For as long as it takes we are going to study the gospel of
John chapters fourteen to seventeen. Some of it will be what I have already
written and some will be new. Therefore it may sometimes appear that I leave
off in the middle of a topic to be continued, since I have reached my daily
word count limit.
To pick up the topic, you may need to read the one or two
postings preceding this one.
We continue from
our previous message.
Fruit… What kind of
fruit? Fruit that will last, Jesus said. What does He mean? Let us first identify
some fruit.
Matthew
10:42: And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones
because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his
reward." Matthew. 5:6, 7 & 9: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they
will be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons
of God.
Acts
16:29–34: The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before
Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do
to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will
be saved - you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord
to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer
took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were
baptised. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he
was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole
family.
Acts
3:2-8: Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate
called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the
temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for
money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look
at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something
from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have
I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by
the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles
became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them
into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Do you think that that
which we mentioned above are fruit that would last? Do you think that caring
for someone, giving an opportunity to be saved, acting in the power of God to
heal a person, fighting for peace, mercy and righteousness, and all this in the
name of Jesus, would make people aware of Jesus’ love and have an everlasting
effect on such a person or people?
What would be fruit
that do not last? I would say it is fruit that are not from Jesus or not aimed
at glorifying Him. This we see a lot of in the world. Everywhere we become
aware of good works or charity - some of it are really great good works - but
do they give glory to the Lord? Do they change the eternal destiny of people
affected by them, in other words do such people believe in the Lord Jesus as a
result of the fruit or be encouraged in their faith? Can you see that it is all
about Jesus?
Once those chosen
by Jesus have born the fruit that will last, what will happen then according to
our passage? “Then
the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name,” Jesus said. What
will we ask for? Will we focus on our own desires? If you work for a company
and the boss asks you what you would need to do the work, what is it you will request
– a nice house or a plasma screen television? No, you will focus on what you will
need for the job - if it includes a company car and a laptop computer - by all
means. If your job is to review films, then a proper television will do.
So what will we ask
off Father God? It would be whatever we need to bear the fruit that will last. It
is an integrated thing and not necessarily a question of first bearing fruit
and then receiving from Father God what we need. Father God looks at the heart
and when he sees a right attitude, with evidence of bearing fruit, He knows
what we need. We will also automatically ask for that which we need in order to
bear fruit and He will supply it, just like it is with any company we work for.
Does this give you some understanding of what walking in the Spirit involves?
When we know that the Lord will supply and we are prepared to give up our time
and effort, we can expect and see the same kind of fruit that we have mentioned
above.
It is however
vitally important that we act within our gifting and calling. For instance,
working of miracles has never been my forte, but a word of knowledge, teaching
and an understanding of the Word of God are. God has organised His Kingdom so
that everything is covered, in other words there should be somebody for every
task and all we have to do is discover that which we have faith for and develop
in that direction.
Lord, please help us understand our true
position in relation to you so we can be as complete and as effective as you
desire us to be.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth,
via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will
accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you
think others may benefit by it.
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