The Heavenly Fruit Account by Bryan Craig

“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”  Philippians 4:14-17 ESV 

Years ago, before I met Rocky and found out about The Journey, I was reading a little book called “Secrets of the Vine”. It was written by Bruce Wilkinson, who had taken the world by storm with his little book, “The Prayer of Jabez”. “Secrets of the Vine” was his follow-up book. I was reading it and contemplating this idea of “abiding” for the first time in my life, and interestingly, I attended a Promise Keepers conference in Dallas, and one of the speakers fell ill so they substituted in none other than Bruce Wilkinson. And his message was the same as in his book, “Secrets of the Vine,” as he made a strong case that God desires fruit in our lives, and not just a little, but MUCH FRUIT.

He used John 15, of course, to build his case.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  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.” John 15:1-2 ESV

“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.” John 15:5 ESV

I remember Bruce having 4 chairs on the stage; the first representing No Fruit, the second being Some Fruit, the third was More Fruit and the last was Much Fruit. I remember him explaining his take on this to the audience of 20,000+ men. Then he said, “Stand up if you are bearing NO fruit for God.” I remember thinking, “Who would stand up?” Yet, thousands of men all over the arena stood up. Then, he went to the next chair and asked a similar question, “Some Fruit…then More Fruit…then Much Fruit.” It was very interesting and convicting, and it was the first time I heard this concept that Jesus wants MUCH FRUIT, like a basket overflowing with large, juicy, plump grapes.

And by the way, this concept is not found just in John 15.  Consider these verses:

“Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  Colossians 1:10 ESV

“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:17-20 ESV

“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4 ESV

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:1-3 ESV

There are many more, but you get the idea.  I recently read the one quoted at the top of this devotional out of Philippians 4:14-17, where Paul talks about “fruit” being credited to our account.  It conjured up the idea that we have a Heavenly Fruit Account that is being recorded and stored in Heaven, and one day, our account will be reconciled.  As you ponder that, I will tell you that Bruce Wilkinson wrote a third book in his “Breakthrough Series” after “Secrets of the Vine” and it is entitled, “A Life God Rewards”.  In this book, he talks about how we don’t do works for God to gain rewards, BUT wouldn’t we want to live the kind of life that glorifies God, pleases Him and might even be rewarded by Him?

The thesis of these 3 books all seem to surround the truth that there is an abundant life in Christ.  It starts by Seeking Him…. Jabez’s prayer.. “Bless me O Lord, Expand my territory…” (1 Chronicles 4:10), then, Abiding in Him and lastly, Bearing Fruit for Him.  This is a life that makes an impact on the world and pleases our Lord.

If you are confused about what this Fruit might look like, you may not have been through The Journey.  In our Journey process, we talk about being so close to Christ through His Spirit, that we start to look and act like Jesus.  The Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience… found in Galatians 5:22-23) start being our character.  And this enables us to use our spiritual gifts to love and serve others through good works and discipleship.  This is the fruitful life.

And so, what does this Heavenly Fruit Account look like?  Is it an upgrade in your heavenly mansion to a bigger room with a hot tub and a better view of the streets of gold?  Is it a better seat in the heavenly choir?  I think I like the image portrayed in an old Christian song by Ray Boltz, “Thank You” where we stand at the judgment seat of Christ and there is a line of people waiting to bear witness to the impact we made on their life.  And there are some people we don’t even know that were touched by our generosity… perhaps we supported a missionary who led someone to Christ and it is credited to our account.  Or there is someone we influenced who went on to influence another, then another, and it traces back to our obedience in serving that first person.  Lives touched by God through us, to me, is the greatest evidence of Fruit.

Scripture is clear that God wants us to bear MUCH FRUIT, and it is also clear that this comes by ABIDING in Him.  So, perhaps now is an appropriate time for me to ask you, like Bruce Wilkinson asked those 20,000 men.

How many of you are bearing No Fruit for God in your life?

How many of you are bearing Some Fruit for God?

How many of you are bearing More Fruit for God?

How many of you are bearing Much Fruit for God?

Whatever your answer, may the Holy Spirit use it to convict, clarify, motivate, inspire, challenge you to start seeking His higher calling to work on your Fruit Account.