Young People's Group

Being Filled with the Fruits of Righteousness

by Mitchell Tan
July 11, 2018

BE FRUITFUL

The key thing to identifying the genuineness of a person’s faith is bearing fruit. It can be evidently seen by how he displays the fruit of love. And yet, beyond just confirming one’s faith in the Lord, we should also consider fruitfulness. What the Lord is looking for in our life is that we be filled with the fruits of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). The apostle Paul saw how the Philippians had this faith in the Lord and they displayed the fruit of love. His prayer for them was that ultimately there would be fruitfulness in their lives. Young people, the challenge is for us to bear fruit as much as possible.

THE MOTIVATION TO BE FRUITFUL

1. ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE LORD JESUS

“That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”
Philippians 1:10

One of the reasons for us to be fruitful is that we may be accountable to the Lord for our lives when He comes. The Lord Jesus will come again and what He looks for is whether we have borne much fruit for Him. This was something that He taught in the parable of the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-40).

2. GIVING GLORY TO THE LORD GOD

“To the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:11

Fruitfulness will ultimately lead to the glory and praise of God Himself. When people look at lives that are fruitful, they would glorify God in heaven. It would bring much glory to His name. The Lord Jesus taught of how when we bear much fruit, His Father would be glorified (John 15:8).

THE MEANS TO BE FRUITFUL

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent … being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ”
Philippians 1:9-11

1. PRAYING FOR GROWTH IN LOVE

Growth in love is something that we must humbly pray for. It is a work that the Lord must do in our lives. Paul prayed for the Philippians to have a love that would grow continually in knowledge and in all discernment. They needed to grow so much more in love and in wisdom.

2. CHOOSING THAT WHICH IS EXCELLENT

It is with knowledge and discernment that we can choose that which is excellent in life. We would discern between what is bad and good, good and better, better and excellent.

3. EXERCISING GREATER FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS

Fruits of righteousness come about through faith in the Lord Jesus. It is by means of believing in the person of the Lord Jesus. When we have faith in Him, there will come imputed righteousness in our lives. We are justified in Christ with reference to salvation. There is also personal righteousness that we can cultivate when we exercise faith in Him. When we choose that which is excellent, our fruits would come forth from righteous living

The Lord Jesus had taught how a good tree will be known by its good fruits and a bad tree by its bad fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). We can discern a person by the fruit that he bears. When we practise all that the Lord Jesus had taught (Matthew 5-7), we will bear good fruits. Young people, let’s exercise faith in the Lord Jesus and practise His teachings that we may be filled with the fruits of righteousness. All glory will go to our Lord God.

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