Where Is The Beef? Where Is The Fruit?

WHERE IS THE BEEF? WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

The average church member spends more a month on PREMIUM TV CABLE AND SATELLITE SYSTEMS

THAN ON MISSIONS. WHERE IS THE BEEF? WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

I begin the lesson with a big, sweet yellow apple in my hand.

I have a clean pocket knife, and I slice the apple like a potato chip, thin slices.

I take a bite and I walk around and give a few slices to people and have them eat.

I ask them what possible lesson could this apple teach us today?

TEXT:

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth the Spirit shall of the Spirit

reap everlasting.

9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, IF WE FAINT NOT.

10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly,

and he which soweth BOUNTIFULLY shall reap BOUNTIFULLY.

I. SPEAK SIMPLE WORDS!

Much of God’s work involves some simple one syllable words: Love, Joy, Peace, Hope, Kind, Work, Faith, and Wait.

We must not lose simple truth and the basics. You can so cloud real issues with facts that you can hide the truth and

get lost chasing butterflies and rainbows.

There are many church members that attend church faithfully and never change. For years they have heard many

good gospel messages and there is NO FRUIT to lay on the altar? They bear no fruit and there is no change.

These that bear no fruit often continually need a minister to pet them and treat them like a new born baby.

More warm milk please? Change my dirty diaper, please? How about some talcum power, I have developed this rash?

Who are we fooling, when the pastor’s main job is trying to keep Christians in church, and to stop families from

devouring one another?

WHERE IS THE FRUIT WE MUST OFFER ON THE ALTAR?

WHERE IS THE BEEF? WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

II. Let me ask you a couple of questions?

1. What kind of fruit do you say you are growing?

2. Does reality in fruit inspection bear a witness to what you are saying and actually doing?

3. How much fruit have you planted?

4. How much of your effort is being wasted by playing church and religious games?

5. Have you grown fruit that will remain?

6. Action and how we react build reputations and character. Are your jokes, words, TV watching,

songs you are singing, family time bringing about what you want?

WHERE IS THE BEEF? WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

III. THERE IS AN ATTITUDE OF SAMENESS THAT BECOMES A DEADLY TRAP!

IF YOU DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE DONE, YOU WILL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS GOT.

How insane is it to want things differently and keep sowing the seed that you don’t want to harvest?

How insane is it to want things differently and continue to do the same old same old the same old way?

IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOU BETTER CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE GIVING!

WHERE IS THE BEEF? WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

IV. FOR EVERY ACTION THERE IS A REACTION.

This apple that we have before us today is a product of choices.

We must see the role of choices and how they can come back to us later on in life.

Also if we choose not to plant, there will be consequences. If we want to reap wisely, we must sow wisely.

Today’s choices will bear fruit later.

V. IF YOU WANT STRAWBERRIES TO GROW, DON’T PLANT CORN SEEDS!

The greatest gift you could give Jesus, is to come out of the cave of self pity and quit licking your wound, and

starting bearing fruit..

Many times the great gifts of God are given in the CRUCIBLE. And we seldom say THANKS!

VI. THE ADVICE OF AN OLD PREACHER? TAKE HEED!

Paul is nearing the end of his life and ministry, and Paul has these words penned, for Paul had learned the

principle that wise men know, it is the law of sowing and reaping. Paul knew many wanted gifts, physical and spiritual.

But Paul had learned the fruit bearing is the heart of God’s mission for every believer. Paul wanted you to

bear much fruit for the cross.

Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire FRUIT THAT MAY ABOUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

VII. THERE ARE DEGREES IN FRUIT BEARING. Lesson from John 15