Jesus teaches us in Matthew 12 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. How do we identify fruit as good or bad when it’s being deceptively packaged as kind, loving, or helpful? And as Christians, how can we prove faithful in bearing good fruit in our own lives?
Enjoying the She Proves Faithful Podcast?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
-
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
-
Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41
-
Check out my Amazon Storefront – it’s full of all my recommended resources and categorized for ease of finding just what you are looking for! Plus with every click and/or purchase, you support the podcast! See the store here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sheprovesfaithful
-
Love taking care of your family? Try Earthley Wellness Products for your skin, body, hair, and herbal remedies! https://www.earthley.com/ref/lauren.hlushak/
-
Leave a review on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-she-proves-faithful/id1116242133?mt=2
Is Tomato a Fruit?
This is an age old debate but take a look:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/even-supreme-court-maintains-tomato-vegetable-180963133/
Bearing Good Fruit
Apples don’t grow on pear trees – no apples there, they only grow pears.
Mat 7:15-20 ESV – 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
John 15:16 – God appointed us to go and bear fruit
We were created to be fruitful!
And what kind of fruit were we created to bear?
Phil 1:11 says we are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
And Colossians 1:10 says
We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and in the knowledge of God.
And the reason we bear fruit is to the praise and glory of God
And how we are able to be fruitful is through the power of Christ at work in us.
Five ways to Bear Good Fruit
If you want to bear good fruit:
No. 1 We need to be in contact with living water:
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
No. 2 We will be spiritually receptive people – people who hear the word and understand it
Math 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
No. 3 We will die to our old self and old life – we no longer live for ourselves but we live for God and have his kingdom and glory in mind
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
No. 4 God prunes us to make us to be more fruitful
John 15:2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
No. 5 Good fruit comes through abiding in Christ
Joh 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Resources
Rain for Roots – The Kingdom of Heaven is Like
https://rainforroots.bandcamp.com/track/good-fruit-feat-katy-bowser
