MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS JOHN: 7 WORD & 7 SIGNS - 22/11/09

Continuing our series in John we looked at the next 'word' of Jesus - I AM THE TRUE VINE - John 15:1-17

The picture of the vine was foundational to the Jewish history and story.  It had been used to symbolise the taking out of Israel from Egypt and being planted into a new land, a land that it would grow to fill (Psalm 80).  But the Jewish people never produced good fruit, because the covenant they were under could never fully free them to produce good fruit (Isaiah 5).

1. The life giving vine
When Jesus states that he is the true vine he makes 2 major points:
  A. No longer is it about simply being in, being one of the families, about being part by default because of heritage or lineage – now it is about being connected to THE vine – being In Christ.
  B. No longer attached because of land but now by Christ.  Land was something that defined the jewish peoples success – if Jerusalem fell, Israel fell, If Jerusalem succeeded – the jewish people rose with victory.  Geographical Jerusalem is potentially of no more importance as it focuses on land not Christ! 

2. Life among the branches - fruit
Branches that produce little or no fruit need sorting out.  And God is the ultimate farmer.  He knows what is best and able to produce fruit.  We cannot bear fruit unless was are in him, John 14:20.
We remain in him as a response to his incredible love and devotion by the giving of himself as a sacrifice for us.

a. Love and joy
Just as Christ loved his father by obeying the commands he gave him, and found joy in them, so we are to do the same. There was obviously no happiness in dying a brutal death on the cross, but the joy came deep in his heart as he knew that he was doing what his father wanted, he was remaining in his fathers love.  We are to do the same in him.

What does it mean to remain in his love?
Many things challenge us for our love, but we were made to find our absolute worth and identity from within God, so the only place we can find the antidote for our need for love is in him.  No other love can satisfy – no other love can bring joy that lasts, no other love can bear fruit.  Every other kind of love is a master leading us to a false end – with us a slave – Christ has come so that we may longer be slaves but friends – alive in the freedom of friendship. 

b. Godly prayer
Where true friendship exists – understanding exists.
  1. We understand now - John 14:26
  2. We understand continuously - John 16:12-13
When we come to God in prayer, it is not with a list of non-relational blurb, but with a growing understanding of what is on his heart.

John 15 is not about your prayer life – it is about the fact when you are in the vine – when fruit is being produced in you – which it will be because the spirit is in you – you can know more of God’s heart, you can know what and how to seek his name for, you can know what to pray for – it is a result of the spirits work in you – the fruit!!! – the vine is producing fruit!

God’s desire is that the soul satisfying love that comes from the father that first drew you to him would penetrate right across the earth redeeming the soul crushing loves of this world – and he is asking you to ask for it – not from a false place of words without reality – but from a place of humility as a friend of God, beginning to know his heart.

QUESTIONS:
1.  How can you know God’s love?
  a. How is it expressed in you?
  b. Can people see you love Jesus?
2.  What does it mean to have God’s joy made complete in you?
  a. Why is it important?
  b. What does it look like in you to others around you?
3.  Do you struggle with prayer?
  a. How can you know God;s heart
  b. Who would you like to know God’s heart for themselves?