When we think of the life and ministry of Jesus, we always assume that he is talking to the multitudes. However, some of the most powerful truths that our Lord ever shared was among His most trusted and beloved friends. The entirety of John 14-17 is Jesus speaking in the upper room to His disciples; mere hours away from being taken captive and eventually crucified.
No Fruit is a sure sign of NO LIFE!
John 15 houses one of the “I AM” statements from Jesus’ ministry. In addition to being The Door, The Way, and the Resurrection, Jesus here said that He is the TRUE VINE. He paints the picture in wonderful imagery showing that He alone is the life-giving blood to the believer. Without Him pumping life through you, YOU DRY UP AND DIE!
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. – John 15:1-5
What He goes on to say is a powerful truth many people do not grasp the depth of:
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. – John 15:6-8
In a sense, what He is saying is that if there is no fruit being produced from you, the branch, that means that there is NO LIFE in that branch. So what should you be producing? The Bible clearly shows through the New Testament the types of fruit that we should produce. Not everyone will produce the same amount, but everyone should PRODUCE! Let’s quickly take a look at them:
Fruit of the LORD – If you plant apples, you get naturally will produce apples. So goes the thought of a Christian: Christian’s should produce Christians!
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. – Romans 1:13
Fruit of our LIFE – Your lifestyle should mirror the fruits of Spirit.
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) – Ephesians 5:9
Fruit of our LIPS – The Psalmist, David was known for His praise of God. We should always have SOMETHING to praise Him for. I always say, if you woke up and had nothing to be thankful for, go back to bed and try again!
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. – Hebrews 13:15
Fruit of our LOOT – God considers our sacrificial giving towards His work as fruit!
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. – Philippians 4:15-18
As stated earlier, not everyone will produce a plentiful amount of each, but everyone should be producing something!
No Fruit, No Life …
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