Information Related to "Abundant Fresh Fruit: To Serve God and Share With Others"
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We can become like God by having His Spirit dwelling in us. As we grow spiritually, we should see more and more evidence of that miracle--more and more "fruit of the Spirit." And with more and more fruit, there is more and more to give to others!
Right in my own back yard is an Italian plum tree. I consider it a huge blessing! When we first moved here, I had no idea what kind of tree it was until I saw the fruit! Likewise, we are known to God and to other people by our "fruits" (Matthew 7:16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?).
Our tree is not very pretty except when it's covered with spring blossoms. But what counts is this: It is fruitful. In most years it produces prolifically!
Two things give me great satisfaction. One is the delightful taste. When those plums are ripe, they're soft and juicy and sweet and "plum good." I feast on them for weeks!
My other joy is giving plums to others. Almost everyone loves this fabulous fruit! I spend hours and hours trying to harvest all the plums to give them away. I give away many hundreds of these large plums-to neighbors, fellow Church members and food banks. What a treat for me to see all the smiles!
Jesus Christ compared His followers to fruit trees. This comparison can teach us many valuable lessons.
To begin with, most fruit trees are relatively small and unimpressive compared to other trees. Most of us, likewise, are not that much to look at.
But that's okay. It's not outward beauty but inward beauty that "is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:3-4 [3] Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
[4] But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
). God doesn't judge us by "outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart., emphasis added throughout).
Just as a "good tree" is one that bears "good fruit," a good heart is one that produces good spiritual fruit (Matthew 7:17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.).
The "beauty" of fruit trees is their bountiful production of luscious fruit. Likewise, we are beautiful to God when we are producing good fruit and much fruit (Matthew 7:17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.; John 15:5I 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., 8). God wants quality and quantity!
Those two goals and related principles were explained in the introductory article for this series-"Christ's Command to Us: Bear Good Fruit and Much Fruit" in the January-February 2008 issue.
But there's a problem that prevents us from producing good fruit. The natural "heart"-the thinking and inclination-of man is not good! Jesus said that "out of the heart of men" proceed a long list of evils (Mark 7:20-23 [20] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
[21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
[22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
[23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
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When the apostle Paul listed typical sins of the natural man, he called them "works of the flesh" (Galatians 5:19-21 [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
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Then Paul listed the main traits of God's character that are grown in us when we are implanted with His Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (verses 22-23). That is good fruit!
Most people manifest some of these virtues some of the time. But a person's character will never be consistently defined by these qualities until he or she has God's Holy Spirit.
In fact, all true "goodness, righteousness, and truth" is "the fruit [result and effect] of the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)).
Sadly, we are tempted to be more concerned about looking good and sounding good than in being good. We want to make a good impression without doing all that is necessary to acquire a pure and godly heart. This is just fake fruit!
But we can't fool God. Jesus saw right through the pretense of the self-righteous hypocrites of His day. He condemned them for that, saying, "You also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.).
And besides guarding against fake fruit in ourselves, God tells us to watch out for it in others. He doesn't want us to be fooled. The Bible repeatedly cautions us to beware of religious deception. Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets [teachers and preachers], who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits"-by their actions over time (Matthew 7:15-16 [15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
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Beware of impressive people with empty promises. They are like "clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit" (Jude 12).
Our best protection is to know the Bible. It alone has absolute authority because it is God's revelation. Don't be swayed by eloquent speeches or sermons that don't agree with God's Word. That fruit is polluted with poison!
But again, we must first be aware of what usually deceives us the most-our own minds and hearts! "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?, New American Standard Bible).
Here is what God prescribes for that sickness: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.).
Remember that Jesus said, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good" (Matthew 12:33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit., New International Version). Likewise, when God gives us a new heart, our spiritual fruit will be good.
Do you see? The whole tree must be healthy to produce lots of good fruit. Likewise, we must become spiritually healthy and whole. We must be healed with a heart transplant that results in total transformation and conversion.
God gives us a new heart by implanting His "Spirit in our hearts" so that our human nature is gradually replaced with His godly nature (2 Corinthians 1:22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.).
How does God accomplish this? When God starts working with someone, He begins to give the person spiritual understanding of the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:10-14 [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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Then, through that understanding, "the goodness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?). What is repentance? It is the experience of beginning to see one's own sins and feeling deeply sorry for them
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10 [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
[10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
). It also means committing to turn one's life around- from a life of disobeying God to a life of love, obedience and service to God-and striving to follow through (Ezekiel 18:30-32 [30] Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
[31] Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
[32] For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
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Once a person has faith in God and is sincerely repentant, he or she should have an intense desire to obtain two of God's great gifts-the gift of forgiveness and the gift of God's Spirit.
The apostle Peter explained how to receive these gifts. He said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.).
When Peter said "be baptized," everyone knew he meant immersion in water. Baptism symbolizes putting to death and burying the old way of life and being raised to "newness of life" (Romans 6:4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.).
The subject of God's Holy Spirit, with its many benefits and how to obtain it, was explained in the second article of this series-"God's Spirit: The Power to Transform Your Life."
Only God can make a tree, and He deserves the credit for the fruit. But God calls us to work, not just watch.
We must work hard in partnership with Him to cultivate the fruit! And good fruit includes good works. We show our love for God by works of obedience and service!
Forgiveness and salvation certainly can't be earned by human works, but "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?). We are to "maintain good works" so we will be "profitable" to God and to others and not "unfruitful" (Titus 3:8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men., 14).
Good intentions, thoughts, feelings and words are not enough. We must be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.). Christ "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.), and we should follow His example.
We must walk the walk and practice what we preach. We must do more than profess-we must produce!
However, words are important too. The "fruit of our lips" is a big part of our works, and God holds us accountable for our words (Hebrews 13:15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.; Matthew 12:36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.).
Jesus said, "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matthew 16:27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.). We will be judged by how we live-either stirring up and using the Spirit God makes available to us, or neglecting it.
Jesus likened Himself to a master gardener who hopes for a bountiful harvest. But He also warned, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.). It is cut down because the one who had access to God's Spirit failed to produce fruit.
He went on to explain that religious works will not save you if you don't also have the works of obedience to God's commandments: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21-23 [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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At a later time, Christ described the great spiritual harvest when He "will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire . . . Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 13:41-43 [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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When Christ returns, may you not be counted as an "unprofitable [unfruitful] servant" (Matthew 25:30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.). Instead, may you hear the joyful words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (verse 23).
As part of the conclusion for this series on the fruit of the Spirit, we encourage you to reread the wonderful 15th chapter of the book of John. In it, Jesus is talking heart to heart with His disciples-and heart to heart with you.
He tells us: "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 15:5I 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.).
When the life-giving Spirit flows from Christ into you and through you, it produces much good fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
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And when you have much fruit, you experience the joy of giving it away to others! GN
©1995-2022 United Church of God, an International AssociationRelated Information:
Table of Contents that includes "Abundant Fresh Fruit: To Serve God and Share With Others"
Other Articles by Don Hooser
Origin of article "Abundant Fresh Fruit: To Serve God and Share With Others"
Re-published from an earlier version
Keywords: fruits of the spirit character spiritual harvest fruit new heart good works obedience
Good works: