Part 5: Living the Extraordinarily Blessed Life!

Transcription

1 Part 5: Living the Extraordinarily Blessed Life! Texts: Psalm 1:1-4 (NKJV) - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. [3] He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. [4] The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Galatians 5:19-26 (NKJV) - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, [21] envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [24] And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. A. Our teaching this year is not about just being blessed, but living an extraordinarily blessed life. 1. So many today know nothing about a blessed life, much less being extraordinarily blessed. Marriages are deeply troubled, finances are in a mess, health challenges abound, and people feel stressed to the max. 2. To attain an extraordinarily blessed status, we must first learn the importance of being "planted, fruitful and flourishing!"

2 3. Joke: Organic or Inorganic? Ever hear about the guy whose wife sent him to the market to buy organic vegetables? As Pete later explained to his friend Harry, "My wife asked me to buy organic vegetables from the market garden." "So were you able to find them?" Harry asked. "Well, when I got to the market, I told the gardener, 'These vegetables are for my wife. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous chemicals?' And the gardener tells me, 'No, you'll have to do that yourself.'" 4. A tree planted beside a river is sure to flourish. It doesn't require the normal rainfall because its roots draw from an underground water source. Likewise, the person who delights in God's Word is extraordinarily blessed and everything they do seems to prosper. Part 5 Planted, Fruitful and Flourishing The Purpose of Fruitfulness B. God desires and intends for your life to be blessed and fruitful. 1. Fruitfulness is the normal state of what God expects from all He created. In fact, I'm daring to present the idea that He not only wants you to be blessed and fruitful, but He actually wants you to be extraordinarily blessed and fruitful. 2. The purpose of fruitfulness is to advance the Kingdom of God. I contend that His servants should not merely read scripture, but focus on accomplishing what it instructs us to do. We must seek to understand His ways and His heart. a. Genesis 1:11-13 (NKJV)- Then God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth ; and it was so. [12] And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it

3 was good. [13] So the evening and the morning were the third day. 3. When God created the many varieties of trees, plants, and flora, each part was instructed to bear fruit even before man was formed three creative days later. a. We cannot fully understand the length of time in a creative day. According to the ancient calculation of time, it could have been 24 hours, a season, or an era of many thousands or even tens of thousands of years. b. Any word or term connected to the passage of time is very uncertain especially when attempting to measure the activities of a God who exists in eternity (outside of time), and whose creation story is the work of God not man. c. 1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) - With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 4. God formed man on the sixth creative day three days after producing plant and vegetable life. Whatever time frame may have been involved, it was not until this point that God instructed man to eat of the fruit of seed-bearing herbs and trees. a. Genesis 1:26-27, 29 (NKJV) - Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. [27] So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [29] And God said, See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. b. The word "seed" refers to the method of reproduction for various plants and trees after their own kind.

4 5. Many believe that God's purpose for creating fruit was to sustain and provide food for man. However, the true purpose for fruit was to propagate and perpetuate the plant beyond the time of its creation. a. In the beginning, God designed everything with a delivery vehicle to facilitate reproduction. Without that vehicle, all life would have ceased and become extinct after the death of the species' first generation. What we commonly call 'fruit' is actually the delivery system for the reproduction of various species of trees. Fruit contains the seeds that will produce new trees. b. Because a tree is grounded in a particular place, it has incredible potential but also a considerable challenge that must be overcome. c. A planted tree can produce much more fruit than the Bonsai tree that only produces one perfect little apple. d. A tree's potential is multiplied many, many times over because its root system was designed to support increased fruitfulness. 6. But the whole concept of fruit-bearing trees presents another problem. Since a tree cannot move from place to place, it must have a method for distributing seeds. God solved this dilemma by providing a special coating for seeds that makes them colorful, attractive, fragrant, and edible. a. This is why fruit is such an attractive food resource for other living things. Animals, birds and people eat the fruit and then distribute the seeds so they will grow elsewhere. It's amazing! b. An apple harvested from a tree in Washington State can be eaten in Georgia. As the seeds within the core are cast aside, birds will eat the seeds and later drop them to the ground, producing new apple trees thousands of miles from the one that produced the original fruit. C. The spreading of new life from seeds is an incredible picture of God's plan for taking the Gospel to all parts of the world.

5 1. Fruitfulness is the key for reproducing a host of new believers. The seed that resides in the hearts of born-again believers can expand God's Kingdom to all parts of the earth. 2. Fruitfulness generally refers to one of three things in the life of a believer. a. The first involves the degree of God's blessings and prosperity upon the saved compared to the absence of blessings upon the unsaved (see Psalm 1:1-4). b. The next part of being fruitful is determined by our works, whether good or bad. Once we hear the preaching of the Word, we should bear fruit that will change our lives. Since we are begotten, or born again by the Word, an anointed sermon can work its way into our hearts, take root, and then bear fruit. c. 1 Peter 1:23 (NKJV) - Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, d. The Word of God is seed that will grow and produce fruit in our lives. Preaching is not meant to entertain, but to provide life-giving principles of truth that will forever change and elevate our lives. e. The third reference to fruitfulness is the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). These attitudes and intangible inner qualities set Christians apart from the unbelievers. 3. A hunger will be created in unbelievers and a desire to receive what we have when they observe: our level of blessing, how the Word has transformed our lives, and the fruit of the Spirit growing within us. It is this fruitfulness that makes the Christian message so attractive to the unsaved and causes them to want to know our God. 4. The sharp contrast between the saved and the unsaved is much like the bright red apple that stands out among the orchard's green foliage. D. Attractive spiritual fruit creates an appetite in the unbeliever to know God.

6 1. After being involved with so many self-serving, superficial individuals, the world hungers for something much better. a. They long for true love and lasting joy not the temporary pleasures of the world, but something that never fades away. b. People are searching for peace. They're weary of the stresses of life in a fallen world. Observing those who have an inner calm in the midst of life's storms is very compelling. c. They yearn to be shown kindness and to meet trustworthy, faithful people, rather than fair-weather friends and opportunists. 2. In our day, to refrain from teaching biblical truths seems to be so clever. But their empty promises are a real turn-off. These spiritual leaders won't abolish the Word altogether, but just say what people want to hear. 3. Neither should we hear negative testimonials about their many problems and how hard it is to serve God. 4. We were never called to 'out-argue' or 'out-debate' the world or use intellect or doctrine to persuade men to live for God. As believers, we should 'out-live' them! a. Paul taught the Galatian church that those who give themselves to the works of the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The word "inherit" literally means: to get your share. b. Believers were meant to receive their share of the Kingdom. God wants you to be so extraordinarily blessed, you can be a living example of His goodness. 5. Some are convinced that the godly must struggle all of their lives. Not so! Jesus wants our lives to be abundantly fruitful. a. For those who serve God, being blessed was never intended to be an option! It is mandatory! He wants you to become a living testimony to the unsaved of His incredible goodness. b. Rather than debating whether it 'pays' to be a believer, there should be overwhelming evidence to prove that you're a believer. People should be inquiring how they can be blessed!

7 c. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) - But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. d. John 15:16 (NKJV) - You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. e. As the word is used here, the Greek meaning of 'appointed' is: to place or to set. You have been appointed to a lifetime of fruitfulness! You have been placed, or set in this world to bear fruit. f. John 15:5 (NKJV) - "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. 6. Fruitfulness will always be attractive. To honor God with an extraordinarily blessed life and to exhibit the incredible fruit of the Spirit is like drawing flies to honey. 7. Have you ever visited a model home in a new subdivision? When you walk inside, you're entering the best home this builder has to offer: a. The roof never leaks and the house certainly doesn't lean at a 10 percent tilt like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. b. It's a superior home with all the upgrades, because the builder would never want to expose his lack of ability or expertise. He wants you to see the very best he has to offer! 8. You were meant to be God's model house His 'show' place! Once you become His representative, He wants to show the world how you've been blessed and transformed into a model of God's greatness.