Life Ministries

“The Key to Living Is Bearing Fruit”
John 15:1-17 and Matt. 7:16-20

    Consider for a moment with me the possibility of a life that is guaranteed to give you joy that is greater than any other joy you have experienced; and happiness in it’s fullest measure; and the assurance of eternal life as well as a meaningful life here and now; and, along with all that, a peace that goes so deep it’s beyond understanding…a peace that knows that no matter what is going on around you – or what is happening to you – you can have a peace that God is in control and no matter what my eyes may see; no matter what my ears may hear; no matter what my understanding may or may not be; God is God and I am not! God knows the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning, and therefore I can fully trust and put my faith in Him! Wouldn’t you be interested in that kind of life? That’s exactly what Jesus said he would give us.

    The abundant life does not consist of money or material things…Those things mean nothing if we don’t have peace of mind and  heart, or if we are not happy and lack joy in our lives. Jesus said; “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full!”… He also said in the previous chapter; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, do not let your hearts be troubled”…And, again he said, “What good is it if a man gain the whole world, but lose his soul ?”
    It is through the teachings of Jesus then, that we can learn what it really means to live an abundant life. One of those teachings is found right here in our text from John 15…where Jesus pictures himself as the “vine” and his followers as “branches”.  It is just common knowledge that “dead” branches on any tree or vine are simply cut off – they are useless – they are dead. But this scripture tells us that branches that are alive, but don’t produce fruit, will also be cut off or “pruned” so that the nourishment from the vine will go to the branches that are living and fruit producing. Of course, there are different kinds of fruit we can bear…which is what we will look at this morning and why they are important.
    First, and foremost, there is the fruit of a disciple. By that I mean, like an apple tree produces apples which produce more seeds, which produce more apple trees that produce more apples…and so on… Those who are living, connected to the vine Christians, ought to be bearing the fruit of more living, connected to the vine Christians!  Jesus told his disciples; “Go and make disciples of all nations…” One fruit of a disciple is more disciples. One thing I have often said is that the rule of scripture is that anything we can apply individually, can also apply to the church.
    Another fruit of a living, connected Christian is spoken of by Paul in Romans beginning at 15:25 – “Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have complet-ed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.”
    Notice that what they are sharing from their material blessings, Paul calls “fruit” not “gift” but “fruit.” Perhaps we could call this the “fruit of Compassion”…1^st. John 3:17 says “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” Part of the natural fruit of a living, connected to the vine Christian, is compassion for those in need…and especially a “brother or sister in Christ!”
    Of course, you can’t talk about “fruit” in the life of a Christian without talking about the “Fruit of the Spirit”. If we are truly connected to the vine, we will display the fruit described in Galations 5 – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”…Not just once in a while… not just when we are around one another…not just when it suits us and our mood at the time…but all the time! It will be a natural flow of the abundant life we receive from the vine! These are not “fruits” in which we can pick and choose or say well I have this one or that one but not that one…They are the “Fruit” – of the Spirit, and they will be every increasing and overflowing from our lives. So much so, that they are noticeable  (even when they are lacking.)
    Third, the author of Hebrews describes another fruit that he calls the “fruit of our lips”… Hebrews 13:15 – “Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of the lips – that confess his name.” This is the fruit of testimony and witness of all the blessings of God in our lives. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” There are more… but, let’s just consider the important benefits of bearing these three “fruit” as part of the abundant life;
      First of all, there is no greater joy, no greater blessing, than that of leading someone to Christ and watching them grow in their faith and become fully devoted followers. Jesus himself said “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous who do not need to repent”… The Apostle Paul called his converts his “pride and joy” in the Lord! There is great joy in seeing lives changed and transformed because of the difference Christ makes.
     There is happiness and blessing beyond measure in sharing and giving of what God has given us. Paul quotes Jesus in Acts 20:35 when he says “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…(And, you thought somebody just made that up)… There is great blessing and joy to be found in helping and serving someone in need. If you have ever done that, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And, this is especially true when the only motive is LOVE!
     2^nd. Peter 1:8 tells us that if we add to our faith the fruit of the Spirit, in ever increasing measure, it will “keep us from being ineffective and unproductive”…and it goes on to say in verse 11 that it “assures us of a rich welcome in the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” When we see the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in our life, it gives us that assurance, and it causes our witness and our testimony to be effective and productive. Of course, when the fruit of the Spirit is not there, the opposite is true; we are ineffective and unproductive when it comes to the overflow of the abundant life that wins people to the Lord.
     Finally, through the fruit of praise and thanksgiving, we have the “peace of God that passes all under-standing”… and, the peace that will “guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”… Peace of mind and heart from God; peace with God; and the peace of God that helps us through the storms of life.
     Surely this is the abundant life that Jesus came to give! The key to abundant living is bearing fruit! And, the key to bearing fruit is Abiding…