Friday August 13, 2010

Read Colossians 1:6-8, John 15:7-8

How useful is an ejector seat in a helicopter? or maybe an ash-tray on a motor bike? Or what about air brakes on an aeroplane? Hmm? Useless aren’t they? Unlike these weird and wonderful inventions that never really made it, the gospel is not some weird and wonderful philosophical ideology we tack into the back of our minds. The gospel bears fruit in our lives. All over the world, this gospel is bearing fruit as it is in you, my blessed brother and sister. The gospel is a life changing reality that works in us and through us.

There are two ways that the gospel grows and bears fruit. Firstly, it bears fruit in us as we mature and grow in holiness and Christ-likeness. The gospel changes us from the inside out as we line up our lives (thoughts, deeds, emotions etc) with the Word of God. Our lives grow in conformity to the blessed Word day by day. Secondly, the gospel grows as I take the good news and share it with more and more people. As more and more people turn to the Lord in repentance and faith, the gospel is growing.

As Jesus taught about the vine He made it clear that you and I are meant to be bearing fruit. Jesus tells us that there are two conditions to being a fruitful vine - we must remain in Him and His word must remain in us. As we do this, we will bear much fruit, fruit that will last, fruit that shows us to be Jesus’ disciples.

There is no greater joy than to know that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is growing in others and throughout the world. What a great reason to praise God! What a great reason to lift up adoration and blessing to our God. What a great reason to be filled with joy. You and I can rejoice because the gospel is growing.

Prayer:-

ü Spend time praising God for the growth you’ve seen in the believers around you.

ü Pray that you yourself would grow in your walk with the Lord.

ü Pray that the gospel will grow and bear fruit in your local community as you and other believers share the good news with non believers. Pray too for our brothers and sisters in the 2 Myanmar Bible Colleges as they seek to train up preachers for the task of taking out the good news. Pray for all the needs to be met, for adequate teachers and for the daily work of learning and growing as students.

MEAT 4  THE MATURE

Often our prayers are unanswered. Why is this so? Find biblical reasons why our prayers may be unanswered. When you have a list, seek God to show you why some of your prayers may have been unanswered.