Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically today’s passage is found in the fifteenth chapter of this New Testament book. “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. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:1-10). “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my father I have made known unto you. Ye have not. Chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:11-16). “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.l if I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now they have both seen and hated booth me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” (John 15:17-25). “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27). When you come to the fifteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will come to perhaps one of the most powerful invitations for fellowship with the person of the Lord Jesus in all of Scripture. The words and language presented within this particular section of the gospel written by the apostle John—chapters thirteen through seventeen—are entirely and altogether astonishing when you take the time to think about it for these words bring us face to face with the incredible need for the saints of God and the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to give themselves completely and totally to fellowship together with Jesus. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not encounter and come face to face with the incredible need for the saints of God to commit themselves unreservedly and without wavering to complete and utter fellowship together with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words which we see here in this passage of Scripture paint a powerful picture and yield a tremendous invitation given unto us who read them to commit ourselves to fellowship together with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact you cannot read the words found within this section of the gospel and not come face to face with the passionate plea and fantastic desire of the Father and the Son to have fellowship together with those who have believed on the name of the Lord, those who have received Him as the Christ and the Son of the living God and those who have confessed Him as Lord. The implications and invitation that are presented here in this text are absolutely unmistakable when you take the time to consider them for they help us to understand something that was in the heart of the Father from the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth—namely, fellowship with those whom He has personally formed and fashioned within the womb. I sit here today and I am absolutely and incredibly captivated and struck with the word sand language that is presented here int his passage of Scripture for within it we are brought face to face with one of the most powerful declarations Jesus made concerning Himself. If you read this New Testament gospel written by the apostle John you will find a number of different declarations the Lord Jesus made concerning Himself—and not only concerning Himself but also concerning His relationship to the Father. As you read the words which are found here in this passage of Scripture you will find Jesus declaring unto His disciples on this night in which He would be betrayed that He was the true vine. Moreover when you read the words found here in this passage of Scripture you will find Jesus declaring unto His disciples that He was the true vine and His Father was the husbandman. Jesus would go on to declare that every branch in Him which bears not fruit the Father takes away while every branch that is in Him which bears fruit is purged by the Father that it may bring forth fruit. There is at the very heart and center of these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ the need for us to bear and bring forth fruit—something which was also at the heart of the parable of the seed and the sower. You will recall Jesus’ delivering of a parable concerning a man who went out sowing seed in the earth as he went—the same seed which would fall in different places and would have different results. Oh it’s actually quite astonishing to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and consider the fact that within this parable there wasn’t a different seed which was sown in the stony ground versus the seed which was sown among the thorns versus the seed which was sown in the good soil. There were indeed four different types of soil represented within this parable, however, with there being four different types of soil and four different types of results of the seed which was sown it would be the same seed which was sown in the midst of the earth. I am absolutely convinced that if we want to truly understand the words which are found in this passage of Scripture we must needs turn and direct our attention to the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew. It is here within this gospel where we find the first mention of this parable which the Lord Jesus would teach and deliver to the multitudes when speaking of the kingdom of heaven. On this particular day as Jesus sat down together with His disciples on a mountainside He would deliver the first of the parables spoken unto the crowds and multitudes which gathered themselves unto Him. Within this parable we find Jesus referencing a certain man who went out with seed in his pouch or garment which he would sow into the earth as he went. The parable which Jesus told would go on to describe how this man would sow seed as he went, however, the seed which he sowed would indeed be sown in to different types of soil, atmospheres and environments. You cannot read the words which are found in this parable and not encounter and come face to face with the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the fact that within the parable it was not a different type of seed that was sown into these different types of soil and ground but rather it was the same seed. I do not believe for one minute this farmer sowed different seed on the stony ground versus the seed which was sown among the thorns and so on and so forth. I firmly believe that the same seed originally sown at the first would indeed be the same seed which was sown at the last—that which was sown in to the good soil. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew. Here in this particular passage of Scripture we encounter and come face to face with the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding this first of parables which Jesus would teach and speak unto those who were present on this particular day. Jesus would indeed deliver this parable concerning a certain farmer who went forth sowing seed into and upon the earth and yet that same seed would fall into four different types of soils. What’s more is not only would this same seed which was sown be sown into four different types of of soil but it would also be sown into different types of environments and atmospheres. Not only this but as you take the time to read the parable you will find that although same seed was sown in each of these different places the results would be entirely different. THE SAME SEED SOWN IN FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES WOULD HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT RESULTS! Oh there might have been those who thought the seed which was sown in each of these places was indeed different, however, the parable suggests that it was the same seed which was sown in each of these different places which would produce different results in each of these types of soil. With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the thirteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew beginning to read with and from the first verse: “The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 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 deep ness 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 sixty fold, some thirty fold. Who hath ears to hear let them hear” (Matthew 13:1-9). “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matthew 13:10-17). “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the see into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitful ness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23). I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and can’t help but be brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding the words which the Lord Jesus delivered and spoke unto the multitude which gathered themselves unto Him. On this particular day Jesus would describe a certain sower who went forth to sow seed and as he sowed seed it would fall on different types of soil and in different places. If there is one thing I can’t help but consider when reading the words found in this parable it’s that the sower did not sow different types of seed by the wayside, nor sow different type of seed on to the stony ground, nor different type of seed among the thorns, nor finally different type of seed which fell upon the good ground. As you read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will find the farmer who sowed the seed would sow the same seed by the wayside as he did in the good ground. With this being said it is important to recognize and understand that with each type of soil into which the seed fell there would be different results which come as a result of that seed being sown. What’s more is that in certain of these places the seed would actually bring forth fruit and would show signs of life, healthy, vitality and substance and yet as time went on that which had sprung forth would in fact wither and die. With the exception of the seed which fell by the way side there would be initial evidence and results of the seed which had been sown as there would be certain fruit that would come forth. OH if there is one thing which must needs be carefully considered when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture it’s that although the seed would indeed produce fruit and have some type of evidence in certain places that fruit would be short-lived as it would eventually wither away. Upon reading the words which are found in the fifteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will find that one of—if not the chief east evidence and manifestation of abiding in Jesus who is the true vine is the bearing and bringing forth of fruit. With this being said I am absolutely convinced we must needs understand and recognize that there have been individuals who have initially begun walking with and following the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and have indeed displayed evidence of fruit being borne within their lives. There are and there have been certain individuals who have begun walking with and following the person of the Lord Jesus and might indeed show signs of bearing fruit within their lives and yet as time went on that fruit would seemingly disappear—and perhaps not merely disappear but altogether wither. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how incredibly important it truly is for we would be incredibly naïve to think and to consider for a moment that absolutely everyone who begins walking with and following Jesus not only bears and brings forth fruit but continues to bear and bring forth fruit the rest of their lives. In fact there are certain examples found within Scripture of those who might have initially walked with and followed the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and even bore fruit within themselves—fruit which showed and displayed evidence of a life that was changed and transformed—and yet that fruit would indeed be short lived before ultimately disappearing altogether. There are powerful examples and accounts found within the New Testament that describe those who began walking with and following the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and even brought and bore forth fruit and yet as time went on that fruit would wither and disappear. Not only would that fruit wither and disappear but those who walked with and followed the person of the Lord Jesus would themselves choose to no longer walk with, fellowship with and even abide in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having said this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found within the New Testament beginning to read with and from the sixth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John. Here in this passage of Scripture we find certain of the Jews and even many disciples of the Lord Jesus witnessing the miracles which He wrought in the city of Jerusalem at the feast and coming unto Him in Galilee. It would be there in Galilee where Jesus would feed this tremendous crowd and multitude that would gather themselves unto Him and would feed them with and from five loaves of bread and two fish. [As a side note I find it incredibly astonishing and intriguing to consider the fact that I believe Jesus fed this multitude with more than mere earthly and natural bread made from leaven, grain and the like. I would dare say that on this particular day Jesus fed this multitude with and from Himself. I would dare say that as He continued to break and multiply the bread which was in His hands He would impart a measure of Himself as He would feed them with and from Himself.] With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the sixth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John: “The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereunto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away along; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberius nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:22-27). “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:28-40). “The Jews then murmured at him because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto t hem, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:41-51). “The jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus aid unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum” (John 6:52-59). “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:60-65). “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:66-71). Please don’t miss and lose sight of the words and language found in this passage of Scripture for within it we find a multitude of at least five thousand man not including women and children being fed by Jesus from five loaves of bread and two fish. Despite the fact that many of these who were present on this day witnessed the miracles which Jesus did in Jerusalem at the feast and despite the fact they ate and partook of the bread there in that remote place there would be many who would turn back and walk no more with Jesus. This is an incredibly powerful picture when you take the time to consider it for it calls and draws our attention to the astonishing reality of those who might have walked with and followed the Lord Jesus and perhaps displayed fruit and evidence of such fellowship at some point during and within their lives. Eventually, however, something would happen and they would make the conscious and deliberate decision to turn back and walk no more with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ would not only make the declaration that He was the bread which came down from heaven but would also speak of their eating His flesh and drinking His blood—that which would cause them to first murmur at and against Him because of the words which He had spoken. Eventually and ultimately many of His disciples would turn back and walk no more with Him. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FRUIT? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EVIDENCE? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BELIEF? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EXPERIENCE? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ENCOUNTER? Oh there is something truly astonishing and captivating about the words and language presented in this passage of Scripture as it calls and draws our attention to the truth surrounding the Lord Jesus Christ and how there were those who would indeed who evidence of fellowship with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet would turn back and walk no more with Him. The more I consider the words which are found in the parable of the seed and the sower the more I am brought face to face with the incredible and tremendous truth that there were those who are represented by the seed which fell on the stony ground and the seed which fell among the thorns who did initially bring and bear forth fruit and yet that fruit would be entirely altogether short lived. There would indeed be those who would bear and bring forth fruit for a certain period of time within their lives and yet at some point something would happen that would cause that fruit to wither away. What’s more is that I would dare say when the fruit begins to wither and die it might only be a matter of time before the person themselves begins to wither and die. I am convinced that so long as we are bearing and bringing forth fruit we are abiding in the true vine and it is that vine which gives us our life, our nourishment, our vitality, our sustenance and everything that we need to grow, to mature and to produce and bring forth fruit. It’s important to note that Jesus emphatically declared that it would be by our fruits we would indeed be known—a statement which would mean that when the fruit disappears and seems to dissipate from our hearts and lives there is an evidence that is revealed from that. I am absolutely convinced that if the fruit which we once bore and brought forth within our lives begins to disappear and is not longer produced within us we as those who once walked with and followed the person of the Lord Jesus Christ have begun to remove ourselves from abiding in the vine. Jesus made it very clear that the only way for us to bring forth fruit is to indeed abide in Him for He was the true vine. What’s more is Jesus would also go on to declare that as a branch could not bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine no more could they except they abide in him. Moreover Jesus would go on to declare that He was the vine and they were the branches and as such those who abode in Him and he in them would bring forth much fruit for without Him they could do nothing. Jesus emphatically declared unto His disciples that He was the true vine and that every branch in Him which did not bear fruit the Father would take away. Conversely, however, every branch in Him that bore fruit the Father would take and purge it that it might bring forth fruit. Oh it is with all of this being said I am absolutely gripped and captivated by the incredible truth that if the fruit within our lives which was once evidenced and manifested within us begins to wither, and to die, and to disappear it is a sure fire sign that we are removing ourselves from the vine. Jesus made it very clear that in and of ourselves we can do nothing and that the only way to bear and bring forth fruit is to abide in Him. This is something we must needs understand and recognize for while we have indeed been called and chosen to bear and bring forth much fruit the only way to bring forth that fruit is to abide in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is with this being said I find it absolutely necessary to declare unto you that it is by our fruits that we are known—and not only known but known by others as those who bring forth good fruit or those who bring forth evil fruit. You will recall that Jesus declared that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit no more than a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. It was Jesus Himself who emphatically declared that we have indeed been called and chosen to bear and bring forth fruit which is something we must needs recognize and understand for it wouldn’t be until this particular night in which he was betrayed He would declare how that fruit is brought forth, produced and cultivated. Jesus made it very clear that the only way to bear and bring forth fruit would indeed be to abide in Him for outside of, apart from and without Him we can in fact do nothing. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for when reading the parable of the seed and the sower there were those who did initially bear and bring forth fruit—perhaps even good fruit—and yet there would come a point in time when that fruit would disappear and dissipate from their lives. Moreover I would dare say that when the fruit began to wither and die so also would those who bore the fruit begin to wither and die themselves. Having said this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the seventh chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew as well as the words which are found in the fifth chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches in Galatia. What’s more is I would also like to invite you to consider the following words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew, the words which are found in the fourth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto Timothy, the words which are found in the third chapter of the second epistle written by the apostle Paul unto Timothy as well as the words which are found in the sixth and tenth chapters of the epistle written unto the Hebrews: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:13-23). “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lascivious ness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, evenings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:13-26). With these passages before you concerning bearing and bringing forth fruit—even what that fruit looks like within the heart and life of one who walks with and follows the person of the Lord Jesus Christ—I would like to invite you to consider the following passages which do in fact describe the lawlessness and wickedness that is present and will be present in the earth but also a great many men and women who can and will be just like the multitude of disciples during Jesus’ day who went back and walked no more with Him. Oh it is absolutely necessary and imperative that if we should ever make the decision to turn back and walk no more with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ it is absolutely impossible to bear and bring forth fruit. There is absolutely no hope to bear and bring forth fruit which is indeed lasting and sustaining within our hearts and lives if we choose to distance, separate ourselves from and even turn back and walk no more with the person of the Lord Jesus. Oh it is indeed true there might have been those who at one point walked with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and bore fruit—perhaps even much fruit—and yet at some point these individuals turned back and walked no more with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something which must needs be carefully considered within our hearts and lives for Jesus made it very clear that unless we abide in Him we can in and of ourselves do nothing which would in fact include bearing and bringing forth fruit. Oh I have said it before and I will say it again for when the fruit in our lives begins to wither and die so also do we ourselves begin to wither and die. IF THE FRUIT GOES SO GOES THE DISCIPLE! I would dare say that the fruit within the life of a disciple of the Lord Jesus is the first thing to dissipate and disappear within their life the minute they begin distancing and separating themselves from the true vine who is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can always tell who is truly abiding in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ for the fruit will be evidenced within their lives—and not only will it be evidenced and manifested within their lives but it will also be produced and brought forth in abundance. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in these passages of Scripture aforementioned in this writing: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginnings of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:4-14). “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ’s and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold,I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go no forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For Wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together” (Matthew 24:21-28). “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that many of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you8, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing sprits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their son evidence seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (1 Timothy 4:1-6). “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Joanne’s and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Timothy 3:1-14). “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing: whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:1-8). “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good words: nor forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the LORD. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:19-39). It is absolutely necessary for us to consider the words and language that is found within these passages of Scripture for they do in act draw and call our attention to the tremendous danger of turning back and walking no more with the person of the Lord Jesus. It was Jesus Himself who declared that in the last days there would be those who would not only be deceived but would also be offended—deceived by false Christs and false prophets and offended by and because of persecutions, afflictions, suffering and the like. As a direct result of these two realities in the last days there can and there will be many who will turn back and walk no more with the Lord Jesus Christ—just as many of the disciples turned back and walked no more with Jesus in Capernaum of Galilee. With this being said it’s important to recognize that the apostle Paul when writing in the second epistle written unto the Thessalonians saints as well as in each of his epistles written unto Timothy spoke of the last days and how in the last days there would be many who would turn back and walk no more with the Lord Jesus. Even the author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews would themselves write concerning those who turned back and those who trampled underfoot the blood, the cross and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh I am absolutely convinced we must needs pay close attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the reality that there have been many and there will continue to be many of the disciples who will turn back and walk no more with the person of the Lord Jesus. Despite the fact that many of these individuals might in fact have borne fruit within their lives that fruit began to wither and die as they began to distance and separate themselves from the true vine. What’s more is that these individuals would allow themselves to be deceived in their minds and even offended within their hearts and souls when persecution, affliction and suffering arose for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus and because of the word which they had once received joyfully and gladly. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in the fifteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John, as well as the words which are found in the thirteenth chapter of the gospel written by the apostle Matthew and I am brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the truth that if and/or when the fruit within our hearts and lives begins to dissipate and disappear so also do we begin to experience death within us. Remember in the garden that Adam and Eve could partake of the fruit of any and every tree in the garden of Eden save one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They could eat freely of every tree in the garden save one—even the tree of life itself—and so long as they continued to partake of that fruit and even the tree of life they would continue to experience fellowship with the living God and would continue to have and enjoy the life offered unto and afforded to them. If, however, they made the decision to cease eating of the fruit of the other trees in the garden and even chose to cease eating of the fruit of the tree of life and chose instead to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. It was the LORD God who declared unto Adam that he ought not eat and partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day that he did so he would surely die. Oh this is something we must needs recognize and understand within our hearts and lives for so long as we freely eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden—even the tree of life itself—we can and will experience life and fellowship in and with the living God. The minute we choose to separate ourselves from the tree of life and no longer partake of the tree of life and choose instead to partake of the fruit of a different tree we not only distance and separate ourselves from the eternal and living God but we begin to see the dissipation of that fellowship and we begin to die. Oh consider if you will the following words which are found in the second and third chapters of the Old Testament book of Genesis concerning the commandment given unto Adam as well as the transgression which was committed in the garden of Eden: “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil…And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou east east thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:8-9, 15-18). “Now the serpent was more subtitl than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may earth of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the yes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that you wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy bellow shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou part, and unto dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life” (Genesis 3:1-24). I find it absolutely astounding to consider the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within it we find Adam and Eve being given the ability to freely eat of the fruit of the trees of any and every tree in the garden—including the tree of life—with the exception of one. The LORD God declared unto Adam that he could freely eat of every tree in the garden save the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day that he ate thereof he would surely die. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is as it calls and draws our attention to the fact that Adam and Eve could freely eat of the fruit of the tree of life as much and as often as they desired and they would continue to experience life there in the midst of the garden. What the LORD God did emphatically declare unto Adam was that if he ever ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. What makes this truly intriguing when you take the time to think about it is when you consider Jesus’ words concerning His being the true vine for Jesus would also declare that outside and apart from Him one could do nothing. Jesus made it very clear the only way one could bear fruit and experience life would indeed be to abide in Him for He was indeed the true vine. This is something we dare not and must not ignore for if we wish and desire to bear and bring forth any fruit within our lives we must needs continue to abide in the true vine. Abiding in the true vine that we might bear and bring forth fruit is almost identical to Adam and Eve eating of the tree of life for so long as we continue to abide in the vine we can not only experience life but we can also bear and bring forth fruit. So long as Adam and Eve continued to eat freely of every tree in the garden of Eden—including the tree of life—they would continue to experience and enjoy fellowship and life with and in the living God. This was something they needed to recognize and understand for so long as they not only walked in obedience to His command but also ate of the trees of the garden—including the tree of life—they would be able to continue to abide in the living God and enjoy fellowship together with Him. I sit here today thinking about how absolutely incredible this truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that when we consider the words which Jesus spoke unto His disciples in the fifteenth chapter of the gospel written by the apostle John He spoke of the need to abide in Him. The underlying context of this abiding in Him is indeed fellowship for only to the degree and measure we are in fellowship together with Him we can and will be able to bear fruit. The greater our fellowship is both in and with the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God the greater the fruit can and will be within our hearts and lives. Conversely the less the fellowship we have with and in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ the less the fruit is that will actually be present within our hearts and lives. This is something we must needs understand and recognize for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that if we reduce our fellowship in and with the only begotten Son of the living God the fruit we once bore can and will be reduced in both quantity and quality. So long as we abide and remain in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ we can and will bring forth an abundance of fruit—and not only fruit but also life and life abundantly. We as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must needs be those who recognize and understand that we are in fact called to abide in the one who is the true vine—the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is this particular truth that not only provides us with the life and sustenance that we need but it also provides us with the ability to bear and bring forth fruit. There is a great need for us as the disciples of the Lord Jesus to recognize and understand that only to the degree and measure we abide in Jesus can and will we bear and bring forth fruit. We cannot underestimate and I cannot overstate this enough for there is something absolutely captivating about this true and how only as we abide in the true vine can we bear and bring forth fruit. The more I consider the words and language of the Lord Jesus the more I can and will be brought face to face with the incredible truth that if the fruit within our lives dissipates and disappears then it is only a matter of time before we begin to taste and experience death. When Adam and Eve forsook the fruit of the trees of the garden of Eden—including the tree of life—and they chose to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they began to experience death. The same way Adam and Eve began to experience death after forsaking the tree of life and partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the same way that those who forsake the true vine who in and of Himself is life personified can and will experience death. This is something we must come to terms with if we desire to not only have and enjoy life but also to bear and bring forth fruit. We as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must needs acknowledge within ourselves that we have been called to abide in the true vine that we might not only experience life but might also experience the ability to bear and bring forth fruit. There is something absolutely captivating and beautiful about this reality when we take the time to think about it as it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the need to not only abide but continue to abide in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must needs understand and recognize that the only hope for us to bear and bring forth fruit within our hearts and lives is to continue to abide in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and to allow ourselves to enjoy and experience fellowship together with Him. There is absolutely no hope for us bearing and bringing forth fruit within our lives if we remove ourselves from abiding in Him and if we cut ourselves off from the vine itself. It is only within and in the vine that we as the saints of God and the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are able to experience life and have it more abundantly. It was Jesus Himself who declared that He came to give life and life more abundantly. We we must acknowledge this with our whole hearts for the only hope for us to enjoy and experience life and fellowship with the only begotten Son is to abide in Him. As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to invite you to consider the fact that in the parable of the sower it was the same seed which was sown in each of the four different places. It was the same seed which was sown by the wayside, and which was sown in the stony ground, and which was sown among the thorns, and sown into the good soil. What’s more is it’s interesting to note that part of the curse for Adam’s disobedience was the cursing of the soil and the ground for what before had and would not produce thorns and briers would now all of a sudden bring them forth. The ground would not previously bring forth that which would choke the life out of what was planted nor would there be stony ground with which to contend with, however, as a direct result of the transgression and disobedience in the garden such realities would be manifested. It is quite interesting that within this parable we not only read of stony ground but we also read of thorns and it would be thorns and briers which would be directly linked to the transgression in the garden, to the curse upon the soil and the ground and that which Adam would have to contend with in order to provide for himself, for his wife Eve and for their children. Jesus delivered this parable concerning the seed and the sower and how there would indeed be four different types of soil and ground upon which the seed would be sown and in two of those soils and ground fruit would actually be brought forth. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of as it calls and draws our attention to the incredible reality surrounding the curse for transgression being a curse upon the ground—a curse upon the same substance from which Adam was formed from. The more I write about this the more I am brought face to face with the fact that when the LORD cursed the ground He did more than curse that which Adam would use to provide for himself, for his wife and his family but He would also curse that from which Adam was formed from. When the living and eternal God cursed the ground He cursed that from which Adam had been formed and fashioned from and thus would curse the very nature of Adam himself. Adam was indeed formed from the dust of the earth and was not a living soul until the breath of life was breathed into his nostrils. Now as a direct result of the sin and transgression in the garden the soil and ground from which Adam had been formed would indeed be cursed. OH I can’t help but wonder if when Adam was cast forth from the garden he was indeed cast into the same region and area from which he had been formed and fashioned thus indicating the truth behind the reality of from dust we were formed and unto dust shall we return. The LORD God would curse the ground from which Adam was formed and would at the same time curse the very substance and nature from which Adam had been brought forth from. This would be about more than simply cursing that from which Adam had been brought forth from but would also be a powerful indication that we have indeed been called to taste, enjoy and experience life. The truth of the matter, however, is that the only way to enjoy and experience life is to abide in the true vine who is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we wish to enjoy and experience life and if we desire to bear and bring forth fruit we must needs abide in the person and presence of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God.