The Holy Spirit (29)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on April 23, 2013
Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit In Our Lives (3)
(use the audio to study)
Background
Last week, in continuation of our study on the essence of the operation of the Holy Spirit in a believer in Christ, we gave a scriptural definition of fruitfulness, and saw the kind of fruit that makes a man scripturally fruitful. From Jesus’ encounter with a fig tree which had leaves without fruit, we saw that the appearance of leaves on a fruit-bearing tree is indicative of fruit on the tree. When Jesus therefore cursed this fig tree, it was because it was deceptive; giving the impression that fruit could be found on it, whereas, it had only leaves! We noted the significance of Jesus’ curse of the fig tree, vis-à-vis, the Christian, thus: if Jesus cursed a tree which had leaves but no fruit on it, He will do likewise to anyone who has an appearance of godliness, but does not show its fruit, by cutting him off from the kingdom of God (John 15:2).
We defined scriptural fruitfulness as it concerns a believer in Christ as, abounding in good fruit, being positively productive, or, manifesting an abundance of righteous deeds. Hence, if a person is abounding in bad fruit or unrighteous acts, he is not fruitful; but evil! Similarly, a person who has an appearance of fruitfulness but bears no fruit; like the fig tree which had leaves without fruit, is not fruitful, but deceitful, and a hypocrite! A person who is controlled by the desires of his old sinful nature, the flesh, will manifest the works of the flesh, signifying that he is carnal, natural, or fleshly, and therefore, not a Christian! A Christian manifests the fruit of the Spirit (love, peace, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (meekness), and self-control, all rolled into one), and is therefore scripturally fruitful. Such fruitfulness is the result of habitually living under the influence of the Holy Spirit (walking and living in the Spirit, and, yielding oneself completely to the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit). So, a person who says he is a Christian, but who habitually manifests the works of the flesh, or who is full of ‘leaves’ (singing in the church choir, donating to motherless babies home, ushering in the church, contributing financially to the upkeep of the pastor, preaching the gospel, etc.), without the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in his life, is really unfruitful, and in danger of being cut off by the Lord! And this is where the Holy Spirit comes in—to make you manifest the fruit of the Spirit or display the nature of Christ. And this is only possible if such a person willingly yields to the control of the Holy Spirit!
But before a person can yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, he must have crucified the old sinful nature, along with its passions and desires. To crucify the old sinful nature along with its passions and desires, you would be fully devoted, dedicated, and enveloped in Christ, and as such, sin and your selfish desires will no longer dominate or influence you. This means that you are now dead to, and are separated from everything you were once alive to, or attached to, before you were redeemed by the blood of Jesus; and now alive unto God and righteousness! Hence, when a person is truly in Christ, he can no longer be controlled by sin, the old sinful nature, or selfish desires and ambitions; rather, he yields his life to the control of the Holy Spirit, and is, therefore, able to live righteously and for God!
Scripture Text(s)
Luke 13:6-9
Tonight, we lay the background for the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, as it concerns us, believers in Christ; bearing fruit and being fruitful. May the Holy Spirit find us willing to be made fruitful, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our scripture text documents one of the few parables which the Lord told without giving its meaning. However, as we study this parable, we see that the owner of the vineyard planted the fig tree in his vineyard (an uncommon practice) because he wanted figs, apart from the grapes from the vine. But when he came looking for fruit after three years, when it ought to have been bearing fruit, and found none, he asked the keeper to cut it down! We note that the owner of the vineyard did not complain about the vine, neither did he blame the keeper for the barrenness of the fig tree. The keeper, however, asked for a one year moratorium for the fig tree, during which time he will devote special attention to the fig tree, digging around and dunging it; after which, if it still remained unfruitful, it could then be cut down. We can infer from this parable that the Lord was referring to God’s graciousness in giving the believer in Christ ample time to be fruitful, otherwise, he will be cut off from the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:1-5; Acts 15:16-18; Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 8:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 3:8-9; Matthew 12:33; 7:16-18; 13:24-30; Isaiah 60:21; 61:3; Psalm 92:13; James 5:7-8; John 12:24; Mark 4:26-29.
Conclusion
Our God is a God of plan and purpose. He knows the end from the beginning; so, when He made man, it was clear, He knew what he wanted to achieve—man’s fruitfulness/multiplication and his exercise of dominion over all of God’s creation, including the devil and his demons! Unfortunately, Adam and Eve became corrupted as a result of the Fall in the Garden of Eden. In order for God to achieve His purpose, which is through man, God had to redeem and sanctify man through the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, respectively; thus enabling God to obtain the right ‘seed’. Every redeemed and sanctified man is the right ‘seed’, which is capable of possessing the nature of Christ, and has the potential of possessing the fruit of the Spirit, and reproducing its own kind, through which the devil and his cohorts can be subdued!
Now that God has redeemed man, He plants him in His courts/house—the place (location and position) where the redeemed man will be able to realize his full potential, be fruitful, multiply, and be able to exercise dominion over His creation, including the devil and his cohorts. The Holy Spirit is involved in planting and nurturing the redeemed man, so that he can be fruitful and multiply after his kind (John 3:6), and be able to exercise dominion over God’s creation. Unfortunately, when God comes to His house, the Church, for fruit, He finds them unfruitful—neither bearing fruit, nor multiplying good fruit—and God’s purpose is sadly delayed. He then seeks to cut the unfruitful Christian away, cast him into the fire—hell, and have him replaced. However, the Holy Spirit, Who is our Advocate, makes intercessions on our behalf before God, and asks for more time for the unfruitful Christians to be given special attention by Him, after which God is free to do whatever He wants—cut them off from His kingdom!
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