Preparing for Greater Fruitfulness

 

This topic agrees that through God's grace, we have been productive in the kingdom and we now trust for more.

The Lord is also willing that we bear more fruit and "much fruit". There is a progression in the kingdom concept of fruit-bearing.

God is handing us the opportunity to do greater works. He wants us to continue in our pursuit of His kingdom. He longs that we enter into new levels and seasons in our walk with Him and our work for Him. Abiding in Christ is the key to greater fruitfulness.

We want to examine this topic using the letters of the word - ABIDE

A - Alignment with God

Being aligned with God is being on the same page with God. The evidence of abiding in Christ is being in the centre of God's will at all times. 

If there's anything that will keep us from all kinds of famine (physical, spiritual, financial etc), it is being in alignment with God. A life that is out of alignment with God will dwell in the wilderness.

The first step to be in alignment with God is a genuine conversion experience. Are you saved?

Additionally, being in alignment with God requires having a perception of God's purpose and staying there. Divine allocation can only come to us when we are in God's desired location for us.

The sons of Issachar were people who had an understanding of the times. Thus, they were able to know what Israel ought to do. The Bible says that their brethren were at their commandment.

Productivity and greater effectiveness is a reality when we work where God wants to concentrate efforts on. This is achievable when we are in divine alignment.

B - Believing, Beholding, Becoming 

We begin our spiritual journey by faith and we press into a deeper walk with God through Beholding the Lord in devotion. Our encounters with the Word of God and and as we have communion with God leads us to becoming more like Jesus

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Staying in God's presence, growing and learning from Him is the route to becoming all God wants us to be and having the strength to fulfill our life's purpose. It is an indispensable path to fruitfulness.

Our service ought to spring from our communion with God. This is an acceptable sacrifice. Any service that does not emanate from a yielded life cannot be a living one before God. Such a service cannot also be a life-giving one.

The Master wants to be served but He wants it to be an extension of your fellowship with Him. He wants you adequately prepared through communion with Him and He wants you to serve according to paths ordained for you!

I - Intimacy with the Holy Spirit 

Abiding in Christ means intimacy with the Holy Spirit. It is beyond being faithful to church attendance or being committed to a work area. 

It means we are walking in the Spirit and not according to the flesh or traditions of men. 

Additionally, it is having a real fellowship with the Person of the Holy Spirit such that it becomes a norm for you to partake of His ministry to you.

The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth

He reveals things to come.

He gives us more revelation of Christ 

He strengthens us in the inner man. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit

He supplies counsel, might, understanding, wisdom and much more to us.

He opens our understanding to know more about the Word

He convicts and converts sinners

He rises like a flood against the enemy

He conforms us to the image of Christ 

He comforts, heals and encourages us

AND MUCH MORE 

D - Discipleship 

Discipleship is following in the footsteps of the Master. It is the progressive evidence that we are abiding in Christ. 

Discipleship is a process of the Word becoming flesh in our lives. It is the journey we undertake to get to the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The essence of our abiding in Christ is that we become more like Jesus daily.

E - Established

Abiding in Christ means we are grounded and established in the faith. It means that we are not double minded or wavering.

Established through counsel based on the Word and leading of the Spirit. Acts 16:5

Established through intentional training in the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 3:2

Established with Grace and not ceremonial law. Hebrews 13:9

Established in present truth - New things that are being learnt - not things strange to scriptures 2 Peter 1:12

Being submerged and grounded that backsliding ceases to be an option. Colossians 2:6, 7