GOD’S WORDS OF FRUITFULNESS

“I chose you and appointed you that you should go and BEAR FRUIT and that your fruit should remain” – John 15: 16b

A worthwhile life in Christ is one that’s lived in obedience to GOD’S WORDS of FRUITFULNESS: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and BEAR FRUIT and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (Jh.15:16). The Lord Jesus Christ says: “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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear MORE FRUIT” (vv.1-2). A tree is known by its fruits. When we are fruitful, bearing good fruits, we are “pruned” in order to produce even more good fruit. Conversely, not bearing good fruit is a recipe for disaster (v.6).

God’s Words of Fruitfulness were central to His original Mandate and Blessings on humanity: “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “BE FRUITFUL and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion…” (Gen.1:28). However, Fruitfulness is a function of Obedience to the Word: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed BEARS FRUIT and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt.13:23). “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… 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” (Psa.1: 1-3).

God is glorified when we are fruitful in good things – spiritually, naturally, and in every way. True disciples bear fruits for God’s glory: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples” (v.8). Fruitfulness is an emblem of discipleship. Specifically, believers are supposed to bear the following types of fruits among others:

Fruits of repentance: “Therefore bear FRUITS worthy of repentance” (Mt.3:8). These are fruits of the way we live, which prove that we’ve repented of our sins and turned to God.

Fruits of righteousness: “being filled with the FRUITS of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil.1:11).

Fruit of the Spirit: “But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal.5: 22-23).

Fruit of Light: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph.5: 8-10).

Fruit in every good work: “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col.1:10).

Fruit of the Womb: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the FRUIT of the womb is a reward” (Psa.127:3).

Fruit of our Lips – Sacrifice of Praise: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the FRUIT of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb.13:15).

Fruit of the Gospel of Grace: “which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth FRUIT, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth” (Col.1:6).

Beloved, whatever might have been your past experiences, believe the Lord and His prophetic Words of Fruitfulness: “‘For the seed shall be prosperous, the VINE shall give its FRUIT, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew – I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these” (Zech.8:12). As we believe in His name, Jesus Christ – the Vine – shall yield all of His diverse kinds of fruits in and through our lives to the Glory of the Father!