which turn back to John chapter 15. Several times the Lord said during his earthly ministry, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Lord, would you give me ears to hear so that I might hear? I hope that's the prayer of every one of us. As we look at this verse of scripture, I've entitled this message, The Fruit of Election. Let's read the verse again. John chapter 15, verse 16, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain. that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. The fruit of election.

Now, I love the way the Lord says, you've not chosen me, but I've chosen you. Every believer says, amen. That's the truth. Let me give you four, I don't know what to, four things, four issues with regard to divine election. God's choice of his people before time began. Number one, election is nothing less than God being God. If I do not believe and worship the God of election, I do not believe and worship the God of the Bible. The God that I supposedly worship is non-existent. Might as well be an atheist. No difference.

Number two, election, you've not chosen me, but I have chosen you. tells us salvation is all of grace. Take election away, you take grace away. Salvation is dependent upon human works. Election tells us salvation is all of grace. Election means God gets all the glory in salvation. Take election away, man gets glory. Man is the ultimate cause of his salvation. But election says God gets all the glory in salvation.

And fourth, election is the guarantee of fruit bearing. You have not chosen me. but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain, should continue, should endure. That whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it the fruit of election. Many are the objections to election, and behind them all is a hatred of the God of election. But among those objections is it makes a man apathetic, fatalistic, indifferent toward the salvation of others.

I tried to think about what I wanted to say about that, and here it is, baloney. That's just not so. I don't know how many times I've heard the phrase over the years, the frozen chosen. I've had people make fun of me about that. The frozen chosen. The only people who are frozen are the unchosen. To their frozen and wicked hearts, election is a dry and dangerous doctrine, but it's not to the elect.

We are bound, Paul said, to thank God. Election is the doctrine of divine thanksgiving. We're bound to thank God always for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go. Don't miss that word. I never really thought of this word before. I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go. Go. Not be static, not be stagnant, not be stationary, not to just stay in the rut, but go. Go. Not to be the same like the servant who hid his talent in a napkin.

Would you turn with me for a moment to Matthew chapter 25? I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Go home to thy friends and family and tell them the great things God hath done for thee.

Matthew chapter 25, verse 14. But the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to several ability, and straightway took his journey. Then he that received the five talents went.

You catch that? He went. He didn't just sit there. He went. I've ordained you that you should go. He went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other two, but he that had received one went and digged in the earth. He didn't go and trade. He went and digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money.

After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliverest unto me five talents. Behold, I've gained beside them five talents more.

His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I'll make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, Thou deliverest unto me two towns. Behold, I've gained two other towns besides them. His Lord said unto him, well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I'll make thee ruler over many things.

Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that thou art a hard man. You know, those other fellows didn't see the Lord that way, did they? I knew you were a harsh, unsympathetic, man, austere, reaping where thou hast not sown. Does the Lord do that? Of course not, but this is the way this man charges him.

You reap where you don't sow, and you gather where you've not strawed. And I was afraid, and I went and hid thy talent in the earth, and lo, there hast thou, that is thine, His Lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful servant. Thou knewest, he said, I'm gonna meet you where you came to me. You knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed.

Thou oughtest therefore to put my money to the exchangers, that at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents, for unto everyone that hath shall be given And he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I knew you were sovereign. I didn't do a thing. Here you have what is yours. The Lord said, go ye. Not hide your talent in the dirt, Make sure everything's safe. Go ye. I think of what the Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel. Before the Red Sea, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. And as the waters parted, he said, go forward. Go through that. Go.

We all have a race to run and there is spiritual motion. Not inertia, not spiritual sloth, not laziness. There's spiritual motion. Coming to Christ, you don't make a move physically. But there's spiritual motion, isn't it? You're coming to him. You're going to him. That you should go and bring forth fruit. You've not chosen me, but I've chosen you. Yes, Lord. That you should go, not remain stationary, not remain stagnant, Not hiding your talent in the dirt, but that you should go and bring forth fruit. Now, the Bible has a lot to say about fruit. For instance, turn back a few pages to John chapter 12.

Verse 24, verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, you bear it and it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Now the Lord's talking about his death. He said, if I don't die, I'm just gonna be by myself. But if I die, there's gonna be much fruit to my death. Everybody I died for will be saved. His death guarantees salvation. You go and bring forth the fruit of that salvation. You go preach the gospel to every creature and there's going to be fruit. The gospel is going to be successful.

It can't be anything but that. It's impossible for it to be anything but that because Christ died. And there's fruit. You know, people say, well, that'll kill missions if you believe in election. No, it doesn't. It makes you zealous for missions. Somebody's going to be saved. And it doesn't have anything to do with me being able to talk anybody into anything.

It's because he's got a people and there's going to be fruit to what he has done. You go and bring forth fruit, preaching the gospel to every creature. Turn with me to Luke chapter six for a moment. Verse 43, Luke chapter six, verse 43. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For if thorn's men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes, a good man, this describes every believer, a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. An evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bring a forth that which is evil for the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh.

Now this is talking about the fruit of our words. By your words, you'll be justified. By your words, you'll be condemned. Now this is talking about the doctrine of the gospel. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, that new heart he's given forth, bringeth forth good things, the good things of the gospel. An evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart speaks evil things, corrupt things, things that are contrary to the gospel. The fruit of your words, by your words you'll be justified. You know, what's in your heart is what comes out of your mouth. By your words you'll be justified. By your words you'll be condemned.

Now the Lord uses this word in warning us about false prophets. Beware of false prophets. You shall know them by their fruits. You'll know a false prophet by what he says. You'll know a false prophet by his converts. And you'll know a false prophet by his life. By their fruits, you shall know them. You'll know a false prophet by his doctrine.

Remember in 1 John chapter four, when John said, try the spirits, put them to the test, whether they be of God. And he gives us this simple test. Listen real carefully. This is so simple, it's so profound. Here's how you'll know somebody's of God. Every spirit that confesses, this is a public confession. This is not something private, this is public. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Every spirit that confesses not, this is a public thing, every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is of that spirit of antichrist. Now in this simple confession, if I confess Jesus Christ was come in the flesh I confess He was before He came. He is eternal God. He came in the flesh. God was manifest in the flesh. The Word was made flesh. And beloved, He did what He came to do.

Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. He did save his people from their sins. You'll know them by their doctrine. You'll know them by their converts. I love the way the Lord, when they came to ask him his doctrine, he said, why are you asking me? Ask him that heard me. Talk to the people that that man preaches to. Find out what they believe. That's what he believes.

You'll know them by their converts. If they believe something contrary to the gospel, it's because he was preaching something contrary to the gospel, that he was not true. You'll know them by their lives. Any true person, Christ is their life. That's evident. They don't have to try to prove it. Christ is their life.

What was the difference between the good ground here and the wayside, stony ground, thorn-choked here? Remember? Fruit. Fruit. The fruit of God, the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering. gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, the fruit of God, the Holy Spirit.

And as soon as I say that, when we were dealing with this in Sunday school class a few weeks ago, as soon as I say something like, well, do I bear fruit? They start looking to see how much fruit you're bearing. You look to Christ, you bear fruit. If you abide in Christ, as a matter of fact, in this same chapter, John chapter 15, If you're trying to bear fruit, you won't bear any. You look to Christ, you'll bear fruit. You abide in Christ. That means you only want to be found in him. Look what he says in verse four of John chapter 15. Abide in me and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you except you abide in me. I am the vine, you're the branches, he that abideth in me and I in him. The same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. How do you bring forth fruit?

By abiding in Christ. I love the simplicity of that. I only want to be found in Him. And if I abide in Christ where all I want to do is be found in Him, I will bear fruit. That's the promise. If I start trying to bear fruit, all I'm going to bear is thorns and brambles. So don't think, am I bearing fruit? Think, am I abiding in Christ? If you abide in Christ, you will bear fruit.

You've not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit. I love what John the Baptist said when those people came up to be baptized by him. He said, bring forth fruits, meat. for repentance, worthy of repentance.

Now, if I have really true repentance before God, this change of mind before God, it's gonna humble me. It's gonna make me meet before him. Fruits meet for repentance. If I don't have fruits meet for repentance, I don't really have repentance. This repentance before God, this bowing the knee before God, changing your mind concerning God, sure makes you change your mind about yourself, doesn't it? It makes you change your mind about others. Repentance, fruit, meat for repentance.

And then James spoke of the peaceable fruits of righteousness that come from the father chastening of God. Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. And what comes out of that, according to the writer of the Hebrews, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. And the Lord said, you did not choose me, but I chose you and ordained you that your fruit should remain.

If it doesn't remain, it's not real. He that endureth to the end, the same should be saved. What is the evidence of the reality of God's salvation in me? Endurance. Perseverance. You don't quit. You don't leave. You persevere all the way to the end, and that fruit perseveres. The humility, the meekness, the poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted for righteousness. That's what a believer is. You endure in that. And let me tell you how you endure.

You endure looking to Christ only, not trying to see how much fruit you're bearing. looking to Christ only, and it's only in looking to Christ only that you bear this fruit, and this fruit remains. Oh, may God give me grace to where the last breath I take on earth will be looking to Christ only. You know, none of us have much more time. Oh, may God give every one of us the grace to look to Christ only.

You've not chosen me, but I've chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it. Now here's the fruit of election. Here is something that those he has chosen and bring forth fruit that remains do. They ask the Father in his name.

What does that mean? You know, some people use it kinds of formulas to be able to get what they get. In Jesus' name, I hate when preachers The way that it's guaranteed success, kind of a formula, kind of like abracadabra, something like that. That's not what that means at all.

In His name. That means when I ask for things, and when I pray, I'm asking for things. I'm asking for provision, material. I'm asking for health. I'm asking for things. But that's not really what he's talking about. And I'm not diminishing the importance of asking for things. I ask him to provide my needs. I ask him to give me my daily bread. I ask him to forgive me of my sins.

We're not diminishing this thing of casting all your care upon the Lord, asking for everything. There's nothing that's Insignificant to him if you're his child, you ask for things. Somebody talked about Psalm 103 and they talked about how amazing it is that David doesn't ask for anything.

And I love that too. But you know, I've never prayed a prayer when I didn't ask for something. I hope one of these days I will, maybe. I don't know, I don't know. I'm always asking for his grace. I'm always asking for his mercy. Asking for that. You have not because you ask not.

But these things they're asking for principally have to do with salvation. Now I repeat, be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. But this is mainly asking for the things of salvation in his name. Now what does that mean? Asking in his name.

Means I'm not coming in my own name. I don't want my fingerprints to be on anything. I'm not coming in my own name. I'm not coming in my own works. I'm not coming in anything that I performed, anything that I've done or refrained from doing. I'm not coming with my sincerity. I'm not coming with my experience. I'm not coming with my evidences. I'm coming only in His name, asking for Him to hear and answer His Son representing me. me in him. I dare not come in my own name. I come only in his name.

Just as you forgive for his sake and no other reason is needed. I love the scripture. Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. No other reason is needed for him to forgive you. I come only in His name and ask that you would hear Him and me in Him. Give me my request for salvation for His sake. Give me mercy. Give me grace. Give me forgiveness. Give me righteousness. Give me acceptance. Give me strength. Give me faith, give me repentance, give me perseverance for His sake.

That's my only reason for asking, for His sake, not for my sake. I love that passage. The scripture of the Lord said, not for your sakes do I this, but for my own great name's sake. That's why He acts, for His people, for His own great name's sake. You're one of His chosen. This is the way you come.

In His name. No other name. Certainly not your name. In His name. That's the name we call upon. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. That name that's above every name. That name All of God is in His name. Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

First John 3.23, this is His commandment that we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. I repeat, asking in His name is not some kind of formula to make it more likely to be heard. It's the only way we come. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, it's an understanding of the person behind the name that causes you to do that.

You know that Jesus Christ is God, the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God. You know that in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You understand that all of God's salvation is in Him. You understand that? You don't understand it completely because you're so ignorant in and of yourself, but you understand all God has for the sinners in Christ. You understand that?

Of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. You know the only righteousness you have is His. You know the only wisdom you have is His. You know the only holiness you have is His. You know the only redemption you have is in Him. You know that. You believe that. If Christ chose you, you know that. You believe it. When the Lord says, I'm the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me, you understand that. You understand the only way you come to the Father is by Him, by His name, by Him bringing you to the Father.

Whatever I ask in His name, He will give it. And if I don't have it, it's because I did not ask in his name. And we're talking about the things of salvation. I'm not saying if you ask for a million dollars in his name, he'll give it to you. It might be you end up going bankrupt, but that'll be all according to his purpose and will. Might be you asking his name to be healthy and you get cancer. Well, that's according to his will.

He's in control of everything. This is talking about the things of salvation. You ask for mercy in the name of the Son, and you'll receive it. You ask for forgiveness in the name of the Son, you'll receive it. You ask for a new heart in the name of the Son, and you'll receive it. You ask for faith in the name of the Son, you'll receive it. You ask for repentance before God in the name of the Son, and you'll have it.

If I don't have it, I've never asked in His name, pleading nothing but Him. Hear me for Christ's sake. No other reason. I can only come in His name because I have no personal merit to come in. I can't say, Lord, Lord. You know me. Remember, in your name I preached. In your name I have cast out demons. In your name have I done many wonderful works.

You don't come like that. Many will. The Lord said many shall say to me in that day, and they're gonna come pleading what they've done, rather than the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then shall I say unto them, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I never knew you. We don't come like that. We come only in His name. I only ask in His name.

Ask in His name. and you shall receive. Seek in His name and you shall find. Knock in His name and it shall be open to you. Fail to ask in His name and you won't have it. Fail to seek in His name and you're not gonna find anything. Fail to knock in his name and you will find a closed door.

Asking in his name reveals an understanding of the gospel. It really is that simple. Asking in his name. You're saying by that, I know that in and of myself, I can't be heard. I'm a sinful man and the only way I will be heard is because of the name, the righteousness and the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn with me to Psalm 106.

Praise ye the Lord. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he's good. For his mercy endureth forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord and who can show forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Remember me, O Lord. With the favor that Thou bearest unto Thy people, O visit me with Thy salvation, that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.

We have seen with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, We have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They were spiritually stupid people. They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies. They were an ungrateful people. They were provoking people. They provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Nevertheless, He saved them for His name's sake. There is the reason for salvation. He saved them for His name's sake that He might make His mighty power No. You did not choose me. But I chose you. And ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit. Whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, that's the only way we ask. He may give it you. The fruit of election, which is the fruit of God's salvation. May the Lord Let us all bear this fruit. Let's pray.

Lord, you have told us in your word that you chose us and that we did not choose you. And Lord, you said you've chosen us for this purpose, that we should go and bear forth fruit, that we should go, that we should bear fruit, and that that fruit might remain, that whatever we ask the Father in your name, you'll give it to us. Now, Lord, we ask that you would give us the grace to understand In our hearts, what you meant when you said you did not choose me, but I chose you. And Lord, here's our hope of bearing this fruit because you've ordained it and you chose us to that.

To go and bear forth fruit and that that fruit would remain, continue. And Lord, truly we're asking that this might be only in the name of your son. Teach us, enable us to trust, to come, to believe only in the name of thy son. Bless this word for Christ's sake, in his name we pray, amen.