READ: 1 PETER 1:12-16
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, He
may give it you” (John 15:16).
Several Christians have problems with complete obedience. In the above scripture, God gave us three instructions: Go and preach the gospel, bear fruit, ensure your fruits remain. For many years, we have lived in partial obedience to this scripture. Many go out but do not bear fruit. A few who go out bear some fruit but do not ensure that their converts are in faith. They may spend time, money and other resources yet they never ensure total complicity with the three mandates.
Half obedience is disobedience as far as God is concerned. It’s either you obey Him or you are in disobedience. There’s no middle ground. Some pastors and Christian leaders cannot produce a single convert that is standing for Christ. The reason for an increased level of fruitfulness is now the excuse for non-performance. Soul winning and follow-up have been relegated to the evangelism and follow-up departments. ‘Why should I win souls? I am pastor: evangelism is for worker.’ But you were a worker before you became a pastor. A pastor is still a worker; even God is a worker in His vineyard.
In 2 Timothy 4:5, Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy who was a bishop overseeing several pastors and districts to continue to evangelize in addition to his administrative duties. If Timothy was not excused neither is any pastor, irrespective of his level. Several times I asked myself why we still had quite a number of unanswered prayers. The answer never came until one day the Lord revealed that our fruitlessness and lack of follow-up was responsible. The extent to which your prayers will be answered is dependent on the extent of your level of obeying John 15:16. How many souls have you won to Him and how many of them are standing today? We refuse to do what He asked us to but still blame Him for not answering our prayers. The fault is ours. If you are sincere, you do not have many. Arise today and bear fruit. Also fellow them up. The ones that make it to heaven are those you will be rewarded for.
Several Christians have problems with complete obedience. In the above scripture, God gave us three instructions: Go and preach the gospel, bear fruit, ensure your fruits remain. For many years, we have lived in partial obedience to this scripture. Many go out but do not bear fruit. A few who go out bear some fruit but do not ensure that their converts are in faith. They may spend time, money and other resources yet they never ensure total complicity with the three mandates.
Half obedience is disobedience as far as God is concerned. It’s either you obey Him or you are in disobedience. There’s no middle ground. Some pastors and Christian leaders cannot produce a single convert that is standing for Christ. The reason for an increased level of fruitfulness is now the excuse for non-performance. Soul winning and follow-up have been relegated to the evangelism and follow-up departments. ‘Why should I win souls? I am pastor: evangelism is for worker.’ But you were a worker before you became a pastor. A pastor is still a worker; even God is a worker in His vineyard.
In 2 Timothy 4:5, Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy who was a bishop overseeing several pastors and districts to continue to evangelize in addition to his administrative duties. If Timothy was not excused neither is any pastor, irrespective of his level. Several times I asked myself why we still had quite a number of unanswered prayers. The answer never came until one day the Lord revealed that our fruitlessness and lack of follow-up was responsible. The extent to which your prayers will be answered is dependent on the extent of your level of obeying John 15:16. How many souls have you won to Him and how many of them are standing today? We refuse to do what He asked us to but still blame Him for not answering our prayers. The fault is ours. If you are sincere, you do not have many. Arise today and bear fruit. Also fellow them up. The ones that make it to heaven are those you will be rewarded for.
MEMORIZE: 1
PETER 1:14 –As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the
former lusts in your ignorance.
