Text: John 15:2, Title: Bumper Crop, Date/Place: NRBC, 8.19.12, AMc
Opening illustration: the graph at the Olympics that shows all the winners of the 100 m dash in the last 116 years. The winner in 1896 would have finished almost 20 meters behind Usain Bolt. Contrast the rose bush in front of our house--continuing to survive, and keeping the same number of blooms from year to year no matter what we do to it.
Background to passage: This series that I intend to preach this fall, called Job Descriptions, assumes that you want to be a good follower of Christ. It assumes that you are willing to put forth considerable effort to accomplish that goal. Therefore it is not only going to speak about the descriptions and principles of genuine followership of Christ, but it is also going to attempt to help you evaluate how you are doing in these areas of faith. Additionally, it will give you some practical ideas of dealing with areas of concern from a reactive and a proactive standpoint.
Jesus commissioned the church to make disciples (Matt 28:19); not converts, church members, moral participants in religious exercises, blind enactors of hollow rules, ceremonies, and meetings, but passionate followers of Him. When He issued the first call for disciples in Matt 4:19, His invitation is this: “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Examine it. We are assuming that you have come and are attempting to follow Christ. What I truly want to look at during the series, including this message, is to what degree Christ is “making” you. So we will examine the characteristics of a disciple. Today’s message will look at the bearing of fruit.
Main thought: A disciple should bear much fruit that remains, and should increase in his/her productivity.
Principle
Jesus uses the metaphor of a vineyard as many OT prophets did to illustrate the disciple’s relationship to Himself and also related to the fruitfulness that will come from that relationship. Just a couple of things to note: EVERY branch that only has a superficial attachment to the church or Jesus is removed. False believers will always be a part of the church. We are talking about people who leave the church not to get into another, rather than those who for some reason cannot stay in a church, and move to another. The removing of unfruitful branches is sometimes hard. EVERY branch that is in Christ produces fruit. Speeds may vary, amount may vary, visibility may vary, but bearing fruit is not for some and not for others. Later in this passage He says that we were appointed (placed and established for a specific purpose) to bear fruit, and God is glorified by that production. Jesus also says that God is the one who does the “pruning.” This word means to painfully break or cut things off the productive branches that will make them less fruitful. God looked into your life and sees the things that are holding you back. Unfortunately sometimes those are the most dear to you. And He takes the necessary steps to wean you from their hindrance to your spiritual growth. So one of the purpose of suffering in part is to purify for greater fruit production. Sometimes the most painful times of life are the most spiritually productive. OK, so here is the PRINCIPLE: disciples should be increasing in their fruit bearing.
Heb 12:4-11, Ps 1:3,
Illustration: got a letter of request of transfer from an out of state church last week for an individual that joined here 11 years ago, and has not be seen or heard from in at least 7 years, maybe more. Glad they are joining a church (if you ever leave here, you should unite with another body, that’s in the covenant), but we can’t send a letter because they are no longer a member, nor can we vouch for their genuiness of their relationship to Christ with no fruit. I could point to 2 or 3 watershed moments in my life, and all of them out of times of great pain.
We should be able to see in our lives an increasing amount of spiritual fruit from day to day, year to year in our lives. If there is no fruit, we should be worried as to whether or not our relationship to Christ is superficial, or our commitment to the church is only to maintain a good conscience. But as believers we must not be content with stagnation. We should never think (or act like) we don’t need to grow anymore. We should warn those (in a loving fashion) who claim to know Christ, but have no fruit. The context of Galatians 5 is to demonstrate genuine belief.
Evaluation
Now evaluating the presence of or the amount of spiritual fruit is tricky. So let’s do a couple of things. First, let’s look at the biblical list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Go down through the list explaining some of the terms. There are other biblical texts that describe spiritual fruits, but this one is the best know, and without the aid of the Spirit it would be impossible and overwhelming without going to other texts. Important to remember that one of the often overlooked fruit is passion. There may not be lots of other fruit yet, but passion, desire for Christ should be there.
Matt 7:16, Prov 11:14, 27:17
Illustration: accountability groups and triads or very small bible studies (5 or less), staff evaluations at Byne Memorial in Albany, I walk down by the garden everyday and see how it’s doing, First you watch for those first little squash leaves to burst through the dirt, then we hunt carefully for those little tiny peas, cucumbers, or melons.
The number one thing that you can do is talk to God about it. In prayer, we should actually hear from God as well as make our petition. This is a process that should work itself out in the lives of believers who are rubbing their lives together. But it may be necessary to get some help if it is not your regular practice. Freebee, begin to share your life with other believers to the point that they know you at a deep level, and there is an honesty that is coupled with a common commitment to follow Christ well. Some of you already have this, which is good. But sometimes serious conversations that need to happen are replaced by superficial talk of things of insignificance—the weather, the ball game, the new shirt or shoes, etc. Maybe have a lunch date (this is assuming by the way that this extremely close friend is either of the same gender as you, or is your spouse; and those two prerequisites can’t be simultaneous) and talk specifically about your spiritual fruit. This is not rocket science, but it requires some effort and thought. Also if you are really serious, you could do a survey, pass it out to 5 friends, have them turn it back in to one of them, and compile the results.
Solution
Christians are really good about pointing out fault without necessarily offering a solution. Politicians are too. And part of the reason that things don’t get done, in families, businesses, and churches, is because there is not a solution and a plan to carry it out. Remember, God gives the increase. Guard against a totally man-centered approach. No silver bulltets, no secrets to easy growth in short time with no effort.
Illustration: the book Execution, got a call about 3-4 months ago from a friend and they were obviously excited or broken or trembling; something was wrong. They said that God had awakened them in the middle of the night to tell them about a plan that he had for a ministry for them to do. Write it down! There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.
Listen to God, journal, tell someone what God has been revealing to you. What Jesus says to do in this text is not to get a book about your struggle (although that may help), but He says to abide (live in, dwell with) in Him. Have a constant living, breathing, communion filled, walk with Christ. Be filled with the Spirit, which happens as you are obedient to His moment by moment promptings. Work on doing immediately what the Spirit of God leads you to do. If God doesn’t speak to you or lead you, you are probably not listening well. Suggestion: fast for a day with the express purpose of hearing from God. This is the best and most helpful thing you can do: don’t focus primarily on the areas of concern, but focus on Jesus. In addition, however, it is good to receive the pruning process, acknowledge that God is removing things (sometimes painfully) that will hinder your growth in order to help you. You can also make yourself accountable to someone regarding specific areas of needed growth. Let’s say that you need help in gentleness (like I do), which means to exhibit humility, mildness, to be considerate. With a close friend give them permission and instruction to question you regarding your gentleness with your wife, children, co-workers on a regular basis. Focus on specific areas. Let them help you figure out a plan and remove hindrances and change behaviors. You do all of this in faith, but it is part of the pruning and sanctifying process. Let them coach you with scripture to unclog the arteries of life to the fruit bearing branches.
Closing illustration: I saw a letter written by a relatively new Christian to the person whose life had influenced hers so greatly. She actually lists about a dozen qualities she found contagious in the life of this older Christian. Listen to some of what she wrote:
You know when we met; I began to discover a new vulnerability, a warmth, and a lack of pretense that impressed me. I saw in you a thriving spirit - no signs of internal stagnation anywhere. I could tell you were a growing person and I liked that. I saw you had strong self-esteem, not based on the fluff of self-help books, but on something a whole lot deeper. I saw that you lived by convictions and priorities and not just by convenience, selfish pleasure, and financial gain. And I had never met anyone like that before.
I felt a depth of love and concern as you listened to me and didn’t judge me. You tried to understand me, you sympathized and you celebrated with me, you demonstrated kindness and generosity - and not just to me, but to other people, as well.
And you stood for something. You were willing to go against the grain of society and follow what you believed to be true, no matter what people said, and no matter how much it cost you. And for those reasons and a whole host of others, I found myself really wanting what you had. Now that I’ve become a Christian, I wanted to write to tell you I’m grateful beyond words for how you lived out your Christian life in front of me.
Want to encourage you who are mature Christians to pursue spiritual fruit and growth and avoid the pitfall of stagnation. And I want to encourage those of you who are earlier in your journey to begin a practice of evaluation in your Christian life. It will serve you well. And if we judge ourselves then we might not have to endure as much pruning. Never stop growing!
Additional Notes
Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
