The disciple is successful because the Father can confirm his witness (life), and through his life the Father can bear fruit. Our usefulness for the Kingdom is determined by our love (seed), and abiding (feed) relationships. God can only confirm and use that which is like Him and His Son. Our will is to do Christ's will. His will was to do His Father's will. SUCCESS IS IN THIS PROGRESSION. All other is of the flesh.
"Are grapes gathered from thorns, of figs from thistles?".1 Good trees bear good fruit and bad trees bear bad fruit. In other words, like begets like. The disciple cannot expect to bear good fruit (a confirmed witness) to the Father unless he is abiding in Christ and loving in Christ. Our righteousness is in the Lord Jesus. Our success is therefore determined by our relationship to Him.2
God causes all seeds to grow and bear fruit. Not one seed sprouts without His hand. All seeds are dead until He raises them. "Truly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit".3 The disciple dies to himself to be alive to God. The Father gives the rebirth. He causes new life. There is no other source and no other way.
Additional Scripture References:
Matthew 13:24-30
Mark 4:26-29
Romans 6:1-11
Philippians 3:8-11
1. Matthew 7:15-20
2. Luke 3:8-9, John 15:1
3. John 12:24
