If we speak of an apple tree that is in a garden, for it to be able to generate good and nutritious tasting apples, it must first have good, strong, and healthy roots. With wholesome roots supplying nutrients to the branches, it ultimately delivers a beautiful harvest of good fruit (apples). For us to have good fruit on God’s tree, we must be centered in Christ Jesus who is our life source, and our Lord and Savior (John 15:1-8).
The tree that God has given us can be viewed as a spiritual tree where God has provided us with a sphere of people or circle of influence for witnessing and spreading the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:13-16). As servants for Christ, we are His farmers for planting and watering seeds (James 5:7-8) of His good news in order to assist in creating future disciples by helping expand His kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
We will also receive heavenly rewards at the judgement seat of Christ for the fruit we helped produce while living for Jesus on earth. Paul explains that our obedient faith turned into actions and deeds for Him and His kingdom will be tested as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (AMP), “But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.”
God in Christ is pleased to reward those that thirst, hunger, and diligently seek after Him through faith and obedience. It is impossible to please God without walking in His Spirit with faith in Him. We must continue our daily devotion with God in Christ and by being ingrained in His Word and prayer. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV): “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
As true followers of Christ, we have each been given a field of people to sow seeds into for helping expand the Church of Christ as disclosed in 2 Corinthians 10:13-16 (NKJV), “We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.”
From the talents and gifts entrusted to us by God’s Holy Spirit, we are to use these for His will, honor, glory, and purpose. Peter tells us to be good stewards of our gifts in 1 Peter 4:10 (AMP), “Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].” We are to support the Church with our gifts by continuing with the ministry of God’s great commission of salvation in Christ for the lost. This is where Jesus will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” However, if we are NOT using our gifts for Christ and His Church, then we will be in jeopardy of losing them and will be considered as an outcast as detailed in the Parable of the Talents. Matthew 25:14-30 (AMP):
For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ‘Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ ‘Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ ‘The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’ ‘But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ ‘For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].
Jesus gives us an example of a good tree bearing good fruit that are born-again believers versus a bad tree bearing bad fruit that are comprised of false prophets and self-righteous sinners. Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV), “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Jesus also tells us that we will know His true followers, His sheep, and His enemies, or goats, by their tree producing fruit. If their fruit is good according to God’s Word, then they are His disciples and if their fruit is bad, they are evil and not from Him as revealed in Matthew 12:33-35 (NKJV), “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
We have to test all spirits according to His Word, to ensure that we are not misled or deceived by false teachers. 1 John 4:1 (AMP): “Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”
We are to be aware of the deceitful false prophets who show up as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus tells us that we will know them by their bad fruit and that God will eventually cut these down to be thrown into the lake of fire as stated in Matthew 7:15-20 (AMP), “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].”
Jesus explains that His born-again believers are good branches that will produce good fruit as long as we remain in Him. Branches that do not produce worthy fruit are cutoff by God the Father for the final judgement in the eternal fiery torment. Jesus teaches us this in the Parable of the True Vine in John 15:1-11 (AMP):
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
If we are NOT producing fruit for His kingdom, for the expansion of His Church, then according to God’s Word, there is no evidence that we are His sheep. We cannot be disciples of Christ if we do NOT abide in Him. Hebrews 6:7-8 (AMP): “For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”
God gives us a harsh example where we should bear good grapes for Him in Christ. The Israelites (His chosen people) were considered His vineyard had turned away from Him. God expected His chosen people to produce good grapes for Him in His vineyard but instead they generated bad and worthless grapes. God explains that He will abandon them and will NOT prune or cultivate them. God’s hedge of protection will be removed where weeds and thorns will arise among them, and they will be burned up in the fire. Isaiah 5:3-7 (AMP):
“And now, says the LORD, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard (My people). ‘What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to produce good grapes, why did it yield worthless ones? ‘So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will take away its thorn-hedge, and it will be burned up; I will break down its stone wall and it will be trampled down [by enemies]. ‘I will turn it into a wasteland; It will not be pruned or cultivated, but briars and thorns will come up. I will also command the clouds not to rain on it.’For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house (nation) of Israel and the men of Judah are His delightful planting [which He loves]. So He looked for justice, but in fact, [He saw] bloodshed and lawlessness; [He looked] for righteousness, but in fact, [He heard] a cry of distress and oppression.
We (Gentiles) must be grafted into His supernatural olive tree by the precious blood of Jesus that paid for our sins and allowed us salvation in Him as stated by Paul in Romans 11:17-26 (AMP):
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being like a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share with them the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the [broken] branches and exalt yourself at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him]; for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either. Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness—if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these who are the natural branches back into [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree? I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture].
We must do our part as laborers for the final harvest to help ensure that there will be plenty of wheat in our Lord’s barn as revealed in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Matthew 13:24-30 (AMP):
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also. The servants of the owner came to him and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’ He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’ But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
If the Word of God is sown on good soil where the one hearing it and accepting His Word is not distracted by worldly lusts and the desires brought on by the enemy, this person will be blessed and will bear much fruit for Christ. All the others will be accursed as disclosed in the Parable of the Sower and Soils. Mark 4:13-20 (NKJV):
The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Jesus tells us how to go about producing fruit for Him. It is about focusing on storing up heavenly treasures that will remain forever as opposed to seeking treasures here on earth as explained in Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Watch this inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – Jesus Fulfilled All OT Prophecies. Watch another inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – God Has Always Been. Watch another inspiring video by Servants for Jesus Christ – Be Filled With The Holy Spirit.
Do you know where you will spend eternity after you die on earth? Will Jesus be your Lord and Savior or your eternal judge – John 3:15-21, Romans 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:1? Jesus says He is the narrow gate to heaven where it is difficult to find and only a few will enter by it where many will enter the easy, wide and broad gate that leads to Hell and destruction – Matthew 7:13-14. Will you experience the second eternal death (spiritual death) – Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 21:8? Do you know for sure that you are written in the eternal Lamb’s Book of Life – Revelation 3:5, Revelation 20:12-15? The place called Hell is NOT a myth and is very real and an extremely scary place – Watch this Video!
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