OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 19/03/2014 - NOURISHED BUT FRUITLESS? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

NOURISHED BUT FRUITLESS?

MEMORISE

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

READ

Luke 13:6-9

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luk 13:shalt cut it down.

MESSAGE

Jesus Christ who had cursed a fig tree in Mark 11:14 for being unfruitful, gives the parable of a well-nurtured fig tree which had nothing to show for the nourishment given by its owner in Luke 13:6-7. The reaction of the owner of this fig tree is our point of study today. This farm owner in Luke 13:7b said:

“Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”

He was expectant of pleasant fruits based on his efforts to cause the tree to bear fruits, but sadly, the tree failed to meet his expectations. His reaction was that the fig tree should be cut down.

Beloved, the Bible in 1 Corinthians 3:9 says that you are God’s husbandry. God is the husbandman; you are the lively tree being nurtured since the day of your birth, and particularly, since the time you gave your life to Christ. That you are alive to see this day is a pointer to the fact that you have received both physical and spiritual nourishment up till date. The question is: are you nourished yet fruitless? The husbandman said: “cut it down”. This is serious. May we not be cut down in Jesus’ Name. Amen. The practical “Amen” to this prayer is simply turning away from a life of fruitlessness and beginning to bear fruit. To those who have not had a serious commitment to Jesus Christ through genuine repentance, the Bible in Matthew 3:8&10 says:

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

To those of us who by the grace of God are children by the Spirit of God, Jesus said in John 15:4:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

Therefore, let us give ourselves completely to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Let us begin to go the “extra mile” with Him. The reward is certainly sure. Apart from the avoidance of being cut down and of being thrown into the fire, Jesus in today’s memory verse promised that you will not be denied good things of life if you bear good fruits.

ACTION POINT

Meditate on Galatians 5:22-26.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ezekiel 4-6;

Psalm 66:1-9