Abide and Bear Spiritual Fruit
Introduction
Today I want to talk about something that’s become the drumbeat of my life and ministry: cultivating a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus that is more than talk—one that manifests in the way we live, move, and act. The closer we are to God spiritually, the more our flesh will show it. Not because we’re chasing legalism, but because love compels obedience.
I’ve learned that when God becomes more real than our routines, we find ourselves naturally saying yes to Him. We pray on our knees, we lift holy hands, we lay down our agendas, and we follow the Spirit’s prophetic nudge. This is the path of transformation. It’s not forced. It’s supernatural.
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24, KJV)
Main Message: Why Spirit Comes Before Flesh
1) Love Leads to Obedience, Not the Other Way Around
When I talk about bringing our flesh into subjection, I’m not preaching a works-based gospel. I’m exalting a relationship-based gospel. When Jesus is truly Lord in our hearts, the fruit follows in our lives. We don’t grit our teeth to produce fruit; we abide in Him and His life flows through us.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches… he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit…” (John 15:5–8, KJV)
Abiding is the key to a spiritual, Jesus-centered life. As we abide, our prayer posture changes, our private choices shift, and a boldness rises in us that comes from the Spirit, not from striving.
2) Trials Push Us to Look Up
It’s amazing how often tribulation becomes a tool in God’s hands to strip away our distractions and force us to look up. Think about Israel in the wilderness when serpents came among them. God told Moses to put a serpent on a pole.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” (John 3:14–16, KJV; cf. Numbers 21:8–9)
The people had to look—to fix their gaze on the remedy God provided. In our trials, God invites us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Don’t miss this: tribulation often reveals whether our faith has gone stale or whether our relationship is alive and responsive to the Spirit. When we’re in the fire, Jesus is with us.
“…lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire… and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25, KJV)
3) Beware of Ritual Without Relationship
There’s a danger we all face: clinging to yesterday’s anointing or to forms God is no longer breathing on. We remember the serpent on the pole, but forget the God who appointed it. We love the manna, but forget the Father who gave it. Jesus confronted this mindset head-on.
“Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth…” (John 6:26–27, KJV)
“Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” (John 6:32–35, KJV)
The spiritual life is not about chasing outcomes; it’s about pursuing the Giver. He draws us to Jesus and feeds us with bread that never fails.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…” (John 6:44, KJV)
Personal Reflections: The Spirit’s Voice and Family Priorities
I grew up in a tight-knit family. We loved being together—watching a game, celebrating a touchdown, sharing everyday life. My grandfather (we called him “Dedad”) had a special place in our hearts. If he had an emergency, we’d drop everything and go. That priority wasn’t a burden. It was love.
That’s the kind of spiritual relationship I have in mind with the Holy Spirit. When He speaks—when there’s a prophetic nudge—our calendars, our plans, and our preferences all get reshuffled in an instant. Not out of compulsion, but out of love. We’re His family. We listen. We go.
Over time I’ve learned the difference between legalistic pressure and supernatural compulsion. Legalism pushes you from the outside. The Spirit transforms you from the inside. One is a burden; the other is joy.
When Faith Is Tested
Peter is one of my favorite people in Scripture because he’s so real. He loved Jesus. He meant every bold word he spoke. Yet when pressure hit, fear surfaced. Jesus told him plainly:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31–32, KJV)
Sifting reveals what’s fragile—and it also reveals the strength of Jesus’ intercession on our behalf. Peter later wrote from hard-won experience:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:6–8, KJV)
From Doubt to Worship
Then there’s Thomas. I appreciate his honesty. He wanted to see and touch. When he finally encountered the risen Jesus, he fell in worship:
“My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28, KJV)
Moments like these—where doubt gives way to adoration—are pure grace. They mark us. And they often happen when we posture ourselves to seek and to listen, letting the Spirit do a deep work in our hearts.
Biblical References and Teachings
Chastening and Spiritual Growth
We don’t like the word “discipline,” but Scripture is unambiguous: the Lord’s chastening is a sign of His love. Trials are not meant to destroy us but to conform us to His will.
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:5–7, KJV)
When we endure chastening, we experience the Fatherhood of God at a deeper level. The result is a harvest of righteousness that shows up in our everyday choices.
Christ Living in Us
A truly spiritual life is Christ-in-you life, not just a cleaned-up version of our old life. That’s why self-will must be laid down.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” (Galatians 2:20, KJV)
“…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9, KJV)
Abiding Produces Fruit
Fruit is the natural byproduct of abiding, not the reward for striving. The more we stay in Jesus and let His words stay in us, the more we see breakthroughs that are undeniably supernatural.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7–8, KJV)
Looking to Jesus in the Fire
Whether it’s the serpent lifted in the wilderness or the fourth man in the fire, all signs point to Jesus. He is our healer, our deliverer, our bread from heaven—our everything.
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole… if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:8–9, KJV)
“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35, KJV)
Helpful links (KJV):
Practical Application: Cultivating a Living Relationship with Jesus
I want to get very practical here, because spiritual truth should translate into tangible steps—real decisions and real rhythms that shape our days. Here’s how I work this out in my own walk, with a focus on staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prophetic guidance.
1) Start with Surrendered Prayer
- Begin your day by acknowledging His Lordship: “Jesus, You’re the center. Speak, and I will obey.”
- Don’t rush past worship. If you’re led, kneel, lift your hands, and linger. Let your body agree with your spirit.
- Ask the Spirit to search your heart and highlight anything that competes with loving Jesus first.
2) Let the Word Dwell Richly
- Pray the Word back to God. Sit in passages like John 15, John 6, Hebrews 12, and 1 Peter 5.
- Memorize key verses (KJV) that keep your eyes on Jesus, especially in trials (e.g., John 3:14–16; Galatians 2:20).
- Journal insights and responses. Obedience often starts as a whisper in the Word.
3) Fast for Focus
- Consider regular fasting to heighten spiritual sensitivity. Fasting doesn’t twist God’s arm; it trains our appetite for Him.
- Use fasting days to pray for your family, neighborhood, and church—watch how love leads to action.
4) Practice Immediate Obedience
- When the Spirit nudges—call someone, pray for someone, give, serve—do it. Don’t delay.
- Rearrange your plans when God highlights an assignment. Remember how we’d drop everything for “Ddad”? Do that for the Father’s business.
5) Stay Alert in Trials
- When tribulation hits, ask: “What are You forming in me, Lord? Where are You leading my gaze?”
- Refuse murmuring. Choose gratitude. Trials are invitations to deeper intimacy.
- Fix your eyes on Jesus—the lifted One, the bread of life, the fourth man in your fire.
6) Examine Motivation Regularly
- Ask: “Am I seeking Jesus for what He gives my flesh, or for who He is?” (John 6 is a heart check.)
- Identify “selfish agendas.” Lay them down. Kingdom fruit grows from surrendered soil.
7) Expect Fruit—But Don’t Force It
- Fruit appears with abiding, not with striving. Stay connected to Jesus and to His people.
- Celebrate small steps of obedience. They’re seeds that become harvests.
Snapshot: What Fruit Looks Like
Area of Life | Fruit That Manifests | Scriptural Anchor (KJV) |
---|---|---|
Prayer | Deeper reverence, persistence, joy in God’s presence | John 4:24 |
Trials | Stability, hope, testimony of God’s faithfulness | Hebrews 12:5–7; Daniel 3:25 |
Identity | Security in Christ, crucified self-will, boldness | Galatians 2:20 |
Obedience | Quick yes to the Spirit’s prophetic promptings | John 15:5–8 |
Discernment | Focus on the Giver, not just the gifts | John 6:26–44 |
Fruits of a Genuine Relationship with Jesus
How do we know our relationship is alive? We’ll see fruit—over time and in truth. Here are markers I watch for in my own walk and community:
- Love-Driven Obedience: Serving God from delight, not mere duty.
- Spirit-Led Decisions: Plans that flex instantly when the Holy Spirit speaks.
- Endurance in Tribulation: A steady gaze on Jesus in the fire, not murmuring or despair.
- Freedom from Selfish Agendas: Kingdom priorities overshadow personal ambition.
- Bold Witness: Courage that grows out of time with Jesus, not self-confidence.
- Hunger for the Word: Scripture becomes food, not just information.
- Family Mindset: We recognize we’re part of God’s household, and we act like it.
None of this is manufactured. It’s the supernatural evidence that Jesus is truly living in us and that His Spirit is leading us day by day.
Conclusion and Call to Action
My heart is simple: I want you to have a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus that changes everything. When He is lifted up in your gaze—like the serpent in the wilderness—healing, deliverance, and clarity come. When you feed on the Bread of Life, your soul is satisfied in ways that no earthly bread can match. When the Holy Spirit whispers, you move—not because of law, but because of love. This is the prophetic, supernatural life of the disciple.
If this message resonates, I’d love for you to stay connected. Here’s how you can engage further:
- Subscribe to get more content and updates at ConradRocks.Net.
- Share this post with a friend who needs encouragement in a trial.
- Comment below with how the Holy Spirit has been prompting you lately—I read every comment.
- Follow along on social and join the conversation about living a truly spiritual, Jesus-centered life.
— Conrad, ConradRocks.Net
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV). For further study, see the linked passages above.
Keywords: spiritual, Jesus, prophetic, supernatural, Holy Spirit, obedience, trials, tribulation, faith, fruit
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