August 10, 2022
Fruitfulness is Fun!
Beloved one, Jesus taught His inner circle how to be fruitful so that their joy might be full. (John 15:1-16) Fruitfulness is fun! There is great joy in gaining the results Jesus desires, like reaching a goal. If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4 NIV) When your desires line up with God’s desires for you, He will give you the desires of your heart, but you must delight yourself in the Lord. What does ‘delight’ mean? In Greek ‘delight’ means enjoyment, joy, exhilaration, rejoicing, glee, and gladness. When you enjoy spending time in God’s presence you delight Him.
Jesus said, ‘you did not choose me, but I chose and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. (John 15:16 NIV) As a leader, your goal is not only to bear fruit but to help others to do the same. You must be more than faithful; you must be fruitful. You have a great opportunity to bear fruit because of your:
1. Source – I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (John 15:1)
2. Care – Your Heavenly Father is the vinedresser. He owns you and cares for you. (John 15:1)
3. Pruning – (John 15:2 NKJV) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2 NKJV)
4. Partnership – Your job is to artificially push fruit out but stay connected to the vine. (John 15:4 NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
5. Promise – (John 15:7 NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
6. Purpose – (John 15:8 NKJV) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples.
7. Obedience – (John 15:10) If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Jesus gives you and I one condition to all this, we must obey God, His Word, and remain in Him, receive from Him, and reproduce for Him. Are you fruitful?
