In Galatians 5, Paul talks about the lusts of the flesh. He goes on to list the works of the flesh and then he contrasts those with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. There were 17 works of the flesh listed, yet only 9 fruits of the Spirit. Not only is salvation simple but living for the Lord was never meant to be complicated as long as we put our desires aside and follow the Lord's will.
The type of soil in our lives will reflect the fruit of the Spirit, or the lack thereof. Remember, a fruit tree cannot counterfeit fruit. You walk up to an apple tree, and you can see the apples. There are no leaves that look like apples but are not! Same in a Christian's life- you cannot counterfeit the fruits of the Spirit. Your walk, your talk, your loves, will all show what type of fruit you are bearing. John 6:63- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
We must realize that the abundance of love we have is in direct relation to our walk with God. We cannot bear spiritual fruit apart from Christ! God is not going to pour His fruit into a worldly Christian who just wants to look spiritual. John 15:5- 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.
Fruit is produced by the vine onto branches that are mature enough to support them.
Ephesians 4:14-15- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Everybody loves babies! But to have a 20-year-old who still acts like a baby is a tragedy! It's part of life to grow, both physically and spiritually.
John 15:5- I am the vine, ye are the branches....
Christ is our vine. He is perfect. We, however, are not. If a branch is diseased, dead, or compromised in any way, the vine won't be able to send the proper nutrients for the fruit to grow. Generally, when this happens, a gardener will need to prune the diseased or dead parts of the branches to make room for healthy ones.
As a Christian, we cannot bear fruit if our fellowship with Christ is broken or diseased. First, Christ will have to remove the things causing the disease or prune away what's broken.
John 15:2- 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.
Fruit trees need pruning for two primary purposes: to establish the basic structure (make us like Christ), and to provide light channels (Scripture) throughout the tree so that all the fruit can mature well.
Ephesians 5:1-2- Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Matthew 5:16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Pruning is done primarily in the dormant season. If you aren't growing as a Christian, then expect for things to get shaken up! Christ will never take away things that are in His will for you. When He takes things away, we need to understand that it is for one of these two reasons- to make us more like Him or, that His light can shine through us.
The two types of pruning cuts that are used are thinning and heading. Thinning is removing an entire shoot, branch, or limb, back to the point where it originated. Heading is removing part of a shoot, branch, or limb so that young trees get established correctly.
I Corinthians 5:6-7- Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
God may ask you to remove some things that are holding you back in your Christian walk. We may feel like this is too much to ask, but He sees the end result and He knows that it will be worth it!
Each tree is different and will need different attention. When trees are expending all of their nutrients on creating branches and leaves, they don't have enough left over to bear fruit and that's when they get pruned.
Luke 10:38-42- Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
There are many people that are so busy with programs, fellowships, and activities, that they aren't growing spiritually. They're busy about the work while neglecting their spiritual walk! When we get to this place, Christ needs to prune away some of the distractions so we can grow enough to bear fruit.
Sometimes, they need fertilizer (super food to help give them the nutrients they need).
Romans 10:17- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If you aren't spending time in the Scriptures, then you have no hope of growing strong and bearing fruit. Listening to preaching is necessary, but it is never to replace our personal time spent in God's Word.
II Timothy 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Perhaps there's not enough pollination to initiate fruit bearing.
Hebrews 10:25- Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
If you aren't attending a local church regularly, then you aren't getting the "pollination" that every Christian needs. The Lord knows that as humans we are social creatures. He created Eve so Adam wouldn't be alone. If you aren't getting together with other Christians for the purpose of learning from God, then you aren't going to get what you need to bear fruit.
Then again, it could be frost damage that has damaged the cells of the new growth that was trying to emerge.
Romans 14:13- Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Romans 15:1-2- We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
How many times has a weak Christian been thrown out of the race because of the self-righteous condemnation of an older, "wiser" Christian? Too many times our children quit the Christian walk because of the actions, words, etc. of other Christians. You will stand before God and give an account for every time you made a brother or sister in Christ stumble.
I Corinthians 8:9- But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
John 15:8- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
