FRUITFULNESS
One distinct way of following the Master is through fruitfulness. One of the characteristics of God is the ability to reproduce, increase and multiply. This quality is present in those who are born of the Spirit of God. Fruitfulness in the Bible is more inclusive than child bearing. It means:
Fruit of the Spirit
The term “fruit,” rather than ‘fruits’ in relation to the work of the Holy Spirit in a yielded life, is a quality of life rather than a reference to individual good deeds. Fruitfulness is what God expects from believers. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” [Eph 5:8-9]. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) has nine aspects: love, long-suffering, faith, joy, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Children In The Lord
Souls won through the gospel and brought into the Church of Jesus Christ through fruits of righteousness. This is usually the result of personal evangelism and the preaching of the Gospel message. The fruit of the Spirit is a prerequisite to the production of godly children. Those who win souls are wise because they are doing the will of the Master. Soul winning is the hallmark of obedience to Christ. The salvation of lost humanity was the reason that God became man in the first place. It is central to all the works of God. Anything done in the name of the Lord that fall short of pulling lost souls out of fire misses the mark. The reason why you are alive is to be used as a vessel for building the Body of Christ. You cannot afford to be at ease when souls are perishing every day.
Fruit Of One’s Hands
This has to do with stewardship and accountability for gifts and endowments for the work of ministry. Gifts must be deployed for profitable enlargement as shown in the parable of the talents.
Fruit Of The Lips
This is a reference to the praise to God from His people. Failure to live a life of praise and thanksgiving to God is an act of ingratitude bordering on fruitlessness.
Fruit Of The
This is a reference to biological children of destiny. It is an heritage from the Lord when one’s biological children receive the gift of eternal life and abide in the presence of the Lord forever. Souls won to the Lord from biological and non-biological children are the stars that decorate their parent’s crowns.
Fruitfulness in the life of a Christian is determined by the state of the heart, which in turn determines the level of attachment to the source of life-giving fruit. Jesus is the Vine. Christians are the branches. “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
Those who win souls are wise because they are doing the will of the Master. Soul winning is the hallmark of obedience to Christ. The salvation of lost humanity was the reason that God became man in the first place. It is central to all the works of God. Anything done in the name of the Lord that falls short of pulling lost souls out of the fires of hell misses the mark. The reason why you are alive is to be used as a vessel for building the Body of Christ. You cannot afford to be at ease when souls are perishing every day.
The test of salvation is fruitfulness. This can be seen in the daily demonstration of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit in your life and ministry. It can also be seen in the lives that are affected positively in a deliberate effort to win them over to the Lord. It should be noted that close identification with Jesus brings conversion of souls in much the same way that the love of God and the brethren brings into focus the nine composite of the fruit of the Spirit.
Therefore, you cannot be at ease if you have truly passed from death to life and can see all the evil in the world and not want to do something about it. Jesus wants you to know Him intimately. Sometimes it may involve pain and chastisement. But sons not bastards are chastised by the Lord to prune them for more fruitfulness. Knowing Jesus intimately means a first-hand experience of the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.
You can lose something that you do not take serious. The plan of God is for all believers to have a good journey through life. “ Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.” (3 Jn 2 TAB). The word translated ‘prosper’ is derived from two Greek words: “good, well” and “a way, journey.” That verse of scripture is a prayer “To lead in a good way, to prosper one’s journey.” The heart cry of the Lord is that everyone that bears His mark should have a good journey through life as his soul has a good journey to heaven. May you be led in a good way and have a prosperous journey through life and to heaven!