APPOINTED TO BEAR FRUIT

APPOINTED TO BEAR FRUIT

(John 15:16)

Greetings and introduction

 God give us another opportunity to praise and worship him this morning. It’s a privilege to stand before all of you to deliver from God’s word, and thank you Pastors for giving this opportunity.

Last year, we know that, there was presidential election in the United States. Most of the people are interested and gave attention to the election. In short, they elected Mr. Donald Trump for the 45^th US President. Though he did not win the popular vote, he won through the electoral colleges vote; he became the president of the United States constitutionally, and became one of the most powerful persons in the world.

Here I would like to ask few questions for all of you. But you do not need to answer!!

1.       Did the people or citizens of the US elect Trump as to enjoy the wealth of US from the White House?

2.      Did the people/citizens of the US elect him to do only for his own benefits from White House?

The ANSWER is NO!! The Americans did not elect him as to enjoy his life with the wealth of US and doing only his own personal benefits from the White House. The citizens expected him to do great things for the country. They believe that he was the best person among the candidates to lift up the United States! So, he has a responsibility to do a great thing for the people who had elected him as their president, and he must try to meet the voter’s expectations.

In our Christian life also, there are lots of expectations or responsibilities. But many times we forget who we are and the expectations of the One who has chosen us. Many times we failed to fulfill our responsibilities towards God. So, this morning, I would like to remind all of you (including me) and encourage you from Gospel according to John 15:16.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (NET), and I entitled my sermon as “Appointed to bear Fruit”

Background of the passage

We know that this passage is from the Upper Room Discourse. Jesus instructed and gave a farewell speech to his disciples before he was arrested. Jesus knew that he will be arrested and crucified. He instructed his disciples on how to live and do ministry after he left. He gave an example of his relationship with his disciples as Vine and the branches, and told them the importance of abiding in Him.

In this verse, we see that, Jesus reminded his disciples about the election, purpose and he told the way of fulfilling the purpose/expectation. I divided this passage into four sections, such as – 1) We are chosen by God; 2) God appointed us to bear fruit; 3) Appointed to bear fruit – fruit that remains; 4) The way in which we bear fruit.

Let me summarize all these sections point by point…

I.        We are chosen by God

As we read in the Bible, we see that God chose people in three different ways, to be a blessing for others. 1) In the Old Testament time, God chose – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his descendants. 2) During his ministry, Jesus chose his disciples to continue his ministry and making more disciples. 3) After the death of Jesus, we are chosen by God through Jesus Christ. It’s not because of our deserved and good works.  

In Ephesians 1:4, Paul says, “For He chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world…”

Peter also says that, Christ was chosen before the creation of the world…to save us. In 1 Pet 1:21, we see, “Through Him (Christ) you/we believe (in) God…”

 In John 3, we see that, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (v. 16, 17).

Paul also says in Ephesians, “By grace we have been save, through faith (in Christ), and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God (the Father). Not by (our) works….” (Eph 2:1-10).

God chose us through Jesus Christ. It’s not accidentally, but the divine plan! We can worship and praise him in this place, because God chose us before the foundation of the world through Jesus Christ.

II.           God appointed us to bear fruit

The second section we see in this verse is the purpose of God’s choosing; that is “He appointed us to bear fruit”. We see the word “fruit” (Greek - καρπός) 9 times in this chapter. So, we can say that this is one of the main themes of the chapter.

As I said earlier, the US president Mr. Donald Trump is not elected to enjoy his life with the wealth of US from the White House. He has responsibilities, and there are lots of expectations from his citizens… We are also like that…

As we read Gospel according to Mark (3:14-15), we see that the purpose of Jesus calling. Jesus appointed twelve disciples that, Firstly, they might be with him; secondly, he might send them out to preach; and thirdly, to have authority to drive out demons. This appointment is for us also. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul says that, we are the Ambassador of Christ. We know that, the ambassador is a responsible person for the organization or the country which he represented. He must do what the sender expected him to do and works for the benefits of the sender. He cannot live whatever way he wants to live, but he should do what he is supposed to do and work assigned to him/her. We are the Ambassador of Christ, so we should live in a way God wants us to live.

We are appointed to bear fruit. We are appointed to preach the gospel and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Not only to get or receive blessings from God. 

Last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs barred more than 14,000 NGOs from receiving foreign funds. Lots of Christians NGOs are also included. Some people say that, lots of NGOs and mission agency or charitable association misuse lots of money. I think it would be true. We want to get/receive, but most of us could not handle it properly. The supporters gave for the ministry and for the people in the darkness, but they build nice houses, buying a nice car, use money for our own and spend money for other reasons… That is why, many agencies failed in accountability, and also failed in their ministry.

Few years back, one of my friends told me about her experience. She was invited and went to attend a mission conference in Hyderabad. When she reached that place, she knew that, she is falsely portrayed as a fulltime missionary in their native place. The organizer did not allow her to talk with the foreigner, who sponsored that agency; the organizer says that she is one of their missionary. They gave travelling expenses and provide food and accommodation. Some Christian agencies are like this; that is why MHA barred lots of NGO’s FCRA registration.

As I said all this things, I don’t mean that, we will not get or receive blessings from God. What I meant is we are not only to get/receive the blessing of God or something good from other. God did not chose us to receive, but to bear fruit.

III.               Appointed to bear fruit – fruit that remain

Jesus told his disciples to bear fruit – the fruit that remain.

ESV Global Study Bible writes, “The purpose of Christ’s choosing is not only that their sins be forgiven and they have eternal life. It is also their lives will be fruitful in fulfilling God’s purposes”

He talks about the quality of the fruit in this part. What is that fruit…?

In one way, we can say that this fruit-bearing refers to the bringing forth of such product of divine grace as those mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 such as – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Eph 5:9; c.f. Col 1:6; Heb 12:11; James 3:18). Did we bear any kinds of these fruits in our life, let examine ourselves…

As we read the book of Hebrew, the author pointed out some instructions for the believers towards living a positive Christian life through many works. I think it’s also applicable for all of us… let me summarize point by point… the author wants us to live as…

1.      to keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters (v. 1).

2.      to show hospitality to strangers (v. 2) ----Romans 12:10-13; 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:7-8; 1 Pet 4:9. Abraham/Lot show hospitality to unknown/Angels, got a blessing.

3.      to remember those in prison (v. 3)--- especially prisoners, those imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel.

4.      to honor marriage and keep pure, because God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (v. 4).

5.      to keep life free from the love of money, and be content with what we have… because, God will provide all our needs (v. 5).

6.      to remember our leaders, who spoke the word of God to us (v. 7)--- 1 Tim 4:16.

7.      be careful from the false preacher and doctrines (vv. 9-10).

8.      be suffer like Jesus, because we do not have an enduring city in this earth  (vv.11-14)

9.      to praise God continually (v. 15)

10. not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (v. 16)

11. to have confidence in our leaders and submit to their authority…so they can work joyfully, and it will be beneficial for us/followers (v. 17).

12. to pray for one another (v.18).

In this context, I think, the fruit that Jesus is asking to bear his disciple is more focus to preach the good-news and transform the people in the darkness into light to have eternal life or to make his disciples or to lead people into Christ. This is the commandment which he made before the ascension to heaven (Mat 28:18-20).

In sermon of the mount, Jesus said, ‘You (believers/His disciples) are the salt on the earth, do not lose your saltiness; you are the light of the world, do not hide your light, shine before other, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Mat 5:13-16).

Our abilities, ministry, gifts and talents (mentioned in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:7-10; Ephesians 4:11-13 (1 Peter 4:11) might not be same, but we must use it for the glory of God.

But it would not be enough to bear fruit – the fruit that remain, that is why Jesus told us the way in which we should bear fruit in the following.

IV.               The Way in Which We Bear Fruit

Jesus knows the condition of human beings and their limitations. He knows that all of his disciples cannot bear fruit only through their wisdom, power, wealth, knowledge and commitment alone.  So, he told them to ask help from God in his name. In John 16:23 & 24, Jesus affirmed that the important of prayer like, “…very truly I tell you, My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”

Prayer is one of the most important things to do for our spiritual life. Jesus told many times to pray and ask help from God. In Mat 7:7, Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” We also know that, prayer changes many things and prayer is one of the best weapons for Christians.

All of the great missionaries and preacher are prayerful persons. They know what they are doing, they know their oppossers, and they know their helper.

Moses is one of the prayerful and greatest leaders in the Bible. According to Stephen speech in Acts, we know that, Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action (Acts 7:22). But, when he faces problems and opposition, he kneel-down and prayed to God. That is why he became a successful leader throughout the history.

So, it’s clear enough and we can conclude that, the way in which we bear fruit is “Prayer”

In the proceeding verse (v. 17) also, we see the commandment of Jesus Christ, that is “to love each other” Through love, we can bear fruit. 

Conclusion….

                Last month, I brought a book called “The 99 Success Secrets of Jesus Christ: How to Create Miracles in Your Life” written by Don Daniel Ortiz. In this book, the author wrote 99 success secrets of Jesus Christ and he entitled Secret #1 as “He Knew Who He Was!” He knows his identity. Where he came from, and what he supposed to do. Knowing our identity is the key for success. Let me read last two paragraphs..

                “Knowing who you are, your true spiritual identity is the key to unlocking your potential. If you believe you are anything other than a spiritual being, a “god,” your hopes, dreams, and consequently achievements will be reflected accordingly. Your identity sets the boundaries of what is possible for you. Jesus said, “If you say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mat 17:20). Who other than a “god” is capable of such a feat?

                The real you is not a body, vocation or ideology. You are a spiritual being, living in a physical world, with a divine purpose. You contain the divine spark of life that is formless, changeless, and eternal. You are light, made in the image and likeness of God. You can change your mind and destroy your body but the real you will last forever. Knowing who you are, and that nothing is impossible for you, is the greatest success secrets in the world!” (p. 15). Do you know who you are? We are chosen and sealed with Holy Spirit.

But, one thing, we must remember in our mind is that, while we are trying to bear fruit, we will have oppositions and problems. We know that, Mr. Donald Trump did many things within a short period of his presidency. But the opposers are also very active in other side. 

We do not belong to this world. We do not belong to all the creations in the universe. We belong to God and represented him and we are here to fulfill his commandment, plan and purpose. That is why our oppposer, Satan and his team oppose us. Jesus knew that opposition will be there, he said, “you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (v. 19).

We are chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit and sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). In all our ways, opposers will try to destroy us and try to fail us in fulfilling God’s expectation from us. Sometimes, he uses our family members, our relatives, church members, and from different places. When we face problems and opposition, we must ask God and we must ask his help in the name of Jesus Christ.

Application:

1.       We do not become the children of God by accident. It’s a divine plan and purpose before the foundation of the world. We are precious and valuable.

2.      We are chosen not only our sins be forgiven and have eternal life. It is also our lives will be fruitful in fulfilling God’s purposes.

3.      We were appointed to bear fruit, not only to receive something good from God or his blessing. We must do good things to others and make His disciples. Our abilities, talents and gifts might be different, but we must use to glorify God.

4.      We are Christ’s Ambassador; we represent Him alone in this world. We are here to continue his ministry and to fulfill what he has commanded to us. 

5.       Our abilities, strength, and wisdom will not be sufficient to bear fruit. We must ask God the Father to help us in the name of Jesus Christ.

6.      We must face trials, temptations, sufferings, and oppositions from various places. We will have problems in our life, in our church, and in our ministry. But, God is with us, he will help us and guide us, and with him, we can fulfill His purpose in our life.

May the Lord bless us, help us and strengthen us through His word…. Thank you.

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