NO ROOTS, NO FRUITS
SCRIPTURE: John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
INTRODUCTION:
Root (noun) 1. The descending axis of a plant usually growing underground, providing support and absorbing moisture from the soil. 4. That from which something derives its origin, growth, life, etc.
Root (verb) 1. To put forth roots and begin to grow. 2. To become firmly fixed or established.
Fruit (noun) 1. The seed-bearing part of a plant. 2. An edible, usually seed-bearing plant product, especially a sweet and succulent one. 5. A consequence, outcome, or result.
I. FRUIT REQUIRES DEATH
A. Death Comes Before Fruit.
The usual order of most things is that death occurs at the end of life, but with Christ death is the beginning of life.
John 12:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
Amplified Version John 12:24 “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.”
The whole body or substance of the grain, except the germ, dies in the earth or is decomposed, and this decomposed substance constitutes the first nourishment of the tender germ a nutriment wonderfully adapted to it, and fitted to nourish it until it becomes vigorous enough to derive its support entirely from the ground. In this God has shown his wisdom and goodness. No one thing could be more evidently fitted for another than this provision made in the grain itself for the future wants of the tender germ. Barnes’ Notes
B. The Perfect Example
This is plainly a type of the Lord Jesus who had life in Himself and who, when buried, could not be kept down but rose the third day. It is a type also of the believer who has God's eternal life in him. The Holy Spirit is the gardener who takes the grain of corn, the Christian, plants him in His harvest field where He wants him to be, and places him where he will produce the best crop. A Dictionary of Bible Types
This grain is the Lord Jesus Himself. He was cut down and was buried, but came forth from the tomb to produce a tremendous crop of believers for eternity.
A Dictionary of Bible Types
C. Old Things Must Pass Away
II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
The main body of the grain decays that it may become food and nourishment to the tender germ. Perhaps it is implied here also that there was a fitness that people should die in order to obtain the glorious body of the resurrection, in the same way as it is fit that the kernel should die, in order that there may be a new
and beautiful harvest. Barnes’ Notes
The Cross of Christ is therefore not only the place where we find the new life, but also the place where we lose our old life. Evans H. Hopkins “Conformity to the Death of Christ”
II. FRUIT REQUIRES ROOTS
A. The Root Is A Principle Structure
1. Without roots, death is certain.
Matthew 13:5 “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”
The teaching probably is that there was nothing in the heart of the hearer, nor in his mind, which would enable him to receive or understand God's Word.
A Dictionary of Bible Types
Jesus thus describes that kind of disposition, or soul, or heart, which sits unmoved under the sound of the gospel and does not respond in a permanent way. The person seems to be moved a little bit, and shows some interest, but this is not permanent. After while he refuses to return to the church, and avoids meeting the Christians. A Dictionary of Bible Types
Matthew 13:20 “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
2. To destroy the tree, start with the roots.
Matthew 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.”
Here the ax is a type of God's judgment which will cut down the nation of Israel because of their disobedience and fruitlessness. This ax of God's wrath also cuts down individuals whose lives are not profitable to God. A Dictionary of Bible Types
The primary application of this type is to Israel. The application is also to the individual. God did lay the ax to the root of Israel and destroyed the nation. This happens also to individuals who, because their lives are so utterly given over to the Devil and there is no fruit for God, that one is cut off and sent to hell.
A Dictionary of Bible Types
Mark 11:13 “And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”
The fig tree always represents Israel in her national position. (The olive tree represents Israel from the religious viewpoint.) Our Lord had come to Israel expecting to receive from them a royal welcome as their King. They should have rendered to Him praise, worship and obedience. He found nothing but a profession of faith in God (the leaves). He therefore cursed the nation of Israel, and they became dispersed throughout the whole world. A Dict. of Bible Types
Mark 11:20 “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.”
B. The Depth of the Root Determines the Height & Breadth of Growth
1. No Depth; No Fruit
Matthew 13:5 “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”
Where there was little earth, but where it was hard and rocky, so that the roots could not strike down into the earth for sufficient moisture to support the plant. When the sun became hot they of course withered away. They sprang up the sooner because there was little earth to cover them. Barnes’ Notes
2. Good Ground Has Depth->Matthew 13:8 “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”
The goodness of this last soil consists in its qualities being precisely the reverse
of the other three soils: from its softness and tenderness, receiving and cherishing the seed; from its depth, allowing it to take firm root, and not quickly losing its moisture; and from its cleanness, giving its whole vigor and sap to the plant. In such a soil the seed “brings forth fruit,” in all different degrees of profusion, according to the measure in which the soil possesses those qualities. JFB
That is, a hundred, sixty, or thirty “grains” for each one that was sowed an increase by no means uncommon. Some grains of wheat will produce twelve or fifteen hundred grains. The usual proportion on a field sown, however, is not more than twenty, fifty, or sixty bushels for one. Barnes’ Notes
Genesis 26:12 “Then Isaac sowed in that land [Gerar], and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.”
I Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”
C. The Location of the Root Determines the Health of the Tree
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
John 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.”
Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Colossians 2:6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Psalms 1:3 “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
D. Plant Your Roots In The Local Church
Maybe, if you have money, health, and a busy schedule, you don’t feel the need to fellowship with other Christians. But when the storms of life hit--and they will--suddenly you’ll find nobody’s there. If you remain shallow in your relationship to your local church, you will lose out on the support of other Christians when you need it most.
Luis Palau
1. Make a commitment to your local church.
2. Seek to minister within your local church.
3. Give financially to support your local church.
4. Support your brothers and sisters.
5. Support missionaries.
III. FRUIT REQUIRES TIME
A. What Is Fruit
But what is fruit? It is the deposit of sap; it is the final result of all the inner activities of the tree -- the outcome of the hidden life, which, beginning with the root, passes through the stem into the branch, and finally manifests itself in bud, blossom, and fruit. Evans H. Hopkins “Conformity to the Death of Christ”
B. The Life Cycle is Determined and Governed By Laws
The order of producing fruit is determined by the laws of nature which cannot be altered.
Numbers 17:8 “And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.”
In modern times, fruit is sometimes produced in warehouses hydroponically using artificial lights, fertilizers, etc. Growth is often rushed. Taste is often lost in the process.
1. Budding
The Holy Ghost starts the budding process in you when you get saved.
2. Blossoming
Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
I Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
3. Fruiting
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
CONCLUSION:
God is expecting fruit according to ability. Will you live up to your potential or will you disappoint God? Be planted and rooted according to His word, because without roots they’re will be not fruit. Fruit takes time. Follow God and allow the Spirit of God to bring you to the season of fruiting.
John 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.”
