Last Sunday, we had a special visit from our very own Pastor Monia Najem from Lebanon. She preached on “The Fruit That We Bear”.
Luke 6:43-45 tells us that no good tree bears bad fruit and no bad tree bears good fruit. Every tree is known by its fruit. The good man brings out good things stored in his heart; and the evil man bring out evil things stored in his heart.
So also, every believer is known by the fruit that is evident in their lives. Matthew 7:16 says “by their fruit you will know them”. The heart is the place where the fruit stems from.
John 15:1-8 talks about how the Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. The Father prunes us so we are more fruitful. We are to remain in Him so that we bear much fruit and show ourselves as His disciples.
What shows us to be His disciples is the fruit we bear. He prunes our character so that we bear the fruit of the Spirit. However if we do not bear fruit, Scripture says He cuts it off. The fruit of the Spirit that we bear and display in our lives is what shows us to be true believers.
The road is narrow and as believers we need to keep pushing and keep fighting to remain connected to the Vine, so that we continue to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
How do we bear fruit?
John 15:3 tells us we are already clean because of the Word. We must be in the Word. It is the Word that is planted in our hearts that will bear the fruit in our lives. John 15:7 says, “if you remain in Me and my Word in you”. We need the Word to bear fruit as the Holy Spirit works in us.
It’s painful to bear fruit but when the fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in our lives, there is no greater joy.
Galatians 5:22 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. These can only be expressed and displayed in our lives when we allow the Holy Spirit to work His Word in us as we abide in Christ.
Seek to bear the fruit of the Spirit because that is what shows us to be His disciples!