The Church is an Orchard

Proverbs 11:30 teaches, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” Christians are called to bear fruit. “Therefore, bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Jesus said, “you will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:20); “every good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17) and “a good tree cannot produce bad fruit” (Matthew 7:18).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). A tree produces fruit from the nutrients in the soil, the sun and the rain. Christians produce fruit from the soil of the Word of God made productive in our live by the Holy Spirit.

We typically think of the fruit of the Spirit as benefitting our lives – which it does. But trees do not produce fruit for their own benefit but for the benefit of others. The tree of life in the Garden of Eden produced fruit for the benefit of mankind and not for itself (Genesis 2:9). Likewise, Revelation describes a tree that continually produces life giving fruit (Revelation 22:2).

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us from the nutrients in the Word of God. Paul describes the scriptures as being “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

Obeying what we learn from scripture changes us and produces in us fruit that benefit others. Fruit trees attract people to benefit from the fruit they produce. So expressing the fruit of the Spirit attracts others to our Lord, “the kindness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Proverbs also describes wisdom as “a tree of life to those who take hold of her” (Proverbs 3:18). Proverbs later defines the wisdom that gives life, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

Salvation comes when we allow the Holy Spirit to nourish us from the scriptures. Scripture then produces fruit in us that attracts others to Jesus. The Holy Spirit then uses the wisdom of scriptures that we share with them, to bring them to salvation.

Paul asks, “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). We all preach the Gospel by the fruit we produce. Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to produce fruit that will lead to the salvation of others.

Our churches should be orchards in our communities attracting unbelievers to hear the scriptures. Thus, making disciples of all people. Pastors are God’s instruments to fertilize, water and prune the trees to make them more productive.

Through His Word God leads us to salvations and make us bear life-giving fruit for others.