Young Adults' Group

Yielding Fruit

by Pastor Mark
April 06, 2017

The last feature

The “Y” in Bethany stands for “yielding fruit”. This is the last feature of the spirit of Bethany and a most important one.

This focuses on the greatest test as to whether we have been able to cultivate the first six features of the spirit of Bethany correctly. When we see fruits yielded in our life and ministry, then we know that we have truly caught the spirit of Bethany.

If we are not able to produce fruits, then we need to check whether we have been able to cultivate the different features properly.

The Lord’s teaching concerning yielding fruit

The Lord Jesus gave a litmus test concerning those who are good or bad, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matt 7:16) The word “know” in Greek is “epiginosko”. This is a compound word. With the preposition “epi”, the word “ginosko”, which means to have a growing knowledge, is intensified further.

This means that by the fruits of the person, we would be able to have a deeper understanding of him.

The Lord Jesus taught that it is by a person’s fruits that we can truly know a person. The kind of fruit produced would reflect the kind of person that he really is. (Matt 7:17-19) A good tree will bear good fruit. A bad tree will bear bad fruits. Therefore, it is crucial that we ensure that we are yielding good fruits.

The fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:22,23)

The Apostle Paul also taught about being fruitful…the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that we would be able to bear fruits. Without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we would not be able to produce fruits such love, joy, peace and all the other fruits.

A spirit-filled life would be able to bear much fruits. A Spirit-filled church would manifest all these fruits collectively as brethren. Let us be challenged to cultivate these fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The fruitfulness of Bethany

Over all these years, we have seen Bethany becoming more and more fruitful. As we sought to cultivate all the features of the spirit of Bethany…boldness, evangelism, true and faithful, holy, acknowledge God’s mercies and near to God…the Lord has made us truly fruitful.

As a church, we have always sought to focus on the word of God and prayer which are two key essentials for one to be filled with the Spirit of God. We thank God for the filling of the Holy Spirit at Bethany over the years. We have seen Bethany growing and yielding much fruits over the years. Let us be challenged to continue cultivating the spirit of Bethany in our lives and ministry.

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