Christian living In Abiding to The Lord John 15:1-6, Rev 22:2

Every human-being, comprises of a spirit and a flesh. We are made in the image and likeness of God, we must always reverend to God! Why? Because as believers, we should know that we are always everywhere in the presence of God and Angels.

So, we must be conscious of our living. Ps119:66 tell us that we need spiritual knowledge. We need good judgment in every daily living. However, the quality of our life depends on the knowledge we have in Christ. Paul in Ephesians talks about us making our minds to walk .in God’s love so that no storm will be able to move us.

Abiding to the vine is one of the great texts of the scripture, because it elaborates the Sovereignty of the Lord Jesus and it helps us to be humbled. Without His Salvation, the price He paid for humanity, we are nothing. Thank you Lord for the cross.

Before we can bear fruits, there must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ! a complete surrender of the whole being to Him, a constant looking to Him for grace. Just as it is said in Ps 121 Our help comes only from Jesus Christ.

Abiding in the vine means we constantly remain in Christ love. Love is the most important element of our walk with God. Fruit bearing includes the keeping of the Lord’s commandments. Jesus said, ‘these things have I command you, that you love one another…’ and ‘I appointed you that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruits should abide. (John 4:36)

As children of God, we are to be abundant in fruit as was the Tree of Life in the vision of heaven. We need to be productive in bearing fruits for Christ. This fruit are not literal fruits like oranges, apples pears etc. The fruits believers are to bear are spiritual fruits. The tree of life bore twelve crops of fruits every year, a crop monthly. (Rev 22:2)

What are the spiritual fruits we ought to bear?

1) The fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5: 22-23, love, self-control etc, are that which the spirit bears within us to help us stand against the way of the flesh. The Holy Spirit give us the wisdom of godliness as well as He helps us to minister to the nations (all men) about the good news of Christ. Mat 24:14. We must make disciples for Christ in all nations (mat 28:19 a). Sharing of you story on how you came to know about Christ. (your Testimony).

2) The fruit of Righteousness and good works: It is important for us to do good works because our lives are a mirror to those around us. They are to see a Christ-like lifestyle in us. If we sow the seed God supplies, we are promised ‘God will increase the harvest of our righteousness so much so that we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness. (Phi 1:11). No wonder we are told by Paul that ‘we shall reap what each one sows (Gal 6:7-8)’. We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruits in every good work.

3) The fruit of reconciliation and restoring of souls for Christ: Reconciliation and peace between us and others give birth to forgiveness. To reconcile with others, we must take a conscious and deliberate decision on our part to let go of the hurt cause by others to us. It takes a self-discipline character to yield peaceable with all men. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace James 3:17-18.

4) The fruit of Repentance, rebirth and prophecies: Prophecies are to enable us change for the best… seeds undergo regeneration when planted. Paul in describing the resurrection, used the analogy of seed (1cor 15:35-38). A change of heart in repentance results to a change of lifestyle (holiness).

5) The fruit of evangelism and the winning of new souls: Jesus calls the conversion of others to Himself as harvest. (Mat 9:36-38). He went further by saying he who reaps that harvest ‘gather fruits for eternal life John 4:35-36. We ought to learn from Paul and his team about collaboration. We as believers should all focus in winning souls and stop fight in line of denominations, aren’t all believers’ labourers for the same Gardener (Jesus Christ).

Aren’t us forgetting that the church is not the building but the people, and Christ wants His universal church to work as one. We need to each do our bit as it is said, ‘one plant, one waters’ and God give the harvest 1 cor 3:5-8

6) The fruit of confession: Our words are the fruit of what is in our hearts Heb 13:15. The word we speak are very vital, as God’s children we should use our words to edify others as well as glorify God. We should note that our words are count as much as our deeds Mat 12:33-37.

The other six fruit that I have not expatiate on base on Rev 22:2 are worship, offering, tithe, thanksgiving, Praise and joy.

We have looked at some of the fruit we have to bear, now let briefly look at the way we are to bear these fruits:

A) John 15.4-5 sum it all saying, ‘abide in me & I in you this means we should keep ourselves closely attached to the Lord. We need to remain in the, trust and surrender our all to Christ because apart from Him we can do nothing’. Christ is the secret to all fruitfulness.

B) Abiding in His love also means constantly receiving from His loving hands all things as good for us. It means never doubting that He is doing us good, but always resting in His kindness. Christ’ love for us is His commitment to give us everything that is good for us.

In conclusion, our fruit bearing is for the glorification of God through Christ Jesus. The principle end of man and all form of ministry is to glorify God & to enjoy Him forever. God is committed by His divine righteousness to always act on behalf of His glory. And His will is to display and magnify that glory.

This brings us back to where we began; for we did not choose Him instead He choose us. What a privilege…

Let our prayer be ‘Have mercy upon us O God & help us Lord Jesus, teach us in every daily living to honour, exalts, worship and may all we do, bring glory to your Holy Name in Christ our Lord we pray

Amen.