As I was preparing to write a new article, the Lord brought together a number of thoughts based on book I am reading.

In Matthew 7:15-20 the Lord Jesus says:

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you shall know them” (emphasis added).

The word picture given by Jesus is very clear, we can tell Christians by the fruit they bear. What is the fruit of a Christian ought to bear? Galatians 5:22-23 says:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Note here that the Word says “the fruit of the Spirit” not fruits of the Spirit, showing that love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control are all parts of one fruit. We should expect to see them all in abundance and on display.

One thing about fruit which we tend to forget in these says of globalisation, where transportation technologies have more-or-less overcome seasonal fruits, is that all fruit is gathered at HARVEST time.

The word ‘hunderedfold’ (or 100x) is a harvest related word and is used seven times in the New Testament and 7 times they relate directly to the same theme – bearing fruit. Matthew 13:23 is one example:

“But that sown on the good ground is this: he who hears the Word and understands; who also bears fruit and produces one truly a hundredfold; and one sixty; and one thirty”

It is also used once in the Old Testament in Genesis 26:12 where again it is used in the same sense saying:

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him.”

The understanding from this is that at harvest time, God expects to see fruit from His kids – all of them – and that it is to be thirty, sixty or one hundred times that which was sown.

The following is an extract from the book “Spiritual Housekeeping – Sweep your life free from demonic strongholds and Satanic oppression” by Apostle Kimberly Daniels from Chapter 15, The Blessings of Firstfruits, entitled Harvest (pages 206-208):

“HARVEST

English definition: the season for gathering mature crops that bring great increase.

Hebrew:
Quatsiyr קָצִיר (Strong’s #7105) – Implicates a reaping of what has been sown; it refers to a time of the year (set by God) for crops to ripen for gathering; a fresh springing forth that indicates new life.

Greek:
Therismos θερισμός (Strong’s #2326) – This term refers to the harvesting of souls that are ripe for the kingdom versus those whose iniquity is fully ripe for punishment. The harvest of therismos is a separating of the wheat from the tares.

COMMENTARY

In biblical times, having no harvest was considered wicked. The signature of the righteous was the harvest of the Lord. God blessed His people with divine provision despite time of famine to confirm His covenant with them. A cut-off or dead branch is biblically evil because it can bring no harvest. The people of God are blessed because they are healthy branches connected to the source (Jesus Christ). Jesus declared that He is the vine, and we are the branches. A branch cannot have a harvest for itself except it abide in the vine. Abiding in the vine is not a choice; it is a commandment. Those who do not abide in the vine (Jesus) will be cut off and cast into the fire (John 15:4-6). Having a harvest is connected to the external life-line of the believer. In Christ, there is no failure of harvest. Harvest is not bound by economic categories, groups or the interpretations of men. True harvest brings manifold blessings, that break out form the vine and flow in every direction. Those connected to the vine will receive manifold more. This blessing does not come without a price. The manifold more is undergirded in sacrifices made for the kingdom.

When Jesus explained the parable of the rich young ruler to the disciples, He said:

“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich one to enter into the Kingdom of God” Luke 15:25.

He told the rich young ruler:

“… you lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me” Luke 18:22.

The young man wanted to know what he could do to inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus was only saying to him, “Son, to follow me you must cut all of your soul ties (things that keep your soul out of the Kingdom).” It was apparent that the young man loved his stuff more than God. He did not consider Jesus’ words. He walked away sad because of mammon had a grip on his soul. Serving Jesus is a sacrifice! Sadly, many walk away from God because they love people, places and things more.

Peter responded to Jesus by saying. “Lord, we have left everything to follow you!”

Jesus then said:

“Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and, in the world to come everlasting life” Luke 18:29-30.”

The conclusions are simply these:

Christians must all bear His fruit…

For Christians the harvest time is always now….

Christians need to be bearing fruit for the Lord…. NOW.