Do any of you have a garden? I have grown tomatoes in my garden for many years. I especially like those sweet little cherry tomatoes. Usually I have around 25 plants growing, and nearly all of them produce bunches of tomatoes. But occasionally I will have one or two plants that grow up big just like the others, but when you search through the leaves, there are no tomatoes growing on it. It has no fruit. Usually when I see a plant like this I will let it grow for a while, but if it doesn’t start to produce anything soon, I will pull it out of the ground so that it doesn’t take up any more nutrients away from the other good plants.
That is just like the Christian faith. There are many, many people on the earth, all apart of God’s garden. He put us on this earth so that He can receive fruit from us. Unless we live a fruit-filled life, filled with love and preaching Christ’s word, we too will be cut down.
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” Luke 13:6-9
Do you see what happened in the story above? The fig tree did not produce anything for the owner of the vineyard. The dresser (or caretaker) of the vineyard was able to spare the tree one more year for it to produce some fruit. But if it still continued to be unfruitful, then it would be cut down.
Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. If we don’t bear fruit of the Vine, we will be cut off and thrown into the fire.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:1-8
Look how much fruit Paul had. Look at how many of the books in the New Testament that Paul wrote. Paul was busy starting churches and preaching to people everywhere. All of those people who believed the things he was preaching are his fruit. All who read his books in the New Testament and come to Christ are his fruit. He might not be alive on the earth today, but his writings will last until Judgement Day, and he can continue to increase his fruit.
Read this parable.
“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:3-8
In the parable of the sower, the sower spread seeds all over the place. He spread some among stony places, he spread some among thorns, some along a path, and some fell into good soil. Not every seed that gets planted will take root and grow up strong, just as not everyone that hears God’s word is going to believe it and become a mature Christian. The sower isn’t responsible for the growth. God makes all things grow. What matters is that you continue to plant those seeds of faith in people’s hearts, so that someday, you too will receive 30, 60, 100 fold.
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” Luke 13:6-9
“And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matthew 21:19
Jesus cursed the tree for being unfruitful. Are you a fruitful Christian?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 