Bearing Good Fruit

Our Theme for 2025 is “Live Like Jesus”

It comes out of a simple desire to follow Jesus - and to learn better what that means.

We are spending the entire year in the Gospel of Matthew.

We began by going very slowly through twelve verses at the beginning of chapter five, known as the beatitudes.

These verses talk about how to live a good life and that “the good life” according to Jesus , is exactly opposite of what you might think.

We skipped ahead to chapter 25 and moved through the teachings and narrative of Jesus’ Passion, leading up to His death and resurrection.

Then we went back to chapter five to pick up where we left off.

Most of the rest of our time in Matthew will be spent examining the way that Jesus describes the renewed life that we have in Christ.

Given what Jesus says about how we should live and what He demonstrated in His own life, death and resurrection; we will find that the way Matthew tells the story of Jesus is meant to introduce us to the renewed life that we have in Christ.

Remember the caterpillar and the butterfly?

The butterfly is an illustration of metamorphosis - a total transformation.

We talked about being salt and light - a demonstration to the world of who God is.

We also talked about living as a changed person - how our orientation toward God changes the way we relate to others and our attitude toward life in general.

This week Jesus continues to teach about what that transformed life will look like and how we will be different..

He calls it bearing “good fruit.”

Have you ever spent time in an orchard, sitting or walking among the fruit trees. My grandmother used to have an apple orchard behind the house on the farm. I like to hang out there - literally! The branches were usually low enough to climb and I might even find a ripe apple to eat.

The point that I am making is that an orchard is a peaceful place. You don’t hear the trees struggling to make fruit. No, fruit just comes naturally as a part of growth in the right environment.

You don’t have to strive to bear fruit - you just abide - connected to the source and cultivating the right environment. Bearing fruit is just natural.

You may recall that I used this same illustration a few years ago when I taught on the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians.

Jesus talks about a transformed life bearing fruit, but Paul tells us what the fruit is:

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

So how do we get there?

Yes, bearing fruit is natural and effortless, but tending to the fruit trees and creating the right environment is intentional.

And the growth that happens on a fruit tree is carefully managed and directed - that means pruning!

Lastly, the fruit is sampled - the outcome of our actions is examined to see if is useful - if it is edible.

The fruit of a transformed life should resemble what Paul identifies as the fruit of the Spirit.

Let’s look at the renewed life as the process of cultivation, growth and bearing fruit.

Cultivation - your inner environment.

What goes on inside your head?

Are your thoughts calm and peaceful?

Are they noisy and chaotic?

Do you know that people can look calm on the outside, but inside - their thoughts are screaming at them?

People can seem to have it all together, but inside they may be full of anxiety.

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 19.1% of the population received treatment for an anxiety disorder last year. That breaks down to 23.4% of women and 14.3% of men. Statistics indicate that 31.1 % of Americans will experience an anxiety disorder sometime in their lifetime.

These statistics are derived from professionals who treat anxiety. The actual number of people suffering from anxiety is estimated to be much higher. Somewhere between a third to half of the population.

Did you know that there are so many anxious people around us?

Probably not - because we keep it all inside.

But God knows - and Jesus talked about dealing with anxiety.

Matthew 6:25 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

What do people worry about?

According to a 2023 survey - the top five things people worry about are:

Financial security

Health and safety of loved ones

Job and career

Current events

Social isolation

Ok, so that is more than just food and clothing, but food and clothing are representative of the things that we worry about.

Food is representative of survival - how are we going to provide for ourselves and our families.

That covers financial security, health and safety and job and career.

Clothing is representative of how we present ourselves to others - we are concerned about how other people see us.

That covers all of our social concerns, such as current events and the fear of isolation.

And for some people it is still, more literally, “I don’t have anything to wear”

Which usually means that in a closet full of clothes, noting appeals to you or nothing makes you look appealing (at least in your own mind).

How do we deal with the pressure of constant worry?

Look to God as your source.

Matthew 6:26–30 ESV

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves if we think that that we have to do everything ourselves.

The only way I am going to make money is to earn it myself!

True, but only partly true.

For most people that succeed financially, they will tell you that it also takes a certain amount of what some people might call “luck”.

Having the right opportunities.

Other people mentoring you and giving you your big break.

Being at the right place at the right time where there “just happened to be and opening”.

You can call it luck or you can call it “God” - it’s up to you.

But you can’t deny that even if you earn it yourself - it is God who gives you the strength to do it.

My family knows that at every meal, I always thank God and acknowledge Him as our provider. Why do I do that? Because I realized early on that whether it comes in a mysterious envelope or as a regular paycheck, everything I receive ultimately comes from God. He gives me the ability to earn. But when even my earnings are not enough, God has provided in so many other ways. Sometimes mysteriously and sometimes through other people.

The point is that I don’t have to take on the fear and the pressure of where everything that I need is going to come from - I can trust God.

Birds always find food.

Yes, sometimes it is because we put it out for them.

But when we do, it is because we want to see their natural beauty.

It’s beauty that God gave them.

It brightens our day and in turn, God uses us to provide for them.

See, God does it - an we just call it “nature”.

Flowers have a natural beauty.

People spend thousands on designer clothes, but flowers wear it for free.

Does anyone ever look at a flower and declare, “that is SO last year!”

No, their classic beauty is fashionable in it season.

And God gives us many varieties to enjoy in their various season.

You just have to look around you.

What do each of these illustrations have in common?

You can find contentment by looking to a source beyond yourself - God.

Instead of being anxious, you can be grateful.

Prioritize God’s purpose and perspective.

Matthew 6:31–34 ESV

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus is appealing now to his Jewish audience because they claim to be “the people of God”.

We also make the same claim today as believers in Christ.

SO the question becomes, “If you belong to God, why would you think that He would not take care of you?”

Anxiety, fear and self-focus are the result of misplaced priorities.

We should rather look to God first.

Our job is to learn about God and participate in what He is doing in the earth.

When we begin to care about what God cares about, we will have no doubt that He certainly cares for us.

What does God care about?

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Luke 9:48 ESV

48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Matthew 25:40 ESV

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

God cares about the poor, the vulnerable and “the least of these”.

If that is who God cares about, would He not also care for you?

You may say, “I’m not poor, vulnerable or least”.

No, but you are ignorant if you think that you got everything that you have by yourself.

“Good for you!” - then use what you have to join God in caring for others.

And just know, that besides giving you everything you have - if you ever were in need - God would have someone be there for you.

There is a very good reason why we should focus on God’s provision instead of four own abilities.

It takes the burden of producing fruit off of us and puts it onto God.

We don’t have to work so hard at doing what we could never do.

We are free to abide in Him - that is where the fruit comes from.

You become a conduit for blessing when you recognize God as the source.

Growth - your outward trajectory.

Matthew 7:1–5 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

People today like to quote the first verse of this passage, but they take the verse out of context.

Yes the Bible does say not to judge people - but in another place it tells us to judge, but to judge rightly.

John 7:24 ESV

24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

And the Bible also reminds us that God is the ultimate judge.

1 Corinthians 4:5 NLT

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

God’s plan and purpose is to transform the earth, and we are to join Him in what He is doing.

We join Him by first, recognizing Him as the source and surrendering our anxious thoughts to become a conduit for His blessing,

Now God will also judge the earth, eventually.

But like the blessing of God, the judgement of God needs to begin with each of us looking at our own hearts.

You will not produce on the outside what has not begun on the inside.

That is what we call hypocrisy:

Hypocrisy is defined as the practice of acting in a way that is inconsistent with one's professed beliefs, character, or speech. It involves pretending to have virtues, principles, or qualities that one does not actually possess. Etymologically, the word has roots in Greek, where it originally meant "to explain" or "to interpret," and was associated with actors playing roles on stage. In modern usage, hypocrisy is frequently applied to situations involving moral or ethical inconsistency, especially in religious and political contexts.

I believe that the modern slang for hypocrisy would be “poser”.

That means that the change that we want to see in the world need to begin with each of us.

Change starts with yourself.

Matthew 7:6–8 ESV

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

How do you learn to be genuine?

You begin my centering your own heart and mind on Christ, and then live from that place of knowing who you are in Christ.

You have to know that you can ask God for anything:

Provision

Strength

Wisdom

Endurance

Anything you need to do God’s work - you got it!

What about when things don’t go well?

Some people are going to attack you, even when you try to do good.

Like wild dogs or livestock - they are in survival mode - they will use you and throw you away.

You don’t have to keep putting yourself out there if people don’t value what you have to offer.

Sometimes it is just wise to hold back.

Do what you do in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

And remember, when you get hurt, you can ask God to heal you.

He is your good Father who gives you everything that you need.

Focus on the goodness of God.

Matthew 7:9–14 ESV

9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

You probably recognized verse 12 as “the golden rule”

Matthew 7:12 CEV

12 Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.

But did you know that this verse is sandwiched between a parable about the goodness of God the exhortation to take the narrow road?

If you want to know how to best relate to others, you must first consider how God relates to you.

Do you treat others the way they deserve to be treated?

Is that how God is to you? Or does He go above and beyond what you deserve?

Isn’t that the way you want to be treated?

Then that is how you should be toward others?

It’s the narrow road - its not easy to find.

Most people understand reciprocity.

If someone does something nice for you, they probably expect something in return.

That’s just normal, and most people think that is what the golden rule is about.

But pay close attention, because the golden rule ask you to treat other people well, not because they treat you well, but because that is what you would want them to do.

In other words, you go first!

Why, because you know God’s goodness and so you have an example to follow.

1 John 4:19 ESV

19 We love because he first loved us.

You have a source of goodness outside yourself.

If you get hurt, you know how to get healed.

1 John 3:16 ESV

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

And admittedly, it isn’t always going to work out the way you might want it to.

But do the right thing anyway - for God’s sake.

And because it is all about Him anyway.

It’s not normal - its supernatural - its God working through us.

Fruit- the outcome of your actions.

Matthew 7:15–20 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

How do you know a real prophet from a false one?

The same way you know a good tree from a bad one?

The condition of the fruit shows the condition of the tree.

The character of a person is evident by the outcome of their actions.

Our actions are characterized by the character of those actions.

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

First there is a distinction between what people say and what they do.

Some people talk a good game but never deliver when is come to action.

People can use Christian jargon, wear Christian t-shirts or put Christian bumper stickers on their car.

All that means is that you want people to identify you as a Christian.

It doesn’t prove that you are one.

Proving yourself to be a Christian happens as you let Christ shine through you.

It that Christ-like attitude that loves people before they give you a reason to love them.

Its when you are working on yourself before you try to help others.

Its when you forgive people in a way that is not natural, but its godly.

It is when you become a conduit for blessing that has God as its source.

When you do help other people it is not to get something from them, but to give what’s inside of you.

That is called, “bearing fruit” - it comes naturally when you are abiding in the source.

And that is the other distinction that Jesus makes - some people will seem to do the right things - but they are counterfeit.

They will do Christian things, but without the character of Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Some people claim to represent Christ but they lack either truth or they lack love.

Truth without love is legalism.

Love without truth is lawlessness - and its not really love at all.

Truth and love is true discipleship.

We grow in Christ because we know Him.

And that is what Jesus says to those who claim to represent Him, but who do not truly know Him.

Get away from me! - what you are producing does not come from me because I am not your source.

You are trying to do on your own what only I can do in you and through you.

If the fruit of our lives come from Christ, it will resemble Christ.

Because He is the tree of life!

John 15:5 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

The fruit looks like Jesus because it comes from Jesus - I’m just the branch; the conduit.

And I can only do it when my inner environment is rooted in Him.

And the way I relate to others is for Him and because of Him.

Jesus is not just a name that I use, but an integral part of my life.

And that is continually so.

Ultimately, good character is confirmed through endurance.

Matthew 7:24–29 ESV

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Sometimes it is hard to tell if the fruit of a person’s life is really good or not.

Almost anyone can make a good impression for a time.

But the test of true character is consistency.

Will you be the same person tomorrow, next week or a year from now?

Why does that matter?

If you are trying to look like Christ, but relying on your own effort, that is not something you can keep up indefinitely.

It’s exhausting!

And life is hard - people are frustrating - things are bound to fall apart.

That is .. unless its really God and not you.

Jesus is the rock.

The rock doesn’t move.

Everything around you moves and changes.

But if you have God as your source, then you can only become more like Him.

And its not a matter of effort, its a matter of grounding.

Your source is secure and therefore, so are you.

That is the renewed life in Christ - it is living from Him and for Him.

it is as natural as trees bearing fruit.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control become a natural part of your life in Christ.

Matthew concludes this chapter by noting that the people were astonished, not just by what Jesus taught, but by the way that He taught them.

He had authority and not like the other, so called leaders.

His words and His actions lend credibility to one another.

There was weight to his words because of the substance of His character.

He is the rock that you can build your life on.

Questions for reflection:

What is it like inside your head? Do you know that your thoughts and your feelings can have different sources? Are you prioritizing God’s purpose and perspective in your life? Do you cultivate an inner environment that is rooted in Christ?

Do you treat others that way they deserve to be treated? How do you decide what they deserve? Is it based on how God treats you? Are you a conduit for God’s grace and love?

How do people know that you are a Christian? Is it because of your T-shirt or is it because they see Christ in you? Do you even have to tell them? Or are they astonished because your words and your actions lend credibility to each other?