Fruit.
Suppose you have a fruit tree in your yard what do you expect of it? Do you expect when you planted it that it would instantly have fruit? No.
Would you expect it to have fruit the next day? Or the next day? Or the next? When should you expect it to have fruit realistically?
It would depend upon what kind of fruit tree it was, wouldn't it? All fruit trees grow differently, have different seasons, right?
Yet no fruit tree will instantly produce fruit, it's impossible.
Fruit on a tree will only happen over time and maturing. It's no wonder that we talk of the fruit of the Spirit and how we desire to have the fruit of the Spirit, yet we need to realize it will only happen the more time we spend with the Gardener letting him cultivate us into producing the richest fruit that is possible for us to produce through Him.
We can't begin to even hope that we will produce fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit in us. Anything we manage to produce on our own might have the outward appearance of being the tastiest fruit in the world but one bite would expose the truth of the matter. Fruit we produce on our own will be bitter and inedible, it will be unacceptable. We must cling to our Lord and Savior and pray that the Holy Spirit will come live in us so that we can have the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Listen to the following few verses-
Proverbs {10:16} The labour of the righteous tendeth to life the fruit of the wicked to sin.
{11:30} The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
Jer. {17:10} 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.
Jer. {21:14} But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
Jer. {32:19} Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Hos. {10:13} Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Amos {6:12} Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock
Micah {7:13} Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Matt. {3:8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {3:9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {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.
Matt. {7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. {7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matt. {12:33} Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
Mark {4:26} And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; {4:27} And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. {4:28} For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. {4:29} But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Luke {3:9} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Luke {6:43} For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {6:44} For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. {6:45} A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
Luke {8:14} And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. {8:15} But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it,] and bring forth fruit with patience.
John {15:1} I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. {15:2} Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit {15:3} Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. {15:4} Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {15:5} I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {15:6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned {15:16} Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. {15:17} These things I command you, that ye love one another. {15:18} If the world hate you, ye know that [it hated] me before it hated you. {15:19} If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Ro. {6:20} For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. {6:21} What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. {6:22} But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. {6:23} For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. {5:9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {5:10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {5:11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them.
Heb. {12:11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. {12:12} Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; {12:13} And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {12:14} Follow peace with all [men,] and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever, helping us to walk in His ways, filled with the Holy Spirit by the grace of our Lord, by His mercy, by His forgiveness. Father, ruler of heaven and earth, bless us all. Your will be done, not ours.
Amen.
Fruit.
Suppose you have a fruit tree in your yard what do you expect of it? Do you expect when you planted it that it would instantly have fruit? No.
Would you expect it to have fruit the next day? Or the next day? Or the next? When should you expect it to have fruit realistically?
It would depend upon what kind of fruit tree it was, wouldn't it? All fruit trees grow differently, have different seasons, right?
Yet no fruit tree will instantly produce fruit, it's impossible.
Fruit on a tree will only happen over time and maturing. It's no wonder that we talk of the fruit of the Spirit and how we desire to have the fruit of the Spirit, yet we need to realize it will only happen the more time we spend with the Gardener letting him cultivate us into producing the richest fruit that is possible for us to produce through Him.
We can't begin to even hope that we will produce fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit in us. Anything we manage to produce on our own might have the outward appearance of being the tastiest fruit in the world but one bite would expose the truth of the matter. Fruit we produce on our own will be bitter and inedible, it will be unacceptable. We must cling to our Lord and Savior and pray that the Holy Spirit will come live in us so that we can have the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Listen to the following few verses-
Proverbs {10:16} The labour of the righteous tendeth to life the fruit of the wicked to sin.
{11:30} The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
Jer. {17:10} 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.
Jer. {21:14} But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
Jer. {32:19} Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Hos. {10:13} Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Amos {6:12} Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock
Micah {7:13} Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Matt. {3:8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {3:9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {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.
Matt. {7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. {7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matt. {12:33} Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
Mark {4:26} And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; {4:27} And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. {4:28} For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. {4:29} But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Luke {3:9} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Luke {6:43} For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {6:44} For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. {6:45} A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
Luke {8:14} And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. {8:15} But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it,] and bring forth fruit with patience.
John {15:1} I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. {15:2} Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit {15:3} Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. {15:4} Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {15:5} I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {15:6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned {15:16} Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. {15:17} These things I command you, that ye love one another. {15:18} If the world hate you, ye know that [it hated] me before it hated you. {15:19} If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Ro. {6:20} For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. {6:21} What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. {6:22} But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. {6:23} For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. {5:9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {5:10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {5:11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them.
Heb. {12:11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. {12:12} Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; {12:13} And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {12:14} Follow peace with all [men,] and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever, helping us to walk in His ways, filled with the Holy Spirit by the grace of our Lord, by His mercy, by His forgiveness. Father, ruler of heaven and earth, bless us all. Your will be done, not ours.
Amen.
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