Fresh Fruit
August 2, 2020
Big Picture
As Christians, have we progressed in our spiritual growth journey to the point that we are bearing fruit? There is a huge difference between bearing fruit and artificially showing fruit that is not genuine. The latter is as ridiculous as stapling an apple to a tree. Fortunately, if we remain connected to the vine, we will inevitably bear real fruit. There is no way we can stay close to Jesus and the heart of God and not become fruitful in our spiritual life. Those that delight in God’s word, meditate on it daily, and gaze at it continuously, will reflect the results thereof.
Sermon Recap
Now in the sixth week of our “Fresh” series, we take a second look at the passage from Psalm 1. In Psalm 1:3 we read of the man who is “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season.” Staying planted and connected to God is the key to being fruitful. We struggle in becoming like Christ when we are not connected to him.
Remaining connected to God requires that we first delight in God’s word, as indicated in Psalm 1:2, which states, “His delight is in the law of the LORD.” If we don’t delight in the word of God, it will be hard to reproduce the heart of God. Reading the word of God with gladness, rather than a mere duty or chore, will bring what we read to life and impact us in an intimate way. This delight in God’s word leads to a daily meditation of God’s ways and principles for our life.
If it has become easier for us to remember scenes from movies and secular song lyrics instead of Sunday’s sermon or the passage we read yesterday, then that is an indication of what we delight in the most. Our delight in things is what increases our meditation and memorization of such things. This is why we need to delight in God’s word. As our delight keeps us engaged with God’s word, our daily meditation becomes like a stream of water that continually refreshes us.
Meditation and reflection are key components in our ability to produce fruit. Paul urges Timothy to, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Tim 2:7). In order to gain insight, there must be reflection, for the Lord gives understanding and revelation when we meditate on his word.
Psalm 1:3 states that the fruit comes “in its season.” When we have taken the appropriate time of reflecting and applying God’s word in our life, only then will we bear fruit. It takes time and dedication and cannot be expected to be an overnight result. As we delight in the Lord and meditate on his word day and night, we will all be “transformed into the same image [of Christ] from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).
Delight in Christ, meditate and reflect on his word, and you will bear fruit in due season that will remain unto eternal life.
Pastor Ebenezer Endiryas
Ebenezer Endiryas is the lead pastor of Parazim Church located in Minneapolis, MN. He is also the host of Shaping the Culture podcast. Ebenezer has a deep love for the word of God and culture, and the confluence at which they intersect.