PAUL WANTED TO SEE GOD’S SPIRIT PRODUCE FRUIT IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE. IF PAUL WANTED IT, HOW MUCH MORE DID GOD WANT IT ?
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
GOD BRINGS THE INCREASE !
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1. THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINDS OF FRUIT IN THIS WORLD.
A. GOD SAYS THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO.
We may try to make it more than that (like 50 shades of gray), but there are only two that God counts.
Matthew 7:17-19 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
B. THERE IS NO CONFUSION IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
***If you know that the fruit is yellow, long, with skin that can be peeled, you know it isn’t an apple. Many people get confused over the type fruit, and assume that many acts of pride, self-promotion, .
Matthew 12:33 Either 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.
WHAT SEPARATES THE UNSAVED PERSON WITH GOOD WORKS FROM THE PERSON WHO IS TRULY SAVED ? IT IS A TYPE OF SEED THAT MAKES MORE BELIEVERS. **A [person may send thousands of bags of rice to starving people. That is a good thing it would seem. A saved person could do the same, except, he will send a preacher with the bags, and write on every bag clearly how the person can get saved. He wants God to be glorified from what has been placed in his hand. He wants real fruits, not junk that passes away quickly.
Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
C. JESUS UNDERSTANDS ABOUT HOW MUCH FRUIT YOU CAN PRODUCE. DON’T JUDGE THE QUANTITY OF ANOTHER PERSON’S FRUIT BY YOUR OWN SCALE.
Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
God does not hold it against you if you don’t have many talents. You are help accountable only for what God gives to you. Remember the parable of the talents. God did not chasten the amn with two talents just because he increased by only two, while the man with five increased by five. He punishes people who throw up their hands and refuse to use what God has given ! (Matthew 25:15-).
D. THE QUALITY OF YOUR FRUIT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD.
Some of it never reaches maturity because it is choked in the things of this world. They distract, confuse, and dilute your energy and focus.
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
2. THERE IS A SEASON FOR BEARING FRUIT.
Fruit generally comes in summer or early fall. There are times when fruit is difficult to come by. The same is true in our lives. There are days and weeks when we see little fruit. But, later, we can see much fruit produced.
A. HOW LONG DOES THE LORD GIVE FOR A PRODUCTION OF FRUIT ? IF IT IS WORTH ANYTHING, IT WILL DO SO IN A COUPLE YEARS.
Matthew 21:19 And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
JESUS TAUGHT IT AS WELL AS CARRIED OUT THE PRINCIPLE. THIS SHOWS AN EMPHASIS IN FRUIT-BEARING THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED BY SOME.
Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
B. THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF SEED THAT BEARS THE RIGHT KIND OF FRUIT.
Mark 4:30-32 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
3. THERE ARE REWARDS FOR THE SOWERS AND THE REAPERS.
John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
MAKE SURE WHAT TYPE OF SEED YOU ARE COUNTING ON. WHAT ARE FRUITS ? THEY ARE NOT MERELY GOOD WORKS. FRUITS ARE THINGS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF REPRODUCING WHAT MADE THEM.