Good Ground: Remain in My Love

Scripture References: John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:8-10; Ephesians 3:14-21; Hebrews 12:2

Intro: Welcome. Last week we heard the call to "remain" or "abide" in God's love. But how? Today, we explore John 15, where Jesus, the True Vine, explains how connection with Him produces fruit, especially the fruit of love (Gal 5:22). Growth requires Vision (seeing the goal - Christ-like love), Intention (deciding to pursue it), and Means (practices). John 15 gives us the essential means: remaining in Him.

Key Points:

1. The Vision: Christ-Like Love: Contrast the world's self-focused "love" with God's love shown at the cross – initiating, pursuing, sacrificial, given while we were unlovable (1 John 4). This selfless love is our goal. Trying harder in our own strength fails; we need His life.
2. The Means: Remain/Abide in the Vine (vv. 4-5): Jesus commands, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you." Fruitfulness is impossible apart from connection to Him, the Vine. How do we remain?
   • Establish Identity in His Love: Remaining requires connection. Make "Jesus loves me" the foundational truth about yourself, displacing negative self-perceptions. Flip the script: "I struggle, BUT Jesus loves me." Ground yourself in being chosen and loved (v. 16).
   • Practice Obedience (v. 10): "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love..." Obedience isn't earning love but staying within the flow of relationship. It's God's "love language." Don't separate rules from relationship; obey out of love.
   • Embrace Pruning (vv. 2-3): The Father prunes fruitful branches for more fruit. This removes sin but also good things that hinder deeper dependence. Trust the Gardener's love, even when pruning hurts. Don't run; remain, draw deeper into Him.
   • Cultivate Joy (v. 11): Jesus taught this "so that my joy may be in you." Abiding produces His joy. This delight in relationship fuels endurance (Heb 12:2). Enjoy the friendship He offers (vv. 14-15).

Conclusion: Bearing the fruit of supernatural, Christ-like love comes not from striving, but from remaining vitally connected to Jesus. This involves grounding our identity in His love, walking in obedience, submitting to His pruning, and finding joy in His friendship.

Call to Action: Assess your connection to the Vine. Is His love the truest thing about you? Where are you disobeying? What needs pruning? Have you lost joy in Him? Recommit to practices that help you remain: spend time soaking in His love (Word, prayer), obey His promptings, trust His process, seek joy in His presence.

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Good Ground: Remain in My Love (John 15:1-17)
with Travis Aicklen