Jesus said some very powerful words that, if we forget them, it may be something that is quite damning: 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide 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. 5I 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. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. If you were to do an honest examination of your life, what kind of fruit are you producing? Is it fruit that is glorifying the Father, or fruit that is seeking after self? I can say at times, I know I am seeking after fleshly fruits, those that seek my own gratification. I get selfish, I seek my own way, and I desire to do things that I know are in opposition to spiritual things. I can use the excuse that "I'm only human," but I don't want to. I want to be a branch grafted in to the vine, and as the Father cuts away, I pray I am reminded that He does so that I might become even more fruitful, for the Father desires that I bear much fruit! I want to abide in Jesus that the Holy Spirit will produce in me His fruit, that I might bring Him honor and glory in all I do. I'm not there yet, but I seek it. We all should seek His pruning, so we can do what Jesus said the Lord desires, and bear much fruit. Over the next several days, we're going to examine each aspect of the fruit of the spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-control. And I pray this for you, as well as for myself, that as we learn to let go, we allow the Lord to prune, that we may bear MUCH fruit! Galatians 5, English Standard Version 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy,d drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who doe such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Footnotes: d 21 Some manuscripts add murder e 21 Or make a practice of doing
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