Bearing Fruit

Intro: When we bought our first house what appealed to me most was the trees in the yard, especially the peach and apple tree. The peach tree bloomed and bore small peaches each year, but the Apple tree never bore fruit. After about 2-3 years I cut it down and gave the wood to a friend to use in his smoker. God expects us to bear fruit.

Context:

CPS: We must bear fruit

I. The Necessity of bearing fruit 12-19

A. The Parable 12-14

John 15:16 ““You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

ILL: Chandler biting it to Hope’s decorative fruit.

The Tree had the marks of a fruitful tree but didn't bear fruit. Israel is often referred to as a grape vine or fig tree.

Hos. 9:10 “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, And they became as detestable as that which they loved.”

Likewise, Isreal had all the marks of being God’s children but they didn't produce fruit. Jesus cursed the fig tree as a sign of judgment against Israel. Jesus had come to save but after habitual rejection and disobedience God is left with no alternitive but to Judge.

John 15:2 a “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;

B. The Temple

a. the Market

b. the Gentiles

John 12:21 “these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”” John 12:23 “And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:32 ““And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.””

Jesus had not come to reform the temple but to abolish it.

c. The teaching

Is. 56:7 “Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.””

Jeremiah 7:11 ““Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.”

Just as in Jeremiah’s day BC 585 Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. AD 70

I. The Means of bearing fruit.

A. The Lesson of Faith and Prayer.

Jesus is encouraging His disciple to pray to God that they would be faithful to their mission regardless of the obstacles that cam their way. Praying is Jesus’ name for fruit will be answered.

John 15:16 ““You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

It has been said that prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven but to get God’s will done on earth. D.L. Moody once said “Prayer is the fruit of all ministry.”

This Mountain = The Temple Mountain that had become an obstacle for the Jews. They were trusting the temple of God instead of the God of the temple. To bear fruit you must trust God and Pray

Ill: As I was leaving my subdivision to take a walk a man passes me IN MY SUBDIVISION! My flesh said Run Him Down!

B. The Lesson of Forgiveness.

In order to bear fruit we be right with God and our fellow man. Just as we are made right with God through His forgiveness we can be right with man by forgiving. Your greatest testimony is the one that your actions back up.

The Greeks of John 12:21, I am convinced had been to the temple and seen this dishonesty and exclusion. Regardless of who was teaching about God in the temple they would never be believed.

ILL: I can see the headlines now, had I run down that man. Rev. John C. Falotico Pastor of E.B.C. arrested for road rage, disorderly conduct,and battery. Who would believe my testimony now?

Conclusion: We must bear fruit before it is too late. Jesus’ curse of Israel wasn't forever, “Ever” is the Greek preposition aiōn, which means era, The days of the Gentile will come to fulfillment, and Salvation will return to the Gentiles and they will bear much fruit and we, the branches that were grafted into God’s tree will then miss out on the blessings bestowed upon us.