THE FOUR STAGES OF FRUIT BEARING
JOHN 15:1-8
I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER AND HOW PROUD I WAS OF THE FACT THAT I WAS FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH A DREAM I HAD SINCE CHILDHOOD. MY DADDY WAS A STATE TROOPER IN NEW ORLEANS WHEN I WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD AND I CAN REMEMBER WATCHING HIM GET DRESSED TO LEAVE FOR WORK. HOW PROUD I WAS TO SAY THAT MY DADDY WAS A POLICEMAN. MY UNCLES WERE ALSO STATE TROOPERS AND LATER WHEN I LIVED WITH MY GRANDPARENTS THEY USED TO COME OVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THAT MAY BE WHY I LIKE TO DRINK COFFEE SO MUCH. YOU SEE THEY WOULD COME OVER AND SIT ON THE PORCH AND ASK ME TO FIX THEM A CUP OF COFFEE SO THEY COULD REST A LITTLE WHILE. WHEN I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER MYSELF I FOUND THAT IT WAS MORE TO BREAK THE MONOTONY THAN TO REST, BUT THEN THAT’S ANOTHER STORY. I REMEMBER SITTING WITH THEM ON THE PORCH DRINKING MY GRANDMOTHER’S COFFEE AND LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES OF ALL THE THINGS THEY SAW AND DID AND IT EXCITED ME. I MEAN I HAD THE SAME BLOOD FLOWING THROUGH MY VEINS AS THESE GREAT PROTECTORS OF OUR NATION DID AND I WAS PROUD THAT MY FRIENDS SAW THE POLICE CARS PULL UP AT MY HOUSE AND NOT TAKE ANYONE AWAY IN HANDCUFFS BUT INSTEAD JUST COME TO VISIT.
1. MY GREATEST DESIRE AS A POLICE OFFICER WAS TO LEAVE A MARK ON THE WORLD AND THAT IT WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE WHEN I LEFT IT
2. FOUR KINDS OF POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE IN THIS WORLD TODAY
A. THOSE WHO DON’T DO THE JOB THEY HAVE SWORN TO DO
B. THOSE WHO JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND DO AS LITTLE AS THEY CAN
C. THOSE WHO FULFILL THEIR MISSION
D. THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
CHRIST JESUS SPOKE TO US IN THE GOSPEL OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE TO BEAR FRUIT IN OUR LIVES AS EVIDENCE OF THE MIRACLE THAT HAS BEEN PERFORMED INSIDE US. TURN IN YOU BIBLES TO JOHN 15:1-8
THERE ARE FOUR STAGES TO CHRISTIAN FRUITBEARING JUST AS I CAME TO LEARN THAT THERE WERE FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
1. THOSE WHO BEAR NO FRUIT
2. THOSE WHO BEAR FRUIT
3. THOSE WHO BEAR MORE FRUIT
4. THOSE WHO BEAR MUCH FRUIT
AND EACH ONE OF US FALL INTO ONE OF THOSE CATAGORIES. WE MAY NOT BE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF FRUIT WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE BUT WE DO INDEED ALL FALL SOMEWHERE IN THESE CATAGORIES. JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE; GOD IS THE GARDENER AND MEN ARE THE BRANCHES AND IN VERSE TWO OF THIS TEXT IT DOES INDEED SAY THAT MEN ARE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF HOW THEY RELATE TO JESUS THE TRUE VINE.
A. EITHER UNFRUITFUL OR FRUITFUL BRANCHES OF THE TRUE VINE
B. EITHER UNATTACHED (V.4-6) OR ATTACHED BRANCHES OF THE VINE ( V. 7-8)
WELL WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BEAR FRUIT IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES BROTHER MIKE? HOW CAN I KNOW IF I BEAR GOOD FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM? IN SEARCHING THE WORD OF GOD I BELIEVE THAT HE DOES HAVE AN ANSWER AND THAT HE WILL REWARD US WITH KNOWLEDGE IF WE WILL ONLY ASK HIM. SOMETHING THAT I HAD GOD SHOW ME ABOUT ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN LEADING THOSE GREAT CRUSADES THIS WEEK. WELL REALLY ON MONDAY BECAUSE AS I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU MONDAY IS THE WORST DAY OF THE WEEK FOR A PASTOR, GOD SPOKE TO ME AND SHOWED ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE GREAT PREACHERS AND TEACHERS OF OUR TIME.
THE PEOPLE FLOCK TO HEAR THOSE PREACHERS AND TEACHERS BY THE THOUSANDS AND IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT THEIR MINISTRIES OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, PEOPLE GO TO LISTEN TO THEM BY THE MILLIONS. WELL I WAS FEELING PRETTY DOWN ABOUT
THE STYLE OF DELIVERY GOD HAS GIVEN TO ME AND THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS I’M ALWAYS SKINNING THE CAT AND NEVER JUST ABLE TO PREACH THOSE REAL LOVING MESSAGES. HEY I WANT TO BUT IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO BE IN ME AND I CAN’T COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE GONE TO GOD AND ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO PREACH WITHOUT RAISING MY VOICE OR WALKING UP AND DOWN THE AISLE.
1. WELL MAYBE GOD IF YOU WOULD JUST LET ME BE LIKE THEM OTHER PREACHERS I COULD REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR YOU?
2. LORD I TRY AS HARD AS I CAN BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE’LL NEVER FILL THAT CHURCH UP AND THESE PEOPLE DON’T EVEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS OR MINISTER TO THOSE PEOPLE WHEN THEIR LIVES ARE FALLING APART
3. GOD SHOWED ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE MINISTRIES OF THOSE GREAT PREACHERS THAT GAVE ME SOME PEACE ABOUT MY PLACE OF SERVICE AS PASTOR OF A LOCAL CHURCH
A. DO YOU SEE ALL THOSE MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SITTING THERE IN THAT BUILDING LISTENING TO THAT PREACHER? WELL YES LORD I DO I MEAN HOW CAN YOU MISS THEM EVERYWHERE THE CAMERA GOES THERE’S WALL TO WALL PEOPLE.
B. EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE CAME TO HEAR EXPECTING TO RECEIVE A WORD FROM ME THAT WILL TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES
C. MOST OF THOSE ARE THERE TO GROW WHILE MOST OF YOURS HAVE NEVER HEARD
I BELIEVE THAT GOD SHOWED ME THERE ARE EIGHT KINDS OF FRUIT WE BEAR IN OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH THAT IDENTIFY US WITH THE TRUE VINE JESUS CHRIST. EIGHT THINGS THAT HELP US TO REMAIN AND LIVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
1. A PERSON WHO IS FRUITFUL WILL WALK IN OPEN CONFESSION BEFORE GOD AND AS HE WALKS THROUGH LIFE HE WILL OPEN US HIS LIFE FOR GOD TO SEARCH HIS HEART. THIS MEANS THAT HE WILL ALSO CONFESS ALL SIN THAT BECOMES KNOWN TO HIM BY THE REVELATION OF GOD AND HE WILL NOT LET HIS SIN GO UNCONFESSED. ONLY THROUGH CONFESSING OUR SINS ARE WE FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS AND ALLOWED TO GROW IN CHRIST.
1 JOHN 1;6-10
2. A PERSON WILL WALK AND FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST LIVING AND MOVING AND HAVING A CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN HIS LIFE. WE WOULDN’T DO A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DO IF SOMEONE WE LOVED WAS WATCHING US NOW WOULD WE? BY BEING CONSCIOUS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIFE, WE BEGIN TO LEARN FROM GOD AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM GOD TO LIVE IN VICTORY EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.
1 JOHN 2:6, 27 PSALM 16:11 AND PROVERBS 3:5-6
3. A PERSON WILL CONTINUE IN THE CHURCH AND WILL NOT LEAVE FROM THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. THAT IMPLIES A LOT MORE THAN JUST GOING TO CHURCH NOW DOESN’T IT? A CHRISTIAN WILL GET INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE CHURCH AND IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. HE WILL SEE NEEDS WITHIN THE CHURCH AND WILL FEEL THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN HIM MOVE HIM TO FILL THAT NEED.
1 JOHN 2:28
4. A PERSON WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT CHRIST IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN HIM IN ANY AREA THAT HE IS CALLED TO AND WILL BE UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. HOW CAN WE BE ASHAMED OF THE ONE WHO GIVES US THE GREATEST OF ALL GIFTS, ETERNAL LIFE.
1 JOHN 2:28 ROMANS 1:16
5. WE WON’T WALK IN CONTINUOUS SIN BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONVICT US AND CHASTISE US THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WRONG.
1 JOHN 3:6
6. WE WILL ACTIVELY SURRENDER OURSELVES TO OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. THAT MEANS WE MUST SPEND TIME READING THE WORD OF GOD TO FIND OUT WHAT IS REQUIRED BY GOD IN HIS COMMANMENTS NOT AS A WAY TO OBTAIN SALVATION BUT AS EVIDENCE OF OUR SALVATION WE WILL FOLLOW THE LAWS OF GOD.
1 JOHN 3:24
7. A PERSON WIL EXPERIENCE THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THAT SPIRIT WILL WITNESS TO US THAT WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
1 JOHN 4:12-13
8. WE WILL DWELL IN LOVE AND UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP WITH ALL OTHER BELIEVERS. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THE SAME SPIRIT THAT IS INSIDE OF US IS INSIDE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO CHRISTIANS AND WE WILL LOVE EACH OTHER.
JOHN 17:21-23, 1 JOHN 4:16,20
THIS IS ONLY EIGHT SIGNS THAT WE ARE BEARING FRUIT IN OUR LIVES. DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE LIST ENDS HERE? NO BUT IT DOES LET US KNOW THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES IS THE CHRISTIAN FRUIT JESUS SPOKE ABOUT. BUT BROTHER MIKE YOU SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MESSAGE ABOUT THE FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE KINGDOM.
THOSE WITH NO FRUIT, FRUIT, MORE FRUIT AND MUCH FRUIT. AND IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS CONVICTED AND ENCOURAGED EACH AND EVERYONE OF US HERE THIS MORNING. GOD HAS SPOKEN TO OUR HEARTS AND LET US KNOW WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US IN SUCH A WAY THAT A MAN LIKE ME WOULD JUST ADD INSULT TO INJURY IF I SAID ANYMORE ABOUT IT. WHAT DID YOU COME HERE TODAY FOR? DID YOU COME HERE TO GET A WORD FROM GOD THAT WOULD TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE? LISTEN TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD THEN.
INVITATION
1 JOHN 1:6-10 " IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND WALK IN DARKNESS WE LIE AND DO NOT THE TRUTH. BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THELIGHT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANTOHER AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAV3E NO SIN WE DECEIVE OURLSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE OURSINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED WE MAKE HIM A LIAR AND HIS WORD IN NOT IN US."
1 JOHN 2:6 " HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDEDTH IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO SO TO WALK EVEN AS HE WALKED."
PSALM 16:11 " THOU WILT SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE IN THY PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY AT THY RIGHT HAND THERE ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE."
PROVERBS 3:5-6 " TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."
1 JOHN 2:19 " THEY WENT OUT FROM US BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US FOR IF THEY HAD BEEN OF US THEY WOULD NO DOUBY HAVE CONTINUED WITH US. BUT THEY WENT OUT THAT THEY MIGHT BE MADE MANIFEST THAT THEY WERE NOT ALL OF US."
1 JOHN 2:28 AND NOW LITTLE CHILDREN ABIDE IN HIM THAT WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT BE ASHAMED BEFORE HIM AT HIS COMING.
ROMANS 1:16 FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH…"
1 JOHN 3:6 WHOSEVER ABIDETH IN HIM SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM NEITHER KNOWN HIM.
1 JOHN 3:24 AND HE THAT KEEPTH HIS COMMANDMENTS DWELLETH IN HIM AND HE IN HIM. AND HEREBY WE KNOW THAT HE ABIDETH IN US, BY THE SPIRIT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN US.
1 JOHN 4:12-13 NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME. IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, GOD LIVES IN US AND HIS LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US. HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE LIVE IN HIM AND HE LIVES IN US BECAUSE HE HATH GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.
1 JOHN 4:16,20 AND WE HAVE KNOWN AND BELIEVED THE LOVE THAT GOD HATH TO US. GOD IS LOVE AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD AND GOD IN HIM. IF A MAN SAY, I LOVE GOD, AND HATHEH HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR: FOR HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER WHOM HE HAS SEEN, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOM HE HATH NOT SEEN.
JOHN 17:21-23 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOUGH FATHER ART IN ME AND I IN THEE THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOUS HAST SENT ME. AND THE GLORY WHICH THOUGH GAVEST ME I HAVE GIVEN THEM THAT THEY MAY BE ONE EVENA S WE ARE ONE. I IN THEM AND THOU IN ME THAT THEY MAAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE AND THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAST SENT ME AND HAST LOVED THEM AS THOU HAST LOVED ME.
