How to Increase Fruitfulness

Applying Love

Luke 13:6-9

• “Sir . . . I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year fine! If not, then cut it down.”

Introduction

• Personal life– Heart– Thoughts, emotions and behaviors

Introduction

• Personal Relationships– God, family and friends

Introduction

• Performance– Talents, gifts and purpose

Introduction

• Where is the problem?– The fruit, the tree, or the soil?– Barren, failure, unproductive,

• Fruit is only a yard stick– Looking at the wrong thing

Introduction

• Contrast of the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:19 and 22

• “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. . .”

• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control”

Fertilize

• Three Components of Fertilizer – Nitrogen - Love– Phosphate - Grace– Potassium - Truth

Cultivate Love

• Two Greatest commandments– “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul

and strength” – Mk 12:30– “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Mk

12:31• “Love your enemies” – Mt 5:44

Cultivate the Love of God

• God is the source of love– “for God is love. . .” 1 Jn 4:8– “God shed his love abroad” Ro 5:5

Cultivate the Love of God

• Saturate yourself with God’s love– “Those who do what Christ tells them

will love God more and more” (1 Jn 2:5 TLB)

–Work it into your heart

Cultivate Love for Others

• We are Family– “. . .The love the Father bestowed on us

that we should be called sons of God” – 1 Jn 3:1

– “from the beginning . . . we should love one another” – 1 Jn 3:11

Cultivate Love for Others

• Fill yourself with good will• Prefer one another• Take pleasure in one another• Put your spouse / family / neighbor

on equal turf

Cultivate Love for your enemies

• “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Mt 5:44 (KJV).

Cultivate Love for Your Enemies

• Speak blessing on them• Find something good to do for them• Pray for them

Cultivate Love for Your Enemies

• Pursue growth– God uses adversity to develop character

– Roman 4:4

Cultivate Love for Your Enemies

– “Add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly love. . . They will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive” – 2 Peter 1:5-8

Application

• Good soil needs basic ingredients• Love is the most important– Love God with all your being– Love your neighbor as yourself– Love your enemies