What does it mean to bear fruits?

I used to think that "fruits" meant works.

Works are defined as your "public ministry". It could be serving in your church's cell leadership team, worship team, dance team, prayer team...etc. You may asked, "why do I include the word- 'public'?"

The reason is that all the ministries in your church (even the most low-profile one) can be seen by others. That makes them "public". What has all these got to do with works? Serving in a ministry at church is "working unto the Lord." That makes what you are doing-works.

But is "works" equivalent to "fruits"?

I believe a believer can do alot of "works" (service in church) and yet does not produce fruits. Why do I say so?

Jesus was talking about fruits when he said, "Many will say to me on that day (judgement day), 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

If you read the verses before what is written above, you will find that Jesus said that a "good tree cannot produce bad fruits but good fruits" and "every tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Wait a minute, Jesus! It seemed like He had contradicted himself by giving us the consequence of not producing fruit and later said that those who had done lots of works (prophesying, driving out demons, performing many miracles) will be told that they had not known Him and driven away.

What I'm saying here is that Jesus was not contradicting himself. This could only be true if all those "works" many will do were not "fruits". This bring us to a conclusion- "works" in itself are not fruits.

What are fruits then?

Our God is a creative God. He loves to put wisdom into the his teachings. I believe that the answer we seek is found in the teachings of Jesus on prayer.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagouges and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

What are the "works" described in this passage of scripture? The "works" are the "public praying". Yet, Jesus did not say that praying when there are people around (eg. congregational praying) was wrong. the message he wanted to bring across was that that you can pray aloud, with fantastic words (doing works) and still fail to please your Father in heaven.

Thus, fruits are produced when we please or bless God's heart. "Works" itself is not fruits, but works with the intention of pleasing God's heart is fruits.

How do we start producing these fruits?

Pursue God

What does "pursue God" means? It means committing everything in prayer, living a lifestyle of total abandonment to His purposes, denying our earthly desires and to live in a constant state of reflecting on His love.

Living by His law

Those who live by His law are "like trees planted by streams of water and they bear fruits in season". Living by His law means not to sit in the council of unholy people and not indulging the flesh.

A Prayer

O Lord, may You bless our lives with an overflowing of fruits. And in turn, let us be obedient to Your call, drawing others into Your very heart and presence. In Jesus's name, Amen!