Asking for More

John 15:14-17

Verse 16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

    So now we know the kind of fruit we are supposed to be bearing, now we need to look into how to bear all that we can.

    Our key verse today is often used by those wanting us to believe that God is a vending machine that will give us whatever we want, but that would be taking the verse out of the context in which it was given.  This verse, being found in the middle of this passage about bearing fruit, should be understood that it is about the bearing of fruit.

    This is an important part of the abiding process.  The fact that the branch has access to the nutrients that are needed for fruit bearing is great, but Jesus said that it can be even better than that.  We can ask to bear more fruit.  Remember that to not bear fruit is something that will get us removed from the vine, but as a branch we have the option of asking for more fruit.  We have the option of asking for the very thing that will keep us safe from the pruning shears.

    This asking isn’t just a mere verbal request.  Jesus said anything asked in His name will be given.  If we want more fruit from the vine we need to ask that the Gardener will give us more of the nutrients of the Vine.  He doesn’t leave us struggling for the nutrients we need to bear fruit.  He wants us to succeed in bearing fruit and so He tells us that we can ask for more.  He won’t cut us off from asking.  We can keep on asking and He will keep on giving.  The more we ask, the more we will bear and the more we bear the bigger the harvest.

    When we ask for nutrients He promises to give them so that our fruit may be all that He desires it to be.  One of the greatest benefits of this bearing of more fruit is that it has us abiding closer to Christ and that not only blesses our life but also those around us and our Church family.  The more the collective Church abides in Him, the greater the fruit of the Church and the greater the blessing the Church can be to the surrounding community.

Making It Personal

    When was the last time you asked God to help you grow in the Fruit of the Spirit?  How did He help you grow in them?  Do you have an increasing desire for even more of the fruit in your life?

Making It Personal Kids

    Why do you think God says we can ask for more help to grow to be like Jesus?  Do you want to grow to be more like Jesus?  What do you have to do to be more like Jesus?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for allowing us to ask for more fruit in our lives.  Help us remember when struggles come that You are trying to strengthen us to be more like Jesus.  In Jesus’ name, amen.