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“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NKJV)
The believers are expected to bear, show forth, manifest, or demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, the life, nature, or character of God love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23).
The believers’ fruit also includes their good works, services, souls won for Christ, and saints edified and equipped for the work of ministry (Matt. 5:16, Philippians. 4:1, John 15:16, Ephesians. 4:11-12).
Why must believers bear much fruit?
In Part 1, we considered two important reasons why believers in Christ must bear much fruit:
First, it is believers’ primary calling and responsibility to bear much fruit to God’s glory (John 15:16, 2 Cor. 5:20).
Second, bearing much good fruit is evidence of our salvation and identity with Christ (John 13:34, Matt. 7:16-17, 1 John 3:10).
Let us consider more reasons why believers should bear much fruit.
Third, by bearing much fruit, we bring glory to God.
We bring glory to God by expressing, manifesting, or demonstrating God’s love, wisdom, power, nature, or character to the world.
The Lord Jesus expressly commands His disciples to bring glory to God through their good works, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 NKJV).
Peter also admonishes us to bring glory to God through our good works.
1 Peter 2:11-12 – NKJV
11 Beloved, I beg you, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Fourth, by bearing much fruit, we are a blessing to humanity.
Our lives and ministries can significantly bless the world as we manifest Christ-like fruit.
A barren believer does no good to humanity!
Matthew 5:13 – NKJV
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
John 15:16 – NKJV
6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Lastly, bearing much fruit is clear proof that you are abiding in the words of Christ.
A fruit-bearing branch is a branch that is firmly connected to the vine or abiding in the vine. Therefore, bearing Christ-like fruit is proof that you are abiding in Christ.
When you are no longer abiding or continuing in the words of Christ, you will no longer manifest Christ’s life, nature, or character (John 15:7).
Therefore, Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NKJV).
It is impossible to bear the fruit of Christ when you are not abiding in the words of Christ!
Why are many believers today not bearing much good fruit?
Many believers today are not bearing much fruit simply because they are not abiding in the words of Christ and appropriating by faith the divine resources or provisions of grace that God has made available to them in Christ.
How does a believer bear much fruit to God’s glory?
Simply by abiding in Christ and appropriating, receiving, or drawing from the fullness of Christ, grace upon grace (John 1:16). God never commands or expects you to bear much fruit from your resources, for the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine (John 15:4).
Many believers are barren today, not bearing much good fruit, simply because they are striving to bear fruit in their wisdom and strength rather than abiding in Christ and drawing grace upon grace constantly from the fullness of Christ.
Beloved, you can only bear much fruit in a viable partnership and communion with Jesus Christ, the true Vine. Every self-effort you make to bear fruit in your wisdom and strength will always result in frustration and failure (John 15:5).
Therefore, resolve today to remain in Christ (continuing in the words or teachings of Christ), drawing and receiving grace upon grace from the fullness of Christ. You will be amazed at how you will begin to bear Christ-like fruit effortlessly and increasingly.
God said, “Your fruit is found in Me.” (Hos. 14:8 NKJV).
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me daily to draw grace upon grace from the fullness of Christ so that I may bear much fruit to God’s glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our mandates is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
AWH, Blogs.
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