Never Fail to Bear Fruit

The same day I was captured by this one word, never, which, as I have indicated, took my life over, becoming more than a word, springing up with new life in me, in all directions and areas, another dear friend came to have lunch with me. Laughingly, I greeted her with the word, NEVER!  She frowned a bit then laughed, as I told her that never was the word that would not let me go. Our lunch conversation started with her telling me about her experience at church and how the minister was all over the place and she could not really tell me what the sermon was about. I then told her that all I knew was that when the minister read his Scripture text, all I heard was the word, NEVER. I spoke about what was happening to me and we shared quite a bit.

I saw her with her cell-phone, but did not know what she was doing. A bit later she said to me, “Here is a never for you” and proceeded to read this scripture text from her phone. I became even more excited as I heard the word, NEVER, which she was particularly careful to articulate and stress. Here is the given verse. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17: 7 – 8. O how she emphasized this phrase. Never fails to bear fruit. Then we spent a little time speaking about it. I was thankful for her sharing that text and waited for more revelation on it.

We are noting conditions here also. This promise, this experience, this response is for any person who places his or her confidence and trust in God, as Lord. Some time ago, in chatting with a fellow believer I heard how easily we take the word of sales people, who tell us that we will receive such and such, if we come and buy what they are offering. I quote here. “You are told that if you come to the store and buy one pair of shoes, you will receive another pair at half price. You go to the store, with no fears, no doubts, no uncertainties and no disbelieving. You do as told, buy one pair and without even asking or reminding the cashier, the half price is tallied.” Then I was asked this uncomfortably searching question.  “Why don’t we, believers, trust God in the same way, believing His Words and acting on them without doubts and fears?” I became very sad indeed, because I knew what I was being told was true.

Then and there I confessed to God that I do not really trust Him. It was as simple as that, no beating around the bush and trying to find all kinds of answers and reasons that are so untrue. I just had to accept and not fool myself any more, under the label of Christian. I had to admit that if I believed God, not even truly believed Him, but simply believed Him, my life would be different. I would be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. 

In other words, if my trust was in God and if my confidence was in Him, I would never fail to bear fruit, God’s fruit.

The words, ‘never fail’, come from God, not from you, me or any human being. We live in a carnal world where carnal thinking and ways control, but God has given us new birth in the Spirit, Spiritual birth and we can bear His fruit all the time. A season of drought will stop the carnal life from bearing fruit, but not so in the Spirit. There is no season of drought, no matter how or when it comes, which will stop those whose trust and confidence are in God, from bearing fruit.

Why is this so? It is so, because God promises this as the result of all who trust Him and put their confidence in Him. He likens you to a tree. Mind you, there is nothing special, sacred or favoured about the tree. It can be a mango tree, a plum tree or an apple tree; it does not matter. The same with you. You may be a scientist, a garbage collector or a professor, it matters not to God.  What is special, and different, is where it is planted. It is planted by the water. Jesus is the Water of Life, the Living Water and to be planted by Him is life. To live by the water source or well, is happiness and joy, won’t you agree?

To be planted by the water, means that your roots will find the stream and will be constantly fed from that water source. Whether we care to admit this or not, roots spread. Where I live, there was a huge Pine Tree and its roots were spreading far and wide under the house. I was told by the experts that if I did not get rid of the tree, its spreading roots would compromise the foundation of the house and I would be in big trouble. I have to remove the tree and kill the roots. This is the nature of trees and spreading roots. The Lord has said that as a tree, your roots will spread and not just find the Living Water, but feed and drink from it daily; morning, noon and night. To be drinking the Water of Life means that we shall never be in want of water. Don’t you accept and agree?

Listen to what the Lord says, of such a tree. You are not having your roots watered only, but note carefully. 

It does not fear when heat comes. It never has to fear for water. 

Its leaves are always green. It never has brown leaves.

It has no worries in a year of drought. It never worries about having no water. 

It never fails to bear fruit. It never is without fruit. 

This is you, when you put your trust in God and your confidence is in Him.

 Never will you know dryness, in Me believe,

My Word is My bond, it cannot you deceive,

Never will there be thirst, no, never again,

Believe and all My promises you will gain. Amen!