This study was first taught on August 13, 2013

Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives (7.1): The Two-Fold Fruit-Bearing Believer

(use the audio to study)

---

Background
The last time we met, we concluded on fruit-bearing in the believer, as we looked at the joy and tremendous eternal value of allowing the Holy Spirit do His work of ‘dunging the ground’ of faith in which we have been planted by the Lord (Luke 13:6-9); which is that the believer in Christ will never fall away from the path of life, and, he is assured of unimpeded access into heaven—the everlasting kingdom of our God and our Lord!

We noted that these are more reasons for us to yield ourselves over to the Holy Spirit and allow Him work the supplies of faith into our lives, so that we can truly exhibit a living faith, as we act in a manner that shows that we are truly expectant of eternity (which includes, purifying ourselves daily, departing from iniquity, mortifying the flesh and its desires, permanently doing away with worldliness, and, living by the word of God, among others). We saw that there were people who once walked with Christ, but who returned to the world, possibly because they partly did not allow the Holy Spirit to fully work the additions to (supplies of) faith into them. Of these, we especially noted Demas, who was a companion of Paul, the apostle, but who returned to the world, because he continued to love the world. Let us remember the scripture that admonishes us thus: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15). Let us learn from Demas’ error, as well as Paul’s encouraging conduct, when, by the Holy Spirit, he said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” We also saw the scripture that says that it is impossible to restore people who turn away from God after they have tasted of the goodness and power of God. Therefore, let us redouble our efforts and enthusiasm to abound in the supplies of faith, and by the grace of God, we shall not be of them that turn back unto perdition, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Text(s)
John 15:1-27
Tonight, and for a few weeks hence, we shall be looking at another aspect of fruit-bearing for the believer in Christ. It is our prayer that the Holy Spirit will indeed make all things clear to us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our scripture text addresses another kind of fruit-bearing which is expected of the believer in Christ. Let us briefly mention here that fruit-bearing is at two levels: internal and external. We have been talking about internal fruit-bearing, but now, we shall be looking at external fruit-bearing. While internal fruit-bearing is about the fruit of the Spirit and the intimate knowledge of Christ and of God in the life of a believer; external fruit-bearing is about the believer producing fruit after his kind; that is, bringing forth other believers into the kingdom of God. This is another work of the Holy Spirit among believers in Christ, and hence, another essence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Romans 8:29; John 15:16, 1-8, 9-13, 26-27; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 15:1-10; Psalm 126:5-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-14; Romans 12:3-21; Ephesians 4:11-16.

Conclusion
When we become born again, the first and primary thing God, the Father, desires of us, is that we be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Our conformity to the image of Christ is two-fold: we must be conformed to Christ in character and conduct; and we must be conformed to Christ in service and sacrifice unto our God. The former is exhibited through the fruit of the Spirit, and our intimate knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ; while the latter is demonstrated when we go and bring forth people into the kingdom of God, and make them remain in the kingdom. The believer in Christ is thus likened to the branch of a vine, the Lord Jesus Christ. On the branch, fruit appears, but within it, life must first be received; otherwise, it cannot be fruitful externally! Therefore, it is conformity to Christ in character and conduct that enables conformity to Christ in service and sacrifice.

Our conformity to Christ in service and sacrifice unto God, is basically what we commonly refer to as evangelism and missions, and it is a euphemism for external fruit bearing, at which time, we bring in the “sheaves” with rejoicing. External fruit-bearing requires that the believer in Christ, who is bearing fruit internally, goes forth from his ‘incubator’ or the ‘shell’ where he has been nurtured to be fruitful internally, and begin to search for the lost; reach out to them with the gospel, through preaching and demonstrating the love of God, and so usher them into the kingdom of God; and, bring them up also to be conformed to the image of Christ, by teaching them the unadulterated word of God, which will make them fruitful internally and externally. And the cycle continues!

For the internally fruitful believer to be able to bear fruit externally, he needs the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are distributed to all internally fruitful believers, so that they can work in concert with each other to bring forth external fruit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are special endowments which the Holy Spirit bestows on whomsoever He wills, so that believers can engage in various services or ministrations unto the same Lord, as orchestrated or activated in various forms or operations or activities, by the One and same God, the Father. It was never expected that a believer would be selfish, but that he would work in tandem with other believers within the same local assembly, and in unison with the global Church of God.

All these are the works of the Holy Spirit, not just in men, but through men to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to our God. We see the Holy Spirit, empowering and equipping yielded ‘vessels’ for use under the Hand of the Almighty. This external fruit is also called, good works; and is required of every child of God who will make it to heaven!

---

Back to all Bible Study Outline List