Bearing Fruit

Today I had the great privilege of teaching the Bible during the Circle of Love daily Bible class. This is a rolling sixty day class so I have some that are in class, some preparing for the final. One of the students asked me “Pastor Tom, what is fruit?” Well he started going into different Bible passages and I had to remind him that the test only covers the books we covered in class so read John 15 and see if you can find the answer. If you are wondering where the answer is, it is in verses 7 & 8:

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:7, 8, KJV.

The answer is so simple it will escape you if you are not looking for it. In this passage, in this context, fruit that glorifies the Father in Heaven is answered prayer.

• But fruit is soul-winning you say and look to Proverbs 11:30, and you are right in that context it is.
• The fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. And according to Galatians 5 that is correct. 

In the context given here, it does not matter what the prayer is for as long as it glorifies the Father in Heaven. The prayer could be for salvation, healing, deliverance, the fruit of the Spirit. We need to think outside the box we keep trying to put God into. When the unsaved world sees God moving in the lives of believers through answered prayer, His name is glorified. Yes I know I have said that three times but some things need to be repeated. They need to sink in and take hold. It is not what we normally think of as fruit, but if it is what the Bible says, who are we to argue with it? God is best able to determine what will glorify His name.

Traveling Through Thessaloians

Greetings to All, starting next Sunday, September 11th 2011, the new Sunday School Bible study will be starting in First Thessalonians. It will start with a background study in Acts and go verse by verse through the entire book. If you are in the Jacksonville, FL area you are invited to join us at 9:30 for Sunday School and 11 AM for church, and dinner afterwards. We are located at:

Circle of Love Ministries

13519 N Main St

Jacksonville, FL 32218

Dealing With Sin

Part of having a regenerated heart is hating sin as much as God does, but what happens when a Christian does sin? Well first there is going to be true, godly sorrow:

2Corinthians 7:9-10  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  (10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

If we have a regenerated heartart, the heart will be sorrowful after a godly manner, that we went against His rules for us, which are for our good. That we trampled the name of Jesus under foot and mocked Him on the cross the one who died so we would not have to suffer the consequences of sin. Meanwhile those with the unregenerate heart is sorry after the manner of the world, i.e. they are sorry they got caught. They are not sorry over the sin, the trouble they caused, but that they are sorry after the manner of Cain who did not care that he killed his brother but that his punishment was too tough to bare!

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


If we confess our sins. If we acknowledge our wrongs. Our angers, hurts, lust, coveting. If we bring our sins before Him, confessing them, sorrowful over committing them, seeking not to do them again, He can and will forgive us our sins.


But we need to go beyond that. I don’t know about you but I get tired going around the same mountain over and over again. I want victory, not continuously falling to the same sin.


Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Step two is to get into the scripture with the thought of God I want you to deal with this sin in my life. Too many of us get the “Super-Christian” attitude that says “I know I am a sinner” in one breath and in the next says “I never done anything wrong.” We acknowledge in our heads the thought that we must be sinners saved by grace because we would never have the audacity to call ourselves perfect and make ourselves equal with God but in practicality that is what many do. I know at least two people who have this trouble and it can be annoying talking to them. I love them. The question is: what is God working on in your life to improve you, to make you more like His Son. If you cannot answer that, it is gut check time.


Once we allow God to show us what we need to work on in our lives. Let God’s Holy Spirit guide you to scripture, memorize it, hide it in your heart. Meditate on it, allow it to become a part of you. Apply it, live it. Let God be God.


Watch what you think on. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. -Proverbs 23:7


If we dwell on the good, that is what we will become but if we dwell on the evil, that is what we become. If you think you can, or if you think you can’t, you are right. The thoughts precede the action. Allow your mind to think on the Good.


Phillipians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
True - In speech. Honest - In action. Just - With regard to others. Pure - With regard to yourselves. Lovely - And what more lovely than truth? Of good report - As is honesty, even where it is not practised. If there be any virtue - And all virtues are contained in justice. If there be any praise - In those things which relate rather to ourselves than to our neighbour. Think on these things - That you may both practise them yourselves, and recommend them to others.

This excerpt is from the my teaching notes A Matter of The Heart. Use the link to read the entire article.