THE HARVEST
BEARING FRUIT Prt 2
Dear Saints,
Last week, we introduced part one of our series “bearing fruit” based on our theme scripture in John 15:1-8.
This week we will dig a little deeper to discover truths that are vital to our spiritual development and growth.
John 15:1
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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1 – 15:2 ESV)
……”Every branch in me”, evidently the branch is “IN HIM”. This expression is very important in that it expressly states where the branch is connected. It is connected in Christ. Thus, we (the branches) are connected to God the Father. Jesus said, in “John 10: 30. I and my Father are one. There is one more person in this unity of the Godhead that Jesus introduced as “The Spirit of truth”. Now then our relationship to the vine involves all three. The Father, the Son, and The Spirit of truth (The Holy Spirit). If we are the branch of one, we are the branch of ALL. No wonder Jesus was very bold to state, “I AM THE TRUE VINE”. This implies that there are other “vines” (spiritual leaders, religious leaders, so called prophets…..) but they are NOT true vines. Jesus is the only TRUE vine.
Since Jesus is the “true” vine, it follows then that His branch (those who follow Jesus) is the true branch. The fruit born by the branch must also be the true fruit. The branch and the fruit can only be as good as the vine. So we can say, as the vine goes, so goes the branch and the fruit. I believe this is why Jesus never introduced a religion, neither did He advocate religiosity. He introduced The Kingdom of God. Jesus as a person produced only good fruit.
The book of
Acts 10:38 Says: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
These things that Jesus did were of course “the fruit” He produced. He gave us a clue that we should bear fruit…..the only to know what fruit to produce is to look at what kind of fruit He Himself produced.
He said in John 14:12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
This is absolutely great. But before we delve into this truth, let’s find out some Jesus’ foundational traits that may have contributed to the great things He did, which also He charged us to do and “greater ones”. These traits will also show us God’s attitude in regard to bearing fruit. Jesus said that” we shall know them (or they shall be known) by their fruit”.
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Think about this, “by their fruits you shall know them”, what if they have no fruit? ……… You are right. You will not know them. Now this explains why, “They are cut off and men pick them up for fire” NONE OF YOU WILL BE PICKED UP FOR FIRE. So what’s the foundational truths about Jesus that contributed to the things He did? Find out in the next Spreading the Light bulletin…..it’s gonna bless you.
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ONE A WEEK BECAUSE: AM DEBTOR, AM READY, AM NOT ASHAMED
