“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Walking with the Living Word and the Written Word of God brings out in our lives the very character of God Himself.  Jesus said to His Disciples, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27) The Apostle Paul would build on Jesus’ promise about the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives. “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9b-10)

Learning to walk with Jesus brings us into a relationship with God, where His presence in our lives transforms our character into His character. We are being reshaped into the Image of God. As we learn from the teaching of God, we learn how to live as one, transformed by God. We are given Jesus’ peace. The Holy Spirit brings us wisdom and understanding, all given for us to live our lives worthy of the Lord, which pleases Him.

As we live this life in relationship with God, He produces in our lives fruit. This fruit is seen in all the good works we do, as well as in our growing knowledge of God. Here, God begins to grow His character into our lives. Paul would call this the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . .. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23,25 ESV)

The fruit produced in our lives comes form our daily walk with God. Jesus would describe this daily walk as abiding in Him. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)

It is through the fruit of the Spirit where Jesus shows Himself to the world through His followers. “For example, everyone wants to experience more “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). When we manifest such “fruit of the Spirit” out of an intimate daily relationship with the living Lord Jesus, others will inevitably be drawn to him through us.” (The Denison Forum, Jim Denison) Jesus says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8) In His command to the church, He reminds the disciples that this is how the world will know Jesus, through the witness of the church. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) It is living in a relationship with God, where He shows through our lives the transformation of Jesus Christ as we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.

As we seek to live our lives walking with the Living Word of God and the Written Word of God lets us join the Apostle Paul and pray this prayer for each other.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block