Fruit – what is it?
Are you thinking apple, orange, blueberries or watermelon? Those are yummy but when God speaks of fruit in John 15:2 and Matthew 12:33, this is not the ‘fruit’ He is talking about.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:2
The fruit He is talking about is a deed, action, result, or profit.
In the Strong’s it’s #2590 - everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine). By definition, fruit (2590 /karpós) results from two life-streams – the Lord living His life through ours – to yield what is eternal
So our ‘fruit’ will be what we are doing, how we are speaking, how we are treating people; what our actions are, are we lazy, do we keep our word when we say we will do something? What is the result of our actions? Do we profit, does the Kingdom of God profit?
It says He prunes the branches that bear fruit.
Prune in the Strong’s #2508 - make clean by purging (removing undesirable elements); hence, "pruned (purged)"; eliminating what is fruitless by purifying.
I’m not sure about you but when I’m getting ‘pruned’ sometimes I let out a yelp! There are times I know I need to let go of a relationship because it draws me away from God or I need to stop watching a certain program because it causes wrong emotions to rise up in me and that affects the relationships in my home.
Sometimes He prunes me because I’m speaking negative things to myself and believing the lies rather than the truth of who God says I am and the power I have to change because ‘the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me’. WOW I want to understand that more. I ask for wisdom on this one verse Lord. That’s power!
The ‘more fruitful’ is awesome too, it is greater, of higher value.
So as I (we) are pruned, we repent and let go of the bad fruit and begin to see increase. This increase can come in the form of better relationships, finances, health, peace and faith.
When God begins to prune the bad fruit of laziness and over eating, it doesn’t feel comfortable at first and it does take some work to move forward. But as you begin to give it over to God, rely on Him knowing you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and then you begin to see the positive results – you begin to desire those pruning’s! You can even see an increase in your finances because you are not eating out as much or buying all those cookies and cakes you thought you couldn’t live without.
Then in Matthew 12:33 I looked up ‘good’
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Good - Definition: beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.
In Strong’s - 2570 – attractively good; good that inspires (motivates) others to embrace what is lovely (beautiful, praiseworthy); i.e. well done so as to be winsome (appealing).
Don’t you want to be ‘good’, one that inspires, one that embraces what is lovely and praiseworthy? Don’t you want a person to know you as one that has honorable character? I sure do.
Now when I looked up ‘bad’ --
Definition: rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved.
In Strong’s - 4550 – properly, rotten (putrid), over-ripe; (figuratively) over-done (ripened); hence, corrupt. --, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid"– "of poor or bad quality"
Do you (do I) express what is of poor quality?
I looked up ‘poor quality’ in the dictionary (The Free Dictionary on-line) and it said - Not adequate in quality; inferior Lacking in value; insufficient.
I know if this is where I am at it's because I’ve started believing/living a lie. God tells me in His word that I have value, I am not useless! Satan wants me to have this ‘bad’ fruit so I’m too ‘self-centered’ to be ‘others-centered’. The evil one knows if he can keep me in the poor me or even in the pride arena, I will have rotten fruit because I’m stuck in the ‘me, me, me, it’s all about me’ syndrome. Anything I do will not be in excellence, it will begin to stink because it doesn’t inspire anyone. Living the way God tells me (us) to live is the good fruit, fruit that inspires and motivates and blesses!
Now on to ‘is known’ (is recognized).
Definition: I am taking in knowledge, come to know, realized.
1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance).
You will be known by your fruit, there is no way around it. As people begin to know you, especially outside the Sunday sermon, will they be intrigued by your good fruit or repulsed by the rotten, bad fruit?
Remember your fruit will show through in the way you treat your spouse, your children, people you work with, the way you handle a frustrating cashier, etc. Are you the loudest AMEN on Sunday and then Sunday night or Monday morning you are belittling and controlling your spouse? Or maybe talking about someone because they are not on the same faith level you are? Do you gossip or whine? I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. I know I do and just in writing this I have had a conviction and have repented – ouch got pruned again, but thank You Lord because I know the good that will come from it. Good in my life and in the life of others, because You are Light in me for all to see!
If any of this has spoken to you and you need to repent and turn away from the bad fruit – do it now. So with eyes opened or closed, you’re your hand folded or lifted up to the Lord; however you are called to do it – cry out to God now, tell Him you know you have fallen short in this area and you are sorry. Ask Him to forgive you, He will. Then ask Him to give you the strength to change whatever it is, as you read His word He may give you Scriptures He wants you to dwell on so they become alive in you and give you what you need to change your bad fruit to a good fruit.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14
