Fruit Bearing Believer

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

The Bible likens the life of a believer to a field and the construction of a building. “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:9-11). Jesus is the foundation of that building. It is not religious ceremonies, church membership, ministry positions or some special connection with people that will cause our lives to be strong and tall. The only way for our lives to be built up is staying connected to the foundation—Jesus Christ.

Likewise, as a field, we are to bear fruit. How are we going to keep bearing fruit? The only way is to abide in the life of Jesus. “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” (John 15:4). Have you declined in your fruit-bearing? If you have, come back to your fi rst love with Jesus. Engage in those experiences that have proven to draw you nearest to Christ, because it is from Him that all your fruit proceeds. When have you been the most fruitless? Has it not been when you have lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened in prayer, or when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith? Has it not been when you trusted in your own achievements and strength instead of the Lord?

How do we abide in the Lord?

1. Abide in Jesus’ words (John 15:7). We have to learn to hear and obey His words. Walk into every situation with Jesus and allow Him to speak to you during those times.
2. Abide in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27). The anointing of the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. There is nothing too diffi cult for God. We can depend on Him for wisdom and solutions in our daily affairs.
3. Abide in love (4:16). Love one another. Put away all bitterness and unforgiveness. Let everything we do be done out of love for God and for His people.

Have you forgotten where your strength comes from? Remember that unless the Lord builds the house, we who labor, will do so in vain. Even Jesus Himself proclaimed in John 5:19, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” The more simply we depend on the grace of God and wait on the Holy Spirit, the more we will bring forth fruit unto God.