Module 1: Fruitfulness in Service

Holy Spirit Brings the Fruit

The Lord told the disciples "go therefore and make disciples of all nations." Imagine being a disciple and hearing this command... all nations? How? We can't even speak their language. The Lord answered them on Pentecost and they spoke in tongues.

But how can they minister to all nations if there are only twelve of them? So the Lord on Pentecost had 120.

Did the disciples forget when the Lord told them to cast their net and they caught hundreds of fish? The same on Pentecost when St Peter cast his net and with one sermon brought 3000 people. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working in St Peter.

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Many times when we think about fruits in service, we become frustrated... I am serving for so many years and until now, I don't see any fruits.

The person trying to move the huge rock... maybe the rock doesn't get moved, but the servant becomes stronger. The first fruit of the service is the benefit the servant himself gets from the service.

When I feel this frustration in service, I need to pray and God will move the rock in front of me.

If you want to bring fruits, you need to have trust in God and obey Him even if His commandment doesn't make sense to you.

Look at the fruit in your heart.

How do we measure the fruit in our ministry?

How do you measure the fruit in your ministry? Effort? Faithfulness? Fruit? - If you are measuring the success of your ministry based on the fruit, it will be a big dissatisfaction for you.

Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life

Others labored before you and you are reaping what they are sowing... so if I am reaping fruits now, don't think these are your fruits and fall in vainglory. Maybe these are the fruits of another faithful servant who planted and watered before you. If you are serving and planting and watering and not seeing fruit, don't be frustrated - someone may come after you and reap the fruit that you planted.

Faithfulness in service is the measure of success. Not the fruits.

The story of the Tree of Obedience? St John the short planted a stick and was faithful in watering it for three years. At the end it became fruitful. He was faithful in watering it every day, regardless of whether it would bring fruit or not.

I may think a youth in my class is a hopeless case (like this tree). I called him sevearl times, I tried to visit him, I texted him, he never answered. Continue to be faithful. As the Lord was able to bring fruit from this stick after three years, He will be able also to bring fruit from this person even after so many years.

There is an example in the TCR (Triumphant Christian Retreat) of many cases that were "hopeless" in our eyes - but not for God. People who testify of themselves that they came without any hope, but the Lord restored them.

For a tree to bear fruit, it must have deep roots to absorb the water and nourishment for the tree. You, and your faithfulness in God, are the ROOT of the barren trees. Maybe he doesn't believe in God, or angry with God, or disappointed with God - but you, as the servant, can be the root that connects him with the True Root (God) in his life.

Bearing fruit takes time. Be patient.

Three Stages of Working the Land

Plowing the Land
- Sometimes the land is very dry, and the Lord prepares the Land
  - e.g. St Moses who said "maybe there's a God" - "maybe the sun is God" - "maybe the moon is God"
Sowing the Seed
- The parable of the sower, he sowed the seed everywhere (as St Paul said - neither he who sows nor he who waters, but God brings the fruit)
- Some servants sow only in the good land and neglect the "bad" land or the "difficult" land
  - The Lord met the Pharisees, the Gentiles, the tax-collectors, lawyers, scribes, etc. and talked to all of them
Watering the Land
- How to follow-up
- It's not enough to speak to someone just one time about God... that's the seed. But this seed needs to be watered.
- Pray for them, speak with them, and see what kind of nutrients they need
- St Paul gave milk... and then later solid food.
- Can't just quit a bad habit, but it must be replaced
  - E.g. if you're speaking to someone about smoking, but you don't speak to him about connecting with God and spiritual habits, it will be impossible for him to quit smoking (or any bad habit)
  - Speak to him instead about the Living Water
    - The Lord, with the Samaritan woman did not even mention lust, fornication, destruction to the soul, etc. But He spoke to her about the Living Water and how these other things are like salt water... you drink for a long time, but you are still thirsty.
Reaping the Fruit