CHOSEN TO BE FRUITFULL.

[Rev Dr, Gabriel Willie Fisher]

When we were born, again we became members of the family of God, placed into the global church as the Body of Christ and in the local church its members. Every one who calls on and has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord, He
has been given the power to be called children of God. John 1:12 this
placement was for our identification. We are not identified by the name of
church we attend or the denominational body we belong to. Although many a
believer hang on to this. But our only identification is Christ, and our faith
in Him; thus the name Christian. This makes us Christians,
and children of God; the body of Christ .But the Father also placed
us into the local church, this is for our growth function and purpose. We do
not grow in the global church; it is in the local church where we are natured
discipled and trained. It is here in the local church where we bring our
contributions for the growth of the body. (Eph.4:16) The global body grows because
of the exploits and fruitfulness of the local body.

We belong to the global Body, but we live and function with in the local body. As a Christian u cannot find you’re calling and purpose in the global church, for it is revealed to us in the local church. It is through the local
church that we affect and infect the world for our Lord.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said we would be His witnesses to the world. Being a witness for Christ is our first and most important function. Our fruitfulness is not measured by our bible
reading skills, church attendance, giving of money or our effective prayer
live. All these things are important and necessary but our fruitfulness is
measured by what remains. John 15:16

16” Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my
name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 (KJV)

Here Jesus tells us three things of great importance:

1 We are chosen

2 We have been appointed

3We have been commissioned.

Let us shortly look at it individually:

1 We are chosen:

The choosing was not our decision but the Lords. This gives me great peace in that I know He is aware of all my strengths and weakness. By choosing me, He is saying that I am able to do the job and to fulfill the purpose He has for
me. And in choosing me, he would make all the necessary plans and avail all the
skills, power and equipment need to bring success to the job at hand.

2 We are appointed:

My appointed into the body is carefully planed and executed. He knew where and in which church I would function more effectively. I am not in the body by default but by divine planning and wisdom. By my appointment, I have
been mandated to function in the body. Just as every part in our natural bodies
has, a function so to does every member of the church. No one is excluded. We
read in Eph 4 from verse 12 that

“11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by
that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself
in love. “Eph 4:11-16 (KJV)

When I read this verse for the first time, it hit me for six. It here in Ephesians that I discovered my assignment. “To equip the saints for the work of the ministry.”

Verse 16 teaches us that we have been knitted or joined together by the supply of every joint. Notice it does not say some joints but every joint. You are appointed to do something.

3 We have been commissioned:

As I said before our fruitfulness is not measured by our bible reading skills, church attendance, giving of money or our effective prayer live. All these things are important and necessary but our fruitfulness is measured by
what remains. This mean we need to get up and move and do, and not sit still.
This is the same thing Jesus said to the disciples in Mark 16:15, 16,
17, 18 that
they should go into the entire world and preach the gospel. Our
fruitfulness is based on soul winning, through the preaching of the gospel. This
is our commission.

We have been chosen to be fruitful so that the kingdom can be filled with converts for the King. All our efforts all our programs, all our teachings, all our financial contributions, all our ecclesiastical functions
should be focused to one goal SOULS.

If this is not true then we have failed the test of bearing fruit that will remain. Paul said tongues will stop, prophecies will fail, but what will remain is love. The object of love is people. For God so LOVED the world that He gave His
Son. This gift was for the salvation of humanity. The Father is interested in
the souls of man not being lost but saved.

We spend millions of Rands, Dollars and Pounds and thousands of labor to keep the saved in the fold

fed. I think its time for us to take these fed up and sleeping church goers’ and turn them into mighty harvesting machines that will go into the malls, streets, hospitals and working places and
bring in a harvest like never before.

Pastors dream with me a minute, if we can take our members on a Sunday morning and invade the malls in our cities, with bibles in hand. Step into the eating-places and coffee shops start praying for all the patrons as we pray for our
food this will cause such a stir in the community, I even think this
will turn most folks back to the church. That is being fruitful. I believe
we need to take the church to the people. By this, I’m saying lets, get
out of the four walls of church and go to where the real people are that need
the gospel to most. Whether through a tent or an open-air services and house
evangelist going from door to door; we are taking the church to the people.
Rev. Bonke once said we need to plunder hell and populate Haven. We need to
make it as difficult as possible for any one to go to hell in our cities and
suburbs and towns.

My friend we are chosen to fruitful! Evangelism is the true way to lasting fruit that remain.

Jesus is interested in us bearing fruit this is to the whole point of chapter 15. It is about fruit. Our mandate is to go and make disciples of all nations just as we have been made to be disciples. Jesus added to this an incentive
if you want to call it that. He said the Father will give us anything we asked
in His name. He connected evangelism or fruitfulness to answered prayer.

“..that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16b (KJV)

Think about this for a moment God the Father will give you whatsoever you ask if you bear fruit that remains.

No more struggling on your knees, just go and win souls and step into the dimensions of answered prayers.

LET US GO AND BE FRUITFUL!