Introduction: We don’t often think of God in these terms, but I believe He must really enjoy gardens, trees and flowers. He planted a garden eastward in Eden and walked there with Adam (Genesis 2:8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
See All...; Genesis 3:8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
See All...). The Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry resorted oftentimes to a garden place to pray and near the throne of God we find a river and a tree of life bearing fruit. In John 15, we are likened to branches shooting forth from the vine. This vine represents the Lord Jesus Christ. God is the husbandman and as such He cares for the fruitfulness of the branches. What would He find should He come today?

1. The Duty of the Branches (John 15:1-3 [1] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
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1. One Duty
2. Fruitless Branches (John 15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
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3. Fruit Bearing Branches (John 15:2-3 [2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
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1. The process of purging
2. The purpose of purging – more fruit (Hebrews 12:11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
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3. The instrument of purging – the word (Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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2. The Dependency of the Branches (John 15:4-7 [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. [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
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1. The Branch Cannot Bear Fruit of Itself (John 15:4-5 [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. [5] 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.
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1. Except it abide (abide - 7 times in the first 7 verses)
2. Without me ye can do nothing
2. The Branch that is Cast Forth Withers (John 15:6If 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.
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3. The Desire of the Branches (John 15:8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
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1. The Glorification of the Father (Isaiah 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
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2. The Evidence of Discipleship
3. Fruit Given as a Gift of Love (Song of Solomon 7:12-13 [12] Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. [13] The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
   See All...; Hosea 2:12And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.
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Conclusion: Are you bearing fruit? Are you experiencing the purging of the Lord? Are you holding on to the deadness so that you cannot produce more fruit? How much love would your fruit declare if presented to the Lord today?