The Word Bears Fruit

Background Scripture: Mark 4
Lesson Scripture: Mark 4:14–20, 26–32

Introduction

The lesson title has a promise. When we plant a seed, we observe an astounding miracle. The seed dies, sprouts, grows, and comes to fruitage with seeds to repeat this process. The Word of God is alive, and with the right conditions it springs forth, grows, and bears fruit with eternal value. Isaiah writes, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).

We live in a time when technology has made the Bible available in a way that is unprecedented. Multitudes have access to the Word of God. When people hear the Word and believe it, repent of their sins, and crucify self, the seed of the Word has begun to bear fruit. However, many adversaries are present that seek to hinder this growth of the Word.

Key Verse

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Ps. 1:3).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Jesus in His parable by the seashore used an illustration that most people were acquainted with. Their daily sustenance depended on the natural seed-bearing fruit. No doubt there were many small fields and garden plots along the wayside. On the hillsides they encountered stony ground. Stony ground warms up faster, which appears to make a good seed bed, but it dries out very quickly. A stony subsurface will not allow plants to root down to the water and the nutrients that they need to grow and mature. To prepare the stony ground for planting, the stones must be removed. In the more fertile ground, the weeds come up quickly and, if left unchecked, will destroy a promising crop.

Jesus spoke of the Word as being seed. For the Word to bring forth fruit, it must have favorable conditions. In the illustration of the mustard seed, not the size of the seed but the quality of the conditions influences growth. In the Jordan Valley where Jesus was teaching, the mustard plant can grow to twelve feet in height. To see the tiny seed of the mustard grow into such a large plant is a mystery and miracle of God, but the mysteries of the power of the Word of God far exceed the mysteries of a growing plant. This innate power of the Word may at times be revealed by the results of just a word spoken in the right season of someone’s life.

Practical Truths for Today

“The sower soweth the word” (Mark 4:14). The result of the seeds of the Word sown will depend on how receptive the heart is. A person with a casual heart resists, procrastinates, or in an intellectual way analyzes the Word. Meanwhile, Satan snatches it away, and it is soon forgotten. We cannot bear fruit if we are only hearers of the Word. There is no salvation in merely knowing the Word. If we love the ways of the world and indulge ourselves in its environment, we cannot bear fruit. Quietness, prayer, and meditation are beneficial when letting the Word take root and grow. Nevertheless, God also speaks to us in our busy life.

Those with stony hearts hear and quickly believe, but past offences or hidden sins hinder the growth. To have good ground, we must seek God’s direction and help to remove all hurt feelings, bad habits, thought patterns, and attitudes. Pride, which comes in many forms, is like a rock under the soil surface. It may not be visible above ground, but it keeps the good plants from rooting down. As a Christian matures, God leads him to further sanctification and humility to perfect the stony ground.

Satan’s goal is to keep us from bearing fruit. If he cannot pluck the Word out of our heart by force, he will try to do it by craft. Lack of dedication to godly interests obscures our spiritual vision, whereas a fervent prayer life clears our vision. We need godly vision to see those plant-choking weeds. For example, the god of sports uses modern technology to entice Christian young people to become involved, which causes leanness of soul.

North American affluence presents the opportunity to partake of the world. Luxurious lifestyles and worldly entertainment hinder fruit bearing and will eventually kill the plant. Affluence also leads to independence, causing us to be less dependent on our brethren. Left on our own, without the warm fellowship of others, we are very vulnerable to Satan’s snares.

Now let us look at the blessings of good ground. Perhaps the greatest fruit of Jesus’s good life was His sacrificial death on the cross. The cross is a paradox. It was used to put Jesus to death, but His death gives life to us. Likewise, the fruit we bear for Christ springs from the cross. Unless self is slain, we cannot bear fruit unto eternal life. Denying ourselves and allowing God to perform His will in our lives is our part in the production of good fruit.

Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (John 15:5). The fruit we bear is the result of being grafted into the Vine and allowing the life that is in the Vine to flow through us, first for our spiritual nourishment and then to nurture others. God tenderly cares for our plant, making it possible to bear much fruit. This fruit is precious in God’s eyes, and He will not let it perish.

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” (John 15:8–9). Love is the first and most important fruit the Word produces in our lives. With love in our hearts, we reach out to others. We each have a unique way of doing this with our different personalities. However, our united fruit bearing is for the welfare of the church and the salvation of sinners.

Christian parents bear fruit for God as they nurture their children. They begin early in the child’s life to teach him obedience, honesty, and the difference between right and wrong. The life of a young child is like a tree planted by the water. The rivers of water in our key verse suggest canals or aqueducts flowing from the source to water the plants. What a beautiful harvest is possible when the children whom we have so carefully tended are born again and the Word bears fruit in them!

God created the world by His Word and led His people through the Old Testament era by His Word. When Jesus came, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Through the centuries, thousands of sermons have been preached from the inspired Word, bringing personal inspiration to the hearers. Thousands of sinners have been converted and later carried the Word to other lost souls. God has blessed us with the means and opened doors to preach the saving gospel. We have a wonderful opportunity to go into the whole world to find that good ground, perhaps to prepare some not so good ground, to sow the seed, and care for the young plants while they grow to fruition.

Illustration

A sower went forth to sow. His master had entrusted him with precious seed. He went forth with love for his master and appreciation for the seed. His desire was to sow the seed so that his master would reap a bountiful harvest. The challenge was to find good ground. He looked for a beautiful, fertile field. Wending his way, he saw bare ground beside the path. Scattering the seed, he immediately saw that the ground was too hard, and a flock of birds swooped down to pick up his precious seed. He left the path to climb the mountain, wondering where he could sow this seed so that his master could reap a harvest. Climbing over rocks and crossing over crevices, he found a patch of earth that looked promising and again began planting; but, alas, underneath the soil there were rocks, and the plants could not root down. They sprouted and began to grow, but lacking moisture they withered and died.

The sower went on with a prayer in his heart to find good ground. He waded through patches of thorns and thistles, scratching his legs and snagging his clothes. Here was a spot where perhaps, just perhaps, the seed would grow, but the thorns that crowded in absorbed the moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, causing the plants gradually to perish. At last he found a tiny spot where he carefully planted some seed, not a large field but a little space, and the seed grew and flourished and bore fruit.

A missionary went forth in the world to bring the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, promising the hearers forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. Some people did not listen but continued in their own way, not allowing the Word to take root in their lives. With a prayer in his heart, the missionary continued telling the good news of salvation and found those who considered it, but tradition and culture prevented the Word from changing their heart. Instead, just a profession and form of godliness reigned. With his courage tested, he kept looking for people with receptive hearts. He found some ready to listen, and his hopes increased, but as he carefully tended these plants, he noticed that the world looked so alluring to them, practicing self-denial became difficult, and their desire for the Word was waning. Slowly, slowly their spiritual life died. What a disappointment!

With love for his Savior and the souls of men, the missionary continued sowing. Surprisingly, in an obscure place the Word was received by one here and one there; they found salvation, and spiritual life emerged. The few seeds sown in receptive hearts brought forth the beautiful blossoms of Christian virtue. These new Christians became missionaries to whom God gave more precious seed, and they sowed the seed in other hearts to bring forth fruit unto salvation. Finally, at the end of life when the fruit is ready, God thrusts in the sickle. What will the harvest be?

Questions

1. When the Word is presented to a person and he rejects it, how does it bear fruit?
2. Is peace a fruit of the Word? Is condemnation?
3. Name three examples of spiritual growth that happens like a grain of mustard seed. (One example might be the growth of the kingdom of Christ).
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).