Beginning today, through the entire week, we have full-timers training. The Lord has spoken again, a very timely word, especially for me concerning bearing fruits. I am so glad that the Lord knows my urgent need and the need of the time, to bear fruits. May the Lord gain me and all the serving ones to have a proper gospel living and gospel preaching life to bear remaining fruits by abiding in the Lord.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes it away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it that it may bear more fruit. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so you will become My disciples. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you. John 15:2, 4, 5, 8, 16
A Proper Gospel Living-Abiding in the Lord
Fruit-bearing is not just preaching or soul-winning; it must be fruit-bearing by the overflow of the riches of the inner life. Bearing fruit is to glorify the Father; the more fruit we bear, the more God is glorified in our Christian work. The fruit-bearing comes about as the branches abide in the vine and let the vine abide in the branches. In this chapter, there are four ways of referring to the fruit: bearing fruit (v. 2), much fruit (v. 8), more fruit (v. 2), and remaining fruit (v. 16); how long the fruit remains depends on how much life we impart into it.
A genuine believer abiding in the Lord as a branch abides in the vine will definitely bear fruits, much fruits, and even remaining fruits.
Spend Time with the Gospel Friends One on One
The Lord is willing to spend time even late at night to speak to only one person, not about miracles and revival but about life (John 3:2) to Nicodemus, and also with the Samaritan woman and spoke the timely word (John 4:7, 9-10). To be able to inspire people and gain people for the people, we need to speak the Rhema word by our enjoying the Logos word; all this is by abiding in the Lord as mentioned in John 15.
We need to learn of the Lord Jesus how to contact people. The Lord’s way of speaking was a marvelous preaching; He performed no miracle, used no eloquence, and exercised no special skill in preaching; rather, He spoke with her in a simple way; we must all learn to speak in this way. The Lord spoke in a normal way with the abundance of life; while He spoke with that woman, He was shining over her, radiating His element into her; because of this, she left her waterpot (v. 28). We need to contact people by exercising our spirit to touch the spirit of the gospel friends.
Warm Doors
Since the pandemic struct, the world situation has changed. Though it may not be possible to contact people physically one on one due to the pandemic, we can identify the "warm doors" and contact them one by one. Perhaps, they are our ex-classmates, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. Identify them, write them down on a prayer book, pray for them, and contact them by sending them messages. The Lord svae them in time.
Practical Ways to Contact People
Listening: Listen to them concerning their family, health, work, etc. Sharing: Based on what they shared, share your joy of your Christian life, church-life, the saints' testimony, and some relevant word of God. Asking: Then, you may ask their impression about the Lord Jesus, the church, to deiscern what kind f person he is, to be able to render proper help. Inviting: Finally, invite him for an online meeting or any relevant meeting of the church.
Live the Life of the Gospel
We need to take the Lord Jesus as our example to live the Life of the gospel. We must all be burdened to go to the Lord and be built up in this kind of life. He simply lived the life of the gospel; wherever He went, the gospel was His living. We should take the Lord Jesus as our example to be interested in imparting life and in helping others to be reborn and to drink the living water; this is the normal, daily preaching according to life.
Proclaiming the Word
Proclaiming the word, being ready in season and out of season - 2 Timothy 4:2
“In season” is when we have the opportunity, and “out of season” is when we do not have an opportunity - v. 2. Whether or not we have the opportunity, we need to be ready; to “be ready” means being urgent, attentive, and on the alert. We need to be “instant” preachers, ready without need of further preparation; we should be ready at any time and in any place; we are ready at the supermarket, the bus station, the office, and the classroom. We should not say that this is not the right place, the right time, or the right person for the gospel; every place is the right place, every time is the right time, and every person is the right person.
Normal Way, Not Great Revival
We are not expecting a great revival, but bearing fruit in a normal way. The Lord Jesus’s daily living was His gospel preaching; because He was living in this way, God sent the right people to Him, and He brought people to God. If we would all live in this way, God will send His chosen ones to us; then every year we will reap fruit. If we have the proper living, day by day and one by one people will be brought to the Lord and into the church life; this is the proper preaching of the gospel. By living this way and being such persons, we will constantly enjoy the Lord’s presence, supply, and all the riches of the life of Christ - Matt 28:19-20, John 15:5.
Lord, grace me to abide in You all the time, grace me to live a gospel living and preach the gospel to all You would bring to me unto their salvation.