A Lesson in Discipleship

To bear fruit means you are looking like Christ in attitudes and actions and character and conduct. Dr. Tony Evans says there's no hiding a true Christian serving. So that means that if you are going to be an authentic follower of Christ, you must be a visible Christian, not a secret agent saint. This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. Jesus told his disciples that he chose them to not simply follow rules, but to go and bear fruit. Today, Dr. Evans talks about cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus and the vital connection between abiding in Christ and bearing fruit in our lives. Let's join him as he unpacks the biblical truths about true discipleship found in the book of John. In chapter 15, Jesus is giving his final message before his crucifixion to his disciples.

They've gathered with him in the upper room for final understanding and instruction in one of the most poetic passages in Scripture. We find Jesus using the vine and the branches to describe the relationship of his people to him and how that relationship is to work, how it is fostered, grown, and developed, particularly in light of the fact that he will be leaving soon. He begins by saying that he is the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser. So he uses a grape vineyard to describe our Christian experience with him. He calls himself genuine, true, authentic. That is in opposition to the current state of Judaism and the Jewish leaders who were leading the people astray from God because they were rejecting Christ. Any rejection of Christ is a rejection of the true God. And he says he is the true vine.

He is the real deal. Every branch in me, so it's the grape vineyard, there's the gardener who takes care of the vine, and there are the branches who are tied to the vine. So you are a branch in this illustration that Jesus uses.

He is the vine. The vine gets taken care of by the gardener and it sends its nutrients to the branch so that the branch can produce fruit. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit. The key thing here is fruit. He brings up bearing fruit.

He goes to more fruit. He's concerned that you cannot, verse 4, bear fruit. He says in verse 8, he wants you to bear much fruit. He says in verse 16, he wants your fruit to remain. So you are the branch and your job, my job, our job is to bear fruit. To bear fruit means you are looking like Christ in attitudes and actions, in character and conduct.

You're acting and reacting more and more like he would act and react if he were doing what you are doing or in your place. Fruit is always visible. Sometimes you don't know what kind of tree it is until you see the fruit. So that means that if you are going to be an authentic follower of Christ, you must be a visible Christian, not a secret agent saint. The third characteristic of fruit is that fruit always exists for the benefit of something or someone else. So when Jesus says that he wants you to bear fruit, he wants you to reflect his character in a visible way so that other people want to follow you as you follow him.

So that deals with your influence and impact as a disciple of Jesus Christ, because he is talking about discipleship here. He gives the process for the growth of the fruit on the vine. God wants you to be maximum fruit, not miniature fruit. So every branch in me, verse 2, that does not bear fruit, he takes away. The Greek word take away means to lift up or to take away from the ground because great vineyards, the grapes would drag on the ground real easily when they got weighty enough.

So they needed to be hoisted up, taken away, that is taken away from the ground and lifted up. So God's first way of making you fruitful is to encourage you, lift you up. Then he prunes you, verse 2 says, so that you will bear more fruit, bigger fruit. Jesus Christ wants to maximize your productivity as a branch producing fruit. That means you just can't visit me. You got to hang out with me. The more you abide, what a wonderful statement this is in verse 7, the more prayers get answered.

Ask what you wish and it will be done for you. Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Hang out, abide. Here's our word abide again. Abide in my love.

That is in this ongoing relational attachment. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. When love creates obedience and you hang out in obedience out of what love has created, because you've been abiding, you will get more love. Just as I've kept my Father's commandment and abide in his love. So obedience continues the abiding.

Of course, disobedience breaks the abiding. These things I've spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. Our relationship is changing. Verse 15, no longer am I calling you slaves, for the slave does not know what the master is doing because he's subservient. But I call you my friends, for all things that I've heard from my Father I make known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, that your fruit would remain so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give you. And you'll find that if you abide and you're becoming fruitful, Daddy's going to be doing some prayer answering because here again he tells us, you're asking my name, that is because you're operating by my rules. My name is not just a tagline at the end of a prayer.

It means you're operating according to these guidelines. Recognizing my authority, then he will answer. He will give it to you. I command you to love one another.

Guess what love is? It's commandable because it involves a decision. Now when you do this, he comes from verse 18 to the end of this chapter. When you love like this, he wants you to know that when you become this kind of follower of mine, there is going to be opposition because of your identification with Jesus Christ. The same way that Christ was rejected, the more you look like Christ, the more you will be rejected.

You will not find conflict merely because you believe in God. You're not greater than me, verse 20. If they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep your words also.

They're going to relate to you like they relate to me. So expect to you what came to me when you represent me as I am. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sinned, but now they have no excuse for their sin because I've been clear to them in my word and in my works. They have no excuse, the world that has rejected me. He who hates me hates my Father. That's strong language. To reject Jesus is to reject the true God.

There's no way around that. If I had not done the works among them that no one else did, no prophet did what I did, what I've done, they would have no sin, but now they've both seen and heard me and my Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in the law. They hated me without a cause. So they fulfilled the Scripture, not because they were made to hate Him. They were responsible for doing that, but because the Scripture is true, that they would hate Him for no reason at all. But when the helper comes, the helper he talked about in chapter 14 in the Holy Spirit, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about me.

Okay, so watch this. The Son testifies about the Father, and the Spirit will testify about the Son. Any promotion of the Spirit that ignores Jesus Christ is illegitimate promotion. The Holy Spirit is very real and very dynamic, but He's also crystal-centric, Jesus-centered. And if anything that distracts or takes away from Jesus Christ cannot be the Holy Spirit, because He's come to testify of me, just like I came to testify about the Father. So what He is bringing to bear is the whole Trinity in that statement, okay? I testify of the Father, the Spirit testifies about me. And you will testify also because you have been with me from the beginning. Of course, this is true of the disciples. They were physically with Jesus, and so the Holy Spirit would help them on their mission, on their mission. Dr. Evans will return with more of what Jesus had to say to His disciples when he continues our message in just a moment.

Don't go away. I urge you to take this course. Dr. Craig Evans, renowned expert on the New Testament, serves as the special guest lecturer for the Tony Evans Training Center course on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible. That covers very important ground, what they are and what they're not. One of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century, the Dead Sea Scrolls provide unparalleled insights into the accuracy of the Bible. These ancient manuscripts offer a treasure trove of historical and spiritual significance. They preserve for us the Hebrew Bible and shed light on the teaching of Jesus and the major contributors to the New Testament. The scrolls open a vivid window into the life and beliefs of the Jewish people during the time of Jesus. You will understand the Bible and Jesus and Christian origins better than you ever have before.

Do your first step as an honorary amateur archaeologist. Dive into the Dead Sea Scrolls with special guest lecturer Dr. Craig Evans. Discover this and other fascinating biblical studies at TonyEvansTraining.org. Explore the kingdom anytime, anywhere. Today's lesson is part of Dr. Evans' 14-part sermon series on the Gospel of John, where we learn of Jesus' divinity and how His love and personal sacrifice transformed the lives of those who accept Him.

This in-depth study of His interactions with others will inspire you to reflect Christ-like love in your own relationships and encourage you to see the world from God's perspective. Through the end of this week only, you can get this complete audio series along with Tony's encouraging book, Dry Bones Dancing, a helpful resource for revitalizing your faith. Visit us at TonyEvans.org or call us at 1-800-800-3222, make a contribution, and let us send you the Gospel of John audio series and Dry Bones Dancing. Once again, you can find all the details for this limited-time offer online at TonyEvans.org or by phone at 1-800-800-3222.

Well, let's get back to more now from Dr. Evans. Chapter 16. These things I have spoken to you that you may be kept from stumbling, that is, from abandoning the faith due to persecution. I'm telling you this in advance so you're not shocked when it happens, when you're rejected at work, when you're rejected from that guy or girl who will not accept your Christian standards, when you're rejected from a raise because they don't want your faith in the mix, when it can come in a million different ways.

In certain countries, it costs you your life. This leads him back to a statement about the Holy Spirit in verses 5 through 15. I am going to Him who sent me. I'm getting ready to go back to the Father.

And none of you ask me, where are you going? But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. I've told you about the fact I'm leaving. I've told you about the persecution.

I've told you these things and I can see the sadness. But I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage, pay attention to this, that I go away. It is to your advantage. You're gonna be better off if I leave.

Wait a minute. You've been rolling with us for three years? I've been rolling with you for three years? And we want you to stay and you gonna tell us we're gonna be better off? Say, yeah, you're actually gonna be better when I leave. For if I do not go away, the Helper, who we've already identified in chapter 14 of the Holy Spirit, will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.

Okay, so why? Again, we see the Trinity at work. The Father sends the Son and the Son sends the Spirit.

So they each send each other to carry out the next role of God's program in history. And of course, the Spirit sends us, because in Acts He says, wait for the Spirit to come and then you'll be my witnesses. So the Father sends the Son, the Son sends the Spirit, and He says you're gonna be better off.

How will we be better off? When Jesus was in His physical body, most of the time, He limited His actions to His location. But when the Holy Spirit comes, you're gonna be better off because the Holy Spirit is not limited to location.

He's everywhere in existence spiritually in every believer all the time wherever the location happens to be. Therefore, it's to your advantage that I go away. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. I'm going to tell you progressively.

I'm not gonna tell you all at one time. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes—watch this, this is very important— He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak and will disclose in you what is to come. The reason why the Bible is true is because the Holy Spirit was going to tell the disciples, who would become the apostles, what they needed to know even about things that had not happened yet.

Things to come. That's why when John writes the book of Revelation about prophecy, he writes about things to come. Because He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and the Spirit showed Him things to come, which is precisely what this verse says. I'm not going to tell you now, but when the Spirit comes, He will show you things to come.

So guess what one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in your life and my life is? It is to show us things to come. After this profound designation, He now says, a little while, because it's getting close to now crucifixion time. Judas has already gone out to betray Him.

So now the clock is getting ready to spin. A series of six illegal trials that will lead to the murder of Jesus Christ. In a little while, you will no longer see me. They're going to take me away and crucify me.

And again, in a little while, you will see me. They're going to be shouting, crucify me, and you're going to be crying at my death. You'll grieve, but your grief will be turned to joy, prophesying His resurrection.

In that day, you will not question me about anything. In other words, things will become clear. Even in your uncertainty, maintain your abiding, because the Father is still in the prayer answering business. God only explains what you're ready to handle.

He will often give you enough information to raise the question without clarifying the answer. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. I am leaving the world again and going to the Father. So this is what's happening now, guys.

His disciples said, Lo, now you are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. We got you. You're going to leave us. You're going to the Father in heaven.

That's going to give us our joy. Now we know that you know all things and have no need for anyone to question you. By this, we believe that you came from God, because He knew about their private questions.

He knew about their private conversation. He's answered their questions. So He says, We know that you are basically the Messiah. It confirmed the belief that they already had.

Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming and has already come for you to be scattered. Translation, you don't believe as much as you think you do. You believe right now because I'm right here sitting in front of your grill talking to you.

And it sounds good right now. But let me give you another prophecy. Soon, and very soon, you're going to run for your lives. To be scattered is you're going to be dispersed in fear. Each to his own home, and you're going to leave me alone. You ever come forward in church and made a promise and backed out on it when you hit the parking lot? He said, When they come and get me, and they want to know if you're with me, you're going to change your mind. Each to his own home, you're going to leave me alone, and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. So even though you leave me, I'm not alone, but you're going to leave me. You're not as committed as you think you are and as you declared yourself to be.

But that's okay because I'm taking you to a process. Well, why are you telling us that? I thought we were on the good foot.

I thought we were rolling together. He said, These things I have spoken to you, even telling you about you leaving me, so that in me you may have peace. Peace is not the absence of conflict. You don't even know you have peace until you have conflict. I have told you this, even you're scattering in fear, so that you understand that in me you may have peace.

In me, remember that goes back to chapter 15. Your connection to me is your key to your peace. In the world, you will have trouble, tribulation. But take courage.

I have overcome the world. When you scatter, because they're coming after me and that means they're coming after you, you remember me. You remember to abide in me. Even though you're going to have your moment of departure, you remember you're in me, and you remember peace is where I am. I'm letting you know this because I'm letting you know what the world's going to do. They're going to cause you trouble. It's going to cause you trouble. But if you will hang out with me, even when the world has caused you trouble and you have run from me, I want to leave you with this message Jesus says, I have overcome the world. To overcome, the Greek word nakeo, is to overrule. It is to have the last say.

It is to one-up. If you will hang out with me, even in your scattering, I will grant you peace and I will give you the ability to overrule the thing that just scattered you. Dr. Evans will return in just a moment with one final encouraging note to wrap up today's message. First though, let me remind you to take advantage of that limited-time resource package I mentioned earlier, all 14 messages from both volumes of Tony's current audio series on the Gospel of John, along with his encouraging book on revitalizing your faith called Dry Bones Dancing. They're yours with our thanks when you make a donation to help keep this listener-supported program coming your way. Just visit tonyevans.org to make the arrangements or call our resource center at 1-800-800-3222, where team members are standing by to assist with your request.

That's 1-800-800-3222 or online at tonyevans.org. Well, tomorrow, Dr. Evans examines the extraordinary prayer Jesus prayed to his father shortly before his crucifixion. Be sure to join us for this intimate look into God's heart for his people. Right now, though, Tony's back with his final thought for today. If when you follow Christ, the world comes against you in whatever form that is, he says, take carriage. When you've been pushed back because it looks like they're in charge, they got the power, they got the control. He said, no, you and me, you and me, you take carriage because I have overcome the world. And him, I have peace. And he has a final say-so. That's going to change your perspective about something that has caused you trouble. .