Today we’ll be discussing fruit. Not bananas, not watermelons, but spiritual fruit.
I hope you enjoyed the last two messages on distractions and knowing where your focus needs to be. Those messages need to be understood and applied in order for you to bear fruit.
Galatians 5: 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control.
We should see a transformation
As we continue seeking God we should be seeing changes in our lives. I think it is important to make observations and journal about it. In this way, we can remember what God is doing in us and we can share this with others as our testimony. As an example, I can say that 10 years ago I lacked peace and patience. After almost 2 and a half years of seriously seeking God, I had a tremendous peace and a lot more patience.
How important is it that we see this fruit?
Matthew 7:17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
Whoa! I’d say it’s very important, producing fruit is essential, but know that it is just an indicator. If you can’t see evidence of it, or it’s not obvious, just hang in there. In an age of instant gratification, this is not an overnight process. Look at it as an on-going journey. Many times we need to lessen our expectations and just focus on loving God and others.
Matthew 13: 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Don’t focus on the fruit, focus on the Lord
The fact that you’ve been reading these messages and more importantly, reading the Bible, means that you are hearing God’s word. These disciplines, in the presence of the Lord, is good soil. If the Bible does not make sense to you, then I invite you to join our weekly discussions.
As long as you are planted in good soil (reading the Word, being in prayer and in fellowship), you do not have to worry about the fruit. You can rest assured that the fruit will develop. We just need to be consistent and deliberately seeking God, making Him the top priority.
Notice that Galatians 5: 22 says “the Holy Spirit produces“, not you. So this isn’t about your ability to be more patient, otherwise, you’d be able to take the credit, but that doesn’t give Him glory.
Here is why I am certain that the fruit will come:
John 15: 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Are you remaining in Christ?
“Dear Lord, you are my Rock. Whenever I am troubled or in dismay, You are there for me. God, I have a long way to go, I am not anywhere near where I think I should be. Please show me the progress I have made. Please be patient with me as you continue working in my life and changing my heart.”