BEARING FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Bearing Fruit For the Kingdom of God 

John 15:5 (NIV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Today is self-examination day, a day to stop and reflect on our walk of faith. An examination to be successful must be based on giving the right answers to a series of questions.

Question one: How long have you been walking faithfully with the Lord? 

Question two: Has your walk of faith been fruitful? 

How did you answer the first one? Have you been walking faithfully; "walking worthily of this calling?" (Eph 4:1) 

One of the best passages of Scripture that reveals to the Christian how to walk faithfully with the Lord is in Galatians 5:16; 22-23. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.     

"So I say, live by the Spirit.” What does this mean? It means to recognize that you are indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Your life will be a reflection of the life of Christ. Your walk, the way you live, will be characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

The characteristics of a Godly life are the visible evidence of the fruit you produce as you faithfully follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual fruit in the life of the believer is the same fruit that characterized the life of Christ while he ministered here on the Earth. 

Jesus was living and walking by the Spirit, producing the Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Most of us have an understanding of the meaning of these words. They don't need to be defined. Study the life of Christ; His life will define their meaning and give you a visible example of what they look like in action. Once we recognize these characteristics, we are to go and do like-wise. We are to emulate Christ. 

Question two: Has your walk of faith been fruitful? 

Fruit bearing is not complicated when we understand its source. It's a work of the Holy Spirit and will be a natural outcome in any believer's life who willingly submit their will to the will of God and follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. Please understand what I am attempting to get you to see. Regardless of how much effort you expend in trying to bear fruit on your own it won't work. If you try to live and do the things you think you need to do to bear fruit for the kingdom of God, you will wind up being discouraged and resentful. The wonderful news for all of us who really want to do well for our Lord is to relax. Stop trying to bear fruit on your own. Just stay connected to the vine. Start reading the Word of God. Start living faithfully for Christ. Live the way He wants you to live. The result of your "staying connected" to Jesus the Vine, living in obedience to his revealed will, will produce in you the fruit of the Spirit and will be evidence to all of your walking your walk and talking your talk. It may sound simplistic but Jesus said in John 15:5 (Paraphrased) I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit but apart from me you can do nothing. 

Fruit-bearing is all about being connected to the Vine. The branch can bear no fruit alone; it cannot exist without the vine; stay connected.