Bearing Fruit

But also

 for this very reason,

 giving all diligence,

 add to your faith virtue,

 to virtue knowledge,

 to knowledge self-control,

 to self-control perseverance,

 to perseverance godliness,

 to godliness brotherly kindness,

 and to brotherly kindness love.

 For if these things are yours and abound,

you will be neither barren nor unfruitful

 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted,

 even to blindness,

 and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

 Therefore, brethren,

 be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,

 for if you do these things you will never stumble;

 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly

 into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 2 Peter 1:5-11 

Overcoming Hindrances to bearing fruit:

When we receive the LORD JESUS into our lives, the seed of faith is sown in our hearts.

This is the first step to salvation. We need to progress from here right up to bearing the fruit of love.

The Progression from Faith to Virtue is the Cross

The LORD JESUS through His Holy Spirit starts working in and through us when we deny our self take up our cross and follow His promptings. Thus the seed of faith in us starts working and becomes alive. 

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom,

 and does not understand it,

 then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

 This is he who received seed by the wayside. 

Matthew 13:19 

"And he who does not take his cross

 and follow after Me 

is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 10:38 

For you died,

 and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3 

"Most assuredly, I say to you,

 unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,

 it remains alone;

 but if it dies,

 it produces much grain.

John 12:24 

Thus also faith by itself,

 if it does not have works, is dead.

 James 2:17

The Progression from Virtue to Knowledge is the Word of GOD

Just as the seed draws its nutrition from the ground, diligent study of the Word of GOD is necessary for the growth of our faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

 Romans 10:17 

but grow in the grace and

 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 2 Peter 3:18 

Self-Control enables us to progress the knowledge to the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit

When we acquire knowledge we are tempted to release that information to others immediately. It is important first to teach ourselves and let the seed take deep root in our hearts. Just like water to the seed in the ground is the Holy Spirit to the word in the heart. The Holy Spirit teaches us to use our knowledge aright. Then we can effectively impart into others.

"But he who received the seed on stony places, 

this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 

"yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.

 For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Matthew 13:20-21 

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
 But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
 Proverbs 15:2 

You, therefore, who teach another, 

do you not teach yourself? 

You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 

Romans 2:21  

Now concerning things offered to idols:

 We know that we all have knowledge.

 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 8:1 

Without self-control, we would be like seed that fall on rocky ground that don't progress to bearing the fruit of love.

The Progression from Self-Control to Breakthrough is Perseverance

This is when the growth of the living seed breaks through the surface of the ground and is visible! The change in our lives is visible to others.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

 See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

 waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 

You also be patient. 

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8 

Persevere in Godliness

"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word,

 and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,

 and he becomes unfruitful. 

 Matthew 13:22 

Even as the little plant sprouts upwards, the root of Godliness needs to grow downward and be strengthened.

"I am the vine, you are the branches.

 He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing. 

 John 15:5 

The dainty little sprout can cope with the adverse conditions of the environment and continue to grow only if it draws its sustenance from the ground through its roots.

Progress from Godliness to Brotherly Kindness

Godliness has to manifest in loving others. Good roots are useless if the plant does not bear fruit.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

 John 15:12 

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, 

and does not know where he is going, 

because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

 1 John 2:11  

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; 

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

 1 John 4:7

Let Brotherly Kindness continue to be the fruit of GOD'S Love

GOD'S love is the eternal and perfect love that never fails.

 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 1 John 4:8 

We love because he first loved us.

 1 John 4:19 

Love never fails. 

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;

 whether there are tongues, they will cease;

 whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

 1 Corinthians 13:8 

May we so receive the seed of faith, that is GOD'S word and be diligent to overcome every hindrance so that the precious seed may grow and bear much fruit - the eternal fruit of GOD'S Love for His glory!

"But he who received seed on the good ground

 is he who hears the word and understands it,

 who indeed bears fruit and produces:

 some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

 Matthew 13:23 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

 faith, Meekness, temperance:

 against such there is no law.

 Galatians 5:22-23 

Faith, meekness and self-control in ourselves
Love, joy and peace with GOD
Patience, gentleness and goodness in our relationships with others

Be Blessed and Be Fruitful!!