2/20/2011 Do you want a Fruitful Life?

Today Pastor Stan was preaching from the Book of John Chapter 12 verses 24, 25 & 26. He started with the question, “Do you want a fruitful life?” I find this question interesting because when asked this question in just about any context most people would say “yes, I want a fruitful life”. However, as Pastor pointed out, most of us are not willing to do what it takes to have a fruitful life.
When we hear about the swimmer Michael Phelps spending 10 hours a day in the pool or Tiger Woods practicing his golf swing every day we are not shocked because they are the best at what they do. Of course to be a great athlete you must be committed to the task fully. A great musician must spend 100’s of hours practicing before they will play at Madison Square Gardens, we would not expect anything else.
   The question is, why do so many Christians think they can simply show up on Sunday and “phone it in” the rest of the week and be successful and live a fruitful life in Christ? Shouldn’t we at least expect God to get the same level of commitment out of us that the PGA gets out of Tiger Woods? God wants and deserves nothing less then our whole lives. I mean this both in the entirety of your lifespan and the complete submission of your entire life today.
I will quickly go over the three paradoxes that pastor talked about because they are important to understanding the fruitful life.
   Paradox 1: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12: 24
The point here is that in order to gain the fruitful life we must first be willing to die to our selves so that Christ can make us a new creature.
   Paradox 2: "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
The idea here is priorities. If we want a fruitful life then the condition of our eternal soul must be more important then the immediate desires of our flesh here and now. The fascinating thing here is that the Word also tells us that all good things come from God. Therefore, by forsaking the things of this world for the things of God, He promises to meet our needs here in abundance. Love it.
   Paradox 3: "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
I see nothing complex here. In order to call ourselves Christ’s servant we must follow Him. If we want the Father to honor we must serve His Son. Easy to say tough to do until we develop a life long habit of making our flesh submit to our spirit.
   Finally, want the fruitful life? Die to yourself, serve Christ by following Him and His father will honor you.
Be Blessed!