Where's the Fruit?

This morning’s sermon is based upon a single word. It is a word the Bible uses in its singular form 184 times. The word itself carries many different meanings. It may refer to a sweet, juicy and delicious food usually grown on trees, or to the children born to a mother and father. Most often however, this word is a reference to the character of individuals, whether good or bad, or the works one produces in his or her life.

This same word is used somewhat differently in our world today. Although it may still refer to an apple or an orange, it’s just as likely to be used when referring to someone who doesn’t have all his mental faculties. Or, as they say in South Carolina, “his wagon is only half full.” Sometimes this word is used in reference to someone who has his sexual gender confused.

(Who of you believe you know what word I’m going to preach on?)

But for our purposes this morning, we will take the Biblical meaning of the word ‘fruit’ to refer to the works one produces in life.

(READ JOHN 15:1-16)

God is looking for fruit in our lives.

John 15 says God is looking for “fruit,” v.2, “more fruit,” v. 2 and “much fruit,”

verses 5 and 8. Verse 16 says, “I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”

God is looking for fruit in your life. I want to preach to you this morning on the topic, Where’s the Fruit?

I. WHERE’S THE FRUIT OF SALVATION? John 15:3 “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”

Now listen to me very carefully. Until you have trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, you cannot bear fruit for God. You must be made clean by His word. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17.

Romans 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to

give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Can you attest to a definite time when you received Jesus Christ into your life by faith and your life was changed? Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me.” God is looking for the fruit of salvation in your life.

II. WHERE’S THE FRUIT OF FELLOWSHIP? John 15:4-5 “4 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. 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 Bible says if we abide in Christ, we will bring forth fruit, more fruit and much fruit.

Now let’s be honest church. Have you seen much fruit in your life lately? Jesus is looking for fruit in your life if your a Christian.

Matthew 7:15-20,

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (KJV)

Luke 13:6-9

6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, `For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

8 "`Sir,' the man replied, `leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" (NIV)

III. WHERE’S THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? John 15.5 “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.”

Galatians 5:22-23

“If a man abides in me and I in him, the same bears much fruit.” How is this possible? How can Christ dwell with us and we in Him? The answer is through His Spirit. The Bible says that “if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not a Christian.”

Now watch this because I’m going to show you what kind of fruit you should bear if you are a Christian and you are abiding in Christ. Turn to Galatians 5:22-23.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, (longsuffering) patience, (gentleness) kindness, goodness, (faith) faithfulness, (meekness) gentleness and (temperance) self-control.

Ephesians 5:8-9 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (KJV)

Where’s the fruit of the Spirit? If we are walking in the Spirit then watch this:

1. We have the fruit of answered prayer, verses 7 and 16.

2. We have the fruit of winning lost souls, verse 8 and Proverbs 11:30

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (KJV)

3. We have the fruit of unconditional, sacrificial love, verses 9-10 and 12-13

4. We have the fruit of faithful obedience, verses 10, 12, 14

5. We have the fruit of everlasting joy, verse 11

Dear friend, we each need to be Fruit Inspectors at the close of today’s service. Where’s the fruit in your life? Remember the Bible says, “a tree is known by its fruit.”

Look one last time at verses 2 and 6 of John 15. Oh be sure you have the fruit of salvation in your life. Have you been saved? Oh be sure you have the fruit of fellowship and the fruit of the Spirit at work in your life.

God is looking for the fruit. He curses those who have none and blesses those who do. If this sanctuary were the judgment hall of God, would you be ready to meet Him with the fruit He’d find in your life today?