ELD. LONGSE SERMON

TEXT GEN. 1:27 – 28

THEME KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD IN BEARING GOOD FRUITS.

GEN. 1:27 – 28 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him male and female He created 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”

WHO IS A FRUITFUL PERSON? A fruitful person is that person who as a result of his/her union or personal encounter with Jesus Christ at the new birth experience, is producing many useful and good results both by life and by his/her service to God and man. God commission us to be fruitful – Gen 1:28- But this was shattered

THE FALL OF MAN The consequences of disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Adam & Eve sin and so lost the ability to bear the kind of fruit God desires, instead:

1. Lies 2. Killing 3. Stealing 4. Hatred 5. Homosexuality 6. Wars 7. Disobedience

RESTORATION OF MANKIND (JESUS ATONED FOR OUR SINS) The death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection brought restoration to mankind. It is however sad to discover that many Christians today are still groping in darkness having neither seen nor entered into that restoration of The potential and liberty to be fruitful.

WHAT IS THE RESULT? The result is a dry religious life, full of activities but no Christ likeness. 1. Going to church just as a usual routine. 2. We are like a tree full of leaves without fruits

MARK 11: the next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry 13 seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit, when he reached it he found nothing but leaves. Because it was not the season for figs 14 then he said to the tree “may no one ever eat fruit from you again…….” NIV

WE ARE JUST LEAVES IF WE:- Don’t read the word of god and obey Don’t tolerate one another (neighbors)

1. Give offerings, tithe, pay every church contributions but do not truly know Christ 2. Participate in church activities but not spiritually sound 3. Do not make disciples of all nations(Great commission Matt 28:19-20)

WHAT TO DO Good fruits do something deliberate to:- 1. Set yourself free from eternal condemnation 2. Win souls to Christ 3. Set the captives free 4. Touch the physical and spiritual life of people (we are the salt & light)

IN SOME CHURCHES TODAY 1. Instead of bearing good fruits for the one who died for us and rose again, we are only looking for what to get from Him (remember the talents given to 3 servants, 5, 2, and 1 respectively the last did not invest his)

2. Many are pursuing – God’s gift, rather than God the giver “ “ “ - Miracles “ “ “ - Material things instead of God. 3. People have become victims of false prophets and sooth Sayers to lack of knowledge of God and His purpose for their lives. Hosea 4:6 a – my people are destroy for lack of knowledge – KJV

4. For lack of knowledge, people go into captivity and for lack of vision the people cast off restraint. E.g. Naked Church goers, Satanic Church e.t.c. if we do not bear good fruits, sooner or later churches will be subdued by these false prophets.

GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS CLEAR Read John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I choose you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should last, that whatever you ask the father in my name He may give you. - NIV

JOHN 15:2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He take away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (Which branch are you?)- NIV

REMEMBER THOSE THAT SURRENDER THEIR LIVES TO WIN SOULS Pastors have surrendered their lives to Christ. They want to bear good fruits to God through equipping us.

JOHN 3:16 SAYS – “for God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son…..” NIV

PASTORS: - THEIR TIME, PLEASURE, ETC. We – need to bear fruits through them By offering generously. Not minding their age, status, tribe, experience, possession not even marital status – for we are sewing a seed that we will reap its fruit eternally so saw it faithfully. Finally, bear fruit that you may not stand before God empty handed.