"Fruit,
Fruit, and More Fruit"
Part 2 of a
series titled "Changing Soils"
The
BIG Idea:
The first
habit of a disciple maker is a vibrant prayer life. Whether you are a prayer
warrior already or struggle to keep your mind focused while blessing the meal,
God will meet you where you are. Disciple Making is a spiritual activity, and
our greatest weapons are the Word of God and prayer. Let's learn some practical
prayer habits that are the first step from moving from the thorns of busyness
to the fruitful good soil that produces a harvest for the Kingdom of God.
5 I am the
vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do
nothing. 6 If anyone
does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they
gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you
remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much
fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.9 Just
as the Father
has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If
you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in
His love.11 These things I have spoken to you so that My
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 This
is My
commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer
do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but
I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have
made known to you.16 You did not choose Me but I chose
you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may
give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another. --John
15:5-17 (NASB)
Matthew
12:3-23 is the "Parable of the Sower." Jesus identifies the four types of
soils.
The
Path = "Not Interested"
The
Rocky Soil = "Too Shallow"
The
Thorns = "Too Busy"
Good
Soil = "Fruitful"
13 But all
things become visible when they
are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this
reason it says,
"Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." --Ephesians
5:13-14 (NASB)
"You should
be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current
results."--James Cleary, Atomic Habits
"When you
fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don't have to wait
to give yourself permission to be happy."--James Cleary, Atomic Habits
In
today's Scripture reading, we learn that . . .
God
is more powerful than the enemy.
"Remaining"
means to stay connected to God.
Jesus
will bear much fruit through His followers.
Jesus
will answer our prayers.
Jesus
will be glorified through our large amount of fruit.
Jesus
and the Father will surround us in Their love.
Jesus
will fill us completely with His joy.
Jesus
calls us His friends.
Jesus
will produce through us fruit that will last.
The
entire faith journey can be summed up simply--"Remain in Christ and allow Him
to remain in you."
-
Pray
for yourself.
-
Pray
for others. (FRANCE)
Friends
Relatives
Acquaintances
Neighbors
Co-workers/Classmates
Earlier
in Life
-
Pray
with others.
*The "Modern Prayer Clinic" is a great model for building a
prayer life.
Questions
for Reflection:
In
today's feature Scripture Reading, Jesus mentions one word to describe the
"job" for all followers of Jesus for a total of 8 times in 12 verses. What is
the one-word Jesus uses to describe the job for a follower of Jesus?
Why
does Jesus say His followers should be able to pray with great confidence?
Through
this message from Jesus, which is most important--happiness or joy?
What
does it mean to you that the God of the entire universe calls you "friend"?
What
simple sentence sums up the entire faith journey?