AM I A MUCH FRUIT BEARING CHRISTIAN?

MAIN SCRIPTURE. JOHN 15:1-8
” I am the true vine and my father is the vine dresser, every branch of mine that bears no fruit he takes away and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruits. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear it’s fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine you are the branches, he who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast off as a branch and withers and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done to you. By this my father is glorified and so proof to be my disciple.”

INTRODUCTION.
Fruitfullness is the state of being extremely productive. In the bible, fruitless goes hand in hand with multiplication. According to Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed Adam and Eve and said to them, be fruitful and multiply”.
Fruitfulness means, producing one of your kind in whichever ministry you are in.
Fruitfulness is even recognised in the world and we call it success ; education, business jobs,houses… Whoever succeeds is highly appreciated. However what the bible requires of us is not success but rather fruitfulness.
We succeed to our own good whereas fruitfulness calls us to be spent for others.

2nd Timothy 3:16-17 “all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching for reproof, correction and training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work”
Though difficult, we should accept rebuke and correction for this is the purpose of the word of God.

Joseph according to Genesis 49:22 was a fruitful vine near a spring whose branches climbed over a wall. He was blessed that he may bear fruit for others to draw from him and so should we.

Jesus in John 15:1- 8 talks of him being the true vine, His father the vine dresser and us are the branches and unless we abide in Him and Him in us, we cannot bear fruits. This is because we can do nothing without Him.

God hates lukewarm christians and He will spit them from His mouth. According to verse 2, every branch of mine that bears no fruit, will be cut off and every branch that bears fruits will be pruned that it may bear more fruits. Be careful therefore that you may not be cut off.
If we don’t bear fruit, we could literally die 1 Corinthians 11:30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. On the other hand, if we don’t bear fruit God can lift you up to bear fruit. This is done through pruning. It’s also a 2nd chance given by God

In verse 3, Jesus said,” You are already cleaned by the word which I have spoken to you.” We can only bear fruits through the word of God which cleanse us. Pursue to produce fruits consistent with repentance. God’s word is a detergent, which He uses to cleanse us in order to bear fruit. Matthew 3:8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

The fact that we are still alive, is an opportunity to bear fruits.

Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruits in itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in me.
Verse 4, We can only bear much fruit when we abide in Christ, for according to verse 5, we can do nothing without Him.
In our Christian Life there is pruning and cutting off, them that are bearing fruits will be pruned to bear more and those not bearing at all will be cut off. Pruning encourages growth and a vine is pruned as many times as possible or else it won’t bear anything.
So if you are standing strong and firm in ministry, expect to be pruned.
Pruning is not an interesting thing but painful however we must go through it.

In verse 6, Christ says”Abide in me and I in you” However abiding is not easy, it calls for one to be planted in the word i.e being hearers and doers of the word.
According to 1st John 3:24 “All who keep his commandment abide in Him and Him in them and by this we know that He abides in us by the spirit which he had given us.
Salvation is not a one day event we walk daily. It’s a daily endeavour. Further on Christ said “If anyone does not remain in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burnt.”
1st Corinthians 3:12-15, our works will be tested by fire to see what sought of work each one has done, if the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward, if any man’s work is burnt up he will suffer loss thou he himself will be saved but only as through fire.(1st Cor 3:15)

According to John 15:7, Christ said, “If you abide in me and I in you then you shall ask whatever you need and it shall be done for you.” This calls us to the aspect of prayerfulness. Abiding in God means being prayerful, none can abide without prayers and it’s through prayers that our desires are fulfilled.

In bearing much fruit the father is glorified. Stand therefore and be counted everywhere eg ministries, families etc.
Outside there we are treated like visitors however at home the pruning is done. When you join the family of God you are a visitor for a while and then the pruning starts ( Mgeni siku ya Kwanza mpe nyama na wali, Mgeni siku ya saba mpe jembe akalime).
) i.e given the best. however, this elapses after a few days. Abiding therefore involves being cleansed by the word, living a prayerful life then bearing much fruits.
God hates lookwarm people He says He will spit them from the mouth. We bear much fruits by reading, doing the word and being prayerful people.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit according to Galatians 5:22 includes, love, joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
Talking of faithfulness, it should be exhibited in what we say or do. Leave and act out of faithfulness i.e in obeying the word. Stagnation is not allowed, grow therefore in to maturity in and through the word.

CONCLUSION.
Why are Christians?
To bear much fruit be a Joseph!!
Let your fruit be enjoyed by other people.
Let them enjoy what you have.