Theme: Fruit of the Spirit
Text: John 15:1-8,16 & Galatians 5:22-24
Greetings
The Lord is good; his love endures forever. I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let me draw your attention to the portions read to us from John 15:1-8 & Galatians 5:22-24. Let me leave with you three thoughts about the fruit. I mean the fruit of the Spirit of God for our future meditations.
• Fruit of the Spirit
• Secrets of Fruit-bearing
• Slices of the Fruit.
1. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22. a).
Paul wrote this passage to emphasize the believers' community living, peaceful existence in and outside the Church fellowships. The freedom enjoyed in Christ through the Spirit of God is not for personal satisfaction but the peaceful coexistence of all. So, Paul mentioned the fruit of the Spirit of God rather than the fruits of the Spirit of God. It does not refer to the fruits in the Spirit of God. But, the fruit of the Spirit of God varieties of its characters is brought under one umbrella.
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8), produce the fruit of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 21:43), bring out good fruit (Matthew 3:10, 7:17-19), show the fruit of your kind and people will Know them by your fruits. A tree has known by its fruits (Matthew 7:16,20, 12:33, Luke 6:43-44). Our flesh produces the fruit of death. It has a relation with the lust of the flesh and the eyes (Romans 7:5).
The works of the darkness lead to fruitlessness (Ephesians 5:11). Be filled with the fruit of righteousness; it comes out from the people who are in Christ (Philippians 1:11). Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him and bear fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). Fruit of lips are the sacrifices of praises to God; it is pleasing to the Lord (Hebrews 13:15, and Psalm 50:23).
2. Secrets to Bear Fruit (John 15:1-8)
Illustration:
While we were living in Vellore, our neighbour had a widespread wood apple tree. It was a grown tree and had numerous fruits in it. It was giving shadow for two-three campuses. One day heavy rain slashed and windblown with high speed. That tree uprooted to the surprise. We were amazed to see the fallen tree. We found out that Ants had eaten the main root of that huge tree. The stem had inner decay, but outer it was looking so beautiful and greenery.
In John, we read that Jesus spoke the importance of being in Christ-like a branch attached to the tree which always looks greener, and the sustenance had come from the Lord who is the root of our existence and nourishment. So Jesus had repeatedly affirmed to stay in Christ and his love. Jesus used harsh words such as cut off, pruned, cleaned, bears no fruit, withering branch, and thrown away branch. Also, he used words of concern such as, remain, bears much fruit, and glory during his discourse on the figurative teaching using the Vine tree. The entire teaching points to the person stay in Christ and bearing fruit as an individual follower of Christ. Later he made them be one and love each other.
According to Psalm 80:8, Israel has referred to as Vine Tree brought from Egypt and planted at Canaan. Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 5:1-2,7) says Israel was the choices vines planted among the nations. But became an unfruitful Vine Tree and failed in its mission (Jeremiah 2:21, Ezekiel 15:6, 17:6, 19:10 and Hosea 10:1).
Therefore, Jesus is the true vine. Hence, we must be rooted in Him (not in Israel) if we bear fruit for God. Our first identification is in Jesus Christ Himself and not in the church. Fruit-bearing is inevitable with abiding. The quality and quantity of the fruit may differ, but the presence of fruit will be an inevitable one (Enduring Commentary).
The word fruit described in the vegetable world refers to a matured product. John says that the fruit of the True Vine glorifies God (John 15:2-16). The abundant fruit of wheat refers to full-grown life (John 12:24), the fruit of righteousness is characteristics of godly persons (Philippians 1:11; Hebrews 12:11). The fruit gathered means lives brought to Christ (John 4:36; Romans 1:13).
Secrets are God is the husbandman and gardener. Jesus is the True Vine Tree. We are as branches implanted into him. Unless we stay or abide in him, rooted in him, accept the essence of his teaching, and practice the ethical values. When we lose our identity and life, we must be subject to the pruning and disciplining acts of the Holy Spirit. We should live according to the demands and requirements of the Word of God.
“The intimate relationship of abiding binds together with Father, Son, and the community of believers in a way that challenges a culture that would often prefer to imagine or even to keep God at a distance.” The word “true” or “truth” occurs some 35 times in John. The word “bearing fruit” repeated six times in this brief lesson (John 15:2,4,5,8) (ref: workingpreacher.org/James Boyce).
Joseph is a fruit-bearing plant because he is planted by the streams of water (Genesis 49:22, Jeremiah 17:8). The remnants of Judah will have root and bear fruit (2 Kings 19:30, Isaiah 37:31). Seasonal fruits of his life– the fruit of the childhood, the fruit of the adolescence, the fruit of the youthful days, the fruit of the married life, and the fruit of the old age (Psalm 1:3, 92:15, 127:4, Ezekiel 19:10). The secret of the fruitful life of the righteous is their prayer and devoted life (Proverbs 12:12). Let my beloved come to my garden and eat the fruits of pleasantness (Song of Songs 4:16).
According to viticulture, every vine tree has its personality. Its living identity becomes an important one. Abide in Jesus requires the will, the choices, the decisions we make (Boice). “Deadwood is worse than fruitlessness, for dead wood can harbour disease and decay. God removes the deadwood from his church and disciplines the life of the believer so that it has directed into fruit-filled activity” (Tenney). The word of God is a cleansing agent. It condemns sin, inspires holiness, promotes growth, and reveals power for victory in our lives (Enduring Commentary). “We must honour God, and do good; this is bearing fruit” (Matthew Henry).
3. Slices of the Fruit (Galatians 5:22-24)
Illustration: I was watching a piece of news, a fruit seller in Ooty, he was explaining about the fruits he had for sale. He was pointing out to a Mango, and he was telling that a particular mango has five tastes in one mango. It contains sweetness, savour, vicious and saline etc.,
The nine virtues of spirit compared to the nine tastes of one fruit. Most of the fruits available on the market are sweet and tasty. Fruits represent sweetness, refreshing and a healthy diet. When Apostle Paul mentioned the fruit of the spirit and lists out nine slices of one fruit, Paul starts with love, peace, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.
The characters are rich in graces and thought to be one. The spirit of God helps to cultivate these virtues in a person controlled by God. These behaviours could not be separated and isolated.
Love is the moving principle of the Christian life. We have a great example that is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God produces this in whom he indwells and works. The spirit of God helps love to flow from a person through actions. A tree grows and produces its fruit, the same manner a person living in God will automatically show love to this world.
Joy is the work of the grace of God and enjoyed in the Spirit of God.
Peace with God and oneness with fellow men despite differences is highly appreciable. The men in the flesh never desire these virtues in their life. Peace is a result of the spiritual process and development. A rich word for peace is Shalom. The Old Testament patriarch saints desired to have peace with their neighbours. We are moved by the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The word longsuffering relates to two words of endurance and passion. Through the Holy Spirit, we wait longer and get its blessings. The result is we become long-tempered rather than short-tempered. The best example of it is Job.
The Holy Spirit enables us to have moral integrity with kindness and not get trapped in self-righteous judgement. We articulate it in every condition of our lives. The best example is David to Jonathan and Saul’s family.
We show goodness in our actions rather than in words. This word relates to not only being good but doing good to all, particularly to the enemies.
Faithfulness is a character trait that combines dependability and trust based on our confidence in God and His eternal faithfulness.
The word gentleness refers to meekness; of course, it is not a weakness. “Meekness does not identify the weak but more precisely the strong who have been placed in a position of weakness; where they persevere without giving up. When applied to animals, the use of the Greek word makes this clear, for it means ‘tame’ when applied to wild animals. In other words, such animals have not lost their strength but have learned to control the destructive instincts that prevent them from living in harmony with others.”(Bakers Commentary)
Self-control refers to our ability to control our body and its sensual appetites and desires both physically and mentally through the power of the Holy Spirit. Self-control relates to both chastity and sobriety, and particularly moderation in eating and drinking. Self-control has opposed the works of the flesh that indulge sensual desires controlled by God. May the Lord help us cultivate and exhibit these characters through our day to day life in times of good and unfortunate.
