SUNDAY 20TH MARCH 2016
The Evangelism Month; March is dedicated to increase awareness on the need to preach the gospel.
Key Passage: John 15:16 (NIV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last”
Genesis 1:27-28(NIV)
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
He created Him; male and female he created them. God blessed them
and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number;
fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living creature
that moves on the ground”
Fruit bearing is a cardinal principle of our lives as believers, as we see in the above scriptures. As believing Christians, we pray and ask God to guide and help us in and for all things, and our faithful God is a God that answers prayers. Grace is given to us as believers to live fruitful and productive lives for God.
2nd Peter 1: 5-10 speaks about the believer making every effort to add to faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.
In verse 8:
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive
In your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Verse 9 describes the person who lacks the above qualities as being short sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
A FRUITFUL MIND
Philippians 4:8-9 and Romans 12:2 tell us the things to occupy our minds with, which are things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, virtuous and praise worthy and to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
A FRUITFUL SOUL
Galatians 5:22-23, manifesting the virtues of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: there is no law against such things. Those who belong to Jesus Christ crucify the passions, appetites, and desires of the flesh.
FRUITFULNESS IN SPEECH
Ephesians 4:29 (AMP) Speaking only such as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others.
FRUITFULNESS IN DEEDS
Colossians 1:10 and 2nd Peter 1:10 -11 encourage us to be more eager to make our call and election sure, so that we will never fall, we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. James 2: 17, 24
GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
Ephesians 2:8-10. Every believer is described as God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus (recreated when you gave your life to him)unto good works which God predestined or planned before hand for you to walk in or taking paths which God had prepared ahead for you to live the life he had pre arranged for you to live.
As a believer I need to know and understand who I am in Christ and where I am going for Him.
Quoting BOB GORDON and DAVID FARDOULY in The Foundations of Christian Living: “Freedom from negative influences releases us into fruitfulness
(Romans 7:4). God’s purpose in choosing us at all is that our
Lives might be productive for Him, he has brought us into a
relationship with His Son so that we might manifest in our
lives the same features of fruitfulness which Jesus showed
In His life”
1st Timothy 2:4-6: God’s will is that all mankind should be saved. There’s only one God and one Mediator our Lord Jesus Christ between God and men, who gave himself as a ransom for all.
The Great Commission Mathew 28: 18-20, Mark 16:15-18
Luke 19: 12-27: OCCUPY TILL I COME
From the teaching on the above parable, we should occupy ourselves with the business our Lord has committed into our hands, by using our talents and gifts profitably. Three things will definitely happen;
- A TIME TO GIVE OR RENDER ACCOUNT
- ETERNAL REWARD FOR THOSE ACCOUNTED FAITHFUL
- ETERNAL PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE CONSIDERED TO BE HIS ENEMIES.
