Fruitful

John 15:8 NIV This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The statement made by Jesus in Matthew 12:33, “a tree is known by its fruit,” is more than a great-sounding, philosophical statement. Dendrology is the study of trees and identifying them through leaves, bark, and fruit. It was developed by Ulisse Aldrovandi, an Italian physician and naturalist, in his 1668 encyclopedia on trees. But long before Aldrovandi, Jesus knew that fruit was the definitive means of identifying both trees and people.

In the natural world, fruit has two purposes: as nourishment and as the primary means of reproduction. Within every type of fruit are seeds to propagate or spread the species. It is no different in the spiritual world. Spiritual fruit is not meant for ornamental purposes, just to be seen, but to provide spiritual nourishment (encouragement, comfort, inspiration) to those that you encounter and to fulfill the great commission, ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19).

You will never see a tree straining with effort to produce fruit. Fruitfulness is not a self-driven, self-improvement effort but the natural result of an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father that radiates hope and love to others. Fruitfulness is a product of faithfulness. Spiritual fruit is evidence of a life transformed by the redemptive blood of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, reflecting God's nature through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit born out of abiding in this intimate God connection will be a refreshing nourishment to those believers around us. It will feed them and encourage them to dive deeper into a relationship with their Heavenly Father. It will also produce new followers, planting a seed of God’s goodness and faithfulness into their hearts.

Just as true Christ-followers are easily identified by their fruitfulness, so are those that falsely claim to represent God. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:15). These imposters teach doctrines contrary to the Word, spread false and misleading messages, and lead people astray. Their messages are motivated by personal gain, greed for money, hate, and lust for power and control, rather than serving God from a heart of love. In the parable of the fruitless fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), the tree had all the characteristics of a healthy fig tree but lacked the fruit. These false prophets can be identified by observing the fruits of their lives and actions, rather than their outward appearance.

How do we ensure fruitfulness? Jesus stated it clearly in John 15…those that abide in Him will be fruitful. It is really that simple. Spending time in a quiet relationship with the Lord, knowing you are not there based on your own merits but because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Spending time feasting on his Word, his goodness, faithfulness, grace, and mercy. Letting the Holy Spirit transform your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Hearing His still small voice above the noise of this world. Surrendering to his leadership and direction for your life. That is abiding, and that produces fruitfulness.

Your Heavenly Father, who loves you more than you will ever comprehend, is calling you into this deep, abiding relationship. The result will be a life of fruitfulness that forever changes you and those around you. This is to your Father’s glory (John 15:8)!

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Matthew 12:33 NLT A tree is known by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.

Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:2-6 NIV All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Psalms 128:3-4 NIV Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

John 15:4-5 NIV Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Colossians 1:9-10 NIV We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Psalms 92:12-15 NIV The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Isaiah 32:17-18 NIV The fruit of the Lord’s righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.