REAL FRUIT
READ: Isaiah 54:1-8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:8
Barrenness in ministry is the cause of much of our discouragement, disappointment and disillusionment. I once read a book in which the reasons for the fall and destruction of pastors were outlined. Among the top causes of pastoral failure was discouragement. Many pastors fall out of the race through discouragement and disillusionment. I can tell you that when you become fruitful, you will not have the chance to be discouraged or disillusioned. The fruits you have borne will keep you busy and will give you joy. How joyful a woman is when she brings forth a child!
Lots of knowledge without fruitfulness is nothing! The kingdom of God is more than a school of history and doctrines. There is more to ministry than the acquiring of numerous certificates of Bible knowledge. Have you noticed that some of the most learned and scholarly Bible expositors are very ineffective at real ministry? In fact, sometimes the more scholarly they become, the more faithless, godless and barren they are.
Bearing fruit is a very spiritual thing. Have you wondered at the immense fruit that Christ Jesus bore? Over two thousand years have gone by and He has more fruit than He has ever had before!
Barrenness is the reason for the lack of real fruit in the modern Christian church. There are a lot of activities and a lot of programmes but there is little or no fruit. Some pastors are barren. No matter what they do, their ministries never flourish. When the spirit of barrenness is taken away you break out in fruitfulness.
God wants us to be fruitful. God wants us to expand in ministry. In order to be fruitful you must understand what barrenness really is. Barrenness is a problem that God wants to deal with in your ministry.