Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

(John 15:8)

THE MEANING OF FRUITS

FRUITS REFER TO THE SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE OR CHARACTER PRODUCED BY THE SPIRIT

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

(James 3:17)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(Galatians 5:22-23)

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:9)

REQUISITE OF

The Requisite – Repentance

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Matthew 3:8)

MANIFESTATION OF

The Manifestation of the Real Person

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:20)

The manifestation of a change within

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Luke 6:43)

RESULT OF

The result of hearing and understanding

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

(Matthew 13:23)

The result of constant communion with God

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The result of walking in the Spirit

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:17-18)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

EVIDENT IN

Submissive Character

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Numbers 14:24)

Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (Numbers 14:29-30)

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

(1 Corinthians 16:15-16)

SPIRITUAL MATURITY

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

(1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

(Hebrews 5:11-14)

FRUITS REFER ALSO TO SOULS WON TO THE LORD

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

THE PURPOSE OF FRUITS

SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND MATURITY

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)

SPIRITUAL SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT OF TALENTS

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (1 Corinthians 12:1)

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4)

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.(1 Corinthians 12:7)

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

(Romans 12:6-8)

SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.(2 Timothy 2:2)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.(John 15:16)

SPIRITUAL PURPOSE OF GOD’S GLORIFICATION

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11)

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:19-21)

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

CONCLUSION

We glorify God by our fruits in the ministry when

• Our motive of service is not self-glorification
• There is love for God
• We manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our lives
• There is humility in our service
• We are growing in character such as patience, humility, kindness, forgiving, forbearing, etc.
• When we duplicate our godly character in the lives of others.
• We are involved in soul winning and discipleship
• We are growing spiritually, numerically, and qualitatively