Fruitful & Powerful

Last week we talked about remaining in Jesus, staying connected to Jesus in every season of life. But, how do we know if we are really abiding? Is there evidence of abiding in Jesus? 100%, yes there is! John 15:6 says, “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.”

So we know two things, when we abide in Jesus or when we are connected to Jesus, fruitfulness will stream – not trickle, from our lives and we are powerful. But when we live separated from Jesus, our lives are barren, empty and powerless. It’s not rocket science, if you must make a choice on what kind of life you want to live, choose the fruitful and powerful life!

So what fruit is Jesus talking about? Remember we said Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches, John 15:6. Papa God is our wonderful Vine Dresser, John 15:1. Holy Spirit is the life-giving sap that flows through the Vine joining the Vine to its branches and the branches to each other. So the fruit that develops in our lives is fruit which is produced by the Holy Spirit. It is the God kind of fruit. We cannot produce this type of fruit in and of ourselves even if we tried.

Galatians 5:22-24 says, “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.”

How wonderful is that? You want evidence that you are connected to Jesus, your life begins to change. How you treat people begins to change, how you think and perceive things begins to change as Holy Spirit brings you into alignment with God’s word and shapes you into the image of Christ. God created us in His image, life’s circumstances (and the devil) come and distort that image and we get a bit messed up. The further we are from Jesus, the more distorted the image. But when we allow Holy Spirit to do a work in us, because He is not going to force you to change, but when we allow Him to work, He will slowly start restoring us to what we are meant to be; to who God created us to be. He transforms us into the very image of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18.

How do we see if we are growing? Galatians 5:22-24 in the Amplified version says, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.”

When we start to love others with a God kind of love and are genuinely concerned about their well being, when we have peace in the midst of storms and not just on the good days, when we have joy that comes from deep inside that even as we face life’s challenges we do not sink into a deep dark depression; these are signs that we are abiding in Jesus. When we wait patiently on God without complaining or “going to see for ourselves”, when we are kind, good, faithful and gentle with others, when we practice self-control and do not go into a blind rage when we are mad or berate others or gossip or slander others, that’s fruit and evidence that you are abiding in Jesus Christ.

Now, we don’t just get saved today and tomorrow wake up with all this fruit. Fruit takes time. An apple tree does not grow and produce apples overnight. But as long as we are submitted to Holy Spirit, we can rest assured that He will continue to work in us to produce fruit that glorifies God. Fruit that when people see it, they praise the Vine Dresser. That’s what we want with our lives. Fruit that glorifies our heavenly Father and that draws people to Jesus.

When we are not producing fruit in our lives, we learnt that God will prop us up and help us so we can grow and produce fruit. The fruit of the Spirit helps us in life. Living life God’s way is not for God’s benefit. God will still be God whether we live His way or not, but our lives are dramatically different based on whether we live His way or our way. Choose to live life God’s way. In the words of Deuteronomy 30:19, choose life.

John 15:8 says, “When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!” Immaturity makes us want to go seeing for ourselves. Maturity trusts God and let’s God be God in our lives. When we do that, we bear good fruit that blesses us and blesses others.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.