Bearing Fruit
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Men’s breakfast 7.28.23
Men’s breakfast 7.28.23
6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
Agrarian society:
Paul is talking to agrarian society much like Jesus often did
Paul and Jesus communicated the simplicity of the gospel
There’s seed time and harvest
Talking to people who knew the importance of hard work
Paul is telling the church of Colossians that the Gospel should be and is bearing fruit in their lives
What does bringing forth fruit in your life look like?
Fruit looks like: “When our beliefs have now become our behaviors
We’re not merely believing something, but we’re putting actions to our beliefs or convictions and it results in changed behavior
Does your behavior mirror your beliefs
1. Believe in: Church attendance
13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
15 To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Is it a behavior in our lives
2. Believe in Forgiveness
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Is our behavior one of walking in forgiveness
3. We believe in Generosity
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
But we examine circumstances, before obedient behavior
Fruit is when our actions measure up to what we say we value
Are you writing checks with your mouth that your ass cant cash?
If I say I love my wife and all of my actions speak differently
Where are there contradictions in your life between your thoughts or beliefs and your actions?
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
The Christian life is not about information but transformation
It not enough to be well informed
He want’s us to know more of his word so it transforms our minds
The transformed mind produces fruit in our behavior
5 “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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 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. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
If you were on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence in your life to be convicted?
What is the evidence of Christ in your life?
Beyond reasonable doubt?
God is glorified when you produce fruit!
3 Things occur when there’s fruit in your life
You bring glory to God
Our goal first and foremost is to bring Glory to God in everything we do
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
The fruit of the world is to bring Glory to themselves
Actors lifetime achievements and awards
Look at the fruit in most of their lives
Him who is able to keep your from stumbling and shipwreck!
2. You’re a disciple
You live a life that is disciplined by God’s word
In the new testament the word Christians is only used 3 times
While disciple is used over 260 times
Becoming a Christian is the starting point
Being a disciple is the finish line
Don’t get stuck at the beginning
When you bear fruit
3. You make an impact
As the leader of my household everything I do is impactful
Every decision I make has a lasting impact on my family
I do everything full bore usually
Everything around me is impacted
the gym, triathlon, drinking, bad attitudes
We all have the ability to make an impact on the world around us for better or worse
I ask you today, what fruit is bearing in your life?
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Does you behavior mirror your beliefs?
Does your mouth mirror your beliefs?
Is it a shock to someone when you tell them you’re a christian?