Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The Doctrine of Fruit-bearing

a) It originated from the Lord Jesus

b) He sought to teach His disciples to learn how to be discerning

2. Basic thoughts about Fruit-bearing

a) Fruit is a tell-tale sign

“You will know them by their fruits”   Matthew 7:16a

b) A good tree

“Every good tree bears good fruit”   Matthew 7:17a

c) A bad tree

“But a bad tree bears bad fruit”   Matthew 17:17b

d) Important repetition

“Therefore, by their fruits
You will know them”   Matthew 17:20

DEEPER LESSONS ABOUT FRUIT-BEARING

John 15

1. Essential imagery about the Vineyard

a) The Vine

The Lord Jesus Christ   (John 15:1a, 5)

b) The Vine Dresser

God the Father   (John 15:1b)

c) The Branches   (John 15:5)

All believers

2. When a Branch does not bear fruit

a) God, the Vine Dresser takes away   (John 15:2a)

b) A branch can wither   (John 15:6a)

c) It is thrown away and burned   (John 15:6b)

3. How a Branch may bear fruit

a) It must abide in the Vine   (John 15:4a)

b) It cannot bear fruit on its own   (John 15:4b)

4. How a Branch may bear more fruit

a) The work of pruning   (John 15:2b)

b) By abiding in the Vine   (John 15:5)

5. Bearing much fruit

a) Profound abiding

i) Abiding in the Lord

“He who abides in Me”   John 15:5

ii) The Lord abiding in the believer”

“And I in him, bears much fruit”   John 15:5

b) Aspects of Abiding

i) “Abide in Me”   (John 15:4a)

ii) “My words abide in you”   (John 15:7)

iii) “Abide in My love”   (John 15:10a)

THE FRUIT OF LOVE

Galatians 5:22-23

1. Defining this Love

a) No greater love

“Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one’s life for his friends”   John 15:13

b) Outpoured love

“The love of God has been poured out in our hearts
By the Holy Spirit who was given to us”   Romans 5:5

2. The Process of Fruit-bearing

a) The Beginning

“Having begun in the Spirit,
Are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”   Galatians 3:3

i) The work of regeneration   (Titus 3:5)

ii) Born again   (John 3:3)

b) The Supply of the Spirit

i) God supplies the Spirit

“He who supplies the Spirit”   (Galatians 3:5a)

ii) This is a special work

“May give to you the Spirit of wisdom
And revelation”   Ephesians 1:17

c) Faith

“That we might receive the promise of the Spirit
Through faith”   Galatians 3:14b

d) Walking in the Spirit

“Walk in the Spirit”   Galatians 5:16

e) Led by the Spirit

“If you are led by the Spirit
You are not under the law”   Galatians 5:18

3. The Fruit of the Spirit

a) The fruit of Love

b) God’s kind of love

i) Deep

ii) Pure

iii) Strong

CONCLUSION

1. The Challenge to be a Fruit-bearing Believer

2. The Commitment to seek to bear the Fruit of the Spirit

3. The Commencement of this glorious work of the Spirit of God