Conference yukon::christian_v7

724.0. "John 15:8 ...Bear Much Fruit" by CSLALL::HENDERSON (Learning to lean) Sun May 07 1995 00:41

 Posted with permission of the author, Mark Metcalfe.





"...bear much fruit...:  (John 15:8)

The Christian life exists in the balance between "self-discipline
without legalism" and "freedom without lawlessness."  Loving isn't about
doing (especially because we have to), nor is it selfish (watching out
for "number one").  However, love is disciplined and free, and that at 
the same time!  

God is love, and God in us means for us to not merely express His love
but also to *be* His love to others and even to ourselves.

I was talking to a friend (email) about praying for him but not as often
as I would think I should.  It just doesn't come to mind at all times.
And certainly, if we were to pray (without ceasing) the kind of prayers
we pray "at the bedside" we could fill the day with "Lord intercede for
so-and-so."  We are often filled with the implied accusation "have
we prayed enough?"

Have we borne much fruit?

I sat by Jack Cove's deathbed one afternoon, perhaps a day or so before
he died.  Much of the time was spent in silence because he lapsed into
sleep.  When he came out once he asked me, or rather he wondered aloud
to me, whether he had done enough for the Lord.  I thought it very odd
coming from a white-haired pillar of the church.  It seemed as if near
the end of his life, he doubted whether his service was pleasing, no
I think "good enough."  A verse came to mind, but I don't know if it
was much help or not.  "Lord, I believe.  Help Thou my unbelief."

Doug Boquist once absolved people if they missed a day of their Bible
reading.  We've been taught that it is a good thing to read the Bible
every day.  And missing a day was tantamount to falling out of God's
grace for many teens (who was the primary audience at the time).  

Stuck in time, we are compelled to move forward.  Regrets are
hinderances to what we might accomplish for the Lord now.  And again,
the emphasis is not on the accomplishments, but the nature of a person
made whole who by nature "accomplishes."  And what does a whole person
accomplish?  A whole person accomplishes only the will of God; nothing
less and nothing more.  Nothing less, because that is selfishness and
not love; nothing more, because that would be attempting to earn God's
grace by works.

John 15:8 is a good verse.  I also like (oh, which theologian said it?)
"I am invincible until God is finished with me."  (Or was it Wesley?)
Or how about "God will never waste a consecrated life." (B. Munro) These
thoughts give me vision and strength to continue in what I might
accomplish for Him.  At the same time, I can rest in the knowledge that
He's the boss and He will let me know the assignments He has for me, and
I do not have to do anything else but obey His voice.  As a person
"transformed by the renewing of my mind" (Rom 12:2), what I do will come
out of who I am (in Christ) and because I am (continually) being made
whole by God, He will cause me to bear as much fruit as He determines.

"His yoke is easy; his burden is light.
 I've found it so, I've found it so.
 He leadeth me by day and by night
 Where living waters flow."

Mark

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    MM,

	right out of the middle of one of my favourite passages!

	I often wonder, myself, 'am I bearing enough fruit?', for I know
	that 'by their fruit you will know them' - and I want to be known
	as a Servant of the Living God.

	I fail.

	Oh, how many times I fail.

	Often, too often, I will sit down and say to God "it's just _no_
	good. I keep fumbling the ball. Why, oh _why_ are You persevering
	with me?"

	He often replies (not in words, but you know what I mean) "Did you
	learn anything from your mistakes?"

	"yes."

	"What?"

	"I learned that I couldn't do it on my own."

	It is _only_ while I am grafted into the True Vine, only when He
	abides in me, and I in Him, that I can bear fruit. Fruit that will
	last. Not the dried up, withered wimpy little offerings that I have
	in my own 'strength'. But rather, when I am drawing on the Sap of
	Life, it is *then* that He is able to bring forth fruit in me.

	Lord, prune me (ouch!), clean me, make me like You.

    
    I think it's important to remember that our life is hidden in Christ's.
    When God sees us, He sees Christ.  When I am at my weakest and feel led
    to say something about God to a coworker or whatever, I try to remember
    that it is not in my own strength or on my own merits that I do this,
    but on Christ and Him alone.  He is worthy yesterday, today, and
    forever.
    
    In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
    (Prov 3:6)
    
    Jill
    
    P.S.  Nancy I don't think there is an pat answer to your question.  I
          think the people involved would have to rely on God's leading.
    [EOB]

    Sufficient repentence?
    
    Dangerous territory here.  Some brances of Christianity use this as a
    means of casting doubt on one's salvation.  Hardly a loving teaching.
    
    The Bible doesn't prescribe degrees of repentence.  One is either
    repentent or unrepentent.
    
    dp
    
    
    

    no

>    would you put an adulterer back
>    in charge of a ministry of single adults if he had confessed his sins
>    and sought restoration?

No, and not because the person isn't forgiven.  But because we all have weak
points in our spiritual makeup.  Putting anyone, ourselves included, back
into a point where the greatest pressure is exerted on our point of greatest
weakness, is just foolish.  There are plenty of other areas of ministry in
the church which don't exert pressure on that particular weak point, but
which may exert pressure on other points where that person is strong.  Other
people may need to stay away from that other position for similar reasons. 
Put the repentant compulsive gambler in charge of the single's ministry, and
put the repentant adulterer in charge of the church books. :-)

Paul

    Note 724.4-  Sufficient repentance?
    
    All we need to do is repent. Not in certain degrees, just repent.
    
    "God's grace is sufficient for thee."
    
    
    
    All love in Christ,
    
    Joe