Fruits

Good morning, could we all stand and pray? Father, we thank you again for this nice day and time together in fellowship. Help us to edify one another, serve you more closely. Strengthen all the brothers and sisters that are here and around the world, so we will not grow weak. Help us, in Jesus' name, amen. Appreciate the opening. Lots of food for thought. I have some opinions, too, but it's good to be reminded of certain things that are not so clear. During the spring I was thinking about fruits, so I thought I'd just share. Mostly it's just reading scriptures concerning fruit. I might share a little bit as I go along. You know, we plant plants in the spring and we're hoping for a good return, usually. I'm guessing most of us have some sort of plants out right now. Some already are producing, some are almost done producing. It's really a blessing when you look at a plant and you see that it's loaded with good fruit. At least for me, it's a feeling that's pleasing just to see this plant. I wrote up, I think there's simple categories. I chalk up three different types of fruit. You have good fruit. This is in the natural, but some of it might not apply to the natural either, especially in the spiritual. You have three fruits. One is good fruit, the other is bad fruit, and the third one is synthetic fruit. Those categories can have variations. I wrote a few illustrations about this type of fruit. Keep it in mind as we go through the Bible, or through these verses, chapters. Because when Jesus uses these illustrations, he's trying to get to a person's mind to realize what he's talking about. Everybody knows what fruit is, for the most part. It doesn't have to be in the class of fruit. I think it can be vegetables or anything. So, you think about the whole garden that you've planted. Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, watermelons, whatever it may be by now, sweet corn. Spring turns into summer, you start picking the fruits off these plants. The plants are just loaded. You have plenty and even enough to give to the neighbor. That's really a blessing, good fruit. On the other hand, as you watch your plants grow, and they do not give any fruit, as spring becomes summer, you have nothing to show for it except some shriveled up fruit. The corn only has a few grains on it. The tomatoes, maybe only one tomato with a wormhole in it. Maybe the pepper plants are just kind of yellow, ugly looking. Just really other things, just a few, whatever you maybe have planted out. It would really be a sad feeling, especially for the people that rely on it for an income. And for anybody. Years ago, this was a serious thing. Maybe not so much some city dwellers, but for the most part, people relied off the land on a more intimate level than what we do in this society. I guess within this would be the other thing. If you just came out, all your tomatoes are rotten, or just this ugly fruit, nasty. Rotten tomatoes stink. And you have other sort of, just like this, very ugly fruit. And that could be, I'd say that would be this bad fruit. It could also be sour, bitter, or maybe poisonous. And then thirdly, let's say you planted some plants and summer came around, you started harvesting it. Here a while ago, Dwayne had a corn roast party. Or not party, whatever, get-together, fellowship time. And so he brought that wagon full of roasted corn up, and we all started eating it. And as we started biting into the kernels, we found out they were just corn. Like that would be, it would be very disturbing, and not very nice. Or you were ready to cut up an apple or something, and you slice into it, and it's just a block of plastic. But you pulled it off the tree. This type of synthetic fruit, and this type, so the good fruit, the bad fruit, and synthetic fruit is ultimately bad fruit. But it's, the counterfeit part of it is hypocrisy. So if you think about someone that acts really nice to you, but inwardly they're not happy to see you, that's this fake fruit. Could be many, many types of, many different types of actions that we as humans can end up doing that is fake, or we're just being hypocrites. We have something that looks good, but inwardly, it's bad. Anyway, so keep these in mind, and mostly what I'm going to do now is just read a bunch of scripture. So if you want to, turn to Matthew 3, 7 through 10. But when he saw, this is John speaking. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, we have Abraham for our father. For I say to you that from these stones, God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down, thrown into the fire. In Matthew 7, 15 through 20. Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then you will know them by their fruits. Now Jesus is somewhat repeating what John said earlier. This has a little bit of that, beware of false prophets, counterfeit fruit. Luke 8, 11 through 15. Now I chose this one in Luke because it ends with perseverance. This is Jesus explaining the parable of the sower. But it's interesting, and Dwayne pointed out this before, how in Matthew it reads, this is the man who hears the word and understands it. Then in Mark it reads, and they hear the word and accept it. And then in Luke it reads, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart and hold fast to it and bear fruit with perseverance. So it's understanding, accepting, and then bearing fruit with perseverance. I'll just read that section. Luke 8, 11 through 15. Now the parable is this. The seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard. The devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those, when they hear, receive the word with joy. And these have no firm root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fall among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard. And as they go on their way, they are choked with worries and the riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity. But the good seed in the good soil are those, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart and hold it fast and bear fruit with perseverance. Some translations say, what is it? King James uses a different word there I think. Patience? Keeps it. Alright, so next one is Luke 13, 6-9. He began telling this parable. A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard. And he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard keeper, Behold, for these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why does it even use up the ground? And he answered and said to him, Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer. And if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not, cut it down. That could be an example of Jesus. I haven't thought through it entirely, but whoever this vineyard keeper is, had mercy on this tree. Okay, John 12, 20-26. Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast. These then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip came and told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. It is interesting, I don't know why Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus, but it's kind of interesting. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must first follow me. And where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 15, 1-17. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch of me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up. And they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit. And so, prove to be my disciples, just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Behold, now abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain. So that whatever you ask in my Father's name, he will give you. This I command you, that you love one another. So one thing I would like to point out in those passages is, Jesus makes a point that, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the mind, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I think he's making a point here that unless we abide in the doctrine of Christ, I know it's obvious, but I just wanted to make a note there. Unless we abide in the doctrine of Christ, we cannot bear good fruit. The fruit he's looking for. And apart from him, we cannot do anything. But he calls us to do everything, if that makes sense. Maybe I should clarify that, so there's no confusion. Apart from Christ, we cannot do anything, but Christ also requires us to do everything, to lay down our whole life for him. So there's this dual working relationship, I guess. Galatians 5, 6, 16-28 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that please you. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissension, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. Of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passion and desire. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, ending one another. I would like to note there, that word challenging, I think there are other words used, and King James may use provoke. The word challenge is in a bad connotation. Irritate would be another word you could use. Provoke, irritate, because we are supposed to challenge each other in the right ways. But this is in a bad way. Now imagine, so the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, the whole list. These are the good looking fruits that God is looking for. And the list could go on to, there are many things that could be added to that. But these are, if a person has these, these are very nice fruits to behold. Ephesians 5, 1-11 Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, as a fragrant aroma. But immorality and any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which is not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light, for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness and righteousness and truth. That was the part I wanted in those passages. For the fruit of the light consists of all goodness and righteousness and truth. Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them. Colossians 1-12 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae. Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We give thanks to God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all of the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it. And understand the grace of God in truth. And understood the grace of God in truth. Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond servant who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf. And he has also informed us of your love in the spirit. For this reason also since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in the manner worthy of the Lord to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the obtaining of all steadfastness and patience, joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his saints in life. Some of this I'm reading a little bit of the context. I didn't know if it would really make sense if I only read the verse that I was getting at. But bearing fruit in every good work. That's what I wanted to emphasize there. Hebrews 12 1 through 13. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin, and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor think when you are reproved by him. For those whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with us as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us for a short time, as seemed best to them. But he disciplines us for our good, so that we may share his holiness. Our discipline for the moment seems not to be joyous but sorrowful. Yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. That's what I wanted to say. After we go through the fire, it yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness if we submit. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out, and the joint put out of joint, but rather be healed. Then in James 3:13-18, Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him share by his good behaviors and deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure and peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, of good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. Without hypocrisy, there's that plastic fruit. Good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. So that's all the verses I had. I'd like to read part of John 15 again, in closing. I am the true vine, my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. So, Jesus really is the only way and his teachings are... As I look at the scriptures, I can just... Over and over he makes the point that his words really are the way to life and what he taught, his spirit. So as most of us have plants growing this summer, or as they grow, let's just remember that the amount of fruit that we would like to see on our plants let us realize that God, through his son, is expecting a full crop from us. Some 30 and some 60 and some 100. That's all I have. Comments, anything to share? Welcome. Amen. Thank you for the message and I think it's kind of funny how when we're requested to give a message or something of that nature we find that somebody else may have already prepared a message that kind of suits the needs of what it is that you're already trying to present. There was kind of a mix up where I guess Max was supposed to go today and we were supposed to have something prepared so they asked me to do something and the message you just gave was pretty much what I had inspiration for this morning but there were a couple of things that you mentioned just in passing that I think like brotherly conduct as far as like iron sharpening iron, like how to approve, how to correct, like how to deal with one another in a healthy and loving manner. They're just ways that specifically are spoken about in scripture. I don't have them written down right now. I figured like I thought I'd have another week to go over this so maybe I'll go over some of those details next week or something. I don't know about anybody else but personally I feel like if you've had the response of like somebody trying to correct you physically it kind of feels, it feels kind of antagonistic. It feels very challenging and it hits home very directly and so usually our responses if we're not in the right spirit can be kind of indignant. It can just be an unaccepting kind of thing. That's not how we're supposed to be but just recognizing that we have to be patient with one another and what it is that's being presented Anyways, you were talking about the synthetic fruit and I just recognized that over the last couple of weeks going out and really getting to know some of the people in the community in Springfield that they, well it seems like the mornings always go very peaceful but then it's like the street gang warfare of like the who's who of preachers come out and there's all this interaction and it's never really like a very fruitful exchange. It always seems like it never goes anywhere and that time and time again I get responses from like the homeless people and the people around that really appreciate the fact that we are conducting ourselves in a way of peace mercy and love like being able to express our points without having to be forceful like the other preachers try to be and well anyways there was a passage you pretty much hit everything that I wanted to read except for the chapter 16 in John chapter 15 refers to loving one another and then he goes on to speak about in the beginning of it disciple relation to the world If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you If you were of the world, the world would love its own But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world Therefore the world hates you Remember the word that I said to you, a slave is not greater than his master If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you If they kept my word, they will keep yours also But also these things they will do to you for my name's sake Because they do not know the one who sent me If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sinned But now they have no excuse for their sin He who hates me hates my father also If I had not done among them the works which no one else did They would not have sinned But now they have both seen and hated me and my father as well But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law They hated me without a cause When the helper comes whom I will send to you from the father that is the spirit of the truth Who proceeds from the father, he will bear witness of me And you will bear witness also because you have been with me from the beginning Very beginning of chapter 16 he says These things I have spoken to you that you may be kept from stumbling They will make you outcasts from the synagogues But an hour is coming from everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God And these things they will do because they have not known the father or me But these things I have spoken to you that when their hour comes You may remember that I told you of them And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you Speaking about the details like Like I can honestly say that none of the interactions that I've had with these opposing Churches have been a very peaceful one that has not been like an easy exchange And And so what I was really thinking about Stephen Having to be stoned By the people that thought that they were carrying out God's will Because he was teaching something that was not in accordance with their laws But I was going to speak going to go into the details about Galatians And The fruits of the spirit those things that we should be expressing What we stand firm on the very rock that Jesus has for us Is that That these are the These are the signs that are that That not only do we have fruits but that we are alive in Christ So if we can focus on those details and really really emphasize them before people Then I think we will be a city Sitting on a hill A light that cannot be hid God bless you Thank you for sharing I thought I On the subject of The different ideas Different ways Churches go about it The different emphasis they have I guess I'll just say how I can deal with The differences if somebody has to give the tongues and Uses them or if If the people that do these things are not transgressing Otherwise that I can fellowship with that I want to fellowship with that and if somebody Gets bitten by a snake and he's not hurt by it or drinks poison not hurt by it If he's keeping the teachings of Jesus I want to fellowship with those people But The trip I guess they put on people is Is saying if you do this or that then Now you're really into the kingdom or now you're really doing something great And if you don't do it then There's something wrong with you I don't agree with that But I don't fellowship with all those that Are walking in the light that we Do understand And some things like Dwayne said I I just go ahead and believe both because I don't know which one to believe And I Assume in my own Thinking of some of these things they both can't be true They're not both going to come to reality But maybe they can but I can't see it that way right now So when one person makes the argument on one side then I I say well what about this side and If they make the argument on that side I'll make So what about this side That's kind of where I'm at on These different subjects and I want to fellowship with those that Are walking the light even if they do things I don't understand If that makes any sense I've been blessed today and thankful for all of you And God bless us As a passage out of The book the secret of the strength And it was talking about It's page 103 it says no cheap grace Proud world wants to be Christian too Wrote an Osborne writer But the world is ashamed of the cross The worldly says no that cannot be Why should we suffer if the sufferings of Christ Were enough to redeem us from our sins A blind world you will be put to shame Your faith will not save you repent If you do not want to suffer forever Come out from among the world and sin no more It goes on page 104 Man are you tired of being sad Leave the world leave your possessions Leave your goods and your money The one who thinks of death chooses the best And Christ earns grace for him It is difficult for the one who loves to talk To get to know himself If he would think of who he is He would not have so much to say Look at yourself leave the rest Do not gossip be quiet So that in the end you may not be put to shame What you measure out will be measured to you Christ treats all men fairly No sin remains unpunished Therefore fear God and keep his commands No good deed remains without its reward Pray for grace early and late And pray that we may be spared If you want to be saved keep away from sin To be carnally minded To be carnally minded You want to be saved To be carnally minded is death Leave the world leave your possessions Leave your goods and your money The one who thinks of death chooses the best And Christ earns grace for him God will not forsake the one who lives in truth God is ready to hear us if we hate sin O Jesus Christ it is your spirit that comforts us Do not leave us be merciful to us And intercede for us as we near the end of time Let your sweet spirit for us be blest Open the windows to pour out a blessing Shower your power upon us we pray Send such a blessing we cannot contain it Lord open the windows of heaven today So let our blessings fill With the promise that you'll have no peace within But we know your unbidding faith And we should die but all come repenting For this we do cry Open the windows and pour out a blessing Shower your power upon us we pray Send such a blessing we cannot contain it Lord open the windows of heaven today Sometimes I'm weary and heavy and worn I'm crushed by the tempter and weak and torn And I go back to Jesus with tears on my face And cry out for mercy his love and his grace Open the windows and pour out a blessing Shower your power upon us we pray Send such a blessing we cannot contain it Lord open the windows of heaven today So often we witness your power so strong But yesterday's blessings are all that's been gone Once again we are believing that something we bring And that's why we lift up our voices to say Open the windows and pour out a blessing Shower your power upon us we pray Send such a blessing we cannot contain it Lord open the windows of heaven today Humble now so fair as to Christian glory and renown For the youth I find adorning for the infant world around As for praise there's no attraction Nor high well-bound holy action Riches cannot be dispersed Though their strength is great on earth See the humbleness of Jesus How his sorrow of deflates He was friendly, kind, and loving In the scriptures his sweet trace In his life there's no occasion That we show self-evaluation He answers to human needs However humility He who walks the pathway of life Is lead up by every man He who seeks not worldly honor God will honor by his plan Humbleness to God the treasure To all others to the pleasure Who will follow God's command And who in Christ's love will stand In this humble gift so noble Truth may show its prudent part Thus all who would be like Jesus Still must seek him from the heart Where faith finds ordination Where true meekness has foundation Faithful love and humble rest Grounded spirit bring him rest I would also grow in meekness For it makes the heart so pure It will guide me in my conduct If my heart it shall endure Humbleness to those befriended To my enemies extended For my God I humble thee Cross and scorn face modesty