Bear Much Fruit
Matthew 3 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Three questions (applicable to the individual and the Church):
1) When people see you or think of you or experience you, what do you hope they see, think, experience?
Everyone leaves a “footprint.” We all leave something behind us as we walk this life and interact with others and creation. Similar question:
2) What would you like your “footprints” to reveal about you?
3) What are you doing or rather, who are you being to make that a reality?
In the EHD course, we often hear that “What you do is important, but who you are is more important.” Who we are drives what we do and what others experience. All of this connects to concept of bearing fruit. And bearing fruit for God is probably a much more serious issue than what we commonly believe. What makes me say that? Let’s find out.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Who are the trees? We see this in several places in the OT where trees metaphorically represent people – and typically God’s people (Psalm 1). At a minimum, John was talking to God’s people – but even more specifically, God’s people who should know better. This idea of bearing fruit is not something to take lightly or to gloss over. The Pharisees were impeccable in their devotion to the Torah (the Law). They got the love God part (sort of) but failed to love neighbor. Therefore, they lacked good fruit. In v8, John said to God’s people, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives.
Now in the Greek text, “Bear fruit” is written in the imperative. The imperative often means a command or not optional. When an imperative is from God or His prophet, it’s not something to ignore. So, this morning, we’re going to look at some Scriptures, and I’m going to ask some questions to help us engage the Word and hopefully hear from the Holy Spirit.
A few things about fruit before we look at Scripture. First,
God’s desire for people is not merely salvation, but also participation.
God invites us, His people, to participate with Him in redeeming the world (salt and light). Hence, bearing fruit is applicable to every Christian. Secondly, We cannot give what we do not possess. The Pharisees did not possess love for others, grace, joy, peace … therefore, they could not give those fruits. Thirdly, what is fruit? I’m not sure it’s easily defined. Fruit has a mystery to it. Seen, unseen, now, later …. Nonetheless, there are a few things we do know.
Fruit is life-giving.
Fruit is the result of dying to self, living by faith, walking in obedience, and abiding in Christ.
“The secret to a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ.” ~ Oswald Chambers
Being devoted, not just believing in, to Jesus produces much fruit. There’s a question – to whom or what …? Like it or not, our lives, where we put our energy, concentration, finances … will reveal the object of our devotion.
Let’s look at some Scripture. The Apostle Paul prayed this in
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
It seems to me that living a life worthy of Christ – worthy of His life, His death on the cross, His resurrection, His atonement – is connected to bearing fruit. Question: In what ways does my life reflect (or not) the worth of Christ and His atonement for me/us? How do my life decisions (relationships, career, finances, ministry …) communicate the worth of Christ? Is God pleased with how I live?
Jesus said,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Dying to self, allowing Christ to be on the throne of my life is essential for bearing fruit. So, who’s on the throne? Who’s truly in charge of my life? Who or what has the most power over me (money, food, opinions of others …)? Paul said this,
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
“Our Lord’s obedience was to the will of the Father, not to the needs of humanity - the saving of humanity was the natural outcome [fruit] of His obedience ….
If we are devoted only to the cause of humanity … we will soon be exhausted, and our love will waver and stumble.
But if we love Jesus, personally and passionately, we will be able to [best] serve humanity ….” ~ Oswald Chambers.
That’s where the fruit comes from.
Jesus also said this.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
This is serious.
Bearing fruit requires pruning – allowing and working with the Spirit to develop our character. What might the Spirit be doing in your life (and KNAZ) that is developing your Christian character?
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Abiding -
“The secret of the life of Jesus was his [continuous undisrupted] contact with God; again and again he withdrew into a solitary place to meet God. We must keep contact with Jesus.” ~ William Barclay
Jesus did not say we cannot bear fruit. He said we cannot bear fruit without Him. E.g. I can paint a masterpiece that wows the world, but apart from Christ, it’s not really fruit. If we really want to bear fruit, we must abide. Continuing on:
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.
If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
At the beginning I asked when people see you or think of you or experience you (or this congregation), what do you hope they see, think, experience? Are living proof that we are disciples of Christ? If so, what is the proof? What is it about us that would cause someone to say, “You’re one of the Christians?”
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Again, fruit is a critical issue to God. He desires for each of us to bear much fruit.
The questions I’ve asked this morning are for the purpose of self-reflection done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Left to ourselves, we can be too critical or not critical enough. I encourage you to take time this week to prayerfully meditate on these passages, ask yourself some tough questions, invite someone else into the conversation, and ask God to reveal the truth. Bearing fruit is an imperative with serious consequences – good or bad. Read Matthew 25 this week with fruit as the framework.
This is a critical issue so please bear with me for a moment longer.
Fruit is seasonal.
No one bears fruit 24/7 365 days a year. There are times of rest, growing, pruning, grieving ….
According to Matt. 25, the greatest fruit we can give anyone, especially the “least of these,” is love.
Think about your prayers.
How many of my prayers are self-centered rather than fruit-centered?
How many of my prayers are, “God, do something,” rather than, “God, make me fruitful?”
What might happen if we prayed, “God, make us fruitful.”
What am I (we) doing that is life-giving?
What am I doing that is a result of faith, obedience, and abiding devotion to Christ?
