BEARING FRUIT IN ITS SEASON

                   

Stuart Holden (1874-1934), the author of "Prevailing Intercessory Prayer", was in Egypt and met a sergeant in a Highland regiment. He asked this bright Christian how he was brought to Christ. The sergeant responded: "There was a converted private in my company in Malta and I gave him a terrible time. I remember one night in particular when it was rainy and he came in wet and weary from sentry duty.

Yet, as usual, he still got down on his knees before going to bed. My boots were covered in mud and I threw them both at him and hit him twice on the head. He kept kneeling and praying. The next morning when I woke up I found my boots beautifully cleaned and polished at my bedside. This was his reply to me and it broke my heart. That day I was brought to repentance."

In Psalm 1:1-3, we are told that a person who delights in the law of the Lord is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season. Fruit comes naturally from the tree because God created it with a fruit bearing capacity. In the same way, the man who delights in the word of God will naturally bring forth fruit. Fruit is the external evidence of the internal life.  A deeply-rooted believer is beautiful in his inner and outward life.

Jesus said “if you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- the Spirit of the truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he lives with you and is in you (John 14:15 –17). We are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in us (1 cor. 3:16).

We are told in Ephesians 5:18 to “be filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit in our lives will naturally bear Fruit. And the Fruit of the Spirit is, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). The word Fruit is singular because these are not different fruits. They are different facets of a single fruit; they grow together.

Love comes first because it is the foundation (Matt. 22:36-40). If we love God and others, the rest of the fruit will flow naturally. The kind of love that Jesus modeled is sacrificial love (John 15:12-14).  Biblical love is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Biblical love demands not just words but actions and truth (1John 3:18). Love for each other is the distinctive badge of the disciples of Jesus (John 13:35).

Unconditional love for both friends and enemies, distinct biblical love from world’s love (Matt 5:43-48). God has placed you wherever you live and work to demonstrate divine love. The people around you provide an opportunity to show them what the love of God looks like. You are to love each one of them as if the person were Jesus himself (Matt.25:42-45). If you cannot love the people you see, then you cannot love an invisible God (1 John 4:20). Without love your service to God will be in vain (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

Jesus wants his disciple to know genuine and full joy whose foundation is God (John 15:11).As Christians we have great reasons to be always joyful. Our joy is permanent because it is rooted in the unchanging God. Our joy is rooted in an ever-present God, in whose “presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps.16:11). Worshipping and praising God naturally fills our hearts with joy. So rejoice in the Lords always (Phil. 4:4), with joy that is inexpressible (1 Peter 1:8). The joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10)  

God keeps in perfect peace, those who steadfastly trust in him (Isa. 26:3). In Psalm 91 God promises his children divine protection, twenty four hours. With such a promise from an all mighty God (Ps 46), who knows us perfectly and watches our every move (Ps. 139) we can relax amidst the fiercest storm.  We cannot avoid strife in this world, but we can know perfect peace in the midst of turmoil when we take God at His word.

The Christian race requires a lot of patience. Patience to wait for delayed prayer answers (Luke 18:1-8) and delayed promise fulfillment (Rom. 4:18-21). When our faith is strong we must be patient with the weak in faith (Romans 15:1); our patience will calms quarrels (Prov. 15:18).  Like our Lord (2 Peter 3:9), we should not give up on unsaved or rebellious loved but patiently try to get them to the Lord. We should patiently continue to do good even when the reward does not come until we get to the other side of eternity (Rom. 2:6-7, 8:25). Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him (Ps 37:7).

Kindness is concern for other people; it’s paying attention to their circumstances and welfare. As God’s chosen people we should clothe ourselves with kindness (2 Tim. 2:24). We should be kind to others without expecting anything in return (Luke 6:35).  Like Dorcas we should abound with deeds of kindness (Acts 9:36). Cornelius kindness and prayers went up as a memorial offering before God (Acts 10:1-4). If we die in the lord our kind deeds will follow us (Rev.14:13). We shall qualify for heaven because of kindness (Matt.25:31-46)

Jesus went around doing good (Acts 10:38).  God has promised to bless us abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all we need, we can abound in every good work.  And our service will overflow in many expression of thanks to God (2Cor. 9:8-15). In Galatians 6:9-10 we are told not to grow weary of doing good, but to do good to everyone whenever we have an opportunity. Our good deeds will be obvious (1 Tim. 5:25) and they will be a bright light shining before men bringing glory to God (Matt. 5:16). The rich should be rich in good deeds so that they may take hold of that which is truly life (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

God is faithful (Deut. 32:4) and he expects all his children to be faithful (I Cor.4: 2). Moses (Heb 3:5), Timothy (1 Cor. 4:17) and Epaphras (Col.1:7) were faithful servants. Paul addressed the Ephesians and Colossians letters to the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:1 Col. 1:2).  A faithful person keeps his word; his yes means yes, his no means no (James 5:12); he keeps his commitments and appointments. God is more interested in our faithfulness that our success (Matt.25:23). Jesus expects us to be faithful, even to the point of death (Rev. 2:10). To the faithful God shows himself faithful” (Ps. 18:25).

In Matthew 11:26 Jesus invites us to learn from him for he is gentle and lowly in heart and we shall find rest for our souls.  In Matthew (12:19, 20) we are told that Jesus did not quarrel or shout; He was so gentle that a bruised reed he did not break and a smoldering wick he did not snuff out. We should be gentle in our conversations. A gentle tongue can break a bone (Prov.25:15) and gentle answers turn away wrath (Prov. 15: 1). We should be completely gentle (Eph. 4:2). And we should let our gentleness be evident to all (phil. 4:5).

Within every child of God, a tremendous struggle goes on between the flesh and the Spirit (Gal 5:17). Self control is the ability to keep passions, appetites, desires and impulses in check.  We should emulate our Lord, 1 Peter 2:23 tells us that “when they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered he made no threats”.  Only a fool gives full vent to his anger (Prov. 29:11). Guarding our tongues will keep our souls from trouble (Prov. 21:32,James 3:2,6).  We must overcome evil with good” (Rom.12:21).

A tree stabilizes the surrounding weaker plants.  Likewise, Christians are a source of stability and strength to those around them. They provide shade from the summer heat, shelter from the storms, warmth in the cold seasons and stability when winds of success threaten to derail. The tree brings forth fruit in its season. There are different seasons in the life of man.  There is a facet of the Fruit of the Spirit for every season. When love is needed, we bring forth love. When gentleness is needed we brings forth gentleness.

Water brings nutrients from the soil to the tree. The tree bears fruits quietly, but they are visible to those around it. To be Spirit-filled, you must continue growing in your understanding and application of God’s Word. Then you will be transformed into Christ’s image from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). Like a child’s growth, it is not always discernible day by day, but as you look back, you should see definite change toward godliness. Those around you will see steady, progressive transformation into Christ-likeness.

Fruits go through different stages of maturity. As they mature they increase in size and as they ripen they become sweeter. Trees bear fruits for others to enjoy. However the seed within the fruit brings forth other trees, which will in turn bear fruits. This continues from generation to generation. This world needs people today who will live clean, pure, godly lives and take a stand against the evils of the day. The world needs people who will demonstrate strength and beauty in all seasons of life.