The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Which tree best characterizes you?

The call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Sovereign L ORD is on me, because the L ORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the L ORD ’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

The call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Isaiah 61: They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the L ORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Called to be “oaks of righteousness” Focus on the genuine and the counterfeit will be clear. Fruit – is the product of the Kingdom of God at work in us. We are created to bear fruit, which requires Kingdom roots and Kingdom shoots.

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Spirit – Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Character fruit – Phil 1:11 “fruit of righteousness” perseverance, humility, courage, forgiveness. Ministry fruit – salvations, healings, miracles What is fruitfulness?

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Jesus possessed and displayed all aspects of fruitfulness. FRUITFULLNESS = CHRIST-LIKENESS

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness It is God’s will for our lives - Rom 7:4 It is transformative It glorifies God - John 15: 1-11 It shows the world that we are His disciples Why is it important to be fruitful?

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness John 15: 5,8-9 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Why did Jesus speak in parables? Requires us to examine ourselves 2 Samuel 12: 1 – 6 Nathan confronts David with a parable Pharisees had “book knowledge” Jesus wants “heart knowledge” that bears fruit Mathew 13:3 - 6

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Mathew 13:3 - 6 “ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Mathew 13: “Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness Three Components of the Parable 1.Sower – Jesus / Holy Spirit / Us 2.Seed – Word of the Kingdom, Scripture 3.Soils / Receivers – Path Rocky / Shallow soil Thorns / Weeds Good soil

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness How Do we Bear Fruit? 1.Root ourselves in Jesus – Col 2:6 -7 Spiritual DNA – not works Unconditional love and identity 2.Form strong shoots with Kingdom focus Avoid distractions

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness If you are bearing fruit: 1.Are you content with your crop? 2.Are you missing out on your potential fruit because you covet someone else’s? 3.Are you frustrated because it’s taking too long to see fruit? 4.Are you not recognizing the fruit you already have?

The Call to Kingdom Fruitfulness 1.We are all equipped and called to bear fruit. 2.Be rooted in Jesus and His unconditional love. 3.Trust for more fruit and be patient while it is growing.