KING DOM

Scripture metaphorically refers to believers as a garden kept by the Lord. (Song of Songs 4:16; 6:2; etc.) "Ye are God's husbandry--field, or garden" (1 Corin 3:9, "the planting of the Lord." (Isa 61:3; cp. 60:21) However, a garden in itself is not of much use unless it bears fruit. The Lord desires fruit. Paul says it is the will of God that we be "fruitful in every good work." (Col 1:10)
"I come seeking fruit." (Luke 13:6, 7) There is a sense of expectation within the heart of the husbandman, "as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up ..." (Mk 4:26, 27) Jesus cited the example of the tiny mustard seed. Though in outward appearance it may seem to be very small and insignificant, yet it carries within it the potential of becoming a large and productive tree. (Mat 13:31, 32 "... but when it is grown ...") Though the potential is there within the seed, it must be allowed to develop and grow if it is to become fruitful and useful. This takes time and patience. (Gal 6:9)
"For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh ..." "... her leaf shall be green; and shall not cease from yielding fruit." (Jer 17:8; cp. Psa 1:3)
"Some (seed) fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and ... because they had no root, they withered away ... But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit ...' (Matthew 13:5-8)
All plants and trees require a certain amount of water and minerals from the soil. Without roots the necessary nutrients cannot be absorbed into a plant's system. This is true of spiritual matters also, as can be seen by the above two scriptures. We must send our roots deep to reach that River and Source of life; our spiritual survival depends on it. Then, even in the heat of the day and in "the year of drought," times of testing, our "leaf shall be green." In time, fruit will come; for when we have partaken of living waters ourselves, it will cause the necessary growth and fruitfulness to spring forth from within us and we in turn will be able to provide nourishment for others by the fruit that we have borne.
We need the rain of His Spirit, the water of God's Word. But without the warmth and sunshine of His Presence we would die. In the natural process of photosynthesis, light is an absolute necessity for the continuation of life and growth. Even with all the other elements present, if a plant lacks sufficient light the proper growth and development cannot take place. "Our God is a Sun ..." (Psa 84:11; Isa 60:19, 20)
Our first responsibility is always to the Lord; we must spend time with Him. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." (Jn 15:4) Ministry and fruit-bearing occur not as the product of self-effort but naturally, out of the life within us. Growth comes from God. (1 Corin 3:6, 7) Scripture refers to the "fruit of the Spirit"--but "works of the flesh." Fruit does not try to grow. It just "happens" as a natural consequence of the branches' relationship to the tree. Unless we have an abiding, personal relationship with the Lord, we will never bear fruit. (Jn 15:6) "Without Me," Jesus said, "ye can do nothing." (Jn 15:5