Bread of Life Voice

1. 2023 AWKA CCRN PENTECOST PROGRAM

MINISTER: BRO. MIKE ITEMBA

TRUE WORSHIPPERS: BEARING FRUIT
(John 4:23-24, Galatians 5:22)

A. INTRODUCTION:
(Genesis 1: 27-28)

The church of God has partially lost her position in the affairs of this world. Before now, God’s elects have a say on the happenings around us, ranging from spiritual down to the government leadership of any nation. Today, that position is either completely or partially lost as the case may be. In nations like Turkey, Iran, North Korea, that position is completely lost, in Nigeria, it is sitting on keg of gun powder.

Before now, the government of this country considers the position of Christians before enacting any law, for fear of unknown. The truth is; that fear of unknown is nothing but the glory and power of Christ at work in us.

Today, they can close their eyes and make a law that hinders our Faith, because they know that somehow, we have lost our identity.

B. DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC

Who are the true worshippers?

They ‘re those that serve God in truth and in spirit.

What does it mean to serve God in truth and in spirit?

It means a service to God which is devoid of deceit, sentiment or divided attention. Echoing the words of Christ – “You can’t serve both God and mammon” – Matthew 6:24.

What does bearing fruit means?

It means your degree of productivity in this kingdom business. Your relevance, the value you bring in God’s service and service to humanity.

The will of God is that true worshippers (Christians) should bear fruit (good fruit), fruit that will last (John 15:16). But, it will interest you to know that as God wills that we may be productive, the agenda of the enemy over our life is contrary and deadly.

C. THE MISSION OF THE DEVIL/ENEMY
(Rev. 12:7-12, John 10:10a, 1Pet. 5:8)

It is worthy of note that the devil is relentlessly and seriously fighting our relevance and productivity. He has only one mission against us – “To render us fruitless”, because he knows that a fruitless Christian is a useless Christian. And he will stop at nothing to see that achieved. Our understanding of this will be a launch pad towards living a very conscious Christian life. If you FAIL to understand that there is a mission over your life, to squeeze your relevance, to stagnate your productivity, you may go to Church for 50 years and still be irrelevant to the kingdom. Amen!!

D. ESSENCE OF BEARING FRUIT
(What is the purpose of being fruitful?)

1. Advancing the kingdom of God – bringing men to the altar of Christ, and ordaining men “heavenly candidates”.

2. Your personal salvation. God is interested that after here, you will be with him in Heaven.

E. DANGERS OF NOT BEARING FRUIT OR REMAINING UNPRODUCTIVE
(Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

1. Fruitlessness leads to God’s curse, withering, cutting down and burning with fire (Mark 11: 12-14, 20-21), (Luke 13:6-9), (Luke 3:9, John 15: 6-7).

Jesus entered Jerusalem amid exultation from the masses gathered for Passover. In the morning, as he traveled from Bethany, he spotted a fig tree “in leaf.” At this point in late spring, most fig trees haven’t developed mature fruit (Mark 11:13). But this particular tree drew Jesus’s attention because it already had a full covering of leaves. It’s an early bloomer. Its foliage signaled that it should have early figs.

With that expectation, Jesus inspected the tree. He was immediately disappointed. All leaves, no fruit. All expectation, no satisfaction.

In a shocking turn, Jesus cursed the tree and it withered from the root, never to yield fruit again. We are taken aback; this seems stunningly out of character for Jesus, the child-welcomer, compassionate healer, and storm-calmer.

What should we learn from this peculiar scene?

Many things can masquerade as the real thing but fail upon closer inspection. Jesus deals with this mismatch in a shocking episode in the Gospels: the cursing of the fig tree (Matt. 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14, 20–25). In this inverted miracle we see precisely the stakes not only of failing to produce fruit, but of giving a fruitful impression and failing to back it up. Cursing the fig tree was Jesus’s way of saying that the whole nation had become spiritually barren before the Lord. They had the form of religion but not the reality. They know the right words to say, but their hearts are far from God. Jesus was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and, in a sense, even denouncing unfruitful “Christians” (that is, people who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a relationship with Christ). It also teaches the principle that religious profession and observances are not enough to guarantee salvation unless there is the fruit of genuine salvation evidenced in the life of the person. The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of religiosity. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).

– Fruitlessness leads to cutting down
– Fruitlessness leads to burning with fire

2. You will remain spiritually irrelevant and risk being prone to enemy’s attack (e.g Judas)

3. You will be denounced on the last day (Matthew 25:41-43)

F. BENEFITS OF BEARING FRUIT

1. You become highly relevant to God and attracts divine recognition – hence, the statement – “Have you noticed my servant Job” (Job 1:8). You become a noble vessel for every good work.

2. You become an instrument for people’s liberation. You are made a tree with branches where birds of the earth make their next and feed for their survival. (You hold the key of other’s successes, men are waiting for your manifestation to manifest. The reason you can’t disappoint. Amen!)

3. Eternal Reward (Matthew 25:34) – The end point of every Christian journey is to be with God on the last day. This is the will of God over our lives. That after our mission here on earth, we will reign with him in the heavenly places.

G. FACTORS PREVENTING US FROM BEARING FRUIT

1. World system/pattern – Fashion (1John 2:16-17)

2. Environment (Economy and politics)

3. Social vices (negative assimilation of technology)

4. Ignorance

5. Laziness

G. THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN FRUIT BEARING OR BEING PRODUCTIVE
(Ways we can bear fruit)

The sum and summit of our Christian living is the Holy Spirit which enables us to bear fruit. There is no productivity in this kingdom advancement/business without the Holy Spirit.

Brethren, asking God for the power of this pentecost is not enough, you must be intentional that receiving the power will be for productivity for kingdom advancement. And it is important to note that before you become productive, the Spirit of God must come in two capacities in your life…

1. The capacity of the Spirit of power. The Holy Spirit is always associated with power. There is no Christianity without demonstration of power.

2. The capacity of the Spirit of virtue (Galatians 5:22). You may receive power but when the virtue is lacking, you may end up in hell.

Therefore, the Spirit of power must always work with the Spirit of virtue, and the climax of the Spirit of virtue is the Spirit of Truth. It is this Spirit that actually tells you if you ‘re in line or out of line. It is this same Spirit that convicts you if you ‘re unproductive.

Certain things you can do to put yourself on the track of spiritual productivity and at the same time paving way for the coming of the Holy Spirit – include;

1. Hearing and studying the word of God

2. Receiving the sacrament

3. Prayers and fasting

4. Practice virtues (Humility, peace, love etc Galatians 5:22)

5. Detaching yourself from every worldly attachment that makes you unproductive

6. Engage your self with fruitful people in the fellowship, in the society and try those positive things they do that make them great

6. You must love God
(By avoiding sin, keeping all His commandments, when any of this is broken, you ‘re not yet a heavenly candidate)

7. Strip yourself of laziness

H. CONCLUSION:

“If the Spirit of God always whispers truth to you at all times in your daily Christian journey, then, you ‘re right on the path of spiritual productivity and your fruit bearing capacity can never be extinguished.”

Peace be with you!!