Bear (His) Fruit
I. Bethlehem Community Fellowship exists to elevate and empower you to become the place where Heaven touches Earth. We are obsessed with teaching you how to connect with God for yourself, hear His voice for yourself, and obey Him for yourself.
a. Jesus is our model
John 14:6 New King James Version
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
i. To be elevated is to be lifted out of the fallen nature of humanity and into the divine nature of Jesus Christ
1. The Fruit of the Spirit
Romans 8:29 New King James Version
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2. Image – eikon (G1504)
a. Image, figure, likeness
i. Image of the son of God, into which true Christians are transformed, is likeness not only to the heavenly body, but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind, which Christ possesses
ii. To be empowered is to leave behind our fleshly and worldly ways of fulfilling our will, and to embrace Jesus’ supernatural ways of fulfilling the Father’s will
1. Spiritual Gifts
John 14:12 New King James Version
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
iii. Those who believe in Jesus as THE way, THE truth, and THE life, will possess both His divine nature and power.
b. We are going to take this morning and the following three Sundays mornings, Lord willing, to explore together the secrets of the fruit of the Spirit
i. We will take an additional seven or eight Sundays to explore spiritual gifts
ii. We are starting with the Fruit of the Spirit for three reasons:
1. The Fruit of the Spirit is Foundational
1 Corinthians 3:11 New King James Version
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:24-25 New King James Version
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
a. Jesus was referring directly to the sermon on the mount in this passage. Read the sermon on the mount with Galatians 5:22-23 in your mind.
2. Spiritual Gifts without the Fruit of the Spirit can discredit a move of God
Numbers 20:7-12 New King James Version
7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
a. Moses had spiritual power and giftings, but because of a lack of longsuffering and self-control, he was unable to enter into the promised land, and discredited God in the sight of the people.
b. Think about all the spiritual leaders in the world that have fallen in the last two years…
3. Spiritual Gifts without the Fruit of the Spirit will DESTROY you
Matthew 7:22-23 New King James Version
22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
a. These people listed three power gifts that they operated in, yet were unable to enter the kingdom of Heaven, because God did not know, or recognize, the nature of His son (the fruit of the Spirit) within them.
Galatians 5:22-23 New King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
c. These are the 9 components that make up the nature of Jesus/the fruit of the Spirit
i. This is HIS fruit and there is never a situation where bearing HIS fruit will be a problem
II. How do we bear His fruit?
John 15:1-8 New King James Version
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
a. My random YouTube browsing habits
i. Grafting citrus trees, for hybrid citrus fruits
John 15:1-2 New King James Version
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
b. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, Father God is the vinedresser
i. Jesus is our EVERYTHING
1. He is the mature vine
a. Deeply rooted in good soil of the Father’s heart
b. Endured every possible cultural storm of life
c. Endured every trial and temptation possible without sin
d. Conquered sin and death
e. Offers us security, maturity, and fruitfulness, in the midst of any season of life
ii. Father God is the vinedresser
1. He cut into Jesus, the vine, on the cross over 2,000 years ago and made room for us to be grafted in.
a. His hands (We will do the works He did and greater)
b. His feet (We will go where He leads us)
c. His side (we will be His love partner like Eve was designed to be Adam’s)
iii. We are the branches
1. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
a. Father God, the vinedresser, cuts us out of the wicked vines we used grow from
Colossians 1:13 New Living Translation
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
i. Trims off the unnecessary ways of connecting to those old sources of life
Hebrews 4:12 New King James Version
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
b. Father God, then grafts us into His son, sealing us to Jesus with His Holy Spirit (the president and power source that keeps us sealed to Jesus)
Ephesians 1:13-14 New King James Version
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
c. Cleans, prunes, and protects us
Philippians 2:13 New King James Version
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
c. Holy Spirit revealed to me that we as a body are securely grafted in and clean/pruned
John 15:3 New King James Version
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
i. We are already clean because of the Word He has spoken over us
1. Word for 2022: Established as the House of His Glory
a. A House of Illumination
b. A House of Salvation
c. A House of Supernatural Growth and Provision
2. He glorifies that which brings Him glory
Isaiah 60:7d New King James Version
…And I will glorify the house of My glory.John 17:1 New King James Version
17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
3. How do we bring Him glory?
John 15:8a New King James Version
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…
ii. Many people want a word from God, but they cannot receive one because they
1. Have not allowed Father God to bring them out of their old vines, trim them, and graft them into Jesus
a. Clinging to idols, addictions, and distractions, lay them down at His feet!
2. Have not remained in Jesus, sealed by Holy Spirit (DAILY SECRET PLACE)
a. Believing it’s a once a done deal, not DAILY bearing of their cross
iii. But we as a local body have a word so…
d. Now we MUST ABIDE!!!
John 15:4-5 New King James Version
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “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.
i. We must continue to ABIDE in Him
1. Abide – meno (G3306)
a. To remain, abide
i. In reference to location
Psalm 91:1 New King James Version
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
ii. In reference to time
James 5:7-8 New King James Version
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord [a]is at hand
iii. In reference to state or condition
Galatians 3:3 New King James Version
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
ii. Just keep showing UP!!!
1. Keep getting into the secret place DAILY
2. Keep waiting 5 more minutes!!!
3. Keep trusting in the perfect work of JESUS CHRIST to change you, not your own strength, old schemes, or human abilities
a. TRUST IN THE LORD!!!
iii. We cannot bear fruit apart from the vine.
1. Daily time in the secret place produces His fruit.
2. Daily time in the secret place produces MUCH fruit
III. The Dangers of Not Bearing (His) Fruit
John 15:6 New King James Version
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
a. If you are not continually connected to Jesus as Lord and Savior, if you’re not sealed with Holy Spirit (as your President and Power Source) you cannot and will not bear (His) fruit.
i. You might THINK you’re connected to Jesus via Holy Spirit
1. You might be connected to the FLESH via PRIDE or INSECURITY
2. You might be connected to WITCHCRAFT via MANIPULATION, DECEPTION, or INTIMIDATION
3. You might be connected to the WORLD via a SPIRT OF FEAR
4. You might be connected to MANNON via the LOVE OF MONEY
b. If you are not abiding in Jesus one of two things will happen:
i. You will wither - burn out/tire out quickly when ministering to others.
1. Burn out happens when you minister to others publicly more than you do to Him privately.
ii. Instead of bearing (His) fruit, you will begin to bear the fruit of the flesh
Galatians 5:19-21 New Living Translation
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
1. Take a moment and compare the above list to the list below:
Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
a. Whose fruit are you bearing?
c. Branches that refuse to abide in Jesus and bear (His) fruit, are cast out, withered, and thrown into the fire.
i. This language may make some of you uncomfortable, but my responsibility isn’t to lead you to comfort, but rather to Jesus.
ii. To avoid this, all you need to do is ABIDE in Jesus.
1. Daily Secret Place
2. Five More Minutes
3. Let Holy Spirit do the Work!
iii. When you abide in Christ, He will in turn abide in you
IV. They Joy of Bearing (His) Fruit
John 15:7-8 New King James Version
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
a. When you bear His fruit and possess His nature, you can ask confidently for anything you desire and it will be done for you.
i. When you possess His nature, you possess His heart (thoughts, feelings, desires)
b. When you bear His fruit, you bring Him glory
i. There is no better feeling for a child, than to know that their Father is pleased with them
V. Reflect and Respond
a. When you compare the list of the works of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-21 with the list of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, which list reflects your life more accurately?
b. If it’s clear that your life does bear (His) fruit, praise Jesus for allowing you to see the truth now before it’s too late. Ask yourself the following:
i. Have I allowed Father God to remove me from my old vines and graft me into Jesus?
1. Have I given up my old ways for the ways of Jesus?
2. Have I given up the things I thought were true for the truth of Jesus (the word of God)?
3. Have I given up my old life, for the life of Jesus?
ii. Have I received/been sealed with Holy Spirit?
1. Can I hear His voice/recognize His influence in my life?
c. Today, everything can change. Today, you can say yes to surrendering to Father God, yes to abiding in Jesus Christ, yes to obeying to Holy Spirit and yes to bearing (His) fruit.
