BEARING FRUIT IN THE CHRISTIAN CIRCLE

It is evident that we are left here that we might bring forth that which is grateful to God. I want to speak of fruit-bearing in this connection. Fruit is brought forth for God, and by God, as to the source of it. The Lord contemplates that in this chapter [John 15], and He makes provision in this chapter for its continuity. There had been fruit in the disciples, and the Lord makes provision that their fruit should abide, that there should be a continuity of it.

… fruit is spontaneous. A healthy vigorous tree yields fruit. Until Christ came, there could not be much fruit… Now Christ comes, and He was the true Vine, and for the first time there was fruit for God. He says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches", and the condition of fruit-bearing was that they should abide in Him and He in them …The Lord will have continuity; that comes out in all His teaching. He made provision that all that came out when He was upon earth should be continued. Fruit was to be continued although the vine was no longer upon earth.

… you get the principles or conditions under which fruit will be brought forth in us. The first condition is the influence of Christ, and the second is the Christian circle, a circle where there can be the exercise of spiritual affection. If these conditions were not there, there could be no fruit for God. When Christ was here, there was the influence of Christ, and there was a circle of which Christ was the centre. No one can imagine what the influence of Christ was in that circle, of which He was the centre. There was unspeakable and inexpressible influence, and they were in a circle where they were under the obligation to love one another... His influence must be paramount.

… Now we cannot do without a circle here… In a circle you have scope for affection… On the day of Pentecost a circle was formed, Christ formed the circle, and the Holy Spirit came and dwelt there. To be truly in the Christian circle is extremely important. You cannot "bring forth much fruit" by merely going to meetings or preachings; that will not enable you to bring forth fruit to God. We need to be in the Christian circle. I do not want to discourage you from going to meetings, but I want you to take great account of the Christian circle, for there it is you are moulded in Christian affection. Encourage yourself to have your full part in the Christian circle … it is in the Christian circle that spiritual affections are moulded, and it is in that circle that we escape the influence of the world. There was a potent influence introduced in the influence of Christ, but He took care that there should be a retreat; He formed a circle before ever the gospel went out. Before the apostles went out to preach there existed a Christian circle formed by Christ. Take advantage of the Christian circle, even of what comes to your hand. Do not despise what comes to your hand, even though it be a little circle. Depend upon it what comes to your hand is not despised by the Lord, and your wisdom is to take the fullest possible advantage of what is there – enjoy the spiritual affection, and be careful to fulfil your part in it. Christ took what came to His hand – just a few fishermen, but He loved them, and He taught them to love Him and to love one another.

One word more. There are those two conditions which I have spoken of under which we bring forth fruit to God. The first is the influence of Christ, and the second is the enjoyment of the Christian circle. I counsel you to take full advantage of both, so that our distinguishing mark may not be merely as a people who go to meetings, but as those who are under the influence of Christ, where we get the full benefit of sunshine and rain.

May God exercise our hearts as to these necessary and divinely appointed conditions, so that there may be continuity in bearing fruit for God. It will be so with Israel by and by; the fruit will reproduce itself. So with us. If we continue in these conditions we shall bring forth fruit, and the fruit will reproduce itself and will abide.

F.E. Raven Vol.16 pp.54-59