The Holy Spirit (46)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on September 17, 2013
Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives (7.6): The Progression in Fruit-Bearing (3)
(use the audio to study)
Background
Last week, we saw the role that the Husbandman, God, the Father, plays in making the believer in Christ who is already bearing some fruit to bear even more fruit. And this the Father does by purging or pruning—an action or activity which involves the removal of anything that could hinder a believer who is already bearing some fruit from bearing more fruit. We saw that the main agency of divine pruning is the word of God in concert with the dealings of the Holy Spirit. Divine pruning takes the form of teachings, which when received and applied by the fruit-bearing believer, deepens his relationship with, and devotion to, the Father and the Son; it enables the removal of excesses (inordinate desires and concerns which border on carnality and worldliness) from his life; and brings about the chastening or discipline of the Father.
We noted that if you are already bearing fruit, you will constantly be undergoing the pruning of the Father, which is what you experience when God removes your imperfections, wrong motives, and, carnal qualities such as knowledge, wealth, earthly wisdom, etc., which can aptly be termed, ‘the dross of silver’—the metals which do not allow the sterling quality of silver to show forth (Proverbs 25:4; Ezekiel 22:17-22; Malachi 3:3). During divine pruning, you will find that your superficiality is being removed to allow the deepening of your knowledge of God as you privately and corporately study the word of God. As God purges you, you will also experience a removal of your desire for wealth, fame, worldliness, and pleasures, which are the ‘thorns’ that choke out the word from your heart, and which had made you unfruitful. Another aspect of divine pruning is experienced as God corrects when you err, disciplines you when you are becoming excessive, and trains you to live as His very own child, ensuring that the zeal in you is with the true knowledge of God, and that the knowledge of God that you possess does not breed pride in you. Divine pruning usually results in the believer becoming sober, moderate, and temperate in every area of his life. At such a time in your life, you become a true portrait of Christ, manifesting His nature and His essence!
In summary, divine pruning takes place as the Father, the Husbandman/Vinedresser, through the Holy Spirit, uses the word of God which you have gladly received to remove the filth of the flesh, your inordinate desires, and, worldliness; to revive the dying embers of your spiritual life—bible study, fellowship, faith, prayer, evangelism, etc.; and, to renew your mind so that it is aligned with the things of God!
Scripture Text(s)
John 15:4-8
Tonight, we shall look at what is required of us, so that we can bear much fruit. We pray that the Holy Spirit will make us able to meet this requirement, and thus, bear much fruit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The requirement for bearing much fruit is the reciprocity of you abiding in Christ, and Christ abiding in you. Some people would think that if you abide in Christ, then Christ is abiding in you. Unfortunately, the scriptures do not necessarily support this postulation, otherwise, the Lord would not have said, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit”. It is important that we note that our own abiding in the Lord is more than merely attending church meetings and programs, or working in the church in whatever form!
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; John 1:35-39; Mark 3:13-15; Acts 8:4-8, 26-40; 13:1-4; Revelation 3:14-20; Luke 5:1-11; 14:25-33; Philippians 3:8; John 14:23; 21:15-22; Revelation 2:1-5; 1 John 3:22-24; 4:13; Romans 8:9.
Conclusion
Much fruitfulness is the result of the believer abiding in Christ, and Christ in turn, abiding in him. The pruning or purging which makes a believer more fruitful is also what makes him conducive for the Lord to abide in him; and it is the reciprocity of the believer abiding in Christ, and Christ in turn, abiding in the believer, that is the requirement for much fruitfulness, which brings glory to the Husbandman, the Father.
If you say that you are a believer in Christ who wants to bear much fruit, your abiding in Christ must go beyond attending Sunday service and bible study regularly, being a worker or a part of the ministry team in church, and, giving to the work of God or even to the ‘man of God’. Your abiding requires that you remain in Christ; not just paying Him a visit when you like. Your abiding must be such that nothing will be able to take you away from Christ. Your abiding should be one of total commitment to the Lord and to His work. Your abiding will require that you be totally separated from the world and anything that can defile you. Your abiding should be evidenced by your ‘forsaking’ all to follow Jesus (that is, leaving behind things that are significant, but which, in the light of following Jesus, are insignificant and detrimental). Your abiding must be based on a love relationship between you and the Lord. This kind of abiding is always evidenced by your complete obedience to Christ and by the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit in you—where anything that is contrary to God is revolting to you. It is this kind of abiding that attracts Christ and the Father to come and make their abode in you. It is this kind of abiding that makes you the temple of God, and that results in all your prayers being answered.
The fruit or outflow that issues from the mutual abiding of the believer and Christ can be the believer’s character under pressure or persecution; just as it can be the believer’s joyful ministry as directed by the Lord, even in unpleasant conditions. Such fruit or outflow gladdens the heart of God and brings glory to His name. This is what makes us true disciples of Christ! May we be found worthy to produce such fruit in abundance, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Back to all Bible Study Outline List