"WITNESSING AND FRUIT "

by Vicki Sturgill

Being in Christ is an interesting concept. Chapter 15 of John is the classic description of what it means to be in Christ. It is easy to feel warm and cozy being in Christ. Chapter 14 of John tells us that it is by believing that we become one with Christ. We abide in Him and He abides in us.

Being in Christ brings promises that are wonderful! John 14: 13 says “whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do...” and John 14:16 promises “I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” Many other promises are found in chapters 14 and 15.

At the same time there are certain requirements that can seem somewhat unpleasant at times. We learn in John 14:21 that we must obey God́s commandments. We would perfer not to obey at times and then there are times when we disobey without even thinking about what we are doing. Fortunately we have the promise that the Comforter will help us remember those things that the Father and Son has taught us.

It is very interesting that immediately after saying the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will come to abide in us, we are told we are the branches and should bear fruit. Many times we have heard “the fruit of a Christian is another Christian.” Certainly we are to be soul winners, but we must remember that Galatians 5:22 tells us the what is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. That verse teaches us that the fruit the Holy Spirit wants to develop in us is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Nothing hinders our testimony more than to be lacking in the fruit of the Spirit. For example, try witnessing to someone that you do not love or that you have treated badly in the past which showed to that person a lack of love. On the other hand, have you ever tried loving someone to the Lord? Try to witness to a co-worker with whom you have displayed anger or lack of patience. He will not listen. We could continue with examples showing a lack of each fruit of the Spirit and how it will hinder our testimony.

The call to us is to “abide in me [Christ]” (v.5) and in His words (v.7). Our source of help to bear fruit is Christ—“for without me you can do nothing.” May we be in Christ, have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and then we will see those around us come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

10/01/2007
Vol.1 - No.3

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