Seeking for the help of the Lord, I direct your prayerful attention to Paul's epistle to the Philippines. Chapter 1, and reading from our text, verse 11. being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 11.

As we gather for Harvest Thanksgiving, our minds are often going to the fruits of the field and for the end result of that which a farmer has labored all the year, he's looking for those fruits. Without that, there is no profit, there is no benefit, there's nothing rewarding in any way and there's nothing really to show that that farmer is any good, is any skilled at all. Everything is depending upon that fruitfulness.

And our Lord says in a spiritual way, by their fruit ye shall know them. And from me is thy fruit found. And a life that is regenerated, changed, and brings forth fruits, fruits of righteousness that clearly show where those fruits are coming from, that is a very clear token to that person and to those looking on as to whose they are.

We might look for other things, for a word from the Lord, or from a word of direction, or the approval of man, but the greatest witness a soul can have is to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, what I am, I am by the grace of God. In other words, my life, my whole aim, all of those fruits, they all show forth where these things come from.

And this is the prayer, this is what the apostle is setting forth to the Philippians, that they were being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.

It struck me in reading and meditating upon this first chapter how many times that it is, that some 18 or so times, that the apostle is bringing forth the name of Jesus, Jesus Christ, or Christ. It made me think, I thought, how much of our ministry, how much of how we speak in the Lord's name, are we constantly bringing forth the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?

just the very entrance, his salutation to them. He says, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, and then grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. And he has only just got through the salutation and he's set forth Christ Jesus three times. What a blessed thing, if in our life and our conversation and our ministry, those who are ministers, that we are setting forth our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so constantly.

We see the verses six and verses 10, he's speaking about the day of Jesus Christ. Then we think of verse eight, where he says, I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And all the time he's uniting with Christ our text filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ.

Then we have verse 13, so that my bonds in Christ are manifested. He's looking at his bonds, and he's not just saying bonds, but they're bonds in Christ. That's where they are. And then he's speaking about those that are preaching. Some indeed, verse 15, preach Christ even of envy and strife. Verse 16, one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, but then he's rejoicing, notwithstanding that every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And he has that in verse 18.

Verse 19, he said, I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He goes right down, verse 21, for me to live is Christ. I ministrate betwixt two, having the desire to depart, to be with Christ, which is far better. And then in verse 26, that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ. Verse 27, your conversation, let it be as becoming the gospel of Christ. and all the time is setting forth Christ.

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, verse 29, but also to suffer for his sake. How much the apostle is setting forth before the Philippians, the Lord Jesus Christ. How vital, if we are to be fruitful, If we are to show forth His praise, then we are to know Him and He is to be so uppermost in whatever we think of our conversation, our life, our tribulations, our bond, our hope. All the time, Christ is joined to that. That's what comes through here.

And here in our text, it is joining that fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ. So I want to look at three points. Firstly, the fruits of righteousness that the apostle prays that they might be filled with till the day of Jesus Christ. And then secondly, how these fruits come. They come by Jesus Christ, which are by Jesus Christ. And then lastly, to what end are these fruits by Jesus Christ? It is unto the glory and praise of God.

But firstly, the fruits of righteousness. What are these that the Apostle is praying for? These are the evidences and effects of our sanctification. Almost interchangeably, in the Word of God, we not only have the fruits of righteousness, but the fruits of the Spirit. When the fruits of the Spirit are set forth, it is more emphasizing the source of where these fruits are coming as from Christ through the Spirit. But with the fruits of righteousness, it's pointing more to the effects and how it is actually shown and known in the lives of the people of God.

And so in this very chapter, we have the mentioning in the verses before of the love in verse nine. This, I pray that your love may abound yet more and more. You might say, well, he's not defining love, but he is because he says in knowledge and in all judgment. It is a specific love. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. And the love is a love of God, as much today of what is said to be love, which is not a holy scriptural love. It is an ungodly love.

And so the apostle, when he looks at the fruits, and he speaks of love, it must be that according to the scriptures, which will cut across all what we might say is acceptable in this poor dying world. You might have one word, one word of love, and yet that word is so dividing. There'll be those that are walking what they say in love, but it's showing them forth as that which comes forth from the adversary.

And just to think on this, really every attribute, everything that God does and that God gives, Satan will do the same thing, a replica of it, but defiled. If there's love, Satan will give a love, will be befurted, and he's defiled love. If there's sacred music to the praise of God, Satan will have his music. All the time, there'll be those things that are the contrary. So one will speak the word, but how it is actually walked out and defined is very, very different.

So those fruits of righteousness is not fruits of unrighteousness, it's fruits of righteousness. And then we have the, if we turn to, say, Romans 10, and we have the righteousness that the apostle is so desirous of those to whom he is writing to have. He says, Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law. If a man doeth these things, he shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise and we're not to think that we're to bring Christ down from heaven or to descend into the depths to bring him up again the word is neither even in thy mouth in thy and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach and so you have these fruits as described by the apostle as those that begin in the heart.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. And then he says another fruit is with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. And then in verse 11 he said, whoso believeth on him shall not be ashamed. And you get another fruit. that there's not being ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we have the fruits of prayer for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And all the time through not just the epistle to the Philippians, but also to the Romans, he is bringing forth those fruits, those fruits that show a real conversion. that testify as to something that has been changed and wrought in them, so that they are not as they were by nature, but they are what they are by grace.

And so these fruits are to be clearly known and seen. In Ephesians, we have contrasts, and between the different fruits and ways, in Ephesians chapter five, we are set forth that we are to walk, in verse two, to walk in love, as also Christ hath loved us. hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. There is a beautiful fruit of that love, and then immediately he contrasts it but fornication, all uncleanness, covetousness, and he goes through a whole long list of those fruits of the nature of ungodliness, of wickedness.

And many times through scripture, the truths of God are seen in a clear way by a contrast. We know what contrast is. All of us who've done any pictures or adjusting a photograph on your phone, you change the contrast and you can change it so that you can't see it at all. You put the contrast right and then you can see it clearly. So our Lord, your contrast with the two praying in the temple. the Pharisee and the publican. You look at this one, you look at this one, this is one that went down to his house justified rather than the other. And Paul is doing that here. Here is one fruits. Here is these fruits of unrighteousness, but here are the fruits of righteousness.

And by these contrasts, we get to see and know what the way of the Lord is. And thinking of how he began as the sanctification, a real change in life. in verse 8 of Ephesians 5. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord, walk as children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. So these fruits of righteousness are really seen and evidenced in that person's life.

Never be ashamed of being different where that difference has been made by God in your heart and in your life. Praise and bless God for it, where it can be said you were sometimes darkness, But now, a light in the Lord, a real clear witness of the work of God and a real clear showing forth of the fruits of righteousness. In Ephesians 4, again we have the setting forth of that new man or that change. 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 23 And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness and right through that passage is setting forth that righteousness and true holiness and those simple practical ways that this is evidence.

We can easily pass over these, can't we? We can look for things perhaps deeply spiritual and pass over simple things. Be angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Let him that stole steal no more. and let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor, evil speaking, be put away from you. Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. And so these are simple things, but they each evidence, evidence of change and evidence of conversation

And in Philippians, especially when the word conversation is used, is that our citizenship, our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, we speak the language of heaven. Therefore, we speak the language of righteousness. So when our text says being filled, with the fruits of righteousness. It is those fruits that we have spoken of that evidence a renewed life, a witness, not just one day, but every day, a witness that is known and read of all men. It's not just done in the church of God, it's at our school or at our workplace, it's before all men. And these are those fruits. that the apostle desires for these Philippians that they might be filled with. And may that be our desire and our prayer that the Lord would also fill us with these things.

But where do they come from? Where do they come from? I want to look at this in our second point. How the fruits come. Our text is very clear that they are by Jesus Christ. That's where they come from. Often like this, the way the apostle sets his forth by Jesus Christ. In Galatians, we have a word that is actually translated different in the ESV where it speaks, ESV says that we are saved by faith in Christ Jesus. Well, we are in that sense. But our correct rendering is by the faith of Jesus Christ. And there's a very big difference because there are those who say, well, we have a faith ourselves. We just have it by nature. And we can exercise that, just doing our duty, and we can believe and save ourselves. But the word of God is very clear that that faith is of Jesus. It comes from Jesus Christ. And yes, it centers in Christ, but the source of it is from Christ. And it's the same here. The source of these fruits is from Christ.

If you and I are to have any comfort, any assurance that the Lord has truly worked in our hearts, then the Lord will teach us that these things do not come from ourselves. You think of even like with Daniel or with Joseph, interpreting of dreams and what they'll use, they always testified, it is not in me. It's not in me. And the Apostle Paul, as we've said, by the grace of God, I am what I am. Not by my efforts, not because I'm any better than any others, but the Lord has given it, and the Lord will teach this. Sometimes we might perhaps be in doubt of it, and then the Lord will leave us, and leave us to show us, bring us into some trial, some furnace, some difficulty, and then the fruits of our old nature will first arise up, and you'll see what they are, and then the Lord is pleased to soften us, and humble us and give us those fruits from his spirit. And we'll give, again, have that contrast between what we are in ourselves and what we are in the Lord.

You know, the Apostle Paul spoke of his thorn in the flesh as being a messenger of Satan. Now I've no doubt that it was in afflictions that he had, but where it becomes a messenger of Satan, where Satan will aggravate something we're going through, some affliction, and will stir up angry, bitter thoughts against him, against men if they've been used to be a persecutor or trouble to us. And for a tender spirit, that is grieving. Why should I think this? Why should I be fighting? Why should I be under the Lord's chastening like a bullock, unaccustomed to the yoke, and keep kicking against the Lord, and think, I want to profit from this chastening. I want it to be a benefit. I want to be more like Him. But the worst that is happening is just showing all the filth and uncleanness and evil in my heart. And where will that end? Well, the Lord's preparing the way to show where that righteousness comes from. It doesn't come from us.

When it says we shall grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, grace and works are completely opposite, aren't they? A lot of works as any man should boast. And so if we're to learn that, we'll learn that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. That's what they are. But that which comes from the Lord, that is pure, that is wrought by His Spirit.

So they come. The Lord says in Hosea, from me is thy fruit found. The Lord Jesus Christ, He speaks in the parable of the vine. Except ye be in the vine, except ye be united to the vine, ye cannot bear fruit. The branch cannot bear fruit of itself. The Lord's people cannot bear fruit of themselves. That must come from the Lord.

And Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, he says very clearly in the second chapter, he says that we are his workmanship. created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. We should have these roots of righteousness. This is the Lord's aim, that his people in this world should show forth the praises of him that hath called them out of nature's darkness and into his marvellous light.

Going back to the Philippians, the apostle, as he continues in the second chapter, we have there, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. And he's not left to any doubt where this fruitfulness is coming from, who it is that is working it. You know, one example is with our Lord is like the potter, the heavenly potter, and how that he's shaping the clay, how he's making this beautiful bowl or vessel out of the lump of clay. It's not the clay that is doing it, it's the potter. It's his skill that brings forth the praise at the end. And so it is with the Lord in those things that he works in his people.

We think of some of the examples. You think of our Lord being like the heavenly Joseph. And Joseph, he is sent before to preserve life. And when there's a famine, then Pharaoh, he says, go unto Joseph. He will supply all your need, all the fruits, all what you need to survive, He will provide it. We have in Colossians, it please the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell, which is these fruits of righteousness that are full and free in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's inseparable from our Lord's work upon Calvary. that which the Lord has done to put away the sins of his people, to blot them out. But there's two sides to it, isn't there? Sin is pardoned and forgiven, but to be fully justified, a sinner must be made meat for heaven and to be given a righteousness that he does not have himself, because the Lord demands a perfect righteousness. If just the debt is paid, but no righteousness is provided, then we are not fit for heaven.

The spouse says in Song of Solomon that I am black, but come, Lee, the blackness is felt, and do remember that, dear friends, the blackness is felt. We will feel and know our own sinnership. But in the Lord Jesus Christ, the righteousness that he gives is a perfect righteousness, but he imparts to his people as well those fruits of righteousness. That is not how and why they get to heaven. They do not get to heaven by their own righteousness, even though the Lord does give those fruits of righteousness to his people. That is imperfect. But it is showing forth their relationship with Christ.

We will not be perfect this side of the grave. Our hope for heaven is solely upon Christ's blood shed for us and his righteousness imputed to us. But where that is the case, there will be fruits of righteousness. that are shown in the lives of his people. They won't say, well, I've got heaven. Christ died for me. I've got his robe of righteousness. It doesn't matter how I live. It doesn't matter what I say and what I do. That is not the fruit of righteousness.

Let us not sin, says Paul to the Romans, that grace might abound. God forbid that we should do these things. Our desire will be, Lord, work in me to will and to do of thy own good pleasure. Let in me thy grace be shown, and the fruits of thine indwelling be shown in me. The disciples, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. It had had an effect. Take my yoke upon you, learn of me. I am meek and lowly in heart. You shall find rest for your souls. And is directly related to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord says, because I live, ye shall live also. There he is, risen, and he is in heaven. His intercession in heaven. We have a beautiful illustration of that in John 17. that they might be kept from the evil, that they might be given those blessings that they need here below, and then at last be with him in heaven. And he says this, I will pray the Father, and he will give you another comforter which shall abide with you forever. It is then at the intercession of the Lord that the Spirit is given. And we have his promise, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

These fruits, they come from the Holy Spirit, and they come because the Lord Jesus Christ has suffered, bled, and died in his heaven, and sent forth his Spirit into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. It is the Spirit that beareth witness, and he bears witness, with those fruits wrought in the heart. And it is vital for us to, on several accounts, to trace this, that we don't despair when we see what we are of ourselves.

We say, I wish I was like that person. They're a really godly person. I wish I was like that. As if we think that they had something in themselves that we don't. But they have the same source and the same help. And so we're not to despair when the Lord shows us, like in Ezekiel, turn again, son of man, thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

We don't set to work and to wrought these things ourselves. Our cry, our prayer is to the Lord. Here the apostle is giving a very illustrative way of praying for his people. He says, I pray. I pray that there might be these fruits, that there might be that love, that they might approve things that are excellent, that they might be sincere, that they might be without offence till the day of Christ, that they might be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Example for us, isn't it? Do we pray for these fruits? Do we pray for this witness from the Lord? Pray for his work in our lives? or are we so busy trying to do it ourselves, we don't pray and we don't ask the Lord. And then when someone praises us, we take the glory to ourselves and don't say it's not in me, it is from the Lord.

If we are not clear as to where this comes from, we will not have that token for good. We will not have the assurance that it actually is the Lord that has worked in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure. One of the works of God is to show his people where the source is, where it comes from, where their blessings come from, where they are born from, and where they are going as well.

And so this second part of our text which are by Jesus Christ, or where these fruits come from, is a very important thing. Bless the Lord if he has ever shown you where he's given you fruits and helps and graces. Sometimes we might look at something before us, challenging situation, times of persecution or trouble, and we greatly fear how we shall react, what we shall say, how we shall really convey ourselves, will it be in a way that is ungodly, ungracious, and we have to cry to the Lord, Lord, keep my spirit, cause that I might have fruits that come from thee, and feeling much our need, and where the Lord then answers that prayer, to return and give thanks to him, that he has been our keeper, One that has strengthened us.

It's through this, you have these tokens for good, whose we are and whom we serve. Unto them, Lord, lastly, and to what end are these fruits by Jesus Christ? Our text says, unto the glory and praise of God. That's why. We are dependent upon him by whom they come.

Perhaps this can be a real mark of God's people through this life, an utter dependence upon the Lord. In the fall, we were separated, alienated from God, separated from God. But in the Lord's dealings by grace, it all the time is to bring a reconciliation and to bring the people of God together.

In Song of Solomon, he is wanting to hear the voice of his bride. The Lord loves to hear his people pray. He wants them to pray. He wants them to seek unto him for these things. He is honoured and glorified. When we think of the woman of Canaan, she came and worshipped him. How did she worship him? Lord, help me. That's how she worshipped. She wanted that fullness. She wanted those blessings to come from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul is very certain writing to the Corinthians, and writing here, that what the Lord does is that no flesh might glory in his presence. The crown must be put upon his head. We read in the Revelation, they're casting their crowns before him. And they've learnt that here below. They've learnt that here below.

Unto the glory and praise of God. It is to the glory of God that his people do what they do, walk as they walk, speak as they speak. And it is to the praise of God, both from the people of God and also those that see, even their enemies. Sometimes they cannot deny it so. We think of Psalm 136. that the Lord hath done great things for us, wherever we are glad. And the heathen say the Lord hath done great things for them. It is noticed, known, and read of all men. May we truly know what it is to, in this way, show forth God's praise.

On the other side, it will be humbling for us, laying us low in the dust. There cannot be one without another. You cannot have a proud person, a sinner that is proud and looking to all of what they're doing and the praise of men for how they're walking and on the same side, the praise of God. The Lord will internally with that person make them to really feel what they are as sinners. And that is painful, but we must learn to discern between these two, what God is doing, what God has done in our lives, in our thoughts, affections, and outward lives, and what he's done in making us really know our sinnership. and know what we are by ourselves, and know that we are what we are by the grace of God. And so we can truly say that we are filled with the fruits of righteousness, and these fruits, they are by Jesus Christ, and it does result even here below under the glory and praise of God, and it will be forever and forever.

May we be able join in with this praise, maybe something of which we are truly thankful, and maybe something that we pray for and look for, and that we rejoice to see in coming sinners, those whose lives are changed, those who perhaps cannot speak of a text or cannot speak of things that they think will show that they are the Lord's people, but their whole life and conduct It all cries out, this is the work of God. This is the grace of God.

Of course, the Philippians, the beginning of that church, the jailer and his household, Lydia, and you see the fruits, immediately the differences in their lives. And this is what the apostle desires, that this continue with them. And as we began, how Christ is so in this chapter, And may it be that Christ, so much is in our lives as well, that we can hardly speak or relate one thing or another, that we speak of him and lift him up and praise his name.

May the Lord add his blessing. Amen.