Leverage Your Life “Deepen Devotion” John 15:4-5

Leveraging Your Life: Week 3 “Deepen Devotion”

John 15:4-5

⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, 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 produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

• In our series Leverage Your Life
• We continue to examine together
• How God has used and continues to use ordinary people to turn the world upside down.
• This 6-week study explores how to:
  • Leverage Your Life
  • Seek First the Kingdom
  • Deepen Devotion
  • Stick Together
  • Think Multiplication
  • Engage Our City
• Over the last two weeks, we have looked at how to Leverage our lives
• Based on the way Jesus Defined the purpose of life through the apostle Paul
• In 1 Corinthians 15…That “whatever we do we do for the Glory of God.”
• We were challenged to leverage our “whatever’s” Big or Small for the benefit of others Coming to know Jesus
• As well as looking at “Seeking First the Kingdom”
• We learned to See the kingdom – God rules and reigns in our lives
• Share the kingdom – Telling others the Good News of the Kingdom (the Gospel)
• And to Speak the kingdom- Praying for God’s Kingdom to come by seeing others saved and our lives surrendered to his call
• Today we are going to look at our next Kingdom Priority

Deepen Devotion

• What do we mean when we say, “Deepen Devotion”?
• Deepen Devotion is a call to action defined this way
• “Deepening Our Connection With Jesus Shapes Who We Are and Drives How We Share His Love With Others.”
• It all begins with Jesus

John 15:4

⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.

• In effect, Jesus Wants Us to Deepen Our Devotion
• By giving us A Call to Abide in Him
• Abiding means maintaining a continual, living connection with Jesus,
• Much like a branch depends on the vine for life and nourishment.
• This connection is not passive but active,
• Requiring intentional focus on cultivating a relationship with Him.
• But why does this matter?

John 15:5

⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

• Jesus emphasizes that apart from Him, we can do nothing big or small of eternal value
• Abiding and meeting with Jesus fuels our actions and ministries for Jesus.
• This means we will be making an eternal kingdom impact instead of wasting time on worthless temporal pursuits
• After calling us to abide with him he then tells us

How to Deepen Our Devotion

Being “With” Jesus Before “Doing” for Jesus

Mark 3:13-14

¹³ Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.

¹⁴ He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach,

• Jesus called His disciples to be with Him before sending them to preach.
• Our primary calling is to relationship, not activity.
• Being with Jesus involves spending time in His presence,
• Listening to His voice,
• And learning His ways before engaging in ministry.
• It reflects a prioritization of spiritual formation over mere productivity,
• Guaranteeing that our service for him flows out of a genuine relationship with him.
• But don’t miss this
• Being with him does lead to you doing
• Neither does your doing mean you are being with him
• Our Job is to be with him
• And out of being with him
• He does the doing through us
• Let me show you

Philippians 2:13

¹³ For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

• Here is what I love

Philippians 1:6

⁶ I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you^[b] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

• Second:

Prayer and the Word

Acts 2:42

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

– Early believers devoted themselves to prayer and the apostles’ teaching.

Acts 6:2-4

² The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.

³ Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

• The apostles prioritized prayer and ministry of the Word over all other tasks.
• Why is this a Priority over even serving others?
• Because without Prayer and the Word we have nothing to offer anyone
• Why?
• Because Prayer and time in the Word form the foundation of our abiding relationship,
• Enabling us to hear from God and align our hearts to His will.
• The primary way God speaks to us will be through his word
• You can’t hear his voice if you are not in it
• His word or the Scriptures reveal His character, promises, and purposes.
• The same is true for prayer
• Through prayer, we have been given access to commune with God, expressing dependence, gratitude, and intercession,
• Do you understand what I mean by access?
• To get the full picture, we have to go back to the Old Testament
• To the Book of Leviticus
• This is found in the description of what is called the Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:2

² The Lord said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the curtain in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

• This curtain or veil is associated with God’s holiness
• And the high priest, who where the only ones allowed behind it had restricted access,
• Only entering once a year with sacrificial blood on the Day of Atonement.
• This one day of entering was the way they addressed all the sins of the people
• Here is how it is described

Leviticus 17:11

¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.

• First, for sin to be dealt with before Jesus
• It required the blood of an animal
• Here is what the priest would do

Leviticus 16:12-16

¹² Then he is to take a firepan full of blazing coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the curtain.

¹³ He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud of incense covers the mercy seat that is over the testimony, or else he will die.

¹⁴ He is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger against the east side of the mercy seat; then he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger before the mercy seat seven times.

¹⁵ “When he slaughters the male goat for the people’s sin offering and brings its blood inside the curtain, he will do the same with its blood as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.

¹⁶ He will make atonement for the most holy place in this way for all their sins because of the Israelites’ impurities and rebellious acts.

• This complicated sacrifice and ritual was an attempt to cover their sins but never actually dealing with the guilt and shame of their sin
• This is why we needed Jesus!

Hebrews 10:1-4

¹Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.

² Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

³ But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:11-14

¹¹ Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.

¹² But this man, (JESUS) after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

¹³ He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.

¹⁴ For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:19-22

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—

²⁰ he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—

²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

• Because of what Jesus Did
• By becoming the final sacrifice when he died was buried and rose again (The Gospel)
• Look at what happens to this restricted access

Mark 15:37-38

³⁷ Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last.

³⁸ Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

• There was no longer a need to be separated
• Jesus Became the curtain
• Forever granting us full access to Him

Hebrews 4:16

¹⁶ Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

• When we pray, we have access to the Creator of the world
• We can get as close to him as we want
• (earthly rulers set up boundaries and limited access…But they are only created)
• He is the creator of all, and we are not held back
• He made a way…This is why we must value prayer
• And not take it lightly
• When we pursue Jesus this way, and we are abiding with him
• There will be Evidence

What is the Evidence of (this) Deepened Devotion

1. Fruitfulness

John 15:4-5

⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, 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 produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

• Abiding in Jesus produces spiritual fruit,
• Visible evidence of a life deeply connected to Him.
• What does this fruit look like?

Galatians 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

1. gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

• This fruit includes qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
• It also manifests in the impact of our lives on others,
• As we lead others to Christ and disciple them to grow in their faith.
• Fruitfulness reflects a life that glorifies God and fulfills His purposes.
• How do you know if you have fruit?
• Can others see it in you?
• Another Evidence of Deep Devotion is

1. Boldness in Witness

• What does that look like
• First, it is

1. Observable Transformation (what does that mean?)

Acts 4:13

¹³ When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

• Others recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.
• This transformation comes from spending time with Jesus and being shaped by His character.
• A life changed by Christ becomes a powerful testimony to others, drawing them to seek the same relationship.
• If others can’t see Jesus in you
• Maybe you’re not taking time to see Jesus for yourself
• Second a boldness to witness shows you have

1. Courage to Proclaim the Gospel

Acts 4:19-20

¹⁹ Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;

²⁰ for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

• The apostles boldly declared their commitment to speak of what they had seen and heard.
• Boldness in witness comes from the confidence that God’s truth is worth proclaiming, regardless of opposition.
• This courage inspires others in the faith and demonstrates reliance on the Holy Spirit.
• A Third Evidence of Deepen Devotion is

C. Kingdom-Focused Prayers

Acts 4:23-31

²³ After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.

²⁵ You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things?
²⁶ The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah.

²⁷ “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.

²⁹ And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,

³⁰ while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

• The early church prayed together for boldness to share the gospel with the lost.
• These prayers reflected their focus on God’s kingdom and mission rather than their personal comfort or safety.
• Kingdom-focused prayers often involve interceding for the salvation of others, the advancement of the gospel, and unity among believers.
• Such prayers deepen our reliance on God’s power and align our hearts with His purposes.
• When was the last time you prayed a dangerous Prayer?
• A final evidence of deepen devotion is

D. Unity in Mission

Acts 4:32-37

³² Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.

³³ With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.

³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,

³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as needed.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),

³⁷ sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

• Believers shared resources and were of one heart and mind, demonstrating their devotion to God and each other.
• Unity in mission arises from the shared value of abiding, and commitment to the gospel.
• This unity not only strengthens the church but also serves as a witness to the world of God’s love and transformative power.
• Practical expressions of unity include generosity, mutual encouragement, and collaborative efforts in ministry.

A true real-life example of someone living out this kind of devotion can be found in the life of George Müller (1805–1898), a Christian evangelist and the founder of orphanages in England. His life exemplified deep devotion to Christ through abiding, prayer, fruitfulness, boldness, and unity in mission.

This could be seen One morning at George Müller’s orphanage, the staff faced a dire situation: there was no food or money to provide breakfast for the hundreds of children under their care. Despite this, Müller remained calm and confident in God’s provision. He instructed the children to come to the dining room and sit at the tables as if breakfast were ready to be served.

As the children sat quietly, Müller stood and prayed, thanking God for the food He was about to provide—even though no food was present. His prayer reflected an unwavering trust in God’s faithfulness, a habit built through years of abiding in Christ through prayer and Scripture.

Moments after the prayer, there was an unexpected knock at the door. It was the town’s baker, who explained that he had been unable to sleep the night before. He felt strongly that God was prompting him to bake extra bread for the orphanage. He delivered enough bread to feed all the children.

While the bread was being distributed, another knock came at the door. This time, it was the local milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage, and the milk would spoil if not used quickly. He offered all the milk to Müller and the children. Once again, God provided abundantly in response to prayer and faith.

This miracle not only met the immediate needs of the children but also served as a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness. Müller’s life and ministry exemplified what it means to abide in Christ, producing spiritual fruit and glorifying God through unwavering trust and obedience.

Conclusion: To deepen our devotion:

1. Commit to abiding in Jesus daily through prayer and the Word.
2. Let your connection with Christ fuel your ministry and witness.
3. Seek to produce spiritual fruit that glorifies God and impacts His kingdom.

Application Questions:

1. Are you prioritizing time with Jesus before doing for Him?
2. What specific steps can you take to grow in prayer and Scripture engagement?
3. How can your devotion to Jesus inspire boldness and unity in your community of faith?