Being Eternal Fruit Bearers .mp3

Being Eternal Fruit Bearers Psalm 1:1-3 See Psalms 1:3: AMPC 3" And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]." Water in the Middle East was and is not that plentiful. Many trees attempt to grow but if not planted by rivers of water it will wilt and die. But if planted by rivers of waters it will flourish and grow and bring forth fruit in its seasons. NB "in its seasons." The word in Hebrew for "seasons" is "biyito" (pronounced bee toh) from the root word "byth" which simply means an appointed time, a designated time. Have you ever felt pressure to constantly produce results—like you need to be bearing a harvest of fruit every single season? Psalm 1:3 gives us a powerful reminder: God designed us to yield our fruit in our season. We don’t have to produce everything all the time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 3 "To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:" Let’s unpack what that means for our spiritual growth and why recognizing our God-given design is key to living with purpose, productivity and peace. We must prioritize time in prayer and fellowship with The, LORD. Our spiritual root system determines the quality of our fruit. Colossians 2:7 AMPC7 " Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving." Whatever the season, water it with thanksgiving from the heart. On the pilgrimage road, stay in lane,don't try to jump into someone else's lane. Trust GOD's Timing Psalm 1:3 is a reminder that we are not responsible for bearing huge harvests of fruit all the time. Our responsibilities are to: Stay connected to The LORD in fellowship and to maintain the responsibilities we have for the season of life we are in Eg parenting, employment, various church roles, caring for someone etc NB Isaiah 40:11 "He gently leads those that are with young" We should develop the gifts He has given us but Trust His timing for our fruitfulness.... the pilgrim's road is rarely without seeming diversions. Sometimes we may feel we have been felled down to the ground. Job 14:7-9 says, “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant." God can and does bring forth fruit from hard, seemingly barren places. If you ever feel like your fruit has shriveled up and you’re not producing much good, take heart. We all at times may feel like a cut down tree, just a stump of the person we would like to be, or we may feel like a shrivelled up prune, spiritually dehydrated... Even at the scent of water however , a cut down tree can bud again, and as we root ourselves into GOD ’s Word and rest in His Presence, He will bring forth fruit in its season. In Scripture, we see that there are different qualities of fruit. We can see this in John chapter 15. So first, let’s look at John 15:5. "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 bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." The word "abide" means to remain wait, and dwell. As we root into Christ Himself , as we remain in Him, we can produce good healthy fruit. John 15:1-17 is a fascinating passage when it comes to fruit, and I encourage you go read the entire passage. But for now, what I want to highlight is this: In the first 15 verses of John 15:1-15, we see this word "abide", in Greek "meno", multiple times. Now each time it is referencing either to us abiding in Christ, or Christ Himself or His Word abiding in us. But, verse 16 is different. There’s one more mention of this word "abide" , but it’s not referring to us or Christ. It is referring to our fruit. John 15:16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide/remain " I find it so interesting that this final instance of abiding is all about our fruit. It is still the Greek word, "meno" , meaning to remain. Now when we think about fruit, we don’t often think about it remaining. It becomes ripe and ready to harvest and eat but will quickly become rotten. But The LORD Jesus says that our fruit should remain. It should have a lasting effect. It should have longevity. The fruit of our lives should alter eternity, and this is only possible as we abide in Christ. NB John 15:1 - 2 Any part of our lives that doesn't bear fruit GOD cuts off and that which does produce fruit is pruned. Pruning is not a haphazard process. Specific, sometimes deep cuts are made to encourage new growth. Whatever season we are in upon our earthly pilgrimage , we must align ourselves with GOD's eternal purpose of our being fruit bearers for eternity. Selah Shalom shalom