Open Heavens 2 January 2015: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye - Be Fruitful

Topic: Be Fruitful [Friday January 2, 2015]

Memorise: Thou shalt be blessed above all not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. - Deuteronomy 7:14

Read: Genesis 1:26-28

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

MESSAGE:

When the Lord spoke to man in Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and to multiply, He was not giving a piece of advice. Rather, He was issuing a decree that must be established. Failure to bear fruit directly contradicts divine law or decree. I pray for someone using this devotional, that the Lord will cause you to experience all-round fruitfulness this year in Jesus’ Name. It is wonderful to note that God is not only interested in your spiritual fruitfulness but also in your physical and material fruitfulness.

God is not happy when we do not live in divine prosperity, because it is His uttermost desire that His children live a daily life of fruitfulness and increase (Deuteronomy 7:14)

What other types of fruit is the Almighty God expecting from us? The type of fruit God expects depends on your spiritual level of maturity. For example, a person who has not given his life to Christ in the real sense of it needs to bear the fruit of repentance. The Bible says,

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Being forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” - Matthew 3:7-8

Moreover, for a user of this devotional who is already saved by grace, there are two categories of fruit you must endeavour to bear this year. These are: the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, longsuffering, gentleness, etc (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of souls. It is very dangerous for a child of God not to be fruitful, because Jesus Christ said:

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” - John 15:2

I pray that you will not be cut away from Christ because of unfruitfulness in Jesus’ Name. One advantage of soul-winning is answered prayers (John 15:16). The Lord has spared your life up till now, hoping to see you bear fruit. My prayer is that God will not be disappointed in you this year again, and that He will answer your prayers speedily in Jesus’ Name.

Action Point: Determine to live for Jesus Christ. Be a passionate soul-winner this year, and you will see how faithful God is to His promise of answering your prayer.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 3:1-6:7; Acts 2:1-28

Open Heavens Daily Devotional written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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