GOD LOVES FRUIT. January 11, By; Neal Pollard

Transcription

1 January 11, 2015 GOD LOVES FRUIT By; Neal Pollard It is amazing how sweet a mango or red grape can taste. Surely, one of the crowns of creation had to be the blackberry which, in a cobbler, shows man s intellectual capacity at its finest. Genesis 1:11 records when God began making fruit, and this fruit was to sustain Adam and Eve (3:2-3). The diversity of fruit on this earth shows God s desire for man to experience the enjoyment of something conjured by His perfect hand. Man is not the only one who loves fruit. The Bible makes it clear that God has a taste for fruit, too. He loves singing, which He calls the fruit of lips (Heb. 13:15). He calls the discipline of suffering the fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11). He enumerates the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, a whole range of thoughts and actions that prove we are Christ s. Jesus made spiritual application through a fruitless fig tree on at least two occasions (Luke 13:6-9; Matt. 21:18ff; cf. Mark 11:12-14). In John fifteen, Jesus uses this fruit metaphor in an extended way. He is the vine. We are the branches. The Father is the farmer, the cultivator and fruit inspector. When God looks at you and me and sees much fruit, He is glorified by this (John 15:5,8). The key is abiding in Him. If you are truly in a relationship with the Lord, cultivated by prayer, study, and faithful living, you are abiding in Him. Fruit is visible, tangible, and discernible. Are you bearing or barren?

2 Look What Has Come to the World An English writer has said, 'The early Christians did not go around saying, Look what the world has come to.' Rather they went out with great joy and said to all men, Look what has come to the world!'' There is a great difference between these two attitudes. Yes, the world is in bad shape-but read the second chapter of Romans and you will find that the world was in an awful condition in Paul's time. The unique Gospel of Jesus Christ offers the solution to man's problems. Look! See what has come into the world-god's revelation of Himself in all His power, wisdom, and love through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is indeed glorious news! This is a message which we cannot keep to ourselves, but we must tell everybody about it. No wonder Christians are radiant with joy. They have found the treasure all are seeking. They have seen what has come into the world in the advent of Jesus Christ, and they are working for the advancement of His kingdom until He comes again. 'In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.'-1 John 4:9 This Week s Pantry Items Oatmeal Canned Soup Rice 1/1 Abbygail Holloway 1/1 Michael & Ashalee Crawford 1/3 Anthony & Kristy Dye 1/5 Phil Shannon 1/7 Ethan Holloway 1/8 Amanda Hamala 1/17 Leslee Reece 1/18 Dylan Dye 1/20 Scott Holloway; Brenda Koger January

3 PRAYER REQUESTS OUR SICK Vivian Compton, NHC-Ft. Oglethorpe Ruth Koger, Siskin, Room 324 Carl Wallace, HMC, Room 232 Please remember our shut-ins in prayer: Burma Black, Jimmie Ann Brown, Leona Hale, Floyd Lones, Frances Parden, and Frances Thomas FRIENDS & FAMILY Ruby Gardner, Addie & Charlene s sister Joyce McCart, Ann Foster s sister Alice Adams, friend of Linda Uhler Luther Crye, friend of Greg Bayne Joe Keith, Sylvia Edwards son-in-law Bill Morgan, Stan Bettis, Walter Jackson s brother UPCOMING EVENTS January 11 January 17 January 17 January 18 January 18 Teen Singing; 2:30 Side (Cleveland) Men s Study; 9 AM; Fellowship Room Monthly Family Devo; 6 PM; Fellowship Room Deposit due for Ladies Retreat Men s Business Meeting First Sunday Assistance: There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway for help with clean-up for the First Sunday Fellowship meals. Those who sign up are responsible for getting the food ready to serve and cleaning up afterwards.

4

5 Lesson Notes January 11, 2015 Online Visitor s Info GET INVOLVED // going on this week Today // Upside Down: The Difficult Decisions // Teen Singing (Eastside) Tuesday // Hospital Lunch Wednesday // Tips For Better Bible Study Saturday // Men s Bible Study 9 AM // Family Devo 6 PM THE PARABLE In the previous verses Jesus stressed the need for repentance. Repentance was needed in that section because death can be sudden and unexpected (13:1, 4). Now, Jesus tells a parable to teach how God can initiate a brief period for repentance before He comes in judgment. THE POINT God calls for people to bear fruit (Jn. 15:1-5; Gal ). There is a limit to God s patience (cp. Rev. 2:19-22). THE PRODUCTION To extend the analogy, Chickamauga church is God s vineyard, and we re all fig trees. Continuing the analogy, God comes to His vineyard, the church, looking for fruit, and asks us what we ve produced. THE POSSIBILITIES The world says, If its not working, cut it down. God says, If they re not working, be more gracious to them; throw some manure on them. Chickamauga is a mission field! God has us here to bear fruit! GET CONNECTED // chickamaugachurch.com // //

6 Scripture Reading Luke 13:1-9 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 6 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. 7 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? 8 But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down. Word Search Luke 13 The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Print.