fruitful – herbcotton.org

What Has the Lord Given You? How Are You Using It?

Text:

Matthew 25:14-15 (KJV)

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Observation:

The parable of the talents that Jesus told to His disciples has a powerful lesson for God’s children of every age.

The parable has two lessons. First, while Jesus is away the servant is to work faithfully and diligently. Second, while Jesus is away the servant is to know that his work will be greatly rewarded or severely judged.

If you know the story, you know the outcome. If you do not know the story, you can read it in Matthew 25:14-30.

Those of us who are believers have also been given spiritual gifts by God, and He expects of us what He expected of his servants in the parable that Jesus told.

Ephesians 4:7-8 (NLT)

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

How are you using your spiritual gifts? After Jesus finished His work on the cross He went away for a season. However, He is coming again to take His people where He is, and what a day that will be.

God expects HIs people to work faithfully and diligently. He also wants us to know that our work will be greatly rewarded or severely judged. Are you being faithful and fruitful? Will the Father say this about you?

Matthew 3:17 (KJV)

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You praise that You are so great and good in all Your works.

Father, I thank you for the gifts You give to Your people, and the blessings You give to those who are faithful and fruitful. Father, I pray that all of Your daughters and sons will hear these words when our work is finished here on earth, “I am well pleased with you”. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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How Are You Doing In Your Stewardship?

Text:

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV)

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Observation:

Do you identify and associate yourself as a servant of Christ? If so, how are you doing? Notice what Paul writes to the church about the accountability of Christ followers to Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:2-4 (ESV)

2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Is it the desire of your heart to be faithful to God? The Lord has deposited something precious within each of His children, and we need to be faithful in carrying out our God ordained life purpose. The reward of faithfulness is fruitfulness.

Luke 16:10 (ESV)

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Do you want to be pleasing in the eyes of God? Then, be faithful in fulfilling your purpose, and use the gifts that God has given you for His glory, and the building of the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (ESV)

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a privilege to be members of the family of God, and to be able to call you, our Father.

Father, the desire of our hearts is that we, your daughters and sons, will be found faithful and fruitful in your eyes. Father, we recognize that the need for the days we are living in now requires the people of God to have faith in God, and to be faithful.

Father, when You look at us, may You see in us what You saw in Your servants Paul and Enoch, and so many other saints of the ages. Father, may Your will be done in us. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Daily Bread

Title: The Futility of Resolutions by Self-Reliant People

Text:

Matthew 26:33-35 (HCSB)
³³Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”
³⁴“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”
³⁵“Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Observation:

When we make resolutions we need to do an internal checkup to see if we are relying upon self or relying upon God. We need to remember the lesson of Peter; notice it was not just Peter, but “All of the disciples said the same thing”.

Notice how their resolution turned out:

Matthew 26:69-75 (HCSB)
⁶⁹Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
⁷⁰But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
⁷¹When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!”
⁷²And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”
⁷³After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”
⁷⁴Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,
⁷⁵and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

However, we are not without hope and without help; Jesus is the answer, put your trust in Him, and you will not be fruitless. You were made to be fruitful, but not by being self-reliant.

John 15:5 (HCSB)
⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the divine hope and help that we have in You, and the Savior that You sent. Lord, I trust in Him, and grant me the grace to trust Him more. In the name of Jesus the Christ of God I pray, Amen.