Fruit That Outlives You
There’s a kind of fruit that doesn’t rot. A kind of fruit that’s not measured by likes, follows, or followers—but by legacy. This is a fruit that doesn’t just feed you, but generations after you. This is the fruit that Jesus spoke of in John 15:16, when He said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…” This is the kind of fruit that outlives you.
Pastor Joey Miranda, visiting from NorthGate Indiana, delivered a powerful sermon at V1 Church recently on the importance of fruit that lasts. From surviving street violence to becoming a minister who helped disciple a young, Mike Signorelli, Pastor Joey knows firsthand what it means to endure hardship and bear lasting fruit.
Chosen with a Purpose
The visiting pastor shared a story about a little boy who saw a butterfly struggling to emerge from a cocoon. Thinking he was helping, the boy opened the cocoon wider, and the butterfly broke free. The butterfly’s wings, having skipped the struggle, were too weak to fly. The same happens when believers try to avoid difficulty: Premature release leads to stunted development.
Remaining in Christ doesn’t remove one's struggle—it gives the strength to endure it. God is not in the business of easy exits; He’s forming wings strong enough for flight. Many people want the platform without the preparation, the fruit without the root. But the cocoon—the pressure—is necessary. The delay is divine.
In John 15:16, Jesus said He chose us. That’s not casual language—it’s a call to action. His children are not a random pick. We were appointed and anointed for such a time as this. And when God appoints, no man, no lie, no opposition can unseat us.
But here's the thing—"Go" is an action word. Fruit doesn’t grow in stagnation. Just like stagnant water stinks and breeds bacteria, a stagnant life starts to decay. Pastor Joey explained that the spiritual walk of a Christian is not meant to stay in the same place. When connected to the Vine, the fruit in your life should grow and multiply—and it should feed others.
Fruit Feeds the Hungry
If you claim to follow Jesus, the people around you shouldn’t be starving for hope, encouragement, or wisdom. Pastor Joey declared, "No one around a Christian should go hungry." That means our fruit is meant for others. We’re called to go— go-love, go-disciple, go-minister, go feed.
Jesus fed His disciples and then told them to feed others. In the same way, our healing, our testimony, our breakthrough—it’s not just for us. It’s for someone else’s survival, and we know real fruit multiplies.
A great question for self-reflection is asking yourself, “What are you planting today that your children will harvest tomorrow?” Your faith walk is not just about today—it’s about your legacy. The fruit of your life should extend to your children, your grandchildren, and spiritual sons and daughters. Your obedience now sets the table for others later.
Pastor Joey shared about the Chinese bamboo tree. After the seed is planted, nothing is visible for five years. No growth. No breakthrough. No evidence. But below the surface, a foundation is being built. And when it finally breaks ground, it grows 90 feet in just weeks. That’s what spiritual fruit can look like. It often looks like hidden progress, quiet faithfulness. We must stay faithful in watering to see the impact of our growth, even when no one sees it.
Stay Connected to the Vine
No one will bear fruit that lasts if they are not abiding in Jesus. Lasting fruit doesn’t come from willpower or performance—it comes from proximity to the Vine. Jesus is our source, strength, and sustainer. Our objective should be to stay connected and stay rooted. Go back to your first love. Revival doesn’t start on a stage—it starts in the soil of our soul, in the quiet place where we say, “Jesus, I want You more than anything.” That is fruit that outlives you. That is legacy. That is the gospel in action.
Ask yourself, are you bearing fruit that will last, or are you just producing momentary results that expire with time and applause? Go deeper. Stay longer. Trust harder. You were chosen not just to be something, but to become someone who multiplies the presence of God in every space and every generation. Let the fruit of your life outlive you.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
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