The Average Christian is Not Fruitful

PROOF OF DISCIPLESHIP.

There is no better way than being fruitful, however, according to Christ's own words, to prove that we are his disciples. It is not enough to live a good life. Those who subscribe to other religions and cults which deny the deity of our lord often live exemplary lives. An atheist can memorize prayers and wear a pious fa?ade (False-showing and feeling deep respect for God) and do everything that the average Christian does as has been dramatically demonstrated in certain countries where Christianity is discouraged or banned and informers have infiltrated into positions of leadership in the church for the purpose of spying.

It is here that we discern a vast difference between the church of the New Testament and the church today. The book of the acts of the apostle tells the thrilling story of what God did through those first generation Christians as they went door to door sharing their faith and, constrained (moving at a high speed) by the love of Christ, often in the face of death and martyrdom, went everywhere, as the apostle Paul said, telling everyone about Christ. This is seldom the experience of the twentieth century Christians.

In his preface to the young church in action, j.b. Phillips writes, 'no one can read this book [Acts] without being convinced that there is someone here at work besides mere human beings. Perhaps because of their very simplicity, perhaps because of their readiness

1. to believe,

2. to obey,

3. to give

4. to suffer

5. and if need to die,

The spirit of God found what surely, he must always be seeking- a fellowship of men and women so united in love and faith that he can work with them and through them with a minimum of hindrance. Consequently, it is a matter of sober historical fact that never before has any small body of ordinary people so moved the world that their enemies could say, with tears of rage in their eyes, that these men ' have turned the world upside down!' Christians of that first century, filled with the spirit, constrained by the love of God, took the good news of God's love and forgiveness in Christ to the entire then known world.

INFLUENCE OF SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANS

Why was that first century church able to make an impact for God upon a wicked roman empire? The only logical explanation is that the church was composed largely of spiritual Christians, men and women filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. They knew that before they could experience fellowship with God and be used of him, to help fulfill His purpose in the world and build His kingdom, they need to be filled with His Holy Spirit. And before they could be filled with His Holy Spirit, they need to be willing to be forgiven and cleansed of their sins.

MORAL DETERGENTS.

Many people are trying all kinds of moral detergents, but the

Stains and blotches are all part of their nature.

1. Moral reform,

2. Social adjustments,

3. Therapeutic psychology,

4. Sensitivity seminars

all these have failed to produce a 'new person' the only hope for sinful man is a supernatural cleansing and only Jesus Christ through his death on the cross, makes it possible for us to be forgiven. This cleansed life can be experienced only by God's power, not by our own will power. The living Christ dwelling within us makes the difference.

The Psalmist king David understood the need for cleansing and forgiveness of sin. Listen to his heartwarming prayer, (Psalms 51:1-19)

1. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

2. and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions;

4. and my sin is ever before me,

5. Create in me a clean heart, Oh God,

6. and renew a right spirit within me,

7. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

8. and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

9. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways

10. and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Cleansing from our sins is a prerequisite (initial requirement) for the abundant and fruitful life to which Christ has called us.

THE GREAT CHALLENGE

Today we live in the most desperate hour of human history. The whole world is in a state of crisis and chaos. No one word. So characterizes the mood of our day as the word 'revolution' revolution in every facet (the world's most important requirement) of society and every country of the world,

1. politically,

2. socially,

3. economically,

4. even religiously:

The entire world is filled with fear, anxiety and frustration.

Human solutions without number have been proposed yet the crisis becomes increasingly worse. Thus, through the process of elimination, men are beginning to turn back to God.

The opportunity for presenting the claims of Christ is greater today than at any previous time in recorded history. The spirit of God has created an unprecedented hunger in the hearts of multitudes of the earth. What an exciting hour to be alive to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Both students and adults are turning to Christ in ever increasing numbers. Even so, this great harvest is being accomplished by a relatively few Christians.(this is why the Lord wants you to learn and start teaching other, He told me that time is running out)

The vast majority of Christian's still live in defeated and sterility. The average layman and many pastors seldom, if ever introduced another person to Christ. What has happened to the Christians of our generation? Former president Woodrow Wilson said, (our nation was born a Christian nation established on Christian principles)

THE GREAT PROBLEM.

(Even today, more than half of our nation's population of more than 200 million people professes to be Christians. More than 78% of a large cross-section interviewed recently said that they believe in God. Yet our attitudes and actions prove that our nation has become materialistic nation - morally and spiritually decadent) (In Kenya out of 32million we say 80% are Christians). Many Christians have become more a part of the problems in the society than a part of the solution. Non-Christians see little or no difference in the quality of life between themselves and the average Christian.

EXAMPLE: a Christian friend, a pillar of his church once confided, Said, 'I used to encourage my neighbor to go with me to church. He always refused but I persisted. One day he said to me, George, don't pester me anymore about going to your church. Obviously it hasn't done you any good. I see nothing about your life that is any different from mine. We live basically the same kind of lives. In short I do not want your religion and I don't want to hear anymore about it. 'Many young people have left the church because they feel that their parents and other adults are hypocrites, professing something with their lips that do not demonstrate in their lives.

WRONG WAY.

Matthew 5; 43-48. 7: 1-23.

Yet, I have found, as I have had the privilege of speaking to hundreds of Christians around the world in many lands, that the average defeated frustrated fruitless Christian is not happy with his spiritual condition. He would like to change but he does not know what to do. This kind of person does not need to be rebuked or criticized and condemned. He needs to be loved and helped.

EXAMPLE: some time ago when I was driving through Mexico in a strange city, I made a wrong turn. I found myself driving against traffic on a one way street. The people on the sidewalk started telling me I was going in the wrong direction. But I had already realized this in the split second after I had turned. My problem was not to determine whether or not I was going the wrong direction. It was how to get turned around! I soon succeeded in changing my direction through the help of a friendly policeman and I went on my way rejoicing, driving with the traffic.

So it is in the Christian life. One does not need to be told that he is an hypocrite or that his life is not honoring to our Lord if he is a defeated Christian. He needs to understand the nature of his problem and how to find a solution to it. This is what exactly the word of God does to us.

This Message was Delivered by Evangelist Elizabeth Saidimu AT DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY ON 31/05/09 to the group called "The Church."

The Church meets every Sunday afternoon from 2.30pm at Daystar University - Valley Road Nairobi - Room 9. You are welcome to join us.

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