Bearing Fruit for Jesus
Have you ever heard that we must bear fruit for Jesus? What exactly does that mean? Is it our responsibility? Is it something that we try to do? Let’s see what Jesus himself had to say about bearing fruit.
John 15:1-11
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every {branch} that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.
3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither {can} you, unless you abide in Me.
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and {so} prove to be My disciples.
9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.
11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and {that} your joy may be made full.
What is the textual context of these remarks of Jesus? Love to God and Love to fellow man.
John 14:31
31 but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
John 15:12
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I d you.
John 15:14
14 "You are My friends, if you do what I command you.
What exactly is the fruit that Jesus speaks of?
Gal 5:19-23
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The fruits are attitudes of the heart that reveal themselves through our actions
Let’s take a look at the function of the fruit. Does the fruit cause growth of the branches. Does the fruit enhance the the connection between the vine and the branches?
Matt 7:15-23
15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes,} nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
How do we become branches? Are we born with that status?
Rom 11:16-21
16 And if the first piece {of dough} be holy, the lump is also; and if the root be holy, the branches are too.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, {remember that} it is not you who supports the root, but the root {supports} you.
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
Let’s look back at John 15 and see what causes the fruit to grow. Jesus used illustrations that the people could identify with. As farmers and vinedressers, the people could understand the growth process of plants and then relate it to God’s plan of salvation. How does a vine produce fruit? Does it try to? Does a young plant or a new branch produce fruit immediately? What happens if a branch is broken off? What is hidden inside of the fruit? (Seeds) What does this suggest about how we spread the word of God?
Of what benefit is pruning? What spiritual significance does that have?
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have {its} perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
What does Jesus bean by the term abide? How can we abide in Jesus the vine?
3306 meno (men'-o);
a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):
KJV-- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.
The main ways that we remain with Jesus are communication with Him through bible study and prayer. Attitude is important in this. It is a devotional life, not just mechanics. It is sharing your deepest feelings with Him. Other than bible study and prayer, how else can we be with Jesus?
1 Cor 12:12-27
12 For even as the body is one and {yet} has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not {a part} of the body," it is not for this reason any the less {a part} of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not {a part} of the body," it is not for this reason any the less {a part} of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those {members} of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly {members come to} have more abundant seemliness,
24 whereas our seemly {members} have no need {of it.} But God has {so} composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that {member} which lacked,
25 that there should be no division in the body, but {that} the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if {one} member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
Spending time with your church family is spending time with Jesus; particularly when the various members of the body are using their diverse spiritual gifts in unity in internal and external ministry. One member cannot exist apart from the rest of the body. The body as a whole is crippled if it lacks even one member. Christ is the head of the body. If the body is separated from the Head, it will perish.
What is your role in the church? What spiritual gifts has God given you? How can you use them to work in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ to fulfill the church’s commission to ministry.