Fall
1981
Kingdom Fruitfulness
Diane Dew
Pinecrest Graduate
The scriptures metaphorically refer to believers as a garden
kept by the Lord (Song of Songs 4:16, 6:2; etc.). “Ye
are God’s husbandry—field, or garden” (I
Corinthians 3:9), “the planting of the Lord” (Isaiah
61:3; cp. 60:21). However, a garden in itself is not of much
use unless it bears fruit. The Lord desires fruit. Colossians
1:10 says that it is the will of God that we be “fruitful
in every good work.”
“I come seeking fruit” (Luke 13:6-7. There is
a sense of expectation within the heart of the husbandman,
“as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should
sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring
and grow up . . .” (Mark 4:26-27). Jesus cited the example
of the tiny mustard seed. Though in outward appearance it
may seem to be very small and insignificant, yet it carries
within it the potential of becoming a large and productive
tree (Matthew 13:31-32) . . . “but when it is grown.
. .” Though the potential is there within the seed,
it must be allowed to develop and grow if it is to become
fruitful and useful. This takes time and patience (Galatians
6:9).
“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and
that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see
when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not
cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8; cp. Psalms
1:3).
“Some (seed) fell upon stony places, where they had
not much earth: and . . . because they had no root, they withered
away . . . But other fell into good ground, and brought forth
fruit . . . “(Matthew 13:5-8).
All plants and trees require a certain amount of water and
minerals from the soil. Without roots the necessary nutrients
cannot be absorbed into a plant’s system. This is true
of spiritual matters also, as can be seen by the above two
scriptures. We must send our roots deep to reach that River
and Source of life; our spiritual survival depends on it.
Then, even in the heat of the day and in “the year of
drought,” our “leaf shall be green.” In
time, fruit will come; for when we have partaken of living
waters ourselves, it will cause the necessary growth and fruitfulness
to spring forth from within us and we in turn will be able
to provide nourishment for others by the fruit that we have
borne.
We need the rain of His Spirit, the water of God’s
Word. But without the Sunshine of His Presence we would die.
In the natural process of photosynthesis light is an absolute
necessity for the continuation of life and growth. Even with
all the other elements present, if a plant lacks sufficient
light the proper growth and development cannot take place.
“Our God is a Sun . . .” (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah
60:19-20).
Our first responsibility is always to the Lord; we must spend
time with Him. “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). Ministry
and fruit-bearing occur not as the product of self-effort
but naturally, out of the life within us. Growth comes from
God (I Corinthians 3:6-7). Scripture refers to the “fruit
of the Spirit”—but “works of the flesh.”
Fruit does not try to grow. It just “happens”
as a natural consequence of the branches relationship to the
tree. Unless we have an abiding, personal relationship with
the Lord, we will never bear fruit (John 15:6). “Without
me,” Jesus said, “ye can do nothing” (John
15:5).
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” (John 15:1-2).
“I am the Vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth
in Me, and I in him, that same bringeth forth much fruit.
. .” (John 15:5).
Here we see that a believer can bear no fruit, some fruit,
and more (or much) fruit. Jesus said that some seed yielded
thirty, some sixty and some one hundredfold (Matthew 13:8).
What determines the amount of fruit that we bear? The extent
of our fruitfulness is directly related to the measure of
our faithfulness Matthew 21:33-41; 25:14-30). “For he
that hath, to him shall be given” (Mark 4:25).
The purpose of fruit is to glorify the Father (Psalm 92:
14-15; Isaiah 60:21; 61:3; John 15:8). But what is the cause
of Unfruitfulness in God’s kingdom? Luke 8:14 says that
those who allow themselves to be “choked with the cares
and riches and pleasures of this life . . . bring no fruit
to perfection (maturity.” Worldly cares (I John 2:15-18a)
and the “deceitfulness of riches,” like thorns
and weeds, choke the vitality and life out of one’s
experience in God (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:7-8). Mark 4: 19
describes the lusts of other things entering in as the cause
of unfruitfulness.
Yielding to the pruning work of the Holy Spirit in our lives
(John 15:2, 4, 6) will purge us of the things that hinder
our walk with the Lord. In order for our hearts to remain
“soft” before Him, the soil must be thoroughly
worked over. Only then can seed take root. Jesus prayed not
just that we “should go and bring forth fruit, but “that
your fruit should remain” (John 15:16).
Sometimes God purposely allows unpleasant circumstances to
occur in our lives that they might provoke a reaction within
us. (Purpose-ly, we say—that is, not without reason,
but for a higher and eternal purpose than we can see.) No
allowance is given in God’s kingdom for an attitude
of complacency. The Lord “creates” trouble (Isaiah
45:7) that we might cry out to Him in the midst of every situation
(Psalm 107:12-13, 19, 26-28). Then He responds to our call
with His lovingkindness and grace satisfying us with Himself
(Psalm 107:5-6, 9).
Now, it is true that a tree that has just been pruned looks
scrawny and bare. However, because there are fewer branches
on which the tree must concentrate for growth, those that
remain will soon be bearing much fruit. God will remove from
our lives things that are not necessarily “bad”
in themselves—but because they take up our time or unnecessary
concern in our hearts. He wants to enable us to concentrate
more fully on Him and the eternal things of His kingdom. It
is not the appearance of the tree that is important, but whether
it serves to be useful by bearing fruit. Jesus said that those
who do not bear fruit must be cut down (Matthew 3:10; Luke
3:9, 13:7).
There is a natural law or principle that we cannot reap what
we have not sown (Galatians 6:8). A farmer cannot plant lettuce
and expect cabbage to come up in its place. In the same way,
if we do not abide by the laws of God’s kingdom, we
cannot expect to reap life everlasting (Galatians 6:8). We
must walk in the Spirit and not give in to the lusts of the
flesh, if we want to live a victorious, spiritual life in
God (Galatians 5:25).
It is not a theory but a principle and law of God that life
springs forth from death. “Unless a corn of wheat fall
into the ground and die, it abideth alone” (John 12:24).
As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual (I Corinthians
15:46). “For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same
shall save it” (Luke 9:24).
“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast
seed into the ground and . . . the seed should grow up, he
knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself;
first the blade, then the ear, after that (maturity) the full
corn (fruit) in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest
is come” (Mark 4:26-29).
Spiritual growth is a gradual process, and it takes time.
There can be no fruit until adequate growth has taken place
within the plant itself. A long time passes from the time
that seed was first sown into the ground to when the fruit
appears. Seeds themselves do not bear fruit but they can become
fruit-bearing trees if received into the right environment
and given time to grow. A small plant is not expected nor
is it able to bear fruit. It cannot bear the weight but would
fall over and die. There is a specific time in nature when
fruit is ready (Matthew 21:34). If received prematurely, it
would destroy what has not weathered the test of time and
been strengthened by the growth process (I Timothy 3:6). There
are no shortcuts in God. Maturity comes with growth, and growth
takes time.
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of
the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious
fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he
receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish
your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”
(James 5:7-8).