Imagine with me a young boy who is desperately trying to figure out how he can earn some money. He has his eyes on a remote-control airplane. However, he just does not have enough money. His father becomes aware of his son’s situation and suggests he find a paper route to earn some money. He also suggests collecting newspapers and other recyclable items to be turned in for cash as well.
Well, the boy thinks about those suggestions for the rest of the day. He has one problem. The means to acquire money that his father had suggested would take a long time, and he really wants the airplane now. Then the idea hits him. He could collect newspapers from the neighborhood (not just his own home) and have a lot more to turn in this week!
The next morning the boy wakes up early. He gets dressed before anyone else is even up. He excitedly goes downstairs, puts his shoes on, and walks outside – it was then that he saw it – a sea of newspapers on the front lawns of his entire neighborhood! Not wasting any time, he takes his wagon and begins walking briskly down the street and loading up all the newspapers to be taken in for cash the next morning. As he continues his task, he starts to think of that wonderful airplane in the store window. He begins to daydream of how much fun he will have, how every one of his friends will want to have a turn at the controls of that wonderful airplane. Then all the sudden he is startled out of his dream by Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones stops the boy just short of picking up his newspaper and promptly asks him why he is picking up everyone’s newspaper on the block! The boy explained that he was simply gathering them to turn them in for cash (as his father had suggested) so he could purchase a wonderful new remote-control airplane. Mr. Jones then explains to the boy, “Young man, while your goal is a worthy one – the means of which you are seeking to obtain it is quite criminal.”
God has given each of us a goal in John 15 – to bear fruit. It is what Jesus Christ declares as the thing that glorifies His Father. However, the means to accomplish this goal is just as important as the goal itself. I cannot look to fulfill a God-given goal with a man-made means.
Soul-winning with mere programs and nothing more
Raising children to be godly with reasoning & persuasion
Having a great marriage with mere self-directed interests
Being an excellent employee with only self-discipline
Bearing fruit via manipulation or even intimidation.
With each command, percept, and principle God gives us in His Word, God also provides for His children the means to accomplish His will.
We must understand that God’s call for fruit only FLOWS out of a deepening relationship with Jesus. John 15:5, 10-12. What is the right means?
ABIDING.
The means for which each believer is to bear fruit is first seen in this principle of abiding.
“The only way to continue ‘clean’ (pruned - v. 3) and to bear fruit is to maintain vital spiritual connection with Christ (the vine).”
— Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
This is what the Lord refers to as ABIDING!
John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” I am made clean through the Word of God!
John 17:17 – “Sanctify them through the truth, thy Word is truth.” I am set apart to Christ through the truth of God’s Word!
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Jesus Christ is THE Word. He is my all and all. He is THE means for bearing fruit!
The director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, died on May 2, 1972. For forty-eight years, under eight U.S. Presidents, he oversaw the Federal Bureau of Investigation, becoming famous for his dramatic campaigns to stop gangsters and organized crime. He established the use of the fingerprint in law enforcement, and successfully tracked down well-known criminals. FDR gave him the task of investigating foreign espionage and left-wing activist groups.
“The criminal is the product of spiritual starvation. Someone failed miserably to bring him to know God, love Him, and serve Him.”
— J. Edgar Hoover
“Abiding in Christ is necessary in order to our doing much good . . . It is necessary to our doing any good!”
— Matthew Henry’s Commentary
“…without me ye can do nothing!” (Jn. 15:5)
Abiding in Christ is not optional for the believer – it is as vital as breathing is for life! Abiding is so vital because my bearing fruit is so vital. When I choose to reject Christ, turn to myself, and live in my own way I literally put myself on the path to rebellion against God! When I choose not to abide in Christ, I will choose to abide in something else. I MUST abide in Christ.
Consider this. The church does not abide in Christ and gossips, backbites, murmurs, lies, steals, embraces vengeance, and/or dwells on immoral thoughts. This really is crucial! So, how does one abide in Christ?
CHOICES – JOHN 15:10
Abiding is obeying. The secret to abiding is choosing to obey. Christ has called me to obey Him! When Christ calls His children to obey Him, He is calling for immediate, willing, happy, respectful obedience.
There was a cry of fire near a large schoolhouse. The children in the school were very much afraid and began to rush to the doors and stairs. But there was one little girl who remained quietly in her seat. Her teacher asked her why she did not do as the other girls did. “My father is a fireman,” she said: “and he told me, whenever there was a cry of fire while I was in school, to remain quiet in my seat; for that was the safest way. I was very scared; but I knew that my father had told me what was best: so, I sat still when they ran to the doors.
So how does this translate to my personal need to abide in Christ?
Here are 4 examples of choosing to abide in Christ:
Choosing my words
Eph. 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” I need to choose my words wisely. Edifying communication gives evidence of abiding in Christ because it is obeying Jesus.
Choosing kindness
Eph. 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” I need to choose kindness to others even when they are not kind to me. Kindness gives evidence of abiding in Christ because it is obeying Jesus.
Choosing my role
Eph. 5:22 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” Or v.25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” I need to choose to embrace the role God gave me. Yielding to God’s role for me gives evidence of abiding in Christ because it is obeying Jesus.
Choosing my repeated mental rehearsing
Phil. 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” I need to evaluate and choose wisely what I rehearse in my mind. Right thoughts will reveal themselves in word, action, and attitude. Right thinking gives evidence of abiding in Christ because it is obeying Jesus.
This list is in no way complete! It is the example of exercising greater spiritual discernment using the Word of God with deeper relationship with Jesus as my target. We must understand that God’s call for fruit only FLOWS from a deepening relationship with the true vine…with Jesus.
So, the solution to bear more fruit is a mystery no longer!