience that we deny self. take up our cross and die daily in order to follow him. And so when we look at that and begin to realize that when we do the continuing and abiding that is conditional, a believer can break fellowship with Christ. A believer can cease to keep his thoughts upon Christ. A believer can walk out of the love of Christ. A believer can get away from the love of Christ. A believer can turn their back from the love of Christ to the world and hold that old worldly friends once again and give themselves back over to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Read about it in 1 John 2, verses 15-16 if you don't believe me. Jesus said that it is up to the believer to continue in his love. How can they do that? By doing what any person does when he or she wants someone to love them. They draw near to that person that they love. They do good. They try to please that person. So it is with a believer. The believer continues in the love of Christ by drawing near and doing good and seeking to please Christ simply by obeying his commandments. And I'm glad that Christ always loves. His love is always there. But it is up to you and I, men and women of God, to walk in that love. And a man or woman can never know and experience the love of the Lord unless they walk in it. Christ has a great charge for all of us. He says continually abiding, which is conditional, but he said abiding in the love of Christ has a standard, an example. It is Christ himself. And so, when we look and realize that that believer must study, they must learn, and they must abide in the Word of God, in the commandments and the life of Christ. A person cannot keep a commandment unless he or she knows that commandment. And so, when we do that, Christ has one great purpose for believers, and that is the completion of their joy. the joy of Christ because he said that that is my joy he said these things have I spoken to you that my joy might remain in you that your joy might be full praise God his joy and glory was doing the will of God and looking ahead to the joy and glory of eternity with his father and with his followers And so, the joy of believers is the joy of Christ himself reigning within our hearts. I'm glad that living with him in me is a joy. And I'm glad the joy for all believers is fulfilled as believers study his word, the promises, and the commandments which he made for us, praise God. And so, through this, you know what? Believers relate to other believers is of a very critical importance. Division will destroy a body of people quicker than any other single thing. Division can destroy the body of Christ. It can destroy the fellowship of believers, the witness of believers, the human soul seeking God. Too many are known more for their grumbling, their griping, their complaining, their murmuring, and their decisiveness than for anything else. And so, when we see the relationship of believers to believers, amen, here, the supreme command of believers to love one another, the supreme standard of believers, which is the love of Jesus, and I'm glad the supreme bond of believers, the friends of Jesus, that he said, listen, Here is the supreme purpose of all believers. We're chosen and we're ordained to go. That we're going to be talking about in a minute, because I'm glad that all of us have been given that same privilege, praise God, to go forward. Being a friend of Jesus is conditional. He says, you are my friends. If you do whatsoever, I command you. A person has to know and do his commandments in order to be a friend of his. And the implication is very clear. There's no way to be his friend apart from knowing what he says. So in his word that tells men about him, a person has to seek to learn his word to do what he says in order to know him and to become his friend. And so every one of us as friends relate and commune with each other, as we share, as we respond the word of each other, rejoicing when the word or conversation, that's joy. When the word or as we need help from one another, that's joy. That's the bond of friends. That's the spiritual bond that's been founded by Christ himself. based upon revelation that is upon Jesus himself. It is the word of God that gives birth and structure to the bond of friends. And so when we look at that, believers are chosen and they're ordained by God. We do not choose him, nor do we ordain and send ourselves out to serve him. Listen, he came for you. He wanted you. He's going to knock at your heart's door. And if you refuse him, then he may not come back like he did before. Remember, I got saved on a Sunday night, but he came to me Sunday morning. Thank God that the Holy Spirit came back to me. When God approaches and He draws us, He appoints us to live for Him and to serve Him. Believers are chosen and appointed for three very specific purposes, amen, to go forth as ambassadors of Christ, proclaiming the message of a great God and a Savior of Jesus Christ, amen. And I'm glad that to bear fruit is our job and to receive the things of God. Those are what we're supposed to be doing, praise God. And so when we look at those things, amen, God begins to use these abilities that we're talking about, praise God, here as we go forward. that he begins to tell us about. We get down to the next ones, and that is the supreme purpose of the believers chosen and ordained to go. And the conclusion is the supreme command that is repeated. Because here in that relationship, he goes on, he says, the chilling reality, the world will hate you because the relationship of believers to the world is persecution. But he goes on and he says the unjustified reasons for the world's hatred in 19 through 24. And so, as we move on, he says, ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth food and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. He goes on in verse 17, these things I command you that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. And so, Jesus chose and appointed his followers to go and make a difference in the world. Loving and supporting each other, the sign of being a true follower of Jesus, praise God, that every one of us have. And I'm glad that the meaning of the word if, because I'm glad that when he tells us that right here, he's talking about a word that he says, listen, he says, if. If. I'm glad. In this verse, it's translated since. Since the world hates you, there's no question about the world hating the believer, it will hate him. And the world refers to that unbeliever, the unredeemed, the lost, those that have never trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Amen. Because the lust of the flesh, the food, the clothes, the money, the immorality, The lust of eyes, the evil, the immoral thoughts, the coveting, the sin, the desire in people and things, and the pride of life, the position, the honor, the fame, the self-centeredness, the boasting, and the high-mindedness. The believer is to know something, that the world hated Christ first. And that believer is not to think some strange thing is happening to him or her. He or she is not to become discouraged. The believer is to take heart, for Christ was victorious over all of that hatred. Amen. And so because of that, He was triumphant even over the bitterness of death. He arose and ascended to the Father, praise God. And so when the world hates believers because they're not of the world, they're new creatures. They're called out from the world because believers are in the world, but they're not of the world. And because of their separation, the world does not love believers. It rejects them. It hates them. But the world hates believers because they're identified with Christ. The servant is not above persecution. No servant is above his Lord. And so, it is the impossibility for a true disciple to be above his master or for a servant to be above his Lord. If our master and Lord suffer persecution, so will we. And I'm glad that whatever there was about him that caused men to persecute him, Jesus, the same is in us. They will persecute us for the same thing and for the same reason. The world hates believers because it does not really know God. And they don't know the concept. They don't know the belief of God. The world believes that God will accept and work all things out in the final analysis. However, the true believer teaches against this, proclaiming that God is both loving and just. You see, God does love us. but he demands righteousness of us. The world, of course, rebels against the concept of God. The world hates believers because it's convicted of sin. Jesus said that two things convict the world. Number one, his message convicts the world. It strips away the world's cloak of sin. And so, two, his life and works convict the world of sin. I'm glad he said they had not sinned. This does not mean that men would not be guilty of sin if Jesus had not come. What it means is that since he has come, men will have seen exactly who God is. And so I'm glad that when We look at that and begin to realize that God knows exactly what we need before we ask. God has given us one of the greatest examples, amen, that since he has come, men have seen exactly who God is. God has been revealed to men. They stand, all of us, guilty of the most terrible sin of all, rejecting God and his son. And if he had not come, they would not be guilty of this sin. But the claim of Jesus and the revelation of God to be equal with him, to hate him, is to hate the Father also. And so when we look at this, we go on and we realize what he's telling us, that he says the relationship of believers to the world is persecution. 18 to 27, the chilling reality the world will hate. and the unjustified reason for the world's hatred in verses 19 through 24, and the terrible guilt of the world, they are without cause. He says, but all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me, hateth my father also. If I had not done, among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin. But now have they both seen and hated both me and my father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law. They hateth me without cause." When we look at this and we begin to realize that the reality of all of this that is happening Some people reject Jesus and his followers because they don't know or understand God's truth. People who reject Jesus also reject God's way and they will have to answer for that rejection. And also, rejecting Jesus also means rejecting God who sent him. People who saw Jesus's miracles but still rejected him will be held accountable. And I'm glad that rejection of Jesus fulfills what was predicted in the scriptures and it shows people's sinfulness. And so the world's rejection of Jesus stems from the ignorance of God's truth fulfilling the prophetic scriptures despite witnessing his miraculous works. Many remain blinded by unbelief facing condemnation for their rejection. It's sad of the day. And then as we finish up We look at the relationship of believers to the world, the persecution, and lastly, that it comes to the promise of victory over the world. Amen. The promise of victory over the world. He says, but when the comforter has come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me. And verse 27, and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning." The Holy Spirit whom Jesus sends helps believers understand and follow Jesus's teachings. Believers are called to tell others about Jesus that are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus assures all of his disciples of the Holy Spirit's forthcoming empowerment and enable them to bear witness to him boldly. Through the Spirit's indwelling presence, believers are all of us equipped to testify of Christ's transformative power. And I'm glad that this victory is through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. And so through all of that truth, Victory through the believer's own witness and fellowship with Christ. The believer walks in fellowship with Christ from the very beginning of their conversion. They see and hear their eyes and ears of his heart, and he learns of Christ, praise God. A genuine believer is a believer and a person of conviction, a person that cannot keep quiet, who knows and experiences the truth of themselves, praise God. Now, if you only had five minutes of life left to spend with a relative of a friend, What part of John 15 would you share with that individual? What questions would you ask your friend or relative to get them to choose salvation and God's grace? I wonder, what would it be? Listen, let me tell you, when I look at all of this 15th chapter, specifically, I would share verses 9 through 11. Grab your Bible with me again. Because verses 9 through 11 of John 15 are very powerful. And bring them before you with me now. And read with me. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandment, and abide in his love. And then verse 11. These three. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Listen, this is one of the most powerful scriptures of John chapter 15, that if you just had five minute countdown, that you would teach those three verses 9, 10, and 11. Amen. Because I'm glad if you've kept the Father's commands, remain in his love, and have told that you have joy, that your joy may be complete. These verses emphasize the depth of his love for us. And he invites us to abide in that love. And he highlights the connection between obedience, the commands, and remaining in his love. And he promises that abiding in his love will result in complete joy. And I'm glad that when we choose salvation and understand God's grace, I'm glad. Listen, this is what you need to do. Ask that relative, do you believe that Jesus loves you? unconditionally, just as the Father loves him? Number two, how do you feel about the idea of remaining in Jesus's love by obeying his commands? And number three, have you experienced the joy that Jesus promises to those who abide in his love? Number four, What are your thoughts on the concept of salvation through God's grace? Rather than through our own efforts, do you believe that accepting Jesus as your Savior and trusting in His grace, that's the key to experimenting eternal life and forgiveness of sins? These questions can prompt a meaningful reflection and a discussion on the significance of faith and God's grace in salvation. Our goal would be to help our relative and our friend understand the love of Christ, the importance of abiding in Him, and the assurance of salvation that comes through faith in His grace. Give it a try sometime. I'm glad of itself, he says in verse 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. And so, when we live with him in me, how do we apply this? because abiding in Christ make it a priority to maintain a close intimate relationship with Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, and fellowship, and with other believers, and stay connected, amen, to him throughout your day seeking his guidance and strength in all things. Secondly is that spiritual growth. Embrace the process, amen, of being able to Embrace that spiritual growth and maturity and understanding that God may prune away some things in your life that hinder your spiritual fruitfulness, but remain open. Remain open, amen, and allow Him to do what He does best, amen, to shape you into the person that He desires you to be. And then thirdly, amen, the fruitfulness. Seek to be able, praise God, to bear fruit in your life. that as you do that, amen, that reflects Christ's character. It brings glory to God that this fruit may include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Every one of us that he goes on, he says, number four, as an application, obedience and love. Demonstrate your love for Jesus by obeying his commands and actively maintaining a close intimate relationship with Jesus through your prayer and working out your wonderful salvation with faith, standing on the wonderful commands of God by loving others as Christ loves you, sacrificially serving and caring for those that are around you and fellow believers. Amen. And then he goes on and he tells us about friendship and community that we cultivate deep meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters of Christ, amen, that we do each and every day, praise God. And so as we do that, when we begin to seek these things out, that God will begin to use us in a mighty way that he never has before, praise God, uplifting one another in your faith of journey, praise God. And then the expectation of persecution, it will come, it will happen, but I'm glad that we got to be prepared to face the opposition. Stand firm in your convictions, knowing that you're not alone, that God will give you the strength to endure, amen. Continue on and share that gospel as well. The Holy Spirit will empower you to share the good news with somebody that comes across your path, praise God. And so I'm glad that be faithful to continue to do those things, that God will use you in a mighty way, amen, to continue doing those things. And then, oh so, depend on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide, to empower you, to give you what no one else can give you, praise God, because Jesus will give you the greatest blessing if you'll depend on the Holy Spirit to equip you for every aspect of your Christian life. Surrender control to Him, allow Him to work in and through you and through God's glory, amen. When you apply these principles to your life, you're going to experience abundant life in Jesus, praise God. And so, Remember what we studied, what we talked about, our relationship, people of the world to the believers, believers to believers, and also from believers to the world of persecution. Because living one day at a time in the company of Jesus may seem, well, maybe too easy. But for anyone who has tried it, they can tell you that it's not abiding. that it's not because a body in Jesus means that you focus on Him and not on your problems. It means that you focus on today, not on yesterday or tomorrow. It means that you focus on doing right and not on doing wrong. It means that you have to say no to yourself sometimes when you don't want to say no, and you have to say yes to God when you don't want to say yes. It's all a part of the Christian life every single day. that when we go into the presence of God, maybe you've wondered, of course, already, and maybe you've been wondering for a long time, but you can do this. Can you say at this very moment, I will abide in the presence of the Lord. And I thank God that everything that we do, may we continue to be a follower of Jesus Christ and continue to go forward. Amen. Well, I thank God ever since 1972, I've been saved for 52 years, amen, and I've been preaching since I was 16, amen, for 44 years, and I still don't know a single thing. I'm still learning every single day, but I hope and pray one step forward, two steps back. that we continue to persevere and go forward. I was just telling Brother Rufus Cantrell the other day the same thing. Amen. And that's what we've got to do. Keep going forward no matter what. And may God continue to bless you and use you for his grace and for his mercy in everything that we're doing. May you continue to do that power. Father, thank you for this message. And I pray that it will receive a lodging place for somebody. These verses of John chapter 15 that it'll bless someone and they will apply it to their heart and life and receive a great blessing and abide in you in the branches and become one that bears fruit for our Lord and Savior. May you save that lost sinner before it's too late. In Jesus' marvelous mighty name, amen. God bless you.