God wants us to be fruitful

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit." (Matthew 12v33)
"He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit." (Isaiah 5v2)
"Blessed is the man who... is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1v3)
"The righteous… will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.' " (Psalm 94v14)

What fruit should our lives produce?

1. Actions – good deeds, right living
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance… 'What should we do then?' the crowd asked. John answered, 'The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.' Tax collectors also came to be baptized. 'Teacher,' they asked, 'what should we do?' 'Don't collect any more than you are required to,' he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, 'And what should we do?' He replied, 'Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely - be content with your pay.' (Luke 3v8-14)
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work" (Colossians 1v10)
"The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5v9)
"This is my prayer: that... you may pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1v9-11)
Pray each day for opportunities to do good to others

2. Positive speech
"An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk… From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him." (Proverbs 12v13-14)
"Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.' " (Hosea 14v2)
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13v15)
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." (Proverbs 11v30)
The example of Philip from Acts 8
Pray each day for opportunities to witness

3. Good character
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5v22-23)
"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32v17)

How can we produce fruit? John 15

1. Give God & Jesus first place in life
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." (v1)
"apart from me you can do nothing." (v5)
2. Allow God to change you
"every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (v2)
3. Keep close to Jesus
"Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (v4)
"If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." (v5)
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (v7)

How can we "abide in Jesus"?

• Make time to pray every day
• Read the bible & absorb Jesus' words
• Talk to Jesus throughout the day
• Cultivate an attitude of thankfulness
• Fill your mind with positive things
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit
• Ask for help with problems & needs
• Trust & obey !