BE FRUITFUL

Let’s look at the idea of being filled with the Spirit in a nutshell. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” (NKJV). Alcoholics anonymous tell us, “One drink is too many, and 1000 is not enough”. Alcohol has control over any person who allows it to have control. The Holy Spirit wants to control the Christian to the same degree. He resides in the life of every truly born again believer, but He wants to preside in the life. Another way of putting it is to say He not only wants to be present, He wants to be president. How do we allow him to fill us? Consider these passages. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (NKJV). We need to desire the filling, the control, of the Holy Spirit. We also need to present ourselves as “living sacrifices”. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 and 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (NKJV).
Too many people think that being Spirit Filled means you are going to shout, dance, speak in other tongues, and roll around on the floor. The main result of being Spirit Filled is none of these, it is instead bring forth good spiritual fruit. In fact, I believe, that should be the most important concern a Christian should have as they walk with the Lord. “Am I bringing forth good spiritual fruit???”
The call to produce fruit predates Pentecost, when the Spirit was loosed on all faithful believers instead of a few specially chosen ones. It even predates Christ’s earthly ministry. Consider the words of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:7 to 10, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (NKJV). He is confronting the hypocritical, so-called, leadership of the Jews. They were two faced actors who said one thing, demanding certain actions from the people, but living the opposite way. What these “leaders” wanted was a righteousness by association. They thought their association with Abraham and his faithful walk with the Lord would spill over and cover their own lives. John calls on them to produce good fruit in their own right, in keeping with their own righteousness. Luke 3:11 to 14 adds to John’s message. These read, “He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.'' Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?'' And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you.'' Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?'' So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.''(NKJV). John provides some practical applications to what he is advocating.
Christ addresses the idea of producing fruit in John 15:1 to 8. Other than the actual listing of the fruit of the Spirit by Paul in Galatians, these verses are perhaps the most notable in addressing the subject. These verses read, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “ (NKJV). The Father is the gardener or vine dresser. The vine is Christ, the route to the Father, and we are the branches, the end of the plant where the fruit grows. Those branches that produce no fruit are cut off and cast away. Those who produce no spiritual fruit face judgment and the consequences of our actions. Even the fruitful branches are pruned, trimmed, etc. as the Father cares for them.
The Apostles address bringing forth fruit. Peter writes, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (II Peter 1:3 to 9 NKJV). Granted, this is not specifically a “fruit” passage, but it does address being productive for the Lord. Peter and Paul parallel one another. Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 and 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (NKJV). Peter talks about Faith or Faithfulness, Goodness, Self-control, Perseverance, Patience, Kindness, and of course Love. Peter’s words, “Giving all diligence” includes the idea of letting the Spirit have control. That is the determining factor in bringing forth good fruit – who is in charge, the Spirit of God or our own fleshly understanding. Don’t be deceived, you will produce fruit. The choice is good fruit that brings forth a sweet, productive crop, or the fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-22). Fleshly fruit is useless, in a sense sour and even deadly. What kind of fruit do you produce??