Introduction : We often see farmers bind up the branches of grapevines on a support made with wires or wood. The branches always bear grapes instead of vines. That is why the farmer takes good care of the branches to make sure they are supported so that all fruit can hang on the branches safely. Jesus said, "God is the farmer, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches." The vine supplies water and nourishment to the branches, but the branches make flowers bloom and bear fruit, that is, all believers are the branches. The Lord is telling us that "the life of a believer bears the grapes of heaven." Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine; apart from the Lord you can do nothing. The Lord can exist forever by himself, but we must remain in the Lord to bear much fruit.


1. If a branch wants to remain in the vine
    1) We must belong to the church, which is a physical vine    (Col 1:18, Eph 2:21-22)
    2) With a sincere heart
        (1) Absolute obedience    (2Co 10:5, 1 Pe 1:2)
        (2) Believe and trust    (Jn 3:36, Heb 11:6, Pr 16:20)
        (3) A life of serving    (Heb 12:28, Ps 103:17)
    3) Spiritually-pray and be filled with the Holy Spirit    (Ps 34:15, Ro 8:26, Lk11:13)

2. The reason why the branch is broken off from the vine    (Jn 15:2, 6)
    1) Because of greed    (Jas 1:15, Col 3:5-6)
    2) Because of pride    (Isa 13:11, Pr 16:5, 18, 1 Pe 5:5)
    3) Because of disbelief    (Ro 11:20-21, Heb 4:2, Jas 2:26)
    4) Because of disobedience    (Heb 3:18-19, Jude 1:5-6, Rev 21:8)
        The archangel Lucifer, Adam and Eve, and the Israelites and the land of Canaan;
        all of them were driven out and perished for the same reason.

3. If a branch remains in the vine    (Jn 15:3-4)
    1) The Lord will hold you    (Jn 10:28, Ps 55:22)
    2) The Lord will pour His grace upon us-Fivefold Gospel and Threefold Blessing
        (Jn 15:5, 7, Ro 3:23-24, Tit 3:6-7, 1Pe 2:24, 2 Co 8:9, 5:1, Jn 11:25)
    3) The Lord will make you bear much fruit    (Jn 15:1, 8, Ps1:3, 2Co 1:20)


Conclusion : The vine of Jesus doesn´t need any help and exists by itself. We must always remain in the vine of Jesus; otherwise, we will dry up and die. Therefore, we should obey, believe, serve and rely on the Lord. Then the Lord will support us, pour His grace upon us, and make us bear much fruit.