Bearing much fruit glorifies God

Bearing much fruit glorifies God.

For the past 2 weeks we had wonderful time receiving and thinking of God’s Word/rhema for our lives. God is telling some of us to do something new, to expand, to rise up and shine from where we are. Those are the words/seeds that was sown in your hearts and minds. We can do something with those seeds. We can make it grow and produce thirtyfold, sixtyfold or a hundredfold. However, if we are not diligent and persistent in taking care of those seeds, it will be gone or it will not bear fruits/harvest. From the time your hear those Words or receive the seeds, to the time it produce a harvest, it will take maybe a week, a month, a few months or even a few years. The crucial part is not so much of the sowing, but the period of time between the sowing and the bearing of fruit.

If our lives does not bear much fruit, it does not glorify God. It is not enough to just sow seeds in our lives. The seeds/Word of God must be taken care of until it bear fruits. Then our Father will be glorified when we bear much fruit. Spiritually, physically and financially. John 15:8, “⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

How is it that some people are able to produce more and harvest more fruits in their lives? What is it that they do or don’t do that cause them to have more fruits?

There are Christians who believes that it is up to God to work in them. There are also those who think that they are nothing, worthless and therefore God cannot do anything with them. Some are just waiting, and waiting and waiting for God to do something in their lives. Often times, they wonder, what is the will of God for their lives and what can they do to produce fruits/harvest in their life. Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 2:15;

A. Producing more by having less.

Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15 Parable of the Sower.

Conditions to producing thirtyfold, sixtyfold and hundredfold harvest. From the parable we learn that we can produce more by having less. Having less of what? 3 things mentioned in the parable that we should have less.

1. Having less of hardened path.

Hardened path are areas where the soil becomes hardened because it was trodden by people. Originally, the area is suitable for planting seeds but after being trodden many times, it became hardened and no longer suitable for planting seeds.

This can be likened to areas in your heart/life that has become hardened because of the pressures placed upon it. It is no longer yielded or open to God’s Words. It can be in the areas of relationship, self-worth, sexual promiscuity or personal gratification like smoking, drinking, or even gluttony.  Basically, you have already hardened yourself in these areas and have considered these areas as non-planting area. You do not want the Word of God to be sown there.  

2. Having less of gravels/stony ground.

Stones are little things that takes up space in the ground. It is useless and is not beneficial at all in the planting of seeds. Stones represents hardened, useless things that must be removed from your life. It is not supposed to be occupying or be present in your thoughts and life. Stones must be removed so that you can have more space for the seeds to grow. What are these stones in our lives? It could be thoughts and beliefs that have been hardened by hardship, pressures and difficulties in life like racism, indifference, hatred, or bitterness which we have allowed to take space in our lives. You could have been betrayed before in your relationship with others and bitterness could be the stones in that area of your life. Or that you became angry and resented someone for what he/she has done. Resentment are like stones that take up the space in your heart. Seeds like peace, love and joy could have grown in that area of your lives but because resentment takes up the space, little or no harvest of peace, love and joy can be expected from there.

We have to remove all these stones so that the Word of God can have more space and depth to grow and produce a harvest. You will be producing more if you have less of stones in your lives.

3. Having less of thorns.

Thorns are basically other useless seeds that have been allowed to grow on the ground. These are words that when allowed to grow bigger, will do harm to your soul. I am sure most of us have seen a patch of ground that is covered with thorns. We don’t even dare to walk on them. Thorns do not allow other plants to grow over them. What are these thorns in our lives?

Thorns represents words, ideas, philosophies, beliefs that we have allowed in our mind and lives. In the beginning, they seem harmless and can’t do any harm. They may even look the same as the good seed. But if we allow it to grow bigger, it will choke the wheat plants that is supposed to grow there.

Example of thorns.

We often read about the news article on economic recession. Articles that read, “Malaysia will be hit hard by economic recession in 2018” are like seeds of thorns. At first, we may think that news are harmless seeds and are not going to affect us. We also planted seeds of God’s word that says that God will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. These two kinds of seeds grew together in our hearts and mind. For many of us, we read more of the newspaper than the Bible. Therefore, we are allowing more seeds of thorns being sown in our hearts than the Word of God. We think more of the negative news than the wonderful promise of God. It will come to a time when the negative news will choke the Word of God. The negative news of economic recessions in Malaysia will cause us to doubt what God wants to do for us. When we go to the shopping mall and see that there are many people there but not many are buying things, we say in our mind and heart, “There’s economic recession coming”, “Time is bad and getting worse”, or “Life is hard”. Then we come to the belief that “I will also be affected by this economic recession”. The thorns of the news article managed to choke the Word of God.

We need to have less of thorns if we want an abundant harvest in our lives.

* All of us can become good ground. We just need to remove the wayside, the stones and the thorns so that the Word of God can be sown, germinate and produce thirtyfold, sixtyfold or even a hundredfold

Another discipline that you need to practice to help you bear much fruit is the practice of knowing who your God is.

B. Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

1. A Generous Provider. Some people are afraid to ask God for something big or expensive. They rather let the fear of man choke the abundant living promised by God. I can have a Rolex watch and people will go “wahhh… wahhh” and I can feel so proud of it. That’s not right. But if my heart is right, I will tell them, “Ya right, so cool right. Look what God can do to me. And He can do this to you too!” Then my motive of asking from God the abundance He promised is right.

2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

2. A Great God. When your received the rhema of God, expand your mind. Do not limit God by your small thinking. We have yet to even comprehend/grasp the tip of the iceberg of the fullness of God – Ephesians 3:19. God has bigger and greater things for each one of us because He is a great God. God has given us so much potential that we can fulfill if we allow Him to do so in us.

Do you remember playing sand on the beach when you were small? We build sand castles. We have the potential to build big castles. All of us are destined for great things. You know why? Because our God is a great God. A great God will not put tiny potential in His children. God sees great potential in each and every one of His children. This is where we must not have thorns or stones in our lives that can choke that potential.

3. A Limited God. Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good pleasures.” Don’t misunderstand this verse, thinking that it is all up to God to do something. God puts the desire in you, but you have the authority/freedom and choice to will and act upon the rhema of God.

Ephesians 3:20 says it this way,” Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”.

Is God able to do what He ask us to do? Yes! Since He is able to do it, let’s think big because our God is a BIG God. What is it that you are asking God to do in your lives? What is it that you are thinking of doing for God? He can help you do it and much more. The verse says, “able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Think of something that you have asked God for. Did you just ask God for RM3000 a month salary? God is able to give more! RM5000 a month? That should be more than enough for most of us right? God is able to give more! RM10K, RM50K a month? The issue is not so much of whether God is able to give it or not!

The problem is firstly, we don’t even believe that high. (*Sunday Night service at Medical Mission house.) Our mind is so limited that we have not and could not even imagine we can have that much. Don’t limit God. The second problem is stated in the second part of that verse, “according to the power that worketh in us.” Not only our mind is having problem thinking big, but our heart is empty.

What power are we allowing to work in us right now to manifest God’s glory? The power to heal? – Mark 11:17. The power of miracle? The power to cast out demons? – Mark 16:17. The power to create wealth? – Deuteronomy 8:18. The power that raised Jesus from the dead? – Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:19-20. What power do you have in you? Allow that power to work in you because God is able to do more but He is limited by the power that you allow to work in you.

Closing.

Harvest time is a joyful time. But labor/hard work is required to secure the harvest. Labor is your responsibility. God will not do the laboring for you.

What is the rhema/seed that God has sown in your heart? You can let it grow to produce thirtyfold, sixtyfold or a hundredfold. But you need to have less hardened grounds, less stones and less thorns. It takes labor to make sure the seeds have enough space and no thorns that will choke its growth.

And while the seed is growing, be still and know your God. What is the potential that God has put in you? Allow the power of God to work in you that you will have exceeding abundantly more than what you ask or think. And by this the Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.

How To Be A Giant Killer

GBM Gateway - 12 April 2015 – by David Bong

 * No copyright. Use it if you can, for the glory of God. 

Main Scripture passage: 1 Samuel 17.

Intro:

The story of David killing the giant Goliath is very familiar to us. We have heard about it in Sunday School or even read it in Christian books. Yet, for many of us, it is something that we don’t or can’t relate to our own problems/challenges or battles in life.

David was called the “man after God’s own heart”. That title or description is well exhibited throughout David’s life. It is David’s own conscious choice in relating to God and in how he responds to problems in his life. It will take many hours of studies on the life of David which will benefit you if you chose to do so. However, today I would like to revisit the story of David and Goliath and try to learn from David. Here is a good example in the OT of one who is living in the supernatural realm and we can gain much by learning from him.

Many of us want to be a giant killer. Many of us want to have that description in our spiritual resume. Some of you have already killed many giants in your life while others are still struggling to kill the ants in your life.

In brief: the story in 1 Samuel 17. Battle in Valley of Elah – Goliath challenging the army of Israel – Jesse sent David to see his 3 oldest brothers – David’s conviction – Eliab’s accusing David – King Saul agreed to let David fight – armor too big and heavy – 5 stones – ran and slung the stone – cut off Goliath’s head.

How then can we be a GIANT KILLER? What is it about David that he is able to reach a level where he can confidently kill a giant?

1.    David is FAITHFUL in the small things – verse 15.

  - taking care of a few sheep at the backside of the desert.

  - David risked his life and his future to care for the sheep. He needs not to risk his life and his father Jesse surely does not want to risk David’s life for one sheep. But David proved himself faithful even in the small tasks entrusted to him.

  - in chapter 16, we read that David was anointed as king by the prophet Samuel. Even after being anointed as king, David still have to do the tasks assigned to him by his father. Just because David has been anointed as king, it does not mean he can now order people around. He still have to do the small tasks given to him.

  * Are you faithful in the small things? Are you honest in your workplace? Do you take small things (stealing) from your office? Is your attitude of working in the office is as though you are working for the Lord Jesus Christ or you are just working for the monthly salary? Jesus said that if we are not faithful in the small things (one talent), how can we be entrusted with the bigger things? This is one spiritual principle that we cannot ignore in our spiritual walk with God. Just because we know God has anointed us with certain spiritual gifts, it does not mean we can straight away perform that calling. Starts with the small tasks first, then God will promote you to bigger ministry. One does not go from 0km to 1000km/hour in less than 5 seconds. That would be a wreck/explosion, and it will kill you.

  Be faithful in the small things that God has entrusted to you. That’s the first step in to build yourself up to be a giant killer.

 2.         David PROVED God while doing small things. Vs 34-36

  - by David’s own words, he said that God has helped him slay the lion and the bear while taking care of the sheep. Even while doing the so-called menial tasks of looking after the sheep, David use whatever problems that come his way to prove God power and promise.

  - Do you think a boy of maybe 10 -15 years old can kill a lion or a bear with his own strength? David did because he trusted God to help him overpower the lion and the bear.

  - I believe David trusted God to help him in many other instances, so much so that it becomes a normal thing for David. Even other people can attest to the result of David’s trust in God.

1 Samuel 16: 18, ¹⁸ One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”

* Many Christians have the desire to be the superhero for God. We wish that God will use us supernaturally to heal the sick, raise the dead, and do miracles. We wish one day, we will be in front of thousands of people and God will supernaturally anoint us. Then we will have the faith to be able to perform healing and miracles.

But have we proven God in the small things? Have we proven God to heal our headache, our stomach ache, our sickness? Have we proven God to be our Jehovah Jireh in the small things that we need? If we are not able to prove God’s power and promise even in the small things, where we just take the easy way out by popping a pill or drinking to down our worries, how can we then trust God in bigger problems like cancer or financial problems or depression?

3. Knowing Your Covenant with God – verse 26.

- David’s reference to Goliath being uncircumcised was pointing out that Goliath didn’t have any covenant rights like he did. In fact, every Israelite soldier was one of God’s covenant people, but they didn’t act like it.

*We Christians have a better covenant than David does. All true believers have covenant rights to health, prosperity, joy, peace, etc., but not all look at their circumstances through the covenant.

These Israelite soldiers were looking at Goliath and not at God’s promises. The Lord had promised them that no man would be able to stand before them (Deut. 11:25). Goliath was a man. He was a big man but a man nonetheless. While others only saw the giant, David kept his attention on the promises of God.

* What are the problems that you are facing right now? Do you continuously look at the problem and are afraid, just like the Israelite soldiers? Or do you look at the problem from your new status in Christ. What are the promises that God has given to us the new believers for every circumstances? We need to face the problems according to what the Word says, and not to what our carnal senses tell us.

Philippian 4:19 – God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches.

2 Peter 1: 2 – Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

Psalms 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Deut 28 – you shall be the head and not the tail, you are blessed wherever you go.

* Knowing the promises of God and believing in such promises does not make the problems disappear. The Devil is not intimidated by you knowing God’s promises. Knowing your covenant merely positions you to a better fighting position. You are now facing the problem, having your front facing the giant. If you don’t know your covenant, you will be standing with your back facing the giant. Remember, you don’t have much protection for your back.  And the fiery darts of the enemy will easily hurt and kills you. Instead of hiding behind rocks and caves, you can now stall tall facing your giant. 

4. Standing Firm in your belief

- after Eliab heard what David said, Eliab became angry at David and accused him of being irresponsible. (Eliab became angry maybe because he was not selected to be anointed as the next king.) Yet, David continued with his conviction/belief. David has a cause that is greater than his brother’s criticism.

* Many Christians are glad to find a certain truth of God’s Word and they eagerly share their conviction. However, at the first criticism by others, they back out and no longer share their convictions. Has God asked you to stand firm on certain matters based on His promises? Stand firm then and continue to live out that conviction no matter what others might think or say about you.

* Be wise when received criticisms. There are constructive criticisms. Eg. Appollos being inadequate in his preaching about Christ, therefore Aquilla and Priscilla instructed him privately in their home. Eliab’s criticism is against David’s personality and character, where such type of criticism is generally to bring down a person. 

- As David continued to share his conviction with the other soldiers, the other soldiers are also convicted by its truth. I believe the soldiers started to talk about it and that is why they reported it to King Saul. David may not be a prophet that speaks the oracle of God like the prophet Samuel but David’s words are based on God’s covenant with the people Israel. In the olden days, the words of the prophets can give great encouragement to the king and soldiers before a battle. I believe David’s words have similar effect on the soldiers and as such they dare to tell it to King Saul. There is hope in David’s words.

- after David deflected his brother’s criticism, he has to face doubts by the highest authority in Israel. King Saul told David the facts, the real facts, - that Goliath is fighting machine and David is only a boy, a pretty boy. If being criticized by your own family members is not bad enough, David now faced doubts by the king himself. What do you do when the doctors say that your sickness is incurable, your bank says that your bankruptcy is for sure, your psychiatrist tells you that your depression is permanent or your boss says that you will also be lay off in the company’s restructuring plan?  

David stood firm in his convictions and rehearsed to the king what God has done in the past. If you have been able to prove God in the small things in the past, you will be able to be like David when facing a big problem. Then you can consider what God has done in your life that has proven Him to be the God Almighty.

- David also stood firm against the insults and threats by his enemy Goliath. Even when facing a deadly threat by his enemy, David did not waiver in his faith. Instead he countered it with a counter-threat. (You want to kill me, hahahaha, I will kill you instead) WOW! David is really sure of what God can do through him.

So the next time you face insults and threats by the enemy, stand firm and let the enemy know what God can do through you in that obstacles. I can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13), I can tread Satan under my foot (Rom 16:20), I am more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37).

* From the worldly view, it is really unfair for the small David to fight the giant Goliath. However, in the supernatural realm, Goliath does not have any chance at all against David. A TOTALLY UNFAIR fight against Goliath when God Almighty stands with David.

 5. Faith without work is dead. Conquer your giants.

At the end of it, we will still need to face our giants in life. Look at David’s preparation for that moment.

- King Saul recommended David to use his armor. But David has not proven it and therefore David cannot move in it. If King Saul’s armor does not do him any good to go fight against Goliath, why would use such armor. Some people would be eager to help you fight your giant by recommending something or some methods. Face your giants according to the way you are comfortable with.

- David brought his staff and chose 5 stones. This is the weapon that David is familiar with, a staff and a sling. I’ve heard a sermon that David chose 5 stones because Goliath has another 4 brothers and David is ready to slay all 5 of them if necessary. However, it could also be that David chose 5 stones so that in case he missed the first one, he still has 4 more stones to use against Goliath. Having faith in God does not mean that you will get it perfect all the time. You may get it wrong at first, but you continue on and on until you slay the giant.

- When Goliath rose up to meet him, David ran towards him. David was not afraid. Your attitude toward your giants will be very obvious when it is time to face them. If you really believe the promises of God, you would not run from a fight – you will run to it. Do you really believe what God said or not? The giants are going to test what God has put in you.

- David attacked the giant. He is not going to wait and just trying to defend himself. David slung a stone at Goliath. Then God worked the supernatural, a miracle. A stone in the natural would never be able to pierce a metal helmet. With whatever “feeble” effort that you can do, God would supernaturally empower it to defeat your giants.

- David made sure the giant is dead by cutting off his head. When David cut off his head and held it up, all doubt was removed, and the enemy fled. Then the Philistine army ran and the Israelite chased after them and had great victory. Make sure your giants are dead so that they will not come back and challenge you again.

Conclusion.

People don’t like to face giants, but David wouldn’t have been a hero if he had slain a midget. The giants in your life are actually great opportunities for God to show Himself strong on your behalf. Your greatest tests will become your greatest testimonies.

David’s victory over Goliath catapulted him into his destiny. Likewise, whatever giant you are facing can become the greatest victory in your life as you stand on God’s Word and overcome it.