Good Fruit
From The HeartPublish date: 04/08/2007
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5 AMPGod uses growing things – plants; fruit – as examples when He talks about our relationship with Him, how He expects us to behave, and what He expects us to do. He expects us to be grafted into Him, to abide in Him, and to bring forth good fruit. The Spirit realm created the natural world and similar laws apply. Know that there are no shortcuts with God or with the Word of God. You cannot manufacture or fake fruit – good fruit is produced only under the right conditions – with the right amount of sunlight, water, and good soil.
Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4 AMP
Jesus died and was raised from the dead – like a seed that is planted in the ground has to die before it can grow and produce fruit. We can bear fruit for God because of His resurrection power at work in us.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16-20 NIV
Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit. Matthew 12:33 AMP
The tree is recognized by its fruit. If the tree is corrupt, rotten, diseased, and bad, then the fruit is corrupt, rotten, diseased, and bad. Be a good tree. Your roots – the foundation of your life – your heart must be good. You must be grafted into God; you must draw your life from Jesus, the Vine.
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23 AMP
For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
Ephesians 5:9 AMP
You can't bring forth fruit in your own ability. The only way to bring forth good fruit in your life is to yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in you and through you.
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness--in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. Hebrews 12:11 AMP
The fruit-bearing process involves yielding to God's correction and discipline. We produce good fruit when we conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action – when we carry His heart and when we completely do what He asks of us.
The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men--he gathers and receives them for eternity]. Proverbs 11:30 AMP
The fruit that is produced in you as you grow and abide in the Lord becomes a tree of life and a blessing to other people.
The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. 15[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalms 92:12-15 AMP
The righteous are compared to palm trees and the cedars of Lebanon. They are planted in God's house; they flourish in His courts; they grow in grace; they bring forth fruit – even in old age; they are fat and flourishing; full of sap; full of life; their fruit is plentiful and delicious; they are living memorials to God's righteousness and faithfulness!