APPOINTED TO BEAR FRUIT
StudyText: John 15: 1-16
Introduction:
- Christianity is not a confession without confirmation, nor a profession without production.
- Jesus makes it clear: we are not saved to sit, but appointed to bear fruit.
- Divine appointment always carries divine expectation. If God appointed you, He expects evidence.
- We shall be discussing the topic under four subheadings:
1. The Privilege of Selective Appointment
2. The Purpose of Systematic Fruitfulness
3. The Power for Sustained Fruitfulness
4. The Peril of Spiritual Fruitlessness
1. The Privilege of Selective Appointment
- It is a great privilege to be chosen among many, and appointed for the assignment in the kingdom of God.
1. You are Chosen, Not Accidental
- Salvation is intentional, not incidental. God does not recruit failures; He creates fruit-bearers
Ephesians 1:4 — Chosen before the foundation of the world
Jeremiah 1:5 — Ordained before birth
- If you are chosen, you are empowered. If you are appointed, you are enabled.
2. Appointment Precedes Assignment
- You were appointed before you were sent
- Fruitfulness is rooted in identity, not activity
Romans 7:4 — Married to Christ to bring forth fruit
2. The Purpose of Systematic Fruitfulness
- What Is Fruit? Fruit is visible evidence of inward life.
A. Fruit in Character
Galatians 5:22–23
Love, joy, peace, holiness, patience
- When there is no character fruit, there is spiritual immaturity
B. Fruit in Conduct
Colossians 1:10
Good works that glorify God
C. Fruit in Conversion
Proverbs 11:30
- Winning souls and Raising disciples
- Every believer is a tree; expected to bear fruit, silence is not an option.
- You either bear fruit or you bear questions.
3. The Power for Sustained Fruitfulness
1. Fruitfulness Is Sustained by Abiding
John 15:4–5
- No abiding, no fruit. Much abiding, much fruit.
- To continue to bear fruit, the believer must abide in Christ and walk steadfastly in obedience to His word.
2. Fruitfulness Is Preserved by Pruning. John 15:2
- God cuts to increase. Discipline is preparation for multiplication
- What God removes is often blocking what He wants to release.
- The believer must be willing and yield continuously to the pruning of the husbandman. He does it with a purpose and for a profit.
4. The Peril of Spiritual Fruitlessness
- While there is great blessing for the believer that is producing the expected fruit, there is great trouble for the fruitless believer.
Matthew 7:19 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down…”
- Fruitlessness invites divine attention, and generate destructive consequence.
- Barrenness is not neutrality, it is danger. When the kingdom of God is not profited, the believer is not supported.
Luke 13:6–9 — The fig tree given time but not tolerance forever
Conclusion:
- Beloved, fruitfulness is not optional; it is mandatory.
- You were not saved to survive. You were saved to flourish.
- You are appointed. You are empowered. You are destined to bear fruit that remains.
