30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
LUKE 19 11-27 TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 08 Be fruitful
📖 Luke 19:11-27
16Dec2020 - *Be fruitful* - _Luke 19:11-27_ - TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 8 – Bible reading: _Luke 4:17-21_
_Luke 19:15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading._
How do we prepare to meet the Judge for He will begin the process of judgment, first, with His servants, to whom He has entrusted His capital with which they are to produce results for His glory?
Before we consider the matter of preparation let us once again relook at our purpose statement.
_We are citizens of the kingdom of God here on earth, redeemed and reconciled back to God, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We live and work with the understanding that we are servants of the King, fulfilling the creation or cultural mandate, with the capital that He has invested us with, in the enablement and wisdom of the Holy Spirit._
_The kingdom of God has already begun, which will come into full effect when the Messiah returns. As we prayerfully await His return, we reach out to an audience that is rejecting God but with boldness and love._
_In the eternal kingdom of Jesus, we will be assigned roles and responsibilities, depending upon our performance here on earth, with the capital that God has invested in each of us._
The road map has been given for us to be prepared to face the judgement. This is the creation or cultural mandate -
_Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (27)
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."_
The road map consists of five elements. They are 1 Be fruitful 2 Multiply 3 Fill the earth 4 Subdue it 5 Have dominion
The seed has been rooted within us to bear results for the judgement. What is this seed? This seed is having been created in the image of God. This seed along with the capital that God has invested in us, will bear results expected from us by the Creator.
1 Be fruitful. What does it mean to be fruitful?
When a tree bears fruit, does it consume its own fruit? No, it does not. Others consume the fruit and are nourished.
Our life is for the good and enrichment of others. We are not living in this world for ourselves.
Many people think that unless we are able to look after ourselves, how can we look after others. We do take care of our needs but our lives are to be intentionally outward-looking and to think of the needs of others, just as we think of ourselves.
_Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law._
Whatever we do, we are here to serve for the good of others. It is about being sensitive to the needs of others, whom God has brought into our circles. This is the God culture that we bring into our home and work places.
Jesus came and lived out the cultural mandate. He demonstrated the cultural mandate for us. This is why He is calling us to follow Him -
_Luke 4:17-21 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (18) “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."_
The Nazarene manifesto if about being others concerned. This fruit-bearing life is possible not in our own ability in our being rooted in Him. _John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing._
We have been created to bear fruit. _Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,_ (bear fruit) _which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them._
Fruit-bearing is not optional. _Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire._ This is why it is part of the creation mandate.
*Thought to ponder*
```Satan’s very effective strategy has been to make us inward-looking so that we will fail in fulfilling the creation mandate.```