The Fruitless Christian...Walking in the Spirit
The Fruitless Christian • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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A “walk” in the Bible is
often a metaphor for practical daily living.
The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it out—
we are to make consistent forward progress.
WERE NOT MOON WALKING....BACKWARDS
The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit:
in fact Gal 5:25 says
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
In other words,
the Spirit gave us life THROUGH new birth
And as CHRISTIANS we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.
CAN I GET AN AMEN???
To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control,
we follow His lead,
we allow Him to exert His influence over us.
To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him
its yielding to him
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
TURN TO GALATIANS 5.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
UNDERSTAND THIS...
Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him
THEY are bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces.
IN OTHER WORDS...
those who walk in the Spirit walk in love—
they live in love for God and for OTHERS.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy—
they exhibit gladness in what God has done,
WHAT HE’S doing, and will do.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace—
their lives are not defined by worry or anxiety
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience—
they are known for having a “long fuse”
THEY DON’T lose their temper.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in kindness—
they show concern for the needs of others.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in goodness—
their actions reflect virtue and holiness.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in faithfulness—
they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in gentleness—
their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control—
they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.
OH COME ON....
I KNOW THIS LIST BECAME PRETTY DEPRESSING AND UPSETTING
MOST OF YOU ARE PRODUCING A FEW OF THE FRUITS
BUT MOST OF THE FRUITS YOU STRUGGLE WITH....
LETS SEE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CHRISTIANS PRODUCING SOME OF THE FRUITS
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
THERE IS STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO YIELD TO THE FATHER
THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR YOU TO BEAR FRUIT
TO BE SAVED
TO BE FRUITFUL
HERE’S THE PROBLEM....
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
WERE NOT GUARANTEED ANOTHER TOMORROW
When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.
THAT ADDICTION DOESN’T HAVE TO HAVE POWER OVER YOU
YOU CAN PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF SELF-CONTROL
BUT IT REQUIRES US TO YIELD TO THE SPIRIT THAT IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE FLESH
OH MY LORD
WHEN YOUR FLESH SAYS....
NO I HAVE TO DO THIS IN ORDER TO FIND RELIEF
I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OR DRINK THIS OR SAY THIS OR SPEAK MY MIND
FOR CHRISTIANS, THERE IS THIS FIGHT WITH IN US
THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU FIGHTING AGAINST THE FLESH
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO YIELD TO THAT
IT’S HARD
AND ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT GOD
THIS IS WHY WE READ OUR BIBLES
THIS IS WHY WE PRAY AND SPEND TIME SEEKING GODS FACE
IF YOU DON’T DESIRE TO GROW IN GOD
IF YOU DON’T CRAVE MORE OF HIS PRESENCE
SOMETHINGS WRONG....
I WOULD BE VERY WORRIED IF I WERE YOU....
UNDERSTAND THIS....
WHATEVER YOU FEED...
WILL BECOME STRONGER
WHATEVER YOU SOW...
YOU WILL REAP
LETS LOOK AT MATTHEW 7:13-20
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR WEDDING GUEST TO BE GIVEN GARMENTS TO WEAR TO A WEDDING.
IT WAS UNTHINKABLE TO REFUSE TO WEAR THESE GARMENTS
IT WOULD BE INSULTING TO THE HOST...
THE HOST COULD ONLY ASSUME THAT THE GUEST WAS ARROGANT AND THOUGHT THAT HE DIDN’T NEED THESE GARMENTS
OR THAT HE DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE WEDDING CELEBRATION
WOW....
THIS IS A PICTURE OF RECEIVING THE INVITATION SALVATION
AND BEING CLOTHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
YEAH BUT PASTOR CHRIS.....
I DO WANT TO BE APART OF WHATS GOING ON
I DO WANT TO PUT ON CLOTHES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.....
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE…UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE
LIKE THE FATHER WAITING FOR THE PRODIGAL SON....(EXPLAIN)
Bearing fruit starts with being dependent on Jesus as the vine.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
How Do We Abide in Jesus?
How Do We Abide in Jesus?
Abiding = dependence.
IT’S ALL about going to the main source,
being dependent on the Father,
feeding on His Word,
and abiding in prayer.
WATCH THIS.....
Even if a new believer doesn’t know much about the Christian walk, but knows the fact that he can do nothing apart from Christ,
he can be a fruit-bearing individual.
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
That’s how the weak become strong,
by fiercely relying on God.
We can look to other people who may have great success when reading the Bible and praying.
What is different IN those people who may seem like they are always motivated?
They fight.
We have to fight:
to read the Bible,
fight to pray,
fight for joy.
The only difference is the fight.
The desperate person fights.
WRITE THIS DOWN....
A key to a fruitful life is desperate reliance on the Father.
Ask and He will do it.
THE PROBLEM IS THIS.....
too many Christians define fruit in the ministry or in the Christian walk the wrong way,
or THEY MAY even BE connected to the wrong vine.
Fruit Comes From Connection to the Vine
Fruit Comes From Connection to the Vine
The focus must be on the only true vine,
Jesus.
OH COME ON.....
It is not about being noticed by others
or being seen by many,
it is not even all about the ACTIONS we do.
Often TIMES the most genuine Christian bears fruit without even realizing IT.
When you first start out as a Christian or in the ministry,
a lot of times it’s not going to be about seeing all the fruit,
but IT’S about God pruning you of what He feels you need to be pruned of.
HE SAID......
Every branch that does bear fruit (NO MATTER how much or little it may seem),
He prunes so it can bear more fruit.
God is working in your life, it just may look different at times.
in order to bear fruit, sometimes God needs to prune you in certain areas first.
John 15:2 (NIV)
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
OH LORD HELP US....
THAT FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER MAY NEED TO BE CUT FROM YOUR LIFE FOR A SEASON
THE JOB THAT CONSUMES YOU MAY NEED TO BE CUT OFF
GOD MAY ALLOW YOU TO BE HUMILIATED SO THAT YOU CAN BE HUMBLED IN YOUR PRIDE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
YEAH BUT PASTOR CHRIS....I WORKED HARD FOR THAT
I HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING TO THAT THING OR THAT PERSON
HE SAID EVERY BRANCH THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT WILL BE CUT OFF
IF WE REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE TRUE VINE
HE CLEANS US
HE PRUNES US
AND HE GROWS US
.....WORSHIP TEAM COME......
The Christian walk is not about striving for perfection,
but about PRODUCING Christ-like character AND FRUIT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
IT’S ABOUT BEING AN EXAMPLE OF CHRIST TO OTHERS
SO THAT THROUGH YOUR CHARACTER
THROUGH YOUR FRUIT
SOMEONE MAY DECIDE TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIFE TO FOLLOW HIM
The providence of God lovingly created you to be dependent on the Vine
so you can bear fruit as a branch.
CAN NON-CHRISTIANS BEAR FRUIT???
no, non-Christians can not bear GODLY fruit.
Bearing fruit is only attainable by those who know and follow JESUS.
HE SAID APART FROM ME....
YOU CAN DO NOTHING
God compares us to trees that bear fruit.
UNDERSTAND THIS....
Trees are not self-serving.
They bear fruit for others, not themselves.
As Christians, we know that we are NOT called to be self-serving and WE want to IMITATE Him in everything we do.
unbelievers are unable to know why they should not be self-serving
because they DON’T know God.
THE WAY OF THE WORLD IS TO BE SELF SERVING....
YOU DO WHATS BEST FOR YOU
YOU GOTTA TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
YOUR HAPPINESS IS MOST IMPORTANT
THINK OF IT LIKE THIS....
Unbelievers are like trees without roots.
Trees without roots are unable to grow or bear fruit
because they have no source to obtain LIVING water.
These trees end up withering and slowly ROTTING
This image may be blunt,
but as we believers,
we need to see the state unbelievers are in.
This will allow us to have a burden on our hearts to share our God with unbelievers,
so that they may be rooted in living water.
I’M REMINDED OF THE WOMEN AT THE WELL
HE SAID THE WATER I HAVE IS LIVING WATER
WHOEVER DRINKS SHALL NEVER THIRST AGAIN
SOMETHING INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT VINES AND BRANCHES ANALOGY
IT NEVER GETS TO A PLACE WHERE...
IT’S DONE BEING PRUNED AND DONE GROWING
IT’S LIKE A CONSTANT CYCLE OF PRUNING AND CUTTING AND PRUNING AND CUTTING
CUTTING HAPPENS FOR NEW GROWTH TO COME FORTH.
IDOLS HAPPEN WHEN WERE CONNECTED TO THE WRONG VINE
WE RELY ON OUR ABILITIES
AND GOD DOESN’T HAVE CONTROL OF THE CUTTING AND PRUNING IN OUR LIVES
OVERGROWTH HAPPENS
PRIDE HAPPENS
SIN CREEPS IN
WE HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE TRUE VINE
TRUST GOD
SOMETIMES HE CUTS US TO HUMBLE US
TO PROMOTE GROWTH IN THAT AREA
OH MY LORD...
......STAND TO YOUR FEET.....
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS FOR A LONG TIME
SOME OF US HAVEN’T SEEN NEW GROWTH IN A LONG TIME
MAYBE YOUR CONNECTED TO A DIFFERENT VINE
THESE ALTARS ARE OPEN....
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME AND SPEND SOME TIME CONNECTING TO THE TRUE VINE
SOME OF US NEED SOME CUTTING AND PRUNING
SOME OF US NEED LIVING WATER