Bearing Good Fruit
Bearing Good Fruit
Notes compiled by Prophet Chantal Pelser; Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town
Sunday Am Sermon 12 October 2025
It is a wonderful concept to understand how the Father fulfils our lives with meaning. To bear good fruit as the Word of God explains glorifies the Father. We understand that fruit is a metaphor for our lives producing something that the world around us craves and needs, much like the nutrients in natural fruit that replenish our physical bodies. Even more, the fruit He produces is holy, glorious, beautiful, and exceedingly fulfilling. It resembles His glory and His holiness.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” – John 15: 16
What makes you constantly irritated and frustrated? Is it something you can change, or does it have a spiritual source? Often, works of the flesh can limit the growth of spiritual fruit.
The good news is that Jesus has given us ways grow fruit to resemble the Vine more and more.
Main Scripture: John 15:1–8 – Bible Lexicon Notes Summarized:
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Introduction:
- In the Bible, fruit is a symbol of what our lives produce.
- Just like a tree shows its health by its fruit, our lives show our spiritual health by our actions and attitudes.
- Jesus wants us to bear good fruit—fruit that brings glory to God and blesses others.
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1. Good Fruit Comes from a Good Source
- Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5).
- A branch can’t grow fruit unless it’s connected to the vine.
- Simple Point: We must stay close to Jesus to grow spiritually.
Application: Spend time with Jesus daily—through prayer, reading the Bible, and obeying His Word.
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2. Fruit Shows What’s Inside
- “A good tree produces good fruit” (Matthew 7:17).
- Our words, actions, and choices show what’s in our hearts.
- Simple Point: If Jesus is in your heart, your life will show it.
Application: Ask God to help you grow in love, kindness, and truth.
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3. The Fruit of the Spirit
- Galatians 5:22–23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- This fruit is not something we force—it grows naturally when the Holy Spirit works in us.
- Simple Point: The Holy Spirit helps us live like Jesus.
Application: Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions each day.
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4. Fruit That Lasts
- Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
- This includes helping others know Jesus, living a holy life, and worshiping God.
- Simple Point: Good fruit blesses others and lasts into eternity.
Application: Share your faith, serve others, and worship with your whole heart.
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Responsibilities for Bearing Good Fruit
Concept: Fruit is therefore the manifestation or the effect of Him. The fruit not only reflects on us as we go through our daily lives, but also others.
We are called to bear fruit. For us to be fulfilled there is very simple and clear plan for this.
Jesus said: I am the True Vine and My Father is the Vinedressers. We are the branches.
Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we who call on His Name have been grafted into Him. On the day we called on Him to be our Lord and Saviour and committed to be His disciples, the Father grafted us in. Let us define and clarify the roles in the Vineyard of the Father.
1. The Father is the Vinedresser
The Father……Is the Vinedresser … grafts branches in and removes branches, that does not bear fruit (Romans 11:16-24)
.Teh Vinedresser …prunes branches that do bear fruit
Jesus’ Role:
2. Jesus … is the True Vine: the genuine, the Holy, the Anointed One
…overcame death, hell sickness, disease.
…purchased us
…gave us authority to overcome every lie, every onslaught, every temptation, every trouble, test, tribulation and trial of our faith.
…He is the Holy root, from which the holy Vine originates
…the Word is like a seed, that has the potential to bear more fruit
- The Holy Spirit……produces the fruit …comforts, leads, informs us, reminds us, prays through us.
- Our Role: We are… …the branches.
What is the function of a branch? To be a branch!
…to abide, to connect, to position ourselves in Him, in His truth
…to love Him by obeying His commands, to love one another
…to submit to the Father’s hand of pruning, correction and love
Our single most focused role in all this is to position ourselves in Him, in His truth: the truth about yourself, the truth about every matter and every circumstance.
How do we do this? As we make day by day choices to walk in the Spirit, we are abiding, we are staying, we are remaining in Him and His Words in us.
Jesus was speaking to his disciples. Disciples are disciplined ones.
Men who left all to follow Jesus. Those who decided to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him, the true Vine.
Wuest’s translation has: “My Father is the tiller of the soil”. The soil speaks of our hearts.
If you allow scripture to interpret scripture from Matthew 13, we learn about soil and understand that it speaks about how receptive our hearts are to the seed of the Word.
Words of the Vine Cleanse
Joh 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Jesus’ disciples had already been baptized. Later he washed their feet:
Joh 13:10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean,
Application Notes:
- Bearing good fruit is not about being perfect—it’s about staying connected to Jesus.
- We can identify, through the help of the Holy Spirit and gifts of discernment, what is irritating and frustrating the growth of good spiritual fruit.
- Cultivation of fruit includes a process, what processes can you see in your life at this moment of your development?
- In what ways can you ensure that you focus more on ‘abiding in the Vine to ensure you bear much fruit and glorify your Father in heaven?
