When I first arrived overseas, a friend named Tom invited several of us over to his house. When we got there, one of the first things that he did was to pick up an apple, hold it up high, and ask us, “What do you see?”

Of course we answered with things like: “An apple!”, “Fruit!”, “Food!”

Tom answered, “No! This apple represents a stranger that you are going to meet sometime soon while you are here! This is someone that you don’t currently realize is interested in learning about God! It’s just that no one has told him or her about Jesus yet! But when you do what it takes to earn the trust of this person, and tell them about the Gospel, and then they accept Jesus, this is what happens…” 

Tom then took out a sharp knife and cut the apple in half and held up the inside of the apple for us to see. He said, “What do you see now?”

We said, “Seeds!” and he said, “Yes, you see seeds!” He went on to say, “Whenever you think about someone that you want to share the Gospel with, don’t think about leading only that one person to Christ! When you lead this person to Christ, he or she is going to grow as Jesus’ disciple, share the Gospel with the other people around them, and then lead these people to Christ as well!”

So we wouldn’t just be leading one person to Jesus; each person who will come to know Christ represents an entire community full of people who could also be reached through that one person! 

John 15:8 says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” The word “bear” means “to produce”. 

If you read the part of the Bible passage that's written just before John 15:8, you will see that Jesus called Himself a "vine" and us the "branches". So as you abide in Jesus, remain connected to Him, and allow Him to fill your heart, the result is that 'sharing the Gospel' becomes part of the overflow of your relationship with Christ! 

Obediently telling people about Jesus inevitably results in at least one person who will their lives to Him; that is spiritual fruit! 

When that one person gets saved, they have the potential of sowing many seeds of the Gospel into the lives of many other people around them, as they tell others about Jesus!

When you (and they) produce spiritual fruit, you will both experience great joy! 

And so does God! 

The Bible says, “…I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” -Luke 15:10

I’ve heard people say that the angels rejoice each time someone gives their lives to Christ. Maybe they do, but that’s not what this verse says:  It says that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels. 

So who is doing the rejoicing each time when someone gives their lives to Christ?

I think it is God Himself! 

People can only place their faith in Christ after someone has told them about Jesus!

John 15:8 (above) says that when you bear this kind of fruit, the Father is glorified!

But the first requirement in order for any of this to happen, is that someone must tell them! 

Praying for much fruit,
- Lori Lyn