It says in scripture that we shall be known by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). We also read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). 'Against no law' means that we cannot produce these fruits with our own effort.
"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes form a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart (Luke 6:43-45)."
Pressure situations will always reveal the true nature of the fruit we bear. We can put on a good show when things are going well, but it is in the midst of trial, conflict, and tension that our hearts our truly exposed. What are your 'first fruits' in the midst of insult, neglect, or hurt; what is your initial response to injustice done against you? Do you react with peace, understanding, and love? Or are you filled with bitterness, envy, and anger, making yourself out to be a victim to your circumstances. Do you end up blaming, complaining, and taking no responsibility for the situation? This 'bad fruit' reveals a state of being where you will always react to circumstances, being on the defense, rather than being a powerful instigator for change. Responsibility is having the 'ability' to control your 'response'. For it is in the heat, the droughts in life, where our true nature shines through.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor 'cease to yield fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).'"
We learn that fruit is produced when roots are 'extended towards the stream', the river of life. Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit. He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5)."
Therefore, if we are producing bad fruit we are not abiding in God. Also if we are producing good fruit, we will be pruned to continue to produce more! Peter explains what it looks like to be continually pruned. "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, an din your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8)."
Do you see the connection? Not only does abiding produce fruit, but it continues to increase throughout our life-time! Is your life a refection of these qualities ever increasing? Do you feel more and more love for others, greater self-control in the face of temptation, and peace and joy flowing out of you? If not you have been rendered useless in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If this is the case, you are not 'abiding', you are not connected to the vine. If that is the case we need to spend time with Him so that He can produce something in us that our own effort cannot achieve. We need to 'behold His glory'; and as we do we will be transformed into His likeness, from one degree of Glory to another (2 Corinthians 3). There is no excuse for 'bad fruit', but they are indicators to us that we have turned our gaze to ourselves or the Earth. "Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light, for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:7-9)."
As Christians our lives should be displaying a supernatural quality, because we are plugged into the source of all joy, peace, and righteousness; the kingdom of heaven (Romans 14:17). We are 'seated in heavenly places' and have been 'blessed with every spiritual blessing therein'. But we become what we behold, so we need to turn our gaze to heaven so that it can be made manifest through us. "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3)." "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9)."
"We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Colossians 1:4-12)."
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