The LORD's Day, September 6, 2009

A People Who Produce Fruit

Matthew 21.33-46

The word "fruit" (karpos) can be used for:
* Fruit of trees, vines or the field
* Offspring
*That which comes from something, an effect, a result

Our faith effects the way we live, the way we behave.
The LORD is looking for fruit in His people. The LORD is looking for the Fruit of His Spirit within His people.

1. People Who Produce Fruit Are Filled With the Holy Spirit Galatians 5.22-23
The fruit is from the Holy Spirit, beginning with repentance: Matthew 3.8-10
Repentance, a godly sorrow for sin and a change of direction in one’s life... with faith in Jesus for salvation.

As we are filled with the Spirit He produces fruit in our lives. It is a lifelong process of maturity, but the evidence is there all along. When I was a young man I loved seeing the likeness of Christ in others coming through the work of His Spirit in their hearts and lives. I often would see it in areas where I needed to grow. The thirst would come and I would seek the LORD for more fruit in my life.

The natural outgrowth of a healthy plant, bush or tree is fruit. The supernatural outgrowth of a Spirit filled Christian is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

2. People Who Produce Fruit Are Sweet Galatians 5.22a

The watermelon and the grandchildren the other night... Lili mmm... Tristan

The fruit of the Spirit is love. Love is sweet- very sweet. It makes us go mmm inside!

There is a sweetness in character and disposition in the Spirit Filled Believer.

The psalmist spoke of the sweetness of the Word of God:
Psalm 119.103 How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
God’s Word in our hearts bring out good words from our mouths- sweet to us and others.

Solomon spoke of these words of encouragement:
Proverbs 16.24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Spirit filled people who are maturing are learning to use this gift with increasing effectiveness.
As we mature we look for opportunities, not to speak of ourselves, but rather to speak word that will cheer and bless and comfort when we do speak. We are also learning to speak less, listen more and pray without ceasing.

The Proverbs also speaks of wisdom that is found in those who are filled with God’s Spirit:

Proverbs 24.14 Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul

3. People Who Produce Fruit Are Strengthened Regularly by God ‘s Word.

Psalm 119.28 Strengthen me according to Your Word. In this situation the psalmist was experiencing deep sorrow. It could be he lost a loved one. It might have been that he just experienced a broken relationship with a person he thought was his friend. It is possible he was carrying a burden for another soul who was in a mess due to sin. It is possible it was something else.

We need daily strength from God’s Word. Saturate yourself in it. Hide it in your heart. Read it Study it. Memorize it. These things will bring you spiritual strength.

Remember what Jesus said about the work of the Holy Spirit in us. John 14.26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. As we hide God’s Word in our heart the Holy Spirit brings it up when we need it for various situations we find ourselves in. We all need this wonderful work in our lives.

Twice in this chapter Jesus asked these who should have known God’s Word, "Have you not read...?" Abide in His Word!

4. People Who Produce Fruit Are Faithful Witnesses for the LORD.
Romans 7.4 So my brothers you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to one another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit to God.
Psalm 92.14 They will still bear fruit in old age; they will remain fresh and green.

As witnesses we are to tell what the LORD has done for us. Leave the rest to God.
Just be faithful. That is what matters!

5. People Who Produce Fruit Are Influencing Others without knowing it.
Think about the people who influenced you over your life. They were not aware of it. They lived a life of following Jesus. They loved Him and you were touched by that love they had. This past week I posted some photos of our history on Facebook. From all over the country have come responses about the faithfulness and influence of God’s people in this church through the years.
You are influencing people. You say, "Me, Pastor, I don’t think so!" If you are serving Jesus influence is going out.

The shadow of Peter... Acts 5.15 I like to think Peter wasn’t aware of this when it was happening. How many of us watch our shadow?

6. People Who Produce Fruit Are Experiencing a Foretaste of Heaven in Their Souls.
Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine, Oh what a foretaste of Glory divine!
Paul calls this: the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (Ephesians 1.14) He is speaking about the Holy Spirit in our lives, which we were marked with the seal of when we believed.

The Holy Spirit is working in us. We know Christ. We have a Father in Heaven Who cares about us and we are on a journey to spend eternity there with all have believed!

The LORD has put a new song in our hearts so that we sing as we go.

7. People Who Produce Fruit Are The Salt Of the Earth Jesus Spoke About.
Matthew 5.13 You are the salt of the earth

I think of the work of missionaries. They share the gospel. People come to Christ and the whole community is effected. Schools are built and people are helped and lifted from sin into salvation.

I think of the work of medical missionaries, doctors and others who are doing things no one else is doing... like the AIDS Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya where many of the childrens are infected and their parents are gone.

I think of Christian kids in our school Public School Systems. They have a good influence, an influence for truth. They are light among darkness. Pray for them!

I think of you, out in the work place. Great Pressure is placed upon you to compromise, to do the wrong thing. You are the salt of the earth. You do what is right because you know God is watching and seeing all.

People who produce fruit are filled with the Holy Spirit, have a sweetness about them, are being strengthened regularly by the Word of God, are faithful witnesses for the LORD, are experiencing that foretaste of heaven in their souls and are the salt of the earth.

Let the LORD have His way with you so that out of your life the Spirit will produce fruit, fruit that will remain, for the glory of God.