BEARING FRUIT

When Jesus passed by, He saw a fig tree and He sought fruit from it (Matthew 21:18-22), (Mark 11:12-14). But because it had none, He cursed it. Jesus said no more fruit of it would ever be eaten again. For Jesus had no kind words for a tree that had a justifiable reason not bear fruit. The season was not for it to bear fruit. 

Bearing fruit can be viewed in two ways:

Ministerial fruits

These are fruits that we bear as result of taking on ministry. An evangelist bears fruit by getting and leading people to know Christ. Everyone can use the gift of ministry that God has given them to bear fruit by putting the same at use. Such fruit will reaffirm a person's calling (Matthew 25:14-30).

Fruit of the Spirit

The starting point for anybody to be Christian is submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Upon this, Jesus Christ fills us with the Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit will translate into bearing fruit (John 15:8). For we need the Spirit of Christ so to have the power to overcome temptations (Romans 8:9).

Now, is there a thing to learn for any purposeful and visionary Christian? The following questions could guide us in a certain direction.

• What is a fruit? 

• Why use the example of a fruit? 

• What is the Spiritual significance of bearing fruit?

What is a fruit?

A fruit according to the Oxford dictionary is a sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.

 Why the fruit?

By definition, a fruit contains a seed in it. In it therefore, there is potential to multiply itself. Thus to say; what something is, is what it gives birth to. For love produces love and hate produces hate. The nature and health of a tree or a plant for that matter, is known by the fruits it bears. (Matthew 7:16-18, 12:33-37). 

Christians therefore must bear the fruit of the Spirit. And by bearing fruit, it is a way to keep multiplying. And if one keeps multiplying, the Kingdom of God surely comes. And when God's Kingdom comes, then there is healing, peace, and freedom. And so, just how a fruit can potentially multiply by way the seed it contains, so must a Christian bear fruit within and exhibit the same in conduct. It is upon this that one can touch and influence another soul to come to Christ.

Why Jesus uses the example of a fruit

•  A fruit is visible and tangible. Meaning if someone has borne fruit, (just like it is when a tree bears fruit), so it is that such fruits will be exhibited in a person's life. In this, it can clearly be told what that person is. A mango is different from an orange first by the very appearance of each.

• And if someone has borne fruit, (by definition we said a fruit is a fleshy product of a tree which contains seed), so it is that more fruit will be borne out of the seeds. So, a fruit gives potential for another fruit to be borne (Luke 12:38).  

• A fruit is a sweet product that everybody is attracted to it. Rather the sweetness in it attracts people to it. For a fruit is to be admired.

The spiritual significance.

Recall that by definition, a fruit is sweet. Meaning; it tests well and this is what attracts people to it. Jesus was to be attracted to the fig tree by its fruit. But because it lacked fruit on it, it had no more purpose. A fruit therefore in spiritual terms; is the product that a person becomes after they have submitted to Jesus Christ. 

A person's life or heart for that matter must be shaped  in a way when they submit to Jesus Christ. It is by the fruit that a Christian is known to be so (Matthew 7:16-18). Rather to be Christian is to bear fruit. For a mango tree is but by the fruit it bears. A bad tree can't bear good fruit, likewise a good tree can't bear bad fruit. Much as one may confess he is Christian, it is much more so by what he exhibits in real life. Rather how his personality is subsequently shaped.

Why the Bible calls it the fruit of the Spirit

The Bible calls it the fruit of the Spirit because it can only be borne by the power of the Spirit. No one by their own power can bear fruit,  because no one in human flesh can afford it. It is so costly in terms of how much a person must give up so to bear it  (fruit). The fruit of the spirit is; love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

It is the bearing of the fruit of the Spirit that testifies the presence of the Holy Spirit upon a person. This is also the evidence that heaven opens for us. Thus scripture emphasizes that we should never grieve the Holy Spirit because His presence upon us is the seal of God's presence on us (Ephesians 4:30).

The lessons we draw from this encounter of Jesus and the fig tree:

• To be Christian is to bear the fruit of the Spirit

• The fruit of the Spirit is standard

• The desires and demands of the body can be relentless.

To be Christian is to bear the fruit of the Spirit

To be Christian is not only to say you are. Our Lord Jesus teaches by figurative language that a tree that doesn't bear fruit is not worthy keeping and taking care of. Literally, imagine buying a baby milk everyday and they take it wholesomely but remain the same in stature.  Bearing fruit therefore for a Christian must be mandatory. Rather it is imperative for a Christian to bear fruit. For bearing fruit is the indisputable proof that we are Christian (Matthew 3:10), (Luke 3:9).

For by the fact that we confess Christ to be the Lord of our lives should bear fruit and show up in real life. Yet we ought to understand that Christ is the reason of all. For even the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus (John 14:26). For without Jesus, nobody can be (John 15:1-5). Any tree that does not bear fruit is bound to be felled and gotten rid of (Luke 13:6-9).

The fruit of the Spirit is standard

Apart from bearing fruit, a tree can provide other advantages. For in addition to bearing fruit, it can provide shelter, it acts as a wind breaker, it balances the ecosystem, and it is a part of the formation of rain. All the rest of the advantages this tree did provide, but it terribly lacked the vital purpose, and that is bearing fruit. For the lack of this one particular vital purpose, Jesus cursed the tree.

No matter how powerfully we may minister, no matter how else we may benefit everyone, no matter how we may be knowledgeable, without fruit, we are a cursed people. We could be of many more other advantages, but the primary and vital one is bearing fruit.

There was always a vital message in everything that Jesus said or did. In this particular case, Jesus wanted us to learn that it is a true fact in the Kingdom of Heaven that bearing fruit is a standard matter. For there is no logic or any reasoning of some sort. Any defense mechanisms can't justify a person. The one standard is that we have to bear fruit no matter what the season or condition is.

The fruit of the Spirit is expected to be borne even when it seemingly appears impossible. For there is no inexcusable time or period. Thus the need for the Holy Spirit. Only there is power in the Holy Spirit that we can bear the fruit of the spirit. All the time of every Christian must be for God.

The desires and demands of the flesh can be relentless

This is so because despite having not been the season, Jesus went on to curse the tree. Why did He do so? He did so because He had been literally hungry. For that is how flesh is. The flesh is always wanting and demanding. Yet the desires of the flesh must be kept just within the confines of scripture and the will of God.

 The strength of Faith

This encounter also teaches us what the strength of faith can be. For when Jesus cursed the tree, it looked reluctant to the disciples, yet it did happen (Matthew 21:20), (Mark 11:20-23). For it is by faith that we know that there is God, and indeed He is. Amen.