Message Notes

YAG RETREAT – THE FRUITFUL LIFE
Session #8
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Morning Session #1
Text: Acts 20: 18-38; Philippians 3; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
A Fruitful Life is a Result of Pouring Out of One’s Life in the service of God
INTRODUCTION

1. Significance of studying the Scriptures
2. Importance of studying the lives of people recorded in the Scriptures

a) For instruction

b) For inspiration

c) For encouragement

A. THE TREMENDOUS LIFE-STORY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

1. Before he came to faith in Christ
2. After he came to faith in life

B. VITAL PRINCIPLE DISCOVERED AND PRACTISED BY PAUL

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7

1. View of Life and Ministry openly Shared (Acts 20:18-38)

a) Manner of life          Acts 20:18

b) Serving the Lord          Acts 20:19

i) Humility

ii) Tears and trials

c) Unafraid of chains and tribulations          Acts 20:23-24

d) Unafraid of expending life for Christ          Acts 20:24

e) Determination to finish life’s race with joy          Acts 20:24

f) Innocent from the blood of all men          Acts 20:26 (Cf. Ezekiel 3:16-21)

g) Watchfulness          Acts 20:31

h) Diligence in ministry          Acts 20:31

i) Word of God in life and ministry          Acts 20:32

j) Monetary matters          Acts 20:33-35

i) Avoiding covetousness

ii) Providing for self

iii) Providing for others

iv) Giving

2. Another View of Life openly shared          (Philippians 3)

a) All things considered loss for Christ          Philippians 3:7-8

i) Suffering loss

ii) All for the sake of gaining Christ          Philippians 3:8

b) Pursuit of the knowledge of Christ          Philippians 3:9-11

i) Knowledge

ii) Power

iii) Fellowship of His sufferings

iv) Conformity to Christ in death

c) Pressing forward          Philippians 3:12-14

i) Not as if one is already perfected

ii) Forgetting the things which are behind

iii) Reaching forward to the things which are ahead

iv) Pressing toward the prize of the upward call of God

3. Personal View of Life to be crafted out

a) Do we have a personal view of life crafted out?

b) Are we following through with our view of life?

4. The Challenge to Pour out our Life in the service of God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, Which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

Romans 12:1-2

a) Presentation of ourselves to God as a living sacrifice

b) This is but “reasonable service”

c) Danger of being conformed to this world

d) Challenge to be transformed through the renewing of the mind

e) Proving that the will of God is both acceptable and perfect

5. Outpouring of our life will result in Fruitfulness

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him will my Father honour

John 12:24-26

a) A principle of life and ministry

b) True discipleship

c) Significant serving of the Lord

d) Honouring by the Father

e) Much fruit bearing possible

C. REMEMBERING THE CHALLENGES OF THE LORD JESUS

1. Worthy

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10:37-39

2. Denial of Self

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24