SPIRITUAL FRUIT IS "PROOF" OF OBEDIENCE!

THE HUSBANDMAN and CAREGIVER: KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS

“... I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love...” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

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“…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with) my commandments…” (John 14:15). A Christian, just like a grapevine, was created to PRODUCE fruit! The grape seed is planted within the earth and the seed of the Word is planted within the human heart (also a type of earth). “ …We have this treasure  (this seed) “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). 

In both cases, the FRUIT is expected by the husbandman, who consistently cares for it! Jesus is good seed and ALWAYS produces good crop “…The seed that fell on good soil ...  [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).

The husbandman, prunes and cultivates, every branch to ENSURE fruit is produced! Under the watchful, loving, and consistent CARE of the husbandman, the FRUIT is CERTAIN to come.

However, the branches, must STAY in UNION with the VINE. The care from the husbandman and of the branches are guaranteed through the VINE.

The branches are cultivated (taken care of, pruned, sanctified, etc.) through the VINE. For the believer, this is a work of God’s loving GRACE, which consistently prunes and cleanses them, through various trials, tribulations, situations, experiences, and assignments, that they would bear spiritual fruit in order to do the WORK of the KINGDOM! “… [God’s true disciples will]… bear much fruit, and …PROVE to be [God’s]… disciples…” (John 15:8 NIV). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT). “...Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!..” (1 Chronicles 16:29 NIV).

The more spiritual fruit, the indwelling Holy Spirit, is allowed to produce “in” and “through” you, the more God is glorified. “...Herein is (how) my Father ...[is]...glorified..” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

The more God is glorified, the more his presence, upon earth, is witnessed through the righteous deeds or conduct of his people! “...Herein is (how) my Father ...[is]...glorified..” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

More righteous deeds or conduct will be witnessed, when God’s people trust in, depend upon, and cooperate with his cultivation and pruning in their lives.“...Every branch... that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye (branches) are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you....” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

“...the will of God (his heart’s desire.), [is]…your SANCTIFICATION (pruning, cultivation, etc.) …” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NASB). “…God (the husbandman) ... Himself SANCTIFY  (prune, cultivate, etc.) you entirely…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB). “...You [branches]... were washed (cleansed), you were sanctified (pruned), you were justified (made right with God again) [through the TRUE VINE and by the [indwelling Holy] Spirit of our God (the husbandman)...” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV).

“... my Father is the husbandman...” (JOHN 15:1 KJV).

There is ALWAYS a process, of cultivation and pruning, that usually comes through pain, questionable events, difficult trials, rough tribulations, difficulties, situations circumstances, experiences, and assignments. “ ... in the PROCESS of TIME “IT” CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).

The pruning and cultivation will ALWAYS require SURRENDER to the PROCESS. “…Father …not My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “…I (Jesus, the VINE) do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV).“…the Father (the husbandman) that dwelleth in me (Jesus, the VINE), he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “...He (Jesus, the TRUE VINE) gave Himself over to Him (God, the husbandman, etc.) ...” (1 Peter 2:23 KJV).

The pruning and cultivation process that comes through trials, tribulations, situations, circumstances, experiences, and assignments is HARD and often PAINFUL and MINDBOGGLING, and MAKES NO HUMAN SENSE, and  HEARTBREAKING, but STAY the course! “…Let us NOT become weary in doing good, for at the PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

“... the faithful followers of the Lord ...keep their promises [to God]... even when it hurts...” (Psalms 15:4 NLT).

I won’t LIE to you, I have experienced many seasons of pruning and cultivation and the PROCESS can take you on the BRINK, BORDER, or EDGE, of utter DESPAIR. “...I [would have]... fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living...” (Psalm 27:13-14 KJV).

The PATH gets MIGHTY narrow sometimes, but at the end of the day, I would still encourage you NOT to give up! “…THE WAY is narrow that LEADS TO LIFE, and there are few who find it…” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB). “...Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord....” (Psalm 27:13-14 KJV).

There are TOO many who GIVE UP and stop ABIDING with CHRIST. For a WHILE, they may even think they are still flourishing without GOD. “…Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily (those who give up are not personally flourishing, but are benefitting from God’s GRACE and MERCY) …[thus]...the HEART of the sons of men (who stopped abiding with HIM) is fully set in them to do evil [instead of repenting]….” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV).

GOD IS GOOD to those who decided to STOP abiding with HIM. . “…The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6 KJV). “…Don't you see how wonderfully kind …God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4 NLT). “…He is being patient for YOUR SAKE. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…” (2 Peter 3: 9 NLT).

Eventually, disconnected branches are CUT AWAY or CUT OFF. The husbandman has no problem cutting off and cutting away fruitless branches. They are worthless for producing fruit and therefore will not serve the purposes for which they were created.

The husbandman removes the useless branches in order to make more room for the fruitful branches. The job of the husbandman is to produce fruitful branches. His work must go on even if he must cut-off or cut away fruitless branches.

REMEMBER THE STORY ABOUT HUSBANDRY and FRUITFULNESS: “…When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer (husbandman), it has God’s blessing.  But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer (husbandman) will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

The rain represents God, the husbandman’s gracious care for the crops His husbandry, seen through the rain, falls upon the ground, which represents the human heart, where good seed (Jesus) has been planted through the WORD of God. “…The sower (husbandman) SOWETH THE WORD …The seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (the ground; earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).

Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God (the “good” seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “ …We have this treasure  (this seed) “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). 

Jesus is good seed and always produces good crop “…The seed that fell on good soil ...  [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).

“…When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.  But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

The thorn and thistle ground represents a human heart heartened by sin. “…Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled…” (Hebrews 3:15 NLT). “...  "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS..." (Hebrews 4:7 NASB).

A person willfully and voluntarily CHOOSES to harden their hearts when they don’t cooperate (through obedience) with God, the husbandman’s gracious care for them. “... the people replied, “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…My people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

When the RAIN falls, the harden heart will not receive God, the husbandman’s gracious love and care for them, through the rain. Thus, they cannot and will not produce fruit, but will, instead, become USELESS. “….Apart from [God, the husbandman’s love and care]… [they will not and cannot]..do nothing (or produce anything)…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

“…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with) my commandments (my love and care)…” (John 14:15).

God GRACE is CLEARLY upon those who choose to receive his love and care. Those who have hardened their hearts, will naturally fall away from the process of His Grace, through their own choice, and will no longer be fruitful.   “…it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

A good crop or fruitfulness is a result of the ground or human heart that chooses to trust in, depend upon, and cooperate with God, the indwelling Holy Spirit and husbandman to DO the work “IN” them (planting Jesus, the seed) and “THROUGH” them (cultivating fruitfulness). “…When the ground soaks up the falling rain (is being cultivated) and bears a good crop (become fruitful) for the farmer (husbandman), it has God’s blessing (serves his purpose)…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

“God [the husbandman] … worketh in [his people]…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…the Father [the husbandman] ...that dwelleth in… [the hearts of his people], he doeth the works (of cultivating righteous works and spiritual fruit)…” (John 14:10 KJV).

“… I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law (without the pruning and cultivation by the husbandman) could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ (the seed that produces spiritual fruit) to die…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).

“…God [the husbandman] ...does the work IN AND THROUGH [the Vine and the branches]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The [indwelling seed or ]...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [y]our lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT) “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE (by planting Jesus, the seed into our hearts)…” (John 3:6 NLT).  “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV).  “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).

“… His name (Jesus) is [also]...called The Word of God (the “good” seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).  “…The Lord (the Word, the seed) is that Spirit (too)…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] CAN DO all things (produce fruit, display God’s fruit, keep his commandments, and do righteous works) THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling seed or Holy Spirit]… [you cannot]..do nothing [fruitful]…” (John 15:5 NIV).

“…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with) my commandments…” (John 14:15).

The thorns and thistles represent what a human heart, hardened by the ongoing PRACTICE of SIN, will produce. Becoming cut-off or cut away from Christ, the indwelling seed or Holy Spirit is a CHOICE. “…[You]… have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT). “…if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he (the husbandman) taketh away ...If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned....” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

Removing the branches is not God, the husbandman’s choice, but the branches. The husbandman KNOWS, without a doubt, the seed he planted, WILL produce FRUIT, but the ground must CHOOSE to cooperate by allowing him to prune and cultivate it.

WHY? “…if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he (the husbandman) taketh away ....” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

Without the FRUIT, the branch is NO “…longer good for anything, except to be thrown out (cut-off)...” (Matthew 5:13 NASB).

It is no longer relevant. It serves NO purpose in the service of God. “...If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned....” (John 15:1-10 KJV).

 “... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he (the husbandman) taketh away ...If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered....” (John 15:1-10 KJV). “…it is useless…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).

God is NOT glorified by your human efforts that produces religious works, religious entertainment, religious opinion, religions modification of God’s truth, religious appearance, religious lifestyles that include blatant practices of sin, or religious showmanship, etc. "…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6 KJV). “...the flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB).  “... Now the deeds of the flesh are evident...[to God] ...I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God...” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).

“…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE …” (John 3:6 NLT). “... The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. …” (Galatians 5 NLT). "…My Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit...” (John 15:8 NIV).  

 “…Ye shall know [those who are glorifying God]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit … ” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "…My Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).  

Therefore, “…If you love [GOD], you will keep (cooperate with) [HIS]...commandments…” (John 14:15).

"…My Father is glorified by this...” (John 15:8 NIV).  WHAT? "… that “YOU” bear much fruit...” (John 15:8 NIV). WHY? "…[They you]... PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).

HIS GLORY IS WITNESSED “IN” THE DISPLAY OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT SEEN THROUGH YOUR LIFE!!