Whose Fruit Is It?

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

JOHN 15:16

 

PONDER THIS

What’s the mark of a man of God? One primary piece of evidence is that plenty of people out there know Jesus because of him. Those people will be loving Jesus. They will be “fruit,” and that fruit will remain.

We learn in Galatians 5:22-23 that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.” But the tricky part is, I can’t produce that fruit, and you can’t produce that fruit. If we'll abide in Jesus, we’ll bear that fruit. Because it is the fruit of the Spirit; it’s not our fruit.

How can you grow in faith and produce this fruit? You start by studying the faith. Don’t just read a book, read God’s Word and get to know God for yourself. But you also need to show the faith. Do you know that the best argument for Christianity, and against Christianity, is the life of a Christian? Then, you’ll need to support the faith. Many good people are in bad churches, so get in a Bible-preaching church. I’m not saying there is only one good church, and I’m not saying each church doesn’t have a lot of room for improvement, but you need to support the faith. When you stop hearing the Bible preached and seeing the Gospel lived out and the love of God displayed in your church, it is time to walk away. Finally, share the faith. People are waiting to know Jesus, to know the truth. We know the truth, and rather than keeping it to ourselves, we need to share it. By the grace of God, not because of anything we’ve done, we can share the faith.

What have been the most challenging parts of growing in your faith?

What are some things you need to ask God to grow in your faith?

PRACTICE THIS

Encourage a friend by mentioning the strengths you have seen in his or her faith and ask your friend to pray for you to grow in your faith.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are Your Investments Temporary?

“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.’” LUKE 21:1-4

 

PONDER THIS

I have visited Pompeii—the ruins of a magnificent civilization. Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted back in biblical times. The scenery truly captures the moment: You can see how people lived in that culture by examining the buildings, but you can also see the bodies of people who lived in this place and were caught by this devastating eruption. You can even see the remains of a man and woman on the floor of their home who died surrounded by and clutching gold coins and expensive jewelry. In seeking to hold worldly treasures, they lost their lives.

Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). The truth is, that thing you’re holding onto instead of God will not get you far; it is temporary. I want you to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. And once you know Him, you start a new investment in eternity with riches that will never fade or spoil.

What is something you are holding onto instead of God?

What would it look like for you to make eternal investments?

PRACTICE THIS

Surrender to God the worldly treasures or frivolous spending habits you’re holding onto and seek to store up treasure in Heaven instead.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Controlled by the Holy Spirit?

PRAY OVER THIS

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

 

PONDER THIS

Submit to Jesus the Son of God. Not only are you to receive the Word of God. But be filled with the Spirit of God. When you say, “Lord Jesus, I put your yoke upon me, I receive your Word with meekness, and seek the Spirit of God to work in me,” the Holy Spirit of God produces meekness. It’s the fruit of the Spirit. You don't produce that fruit: you bear the fruit that He produces in you.

There was a man sitting on a curb crying. Somebody asked, “Why are you crying?” He replied, “Well, I just read in the newspaper where the richest man in the world died.” Again, the person asked, “Why are you crying? You’re not a relative of his.” And the man said, “That’s why I'm crying.” We all just kind of dream about having an inheritance. But Scripture says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). You’ll never have your full inheritance without meekness. A man who cannot control himself or be controlled by the Spirit of God is never satisfied.

How has meekness grown in your life as you have followed Jesus?

How often do you think about and pray for the Spirit of God to work in you? What difference does this make?

PRACTICE THIS

Encourage a fellow believer by sharing the fruit of the Spirit you have seen in his or her life recently.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers