GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES
God desires for us to be fruitful.
In John 15, Jesus revealed an aspect of who He is. He said He is the Vine. One characteristic of plants is that they bear fruit. He then went on to describe our relationship with Him. As believers we are branches and as His branches He desires for us to bear fruit. Because our fruitfulness is His fruitfulness. What kind of fruits is He looking for? He is seeking out for the fruit of the Spirit in us as well as the fruit of souls.
The Great Commission, which is Jesus sending His disciples forth to make disciples all over the world, was part of His parting words to the disciples before His ascension. All four gospels spoke about this in their last chapter. Also, the book of Acts, which spoke of the ascension of Jesus Christ in its first chapter, repeated the message of Jesus on making disciples. All Gospel writers recognized how important this was to the Lord Jesus that they did not leave this message out.
In Matthew, the Lord Jesus was quoted as saying “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
The Lord gave a very clear and simple instruction in the Great Commission - to go and make disciples of all the nations. Are we simply being called to make quality disciples? Or many disciples? We are actually called to do both.
God seeks abiding fruit. The instruction is to make disciples because God looks for lasting fruit. The Lord is not only seeking that souls are won to God but that they are truly made disciples. Disciple in the original language means to be a follower of the precepts and instructions of the one who discipled him. God is commissioning us to raise up true followers of Jesus. The Scripture tells us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
2. Of all nations.
At the same time, God seeks abundant fruit. We are not only called to our families. Acts 1:8 and the three gospels tell us that we are called to preach the Gospel and make disciples to the ends of the earth. I believe this is one message that needs to be emphasized. We are called to make disciples in our cities, countries and to the rest of the world.
In all occasions that the great commission was mentioned, there were varying ways it was spoken of. But one thing was consistent among them. It is the call to go into all the world. We are being called to go! This means the minute we step out of our homes, we are stepping into the harvest field.
Growing By Multiplication Rather than Just Addition
Perpetuation requires multiplication. Multiplication is an increase that is taking place at multiple levels. This is how abiding fruit is developed. Abraham had such a desire. Abraham was not content with entering the land of his inheritance and being successful and abundant there. He sought to keep his inheritance in the Lord. He longed for fruit, someone to pass it on to who could pass it on to someone else. Abraham understood that his inheritance, which is Canaan, can only endure if he could pass it on to another. Truly our inheritance is in our seed.
Can I really be fruitful? The Struggles with Bearing Fruit
Like Abraham, we struggle with thoughts of whether or not we will become fruitful. Perhaps it's our current situation or our lack of skills and confidence. To Abraham the struggle was so great he attempted to help God. He used human means to bear fruit and brought forth an Ishmael. He did not have enough faith to believe that God can cause him to bear fruit despite being old. Are there personal limitations today that are discouraging us to believe that God can bear fruit through us?
And not only was it Abraham that struggled with bearing fruits, even the disciples after Jesus’ ascension had a difficulty. There was a delay in their obedience to the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. They kept their ministry for 10 years to the Jews. There was a new flow of God. Jesus wanted the gospel to be heard by Gentiles too. But the disciples were constrained by an old way of thinking. They were not able to catch up with God. Are we being constrained by the way we see other people? Is there a tendency on our part to pre-judge people? God is on the move, will we move with Him?
Abraham’s struggle led to action that was not of God. The disciples’ struggle on the other hand led to an inaction.
How Can We Overcome the Struggle?
What are the keys to fruitfulness?
1. Desire
It was really in God's heart to give Abraham a son because it was in Isaac's line that Jesus will come forth. Yet Abraham had to desire it himself. He had to plead for it himself. Isaac had to do the same. He also pleaded for the Lord for Rebekah, his wife, to have children and thus Esau and Jacob were born.
While God desires for us to be fruitful it is possible for Him not to be able to bring forth fruit through us because we are not desiring it. Fruitfulness can only come when our will is in agreement with the will of God. God will not force fruitfulness upon us. He will not force our mouths to open. He will not force our feet to move. He will wait. Being barren for a time can be God’s choice but staying barren is ours.
2. Abiding in the vine
To bear much fruit, we need to stay connected with the Lord Jesus. Our relationship with Him must be the priority because it is in our communing with God that His life is poured unto us, which we can then pass on to others. It is the life that comes from God that brings people into the born-again experience, God breathing life unto man.
3. Be faithful with the little you have today. Give it your best.
4. Be a disciple first.
We cannot produce something we are not. After all, what kind of seed we are is what kind of fruit we can produce.
5. Just go!
We need to simply go in faith and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
There is a set time that God will wait for fruit.
In John 15, Jesus revealed an aspect of who He is. He said He is the Vine. One characteristic of plants is that they bear fruit. He then went on to describe our relationship with Him. As believers we are branches and as His branches He desires for us to bear fruit. Because our fruitfulness is His fruitfulness. What kind of fruits is He looking for? He is seeking out for the fruit of the Spirit in us as well as the fruit of souls.
John 15:8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Matthew 21:18-19How important is this to the Lord?
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Great Commission, which is Jesus sending His disciples forth to make disciples all over the world, was part of His parting words to the disciples before His ascension. All four gospels spoke about this in their last chapter. Also, the book of Acts, which spoke of the ascension of Jesus Christ in its first chapter, repeated the message of Jesus on making disciples. All Gospel writers recognized how important this was to the Lord Jesus that they did not leave this message out.
In Matthew, the Lord Jesus was quoted as saying “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
Matthew 28:18-20In Mark, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16:15-18In Luke, repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Luke 24:46-47In Acts, to become witnesses in all Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8In John, the last chapter included the Lord Jesus’ instruction to Peter to feed His lambs, tend His sheep and feed His sheep.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
John 21:15-17It’s Not Quantity Vs Quality. It’s Quantity and Quality
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon,son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep."
The Lord gave a very clear and simple instruction in the Great Commission - to go and make disciples of all the nations. Are we simply being called to make quality disciples? Or many disciples? We are actually called to do both.
Matthew 28:191. Make disciples.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...
God seeks abiding fruit. The instruction is to make disciples because God looks for lasting fruit. The Lord is not only seeking that souls are won to God but that they are truly made disciples. Disciple in the original language means to be a follower of the precepts and instructions of the one who discipled him. God is commissioning us to raise up true followers of Jesus. The Scripture tells us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Luke 9:23This is the kind of follower whom Jesus is looking for, those who will deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him. We are called to raise up Christians who are not just church goers but those who will truly obey the Lord and live Christ-centered lives because these are fruits that will last. We need to become multipliers, those who will produce those that produce.
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (NIV)
2. Of all nations.
At the same time, God seeks abundant fruit. We are not only called to our families. Acts 1:8 and the three gospels tell us that we are called to preach the Gospel and make disciples to the ends of the earth. I believe this is one message that needs to be emphasized. We are called to make disciples in our cities, countries and to the rest of the world.
In all occasions that the great commission was mentioned, there were varying ways it was spoken of. But one thing was consistent among them. It is the call to go into all the world. We are being called to go! This means the minute we step out of our homes, we are stepping into the harvest field.
Growing By Multiplication Rather than Just Addition
Perpetuation requires multiplication. Multiplication is an increase that is taking place at multiple levels. This is how abiding fruit is developed. Abraham had such a desire. Abraham was not content with entering the land of his inheritance and being successful and abundant there. He sought to keep his inheritance in the Lord. He longed for fruit, someone to pass it on to who could pass it on to someone else. Abraham understood that his inheritance, which is Canaan, can only endure if he could pass it on to another. Truly our inheritance is in our seed.
Can I really be fruitful? The Struggles with Bearing Fruit
Like Abraham, we struggle with thoughts of whether or not we will become fruitful. Perhaps it's our current situation or our lack of skills and confidence. To Abraham the struggle was so great he attempted to help God. He used human means to bear fruit and brought forth an Ishmael. He did not have enough faith to believe that God can cause him to bear fruit despite being old. Are there personal limitations today that are discouraging us to believe that God can bear fruit through us?
And not only was it Abraham that struggled with bearing fruits, even the disciples after Jesus’ ascension had a difficulty. There was a delay in their obedience to the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. They kept their ministry for 10 years to the Jews. There was a new flow of God. Jesus wanted the gospel to be heard by Gentiles too. But the disciples were constrained by an old way of thinking. They were not able to catch up with God. Are we being constrained by the way we see other people? Is there a tendency on our part to pre-judge people? God is on the move, will we move with Him?
Abraham’s struggle led to action that was not of God. The disciples’ struggle on the other hand led to an inaction.
How Can We Overcome the Struggle?
What are the keys to fruitfulness?
1. Desire
It was really in God's heart to give Abraham a son because it was in Isaac's line that Jesus will come forth. Yet Abraham had to desire it himself. He had to plead for it himself. Isaac had to do the same. He also pleaded for the Lord for Rebekah, his wife, to have children and thus Esau and Jacob were born.
While God desires for us to be fruitful it is possible for Him not to be able to bring forth fruit through us because we are not desiring it. Fruitfulness can only come when our will is in agreement with the will of God. God will not force fruitfulness upon us. He will not force our mouths to open. He will not force our feet to move. He will wait. Being barren for a time can be God’s choice but staying barren is ours.
2. Abiding in the vine
To bear much fruit, we need to stay connected with the Lord Jesus. Our relationship with Him must be the priority because it is in our communing with God that His life is poured unto us, which we can then pass on to others. It is the life that comes from God that brings people into the born-again experience, God breathing life unto man.
John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
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| © CreationSwap/ Kelsey Johnson 2016 |
3. Be faithful with the little you have today. Give it your best.
Luke 19:24-26Fruitfulness does not come to the passive. In the Parable of the minas, the master rewarded him who was exceedingly fruitful and punished him who did nothing to bear fruit. Fruitfulness calls for hard work. The Apostle Paul exhorts us not to grow weary in doing good for in due season, we shall reap. The harvest is for those who will be persistent in doing good. It connotes persistent action. The Apostle Paul also said that it is the hardworking farmer who must gain the first crop.
“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
4. Be a disciple first.
We cannot produce something we are not. After all, what kind of seed we are is what kind of fruit we can produce.
5. Just go!
We need to simply go in faith and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
There is a set time that God will wait for fruit.
Luke 13:6-9The Lord shall one day look for fruit in all of us. When He does, may He find us abounding in fruit.
He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”
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