FRUIT THAT REMAINS
Brad Brownell
*Dec. 01, 2024*
From the beginning of time – the concept of being fruitful and multiplying was set in motion by God.
Jesus said this…When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! Jn 15:8 TPT
You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? – Matt. 7:16 HCSB
Now this is a good heart check!
Jesus uses simple language saying the fruit of our lives reveals who we are. He’s saying if our lives as followers of Jesus are not producing the fruit of the Spirit - and are like thorns in how we engage with others
Jesus continues…
You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting. – Jn 15:16 AMP
God is saying your life has a divine
on it…
The struggle at times though is other things tend to linger and remain in our lives
And remember the promises of God as He said…
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matt 6:33 NLT
We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28 GNT
16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 HCSB
The key thing we see is the focus of our attention versus the faith in our situation to believe God AND live for what’s bigger than what you’re in…
But many things don’t just
But Paul said… Therefore, we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day… we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
Because God has an appointment on your life…
To bear fruit that remains – and fruit isn’t just meant to be seen, but help others taste and see the Lord is good – as salt and light in the world we live in…
However, sometimes we find ourselves not tasting and seeing the goodness of God, His blessing, favor, and fruit that remains because our hearts get caught up and crowded out, making no room for fruit to grow…
14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. Mark 4:14-19 NLT
Jesus said bearing fruit isn’t always an attack of the enemy stealing His word, but it’s…
- Simply
o the
o
o And God’s word gets
What things like Jesus said here are you saying a firm ‘NO’ to, so you prioritize protecting God’s word in your heart
Jesus said,
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Jn 14:23
How are you keeping His word?
Jesus goes on to say in this parable of the Sower and the seed…
And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:20 HCSB
What environment are you cultivating for your heart and life to hear, accept, and produce fruit?
Let’s quickly look at how to cultivate remaining fruit in your life…
Cause Jesus said you are appointed to this, and the Bible says we are to…
- Bear Fruit in Every Good Work – Col 1:10
- Bear Fruit in Every Season – Ps. 1:3
- Bear fruit with Each Other – Gal 5:22-23
Jesus said…
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Jn 15:4-5
The principle is simple…REMAINING leads to
…
Luke shows it like this…
38 While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said.40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” Lk 10:38-42 HCSB
Here we learn 3 ways on cultivating fruit that remains…
1. Cultivating The Right
a. People and places we allow ourselves to be in and around matter…
i. Make CHURCH a non-negotiable priority – Heb. 10:25
ii. COMMUNITY Groups are important for our accountability, aid, and authentic relational Christ-centered care of one another – Act 2:46
iii. Close CONNECTIONS matter - Pr. 12:26; 1 Cor. 15:33
2. Cultivate The Right Values and
a. Ask, what voice am I listening to? What false belief am I holding to?’
i. Living by false belief and value won’t produce fruit and blessing
ii. Compromise won’t produce Christ’s character in you…
3. Cultivating
a. Martha was doing a good thing, but it wasn’t the right thing in the moment
i. Seeking Jesus first - being with Him - receiving His love…
Your character response in the moment is more important than the circumstantial result in the moment.
o Relationship is more important than your routine…
o People are more important than your preferences…
o Know Gods got your back and front, sees the big picture and knows what’s best!