Blog
The Product of Spiritual Alignment—Spiritual Fruit
- September 15, 2022
- Posted by: Marcel Sanchez
- Category: Developing Spiritual Disciplines
As we continue in this post to work through the contrast of life in the flesh—fulfilling your fleshly passions and desires—with life in the Spirit—abiding in Christ moment by moment—let’s take a step back to reflect on a very important point throughout this entire process.
Jesus chose you and appointed you to “go and bear fruit”
God calls you into His spiritual family by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. What’s His purpose for you in all of this? First, is to make you more like Jesus in your character. The second, is to “go and bear fruit” that will remain and multiply.
Notice how Jesus explains it to His disciples:
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:15-16
When you enter God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ, you become a friend of God. Don’t read that sentence too fast. In Jesus Christ, you are—right now—a friend of God. This friendship comes with supernatural revelation. Friendship is all about sharing what’s most important with someone you love. The Bible gives us God’s complete and inerrant revelation of Himself, His purposes, and His ways. God’s Spirit—the Holy Spirit—teaches you understand God’s Word more profoundly.
Chosen and appointed by God
To highlight how special this friendship truly is, Jesus helps his disciples understand how it all started. God chose the disciples of Jesus for this special relationship and appointed them to fulfill His mission on earth. God not only chose the disciples, but He also deliberately chose you as well. God made a choice; He chose you for Himself! You have been selected by God to live for God’s eternal purposes.
Moreover, you’re appointed for a divine purpose. Appointed means “to set, put, or place” (Strong’s Greek Concordance). It’s when you find a location to place something down. God has placed you right where you live—home, church, work, family, community—to serve as His special kingdom ambassador. He’s placed you where you are today to expand His kingdom. Never forget what an enormous honor and privilege it is to be chosen and appointed by the God of all creation to do His work.
God not only chose the disciples, but He also deliberately chose you as well. God made a choice; He chose you for Himself! You have been selected by God to live for God’s eternal purposes.
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“Go”
Reading your Bible as you pray behind closed doors is one important part of your spiritual walk, but it is certainly not all of it. The early disciples responded positively to the Great Commission as instructed before Jesus ascended to the Father.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus spent three consecutive years with His disciples before He commissioned them to “go” and make disciples of all nations. The goal was not to have Bible studies alone. Jesus did not give His life on the cross to make you spiritually religious, but spiritually contagious.
It was a call to go outside the doors of their homes and places of worship to make disciples by first sharing the good news of Jesus—the Gospel—with everyone around them. The disciples were to baptize believers and teach these new followers of Jesus how to obey God’s Word.
Jesus did not give His life on the cross to make you spiritually religious, but spiritually contagious.
Marcel Sanchez, Imagine Coaching Academy Tweet
Guess what?
You are to do the same thing. The Great Commission is your top mission in life. It’s why you were saved from death to life and appointed as God’s ambassador. This is God’s priority for you until Jesus calls you home—through death—or Jesus comes back to pick you up—through the rapture.
“Go” and share Christ with others.
“Go” and make disciples of all nations.
“Go” and encourage believers to get baptized.
“Go” and train new followers of Jesus how to obey God’s Word.
“Go” in the confidence that Jesus Christ lives in you and will be with you.
As you’ve already noticed, your walk of faith is to be marked by activity—Spirit inspired and Spirit-controlled activity—rather than spiritual inactivity. When your life is aligned with Jesus Christ, you will receive what you pray for because your prayers will prioritize God’s will above every other want or desire.
Even when you pray, you’re being active when you pursue God’s glory and ask Him in prayer for what’s before you and ahead of you. You expectantly wait for His response and move into action when He leads you to move and act. Are you ready to “go” when God tells you to do so?
When your life is aligned with Jesus Christ, you will receive what you pray for because your prayers will prioritize God’s will above every other want or desire.
“Bear Fruit”
When we think of fruit, we know it has a limited shelf-life. Spiritual fruit—what Jesus wants to produce through your life—is different, very different. Your spiritual fruit is designed to remain; it’s meant to last beyond your lifetime. Spiritual fruit has both a temporary impact and an eternal impact.
As with natural fruit, spiritual fruit has great variety, texture, and flavor. Although we will dive deeper into the fruit of a changed character in our next post, here we will briefly mention some of the more obvious types of fruit. Oh, and by the way, spiritual fruit is visible. The product of a changed life is not when you’re hidden and out of sight, but a transformed character that is distinct, consistent, and visible for all to see. These are produced by the transforming work of God’s Spirit in us.
Defending the defenseless.
Practicing justice, mercy, and peace.
Weeping with those who are weeping.
Celebrating with those who are celebrating.
Forgiving those responsible for your personal pain.
Generosity with finances and material possessions.
Being a voice for those who have limited influence.
Faithful weekly attendance in a local church service.
Prayer offered by faith and answered in God’s timing.
Adopting a child to provide adequate care for their needs.
Leading Bible studies, times of prayer, or times of worship.
Giving extravagantly to advance the mission of the church.
Sharing meals and water with those who hunger and thirst.
A growing desire to study God’s Word and obey what it says.
Teaching believers how to share their faith in Christ with others.
Reaching out and loving the “outcasts of society” in practical ways.
Taking care of orphans, widows, the poor, and others in great need.
An active disposition to minister to those facing personal difficulties.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive list. It’s just enough to stimulate your thinking in the right direction. In our next post, we’ll dive deeper into how your character can produce spiritual fruit when your relationship with Christ is spiritually aligned and growing by faith.
The product of a changed life is not when you’re hidden and out of sight, but a transformed character that is distinct, consistent, and visible for all to see.
Summary
Were you surprised to discover God’s divine selection and appointment as His kingdom ambassador? Don’t overthink this. “Go” and “bear fruit” is what it all comes down to. That’s how God’s name is magnified through your life. That’s how others can see Christ in you in your home, at work, and in your community.
And the best part is the leading of the Holy Spirit as your teacher and guide. He’s a great teacher and leader. He always shows you the way as He points you to Jesus.
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