Text: John 15:1–5, Galatians 5:22-25
Memory Verse: “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” (John 15:5).
In one of Jesus’ discussions with His disciples, He talked about the importance of fruit-bearing. He said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” (John 15: 5). Jesus used the analogy of the vine and the branches to teach about the vital, life giving relationship between Himself and the believer – a relationship sustained by abiding in Him. While the Holy spirit is not explicitly mentioned in this metaphor, He is the one who enables and empowers this abiding, nurturing the believer toward Christ likeness and fruitfulness.
In a vine, the branches depend on the trunk for life, and the vine needs the branches to bear its fruit. In John 15:1-16, Jesus emphasised this principle by making it clear that His followers, in order to develop and maintain spiritual
life, must bear abundant fruit for God. The kind of fruit Jesus was talking about is given in Galatians 5:22&23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Fruit bearing is an expression of the life of Christ. People need to see Him through the lives of Christians. Fruit bearing is evidence of discipleship (John 15:8). The fruit of the Spirit is the Christ-like character: a character that reveals what Jesus is like. It is the outward expression of the holy nature of God in the believer.
The fruit of the Spirit, which is Christian character, is produced in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that you may honour God.
Prayer Points:
1. Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill my heart with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
2. Lord, help me to see how I can better reflect Your character in my daily life.