“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8

And on the night of the Last Supper, Christ gave a discourse on His disciples need to faithfully abide in Him; it appeared to be somewhat of a sad but farewell sermon, but it was a wonderful promise of His abiding love. “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.”  John 15:4.

Several things were about to occur, they would be tempted by the enemy to forsake Christ, one another, and to return to the ill-will and hatred of the world; but He reminded them as He does us that He is the true vine, the pure Word of God! John 15:1-4 state “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.” 

The command for every born-again believer to bear fruit is still just as imperative to our existence as it was for the disciples that night. The analogy that Christ used that He is the vine, gives the picture of a vine that grows on a wall, it has innumerous branches, we are those branches and cannot survive without the nourishment of the vine; the Father is the husbandman, He knows His garden an what it needs to be fruitful, He tends it, prunes it, takes away those things that will prohibit growth and gives the increase…The apostle Paul wrote, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6.

Let us allow Christ to dwell in us richly, having full reign in our lives, faithfully leading and guiding us according to His perfect will, forever producing spiritual fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

The apostle Paul prayed for the Philippians saints to bear…”the fruit of righteousness” which provides the evidence of all who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior; when we are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit we will bear fruit that empowers us to live-in fellowship with God and our fellowman… “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11.

And…watch as well as pray for everyone that cries Lord, Lord is not connected to the true vine; be mindful of the people and things that you allow to enter in your spiritual space, there are many false branches in this world, seeking to lead us astray and destroy our witness; but God will do the separating in His own time; He knows us one by one. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matthew 12:33.

My friends, seek every day to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, praying to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding… resting in the promise that He abides in us, and we in Him; and just watch how He miraculously allows His peace, love, joy, and amazing grace to shine in and though you, bearing much fruit for His glory! “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8.

God blessings of love be with you always!