John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

How do we abide (remain) in Jesus?

• v.4 – by bearing fruit
• v.10 – by obeying His commandments

What does that fruit and obedience look like?

• Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

How do we grow these fruits?

• By praying for them, 1 John 5:14-15

God’s will for our lives is that we abide (remain) in Him and we abide in Him by bearing fruit and obeying His commandments. When you look at the fruits of the spirit and God’s commands to us they most certainly go hand in hand. 

But that begs the question then how do we bear fruit and what does that fruit look like? We are given that answer in Galatians 5:22-23…

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

So if we know that these things are God’s will for our life how do we grow them? According to John 5:14-15 pray for them.

“14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

There isn’t some formula or checklist that you can implement that will produce any of these fruits in your life. The only thing you can do is pray that God will cultivate them in your life. Then surrender and trust Him to do it.

If you need more love, pray.

If you need more joy, pray.

If you need more peace, pray.

If you need more patience, pray.

If you need more kindness, pray.

If you need more goodness, pray.

If you need more faithfulness, pray.

If you need more gentleness, pray.

If you need more self-control, pray.

Now, this does not mean that these things will “magically” appear in your life. Most likely there is going to be some hard work involved. God knows each of our hearts and He knows what we each need in order to grow. It won’t look the same for everyone. And that’s why there isn’t a magic formula that will do it for you.

We don’t grow in the fruits of the spirit or remain in Him by “checking all of the boxes”. In fact I would argue that checking boxes and following formulas leads to legalism and religious piety, both things Jesus condemned. 

If you need to check a box then there’s one box for you to check, pray.

And when you pray know that God hears you because you are praying His will for your life. And know that He will give you these things (in the exact way you need to be able to cultivate them) because He says He will.