As part of the continuing study of Psalm 1, we will review the first part of the 3^rd verse of Psalm chapter 1.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. – Psalm 1:3

Introduction

In Psalm 1:1, we saw that fear of God, or walking away from evil, is the basic principle without which the Lord God will not give us understanding of His Word. And this fear is not from within, but an anointing of the Holy Spirit which we need to grow into. This is the process of Sanctification.

In Psalm 1:2, we saw that when we Fear God, He will give us understanding of His Word, which is the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Scripture, and this is the only way we can delight in the Word of God.

In Psalm 1:3, we will understand what happens when we are growing in the Word of God through His Spirit.  

Verse 3

The righteous are compared to the fruit bearing tree planted by the rivers of water. This is a tree planted by God, and watered by His Word, so that we may produce fruit in the right season.

As believers, we understand the importance of bearing fruit, but we will ask a few questions through this verse.

What is the fruit. How can we bear fruit. How important is it to have fruit. And, what happens if we do not have them?

Fruit – an Extension of us

This verse is applicable only for a believer. If we are not planted by God, if we are not born-again, He does not expect fruit from us, since we are not planted by Him.

For a believer – Fruit is an extension of who we are, it is a visible result of our life, and our spiritual growth in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Fruit of the Tree

Scripture talks about 12 different kinds of fruit.

1. Fruit of Holiness (Romans 6:22)
2. Fruit of Love (Galatians 5:22)
3. Fruit of Joy (Galatians 5:22)
4. Fruit of Peace (Galatians 5:22)
5. Fruit of Longsuffering (Galatians 5:22)
6. Fruit of Kindness (Galatians 5:22)
7. Fruit of Goodness (Galatians 5:22)
8. Fruit of Faithfulness (Galatians 5:22)
9. Fruit of Gentleness (Galatians 5:23)
10. Fruit of Self-control (Galatians 5:23)
11. Fruit of Praise (Hebrews 13:15)
12. Fruit of Righteousness & Truth (Hebrews 12:11)

We will not study the type of fruit, but rather understand what the Scripture teaches us on how we can be a fruit bearing tree.

To begin with, we need to understand that this is not our fruit, but it is the Fruit of the Spirit. These are not fruits which we can bear by our hard work.

Importance of having the Fruit.

In Matthew 7 the Lord proclaims that He will know us only by our fruit. The Lord also calls out that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree cannot bear a good fruit. So, the type of fruit we bear will show our walk with the Lord.

We do not have to guess how our walk is, the Lord wants us to test and see how our walk is. And understanding of the fruit will give us an understanding of our spiritual walk with the Lord.

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Ever tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and throw into the fire. – Matthew 7:16-19

Scripture tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ saved us, and chose us, so that we may bear fruit for the glory of the Father.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit – John 15:16

Since this is our purpose, and since He will not receive us unless there is fruit in our life. Understanding how to bear the fruit becomes extremely important for a believer.

He is our First Fruit

Our first understanding should be that Christ Jesus is our first fruit. When He died (for our sin) and rose from the dead, He became our first fruit, and without receiving this truth we cannot have any other fruit.

We receive this truth when we repent of our sins and cry out to the Lord for salvation. The price for our salvation is already paid on the cross by His own blood.

When we receive His precious blood, we receive our First Fruit – our Lord Jesus Christ. And, He seals us with His Holy Spirit.

He took our sin – He died – He rose again – He chose us – He saved us – He forgave our sins – He washed us with His blood – He sealed us with His Spirit. And, after all this – He expects us, that we bear the fruit worthy of repentance (worthy of salvation).

He is our Gardener.

In Deuteronomy 20, the Lord commands the Israelite’s not to cut down any tree which can potentially bear fruit. And in the New Testament when the Master of the Garden wants to cut down a tree which is not bearing fruit, the Keeper of the garden, asks for one more year of grace, so that he can work on it to provide fruit.

That is our Lord, He is longsuffering, and even if there is a little thirst to bear fruit, He Himself will work in us so that we may bear fruit.

So – How do you bear fruit?

In John 15 Scripture tells us that the only way we can bear much fruit is when we abide in the Lord, and when the Lord abides with us. It is not enough that we abide, He needs to abide in us.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. – John 15:4

All through the New Testament the Lord reminds us that we should bear fruit, but New Testament does not explicitly give us a step-by-step approach on how to do it. The Lord provides this in Psalm 1.

When we fear the Lord (departing from evil), and thirst for the knowledge of Him (Our Lord Jesus Christ), He gives us the delight of His Word and abides in us.

The Lord plants us, The Lord waters us, the Lord fills us with His Spirit, and in John 15, He says that He will abide with us, and through His Spirit we will bear much fruit.

All He requires of us is to Fear Him (Depart from evil), and thirst for the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through His Word. When we thirst, He gives us the delight, and works through us that we may have the fruit.

And along with the fruit, the Lord promises us, that whatever we do will be prosperous. How can that be? This will be our next study.

Be Trained.

We do not bear fruit on day 1, Scripture tells us that we need to be trained in it. And that is what the Holy Spirit does in and through us day by day, this is not something which we can do, but this is what the Holy Spirit does when He works through us for His glory.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11

Amen.

Noel Kingsley.