Paul Miller in his book Praying Life, describes two big problems in prayer. On the one side of the cliff, he says, the problem is NOT ASKING. Like James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” On the other side of the cliff, the problem is ASKING SELFISHLY. Like James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives.” How do we keep our prayers on a good path? How do we avoid the twin hazards of NOT asking or SELFISH asking in prayer? The answer is more fruitful prayer. Fruitful Prayer (John 15:1-11) John 15:1-3 (NASB), “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” • In the OT, Israel was God’s vine, but they were NOT the true vine, they were a wild and unfaithful vine. Jesus is the TRUE vine. He succeeded where Israel failed. Jesus is the source and supply for all true spiritual living and God’s true blessing in the world. • The branches (followers of Christ) are dependent on the vine for their life. They need a lot of attention. They must be pruned, cleansed and cut. The branches need to be lifted off the ground and secured on the trellis, to be kept up in the sunlight – so ALL of its nutrients come from the vine and not from the ground. • This is the final I AM STATEMENT in John. • Jesus said these things to the disciples on the Thursday before Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Jesus is promising them and all His followers, there will be life after death. Christ will remain in them. They will remain in Christ. Spiritual life will continue to flow in and through us, the branches, by the Holy Spirit. John 15:4-6 (NASB), “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” 6 “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:7-11 (NASB), “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” The command for fruitful prayer. John 15:4 “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” • Remain is the command. It is the key idea in this passage. 10x in these 11 verses. • ABIDE – not mystical emptying of yourself or your personality, it is an ongoing intimacy with Christ. • JC Ryle, “To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him—to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength.” The condition for fruitful prayer. John 15:7 “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” • Before we ASK in prayer there is a condition. • Christ AND the Word of Christ, the Scriptures, must abide in us as a condition for fruitful prayer. • Why is Christ encouraging the abiding Christian to ask in prayer? Because the abiding Christian will know what to ask for! • His wishes become your wishes. • His prayers become your prayers. • His asking becomes your asking. • The solution to NO ASKING and SELFISH ASKING is GOOD ASKING. And good asking comes from remaining and abiding in Christ. Finally, The consequence of fruitful prayer. John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." • Look at all the good consequences listed here: • Much fruit includes: • V. 8 - Glorifying God and answered prayer. • v. 9 – There is the fruit of His love. • v. 10 – There is the fruit of a greater obedience in us. • v. 11 – There is the fruit of greater joy in us. • V. 8 – There is the assurance of our salvation. Fruit is proof. CONCLUSION • When we, the branches, remain connected to Christ, there is fruitfulness, love, obedience, and joy and proof God is still at work in us. We cannot produce these things. But Jesus can as we abide in him. Should we be asking, “How can we get more prayers answered?” Or, should we be asking, “How can we remain in Jesus and His word remain in us?” John 15:4 “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.”