This study was first taught on August 20, 2013

Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives (7.2): The Basics of External Fruit-Bearing (1)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we saw that every believer in Christ is expected to bear fruit at two levels: internally and externally. Internal fruit manifests as the fruit of the Spirit; whereas external fruit is bringing others into the kingdom of God, and making them disciples of Christ. Put another way, the two-fold fruit-bearing believer in Christ, is one who is conformed to the image of Christ in character and conduct on one hand; and in service and sacrifice unto God, on the other hand. Conformity to Christ in character and conduct is the same as manifesting the fruit of the Spirit; and conformity in service and sacrifice unto God, is the same as seeking and bringing forth the lost into the kingdom of God, and causing them to remain therein.

The Lord Jesus likened the believer to the branch of a vine, which He likened to Himself! Even though fruit appears on the branch, the branch must first have received sap from the vine; otherwise, it cannot be fruitful! In the same way, the believer in Christ must first be internally fruitful, which is receiving the life of Christ, or being conformed to Christ in character and conduct; then he can produce external fruit, which is the bringing forth of disciples or conformity to Christ in service and sacrifice!

We saw that conformity to Christ in service and sacrifice unto God, is the same thing as doing the work of ministry—evangelism, missions, and discipleship, among others. We likened the believer who has been bearing fruit internally to the pupa of a butterfly which breaks out of its cocoon and goes forth to fulfill its mandate in life—pollination, and producing other butterflies that will continue the cycle! The internally fruitful believer must thus go forth from the ‘incubator’ where he was being made fruitful internally, and must now begin to search for the lost; reach out to them with the gospel (through preaching and demonstrating the love of God); and teach them the unadulterated word of God after they have come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Through such devoted teachings, new believers grow to become fruitful internally and externally. And the cycle goes on, and on, and on …!

For the believer in Christ to bring forth fruit externally, he must first be empowered. This empowerment comes in the form of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are special endowments which the Holy Spirit bestows on the believer, which then enables him to engage in various services or ministrations on Christ’s behalf, as orchestrated by God, the Father. Each believer thus endowed, is expected to work in concert and in tandem with other believers within the same local assembly, and in unison with the global Church of God. The Holy Spirit makes men to be fruitful by working in them (making them to bear fruit internally), and also, through them (making them to bear fruit externally). In this way, the Holy Spirit empowers and equips believers in Christ who are yielded to Him, to do good works, and thus, bring glory to God and to Jesus Christ!

Scripture Text(s)
John 15:1-5
Tonight, we shall be looking at the fundamentals of external fruit-bearing, not necessarily the technicalities; for, if the basics are right, the methodology will be effective. We pray that the Holy Spirit will teach and direct us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our scripture text sets forth the role of each principal in the parable of The True Vine: the Vine is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Vinedresser is God, the Father, and the branch is the believer in Christ. With this understanding in place, the Lord then goes on to let us see the fundamentals of external fruit-bearing; that is, of service and sacrifice, of winning souls and weaning disciples, and, of ministry and doing the work of God in general.
Romans 11:16-18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; John 17:21; Ephesians 5:22-32; Luke 14:26-27; Amos 3:3; John 14:23; 15:10-15; 1 John 4:15-16, 13; 3:24; John 6:48-58; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Luke 11:24-26; Ephesians 3:17a; Colossians 3:16; Romans 8:35, 38-39; 5:3-5.

Conclusion
The basics of external fruit-bearing is that there must be a vital union of Christ and the believer in Christ—he in Christ; and Christ in him! This vital union is the friendship and fellowship shared by Christ and the believer, and it results in the fruit or bringing forth of new believers in Christ! The indwelling Holy Spirit is the bond of this vital union, as it is through Him that Christ dwells in, and relates with the believer, and vice versa. For the union of Christ and the believer to be truly vital, it must be ongoing or continuous; otherwise, the believer withers, and is cast off for burning in hell! Therefore the responsibility of keeping the union of Christ and the believer vital rests on the believer, otherwise he will not be fruitful—either internally or externally! Thus, if the believer in Christ will be fruitful in his service and sacrifice to God, his life must be marked by:
1. Total submission to Christ;
2. Unreserved acceptance of the nourishment and care of Christ;
3. Leaving everything to follow Christ;
4. An unpretentious love for Christ, evidenced by obedience to the teachings or doctrines of Christ;
5. A clear demonstration of love for other believers and non-believers alike;
6. The Lordship of Jesus Christ over his life and affairs; and,
7. The unimpeded involvement of the Holy Spirit in his life and affairs.

The vital union of Christ and the believer must never be allowed to be detached or uncoupled by anything whatsoever, and must be ever-increasing; otherwise, the believer will be in danger of being cast forth as ‘a dried branch’! Thus, those of us who say that we are Christians, or believers in Christ, must be constantly filled with the word of God, and we must make up our minds not to be separated from Christ by anything—whether good or evil! And it is only by yielding and cooperating with the Holy Spirit, Who has filled us abundantly with the love of God, that this can truly be accomplished!

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