How To Have A Spiritually Productive Life
We come now to the last sermon in this series. We have been looking at the fruit of the Spirit. We have looked at: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Now I want us to look at the last phrase of our text and then talk about how you can have a more fruitful life. Let’s read our text first:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23 (NASB)
The last phrase really catches my attention:
“…against such things there is no law.”
Could you imagine a world where there are no laws? If each and everything was legal? No restrictions – no boundaries – no restraints. You could drive up and down Auburn Road at any spend you would choose. That would be wonderful – no that would be terrible. Some laws are there for our protection – for our safety.
Paul is not here saying that all things are lawful. In fact we must take the phrase, “…against such things there is no law.” in the context in which it was intended. Against love, against joy, against peace, against patience, against kindness, against goodness, against faithfulness, against gentleness, against self-control – there is no law – no restrictions – no boundaries – no restraints. I can do as much of them as I please – no one has passed a law saying that I can’t do them. In fact the more that I do – the better for me and for you.
In First Corinthians Paul says:
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” 1 Corth. 10:23 (NASB)
I like the way the Bible In Basic English puts it. It says:
“We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.” 1 Corth. 10:23 (BBE)
When it comes to the fruit of the Spirit – it is always wise to do them. When it comes to the fruit of the Spirit – it is always for the common good to be fruitful. In other words – don’t hold back – don’t put the brakes on – don’t worry about being arrested – about going to jail. “…against such things there is no law.”
God wants us to have a productive life you know. In John 15:8, Jesus says:
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8 (NASB)
God wants us to bear fruit – much fruit the verse says. He wants us to be productive and it is the fruit that proves we are disciples of Jesus.
The question then arises – how can I have a more productive life? How can I produce more fruit of the Spirit in my life? I think there are several things you can do to have a more fruitful – productive life.
If you use the image of fruit tree here are some things you can do.
Four Keys To Having A Spiritually Productive Life
1. Develop a Strong ROOT System
If we want to be fruitful – we must develop a strong root system. God says that without roots there will be no fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.” Jer 17:7-8 (NASB)
This passage gives one reason why we need roots – to make it through tough times – times of heat and drought. Roots are the lifeline of nourishment for the entire plant or tree. Have you ever felt the heat in life – times when the pressure was on? That is when you need roots.
But notice what builds those strong roots – they are developed by trusting in the Lord. Faith – belief – trust in God help us to develop a strong root system.
Jesus said:
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1 (NASB)
Do you put your trust in God? Do you put your trust in Jesus? He will help you a strong root system. We all need that – because there are times in our lives when there is a drought – when hot winds blow. What do you trust in when that happens? Is your trust in the Lord? Do you trust in His promises?
Psalm chapter one tells us:
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB)
Trusting in God – learning God’s word – will help us develop a strong root system. Anyone can survive a day of drought but surviving an extended time of stress is another matter.
Colossians 2:6-7 tells us:
“As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith…” Col 2:6-7 (NASB)
Spend time daily talking to Jesus, reading, meditating, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word. That’s how you develop strong spiritual roots – roots that go deep into the soil of God’s Word. These roots will enable you to withstand the heat and droughts of life.
2. Eliminate The PROBLEMS
The second thing you need to do to be productive is to eliminate as many problems as you can. Some of the problems are pests – bugs and birds. Some of the problems are weeds. Some of the problems are disease and poor soil.
Do you remember the parable Jesus told over in Luke chapter eight?
"The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under-foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." Luke 8:5
What this passage tells me is that there are all kinds of problems out there if you are planning to be fruitful. We need to do the best we can to eliminate the problems. It’s going to be hard work.
Here is a trivia question for you: How many kinds of invasive plants (weeds) grow in the United States? It is estimated that there are over 50,000 invasive plants in America. I think a lot of them already inhabit my backyard.
But consider this – how much effort does it take to grow weeds? What do you have to do to cultivate weeds? Nothing! They grow very well on their own. That is why they are called weeds. You have to nurse your tomato plants – but you don’t have to do anything to grow weeds. They will grow – and grow rapidly – with no help from you or anyone else.
But weeds are only one of the problems. There are bugs. There are birds. There is poor soil. Lots of problems are out there. It is a challenge to be fruitful. It is never easy to eliminate all the problems. But if we neglect them – they don’t go away. When you neglect Bible reading, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians, weeds will grow up and choke your spiritual life, preventing you from bearing fruit. Jesus knows it is hard work. In fact will be a lifelong process. Jesus said:
"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 (NASB)
So if you want to be fruitful – eliminate the problems.
Nest:
3. Prepare For PRUNING
If you are going to be a fruitful Christian – you must prepare for God’s pruning in your life. Jesus says:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1-2 (NASB)
Take Note – Pruning involves cutting off the dead branches and cutting back the living branches.
Professional pruners will tell you that most people are too timid when it comes to pruning. In fact I took a class on growing fruit trees in your backyard. When it comes to pruning our teacher taught us – when in doubt – take it out.
I used to think that pruning was going in and gently cutting off the little dead pieces. That is not so. Some of the healthy stuff might get pruned too!
Here is my point – most of us think that when God prunes us he cuts off the sinful and the superficial parts of our lives. He does do that – but he also cuts off stuff that we consider alive and successful. Some of that may bet wacked off for greater fruitfulness.
If you are a Christian, you are going to be pruned. You can count on it. You may be going through pruning right now and it may not all be deadwood. God cuts off branches that we feel are productive so that more fruit may be produced. That can be confusing.
But remember what I have said: God is more concerned with your holiness than he is with your happiness. He is more concerned with your character than he is with your comfort.
How does God prune us? He uses problems, pressures, and people.
Oh, does he use people! People will criticize and challenge you. They will question and doubt you. They will challenge your motives. God is using them to prune you. He will and he does use them all as part of the pruning process to make you even more fruitful.
Why does God do this to us? Look at Hebrews 12:11:
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Heb 12:11 (NASB)
God does this to yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Discipline and pruning are unpleasant. But you have to look at the final outcome to see the rewards. Pruning is never fun and it is not pretty – but it is for your future benefit. The purpose of pruning is positive. It is not because God is mad at you. The Bible says:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:1 (NASB)
God does not “punish” his true children. Your punishment was taken care of on the cross. God’s pruning is for your very best – for greater fruitfulness in your life. Therefore the Bible tells us:
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NASB)
Pruning comes in order that we may be more productive.
Next:
4. Wait For The HARVEST
If I want my life to be fruitful – I must also wait for the harvest. Growth takes time – it is not instantaneous. God takes two days to make mushrooms but he takes sixty years to make an oak tree. Do you want to be a mushroom or an oak tree? Growth takes time.
When you examine your spiritual growth you may wonder, “Why is it taking me so long to get better? I am struggling with my many weaknesses. Why?” Because spiritual growth – like natural growth – takes time. The best fruit ripens slowly. The Bible says:
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecc 3:1-8 (NASB)
The point is – everything takes time.
Never give up. Wait for God’s promised harvest and in the meantime – enjoy his presence in your life. God is pleased with you at every stage of your spiritual growth. He is not waiting until you are perfect to begin loving you. He will never love you any more than he already does.
The four activities in this sermon are the practical steps you need to take if you are serious about a fruitful – productive Christian life. Begin by developing a strong root system – eliminate as many problems as you can – prepare for pruning – wait for the harvest. God is working to make you more fruitful than you ever thought possible.
In 1968 a scientist discover a six-hundred-year-old seed necklace in an Indian grave. He planted one of the seed, and it sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years it still had the potential for life. Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time but now you would like to be productive. You desire to be fruitful. I have good news for you – it’s not too late! You can begin right now. God will provide the power to change your life.
