Eternal Growth Group, Inc.

Think of it this way, when our children do well at school or in sport or other public settings, Do people not say, “oh he/she was brought up well” or “he/she comes from a good home”? Doesn’t that praise or honor your child receives roll back to you? And when our children receive prizes, rewards, trophies for doing well, Don’t we beam proudly saying “that’s my son or daughter or that’s my girl or boy”? So do you think God feels the same and/or says the same when or foundation, patience, persecution, fruits and eventual rewards (FPPFR) bring God glory? Our FPPFR is the light that glows or shows from our lives that men and women around us need to see to lead them to God through Christ. Let the world around you see your FPPFR :D;-)O:)

Matthew 5:15-16
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ultimately our lives are to be lived to bring glory to God. The laying down of a strong foundation or making deep roots requires our endurance and patience which helps us with overcoming persecutions/trials/temptations which in turn builds character or fruits in us that result to Glory to God and rewards for us.

1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

John 15:8
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Our God has his best interests in us. He has deposited so much into us and those things He has deposited are the fruits we should share with others.
May God give us His grace to show forth the fruits that he has presented to us through the Holy Spirit May we show the fruits of The Spirit in Jesus name, Amen.

Proverbs 27:18
As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

Did it ever occur to you that we are The body of Christ and are to be used and consumed by the world like He was? Our Lord said, you must “eat my body and drink my blood…” So also as fruit is meant for eating, our lives are spiritual food for those unbelieving or maturing to use to grow into or get connected to God.

John 6:53-58
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

So what are these fruits that we are suppose to bear? How do I identify the fruits God expects of me? Fruits to me implies a substance that others around can see, experience or taste. We have to know what God expects of us and definitely what he does not expect of us These are the fruits that I think we should not bear and those we should bear:

Galatians 5:19-23
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Can a tree bear fruit without being connected to its source of nutrients? No of course not. So also, a Christian cannot produce fruit if he/she is not connected to God through Christ. The fruit we bear is truly Christ in us, the hope of glory. So please reconnect and stay connected to God through Christ and His words. Here’s how God says we should do this:

John 15:1-12
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

The true strength and character of a tree is the fruit it bears. By your words, your actions, and the fulfillment of the promises you make, people can determine if you are a good tree or a bad tree. So if your fruit is good then you have to be good. So when people taste or test and see who you truly are do they like what they see or what they learn of you?

Luke 3:8a
8 Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act.

John 15:8
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Fruits are sooooo important in our Christian lives to the point that they are literally to die for. Fruits are huge to God and they reflect who we are and/or if we have been in tune with God. A fruit bearing tree must bear fruits in its season otherwise there’s something wrong. So what does God say?

Matthew 7:16-19
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

How do you know you have come near to the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ? When you can yield without murmuring to the sufferings or persecutions that’s brought against you for the cause of God. Are you there yet?

1 Peter 3:13-14
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Revelations 2:10
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

Revelations 12:10-11
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

If we are lovers and followers of Christ Jesus then we must be ready to wear the hatred of the world and/or the jealousy, ridicule and spite of believers who are walking in the flesh. This also is persecution.

John 15:18 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.

1 Peter 3:16-17
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.