You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain,
that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16
I welcome you to this new month of September, the ninth month of the year 2019. Biblically, the number 9 (nine) represents several aspects of our day to day life including the fruits and gifts of the spirit, prayer and intercession and signifies completeness or judgement.
God’s first recorded words to man were to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and subdue the earth as found in Genesis 1:28 -Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Therefore, it is the will of God for His children to be fruitful physically, spiritually and in all aspects of life.
A part of Jesus’ last words to His disciples as found in John 15:16- You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. What is the fruit you must bear? Fruit here is a broad term and embraces two things: love for people and the conversion of sinners. If you bear fruit, you love people and win people to Christ.
In John 15, verse 5, Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Jesus means He is the source of fruitfulness and multiplication for the Christians. God wants His children to bear three different kinds of fruit:
Good works- Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God expects His children to serve Him because we love Him. What are you doing for the Lord?
Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Do others see signs of these qualities in your life?
Winning souls for Christ is a special kind of fruit God wants from His children. We have been ordained to be ambassadors for Christ. To be advertisements for the kingdom of God.
Jesus makes a promise to those who are fruitful. He says if your fruits remain, “whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” What an open check!
How does Christ want us to bear fruit? In His last words to His disciples, He gave the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-16 -And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. God wants us to be fruitful physically, and much more, He wants us to be fruitful spiritually to bring more souls to His kingdom.
To bear lasting fruit, you have to do the followings:
– You must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ-Acts 16:31
– Always obey His commands because you love Him -John 15:10
– Confess your sins and repent from them-Psalm 66: 18, 1 John 1:9
– Daily seek the help of God in all circumstances for guidance and direction-Proverbs 3:5-6.
For those who are faithful, Jesus promises in John 15:7- If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
May you be fruitful in all your endeavors henceforth in Jesus name
Yours in Him,
Pastor Dr. Lillian Haastrup
