FRUITFULNESS

1. What is the meaning of "fruitfulness & affliction"?

a) Fruitfulness means bearing much fruit; overflowing abundance.

b) Affliction means great suffering that produces sorrow.

2. What are the areas to be fruitful?

a) Be fruitful and increase in number.

i) 20And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." 21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." (Genesis 1:20-22 NIV)

b) Like a fruitful vine (wife) / olive shoots (children).

i) 3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. (Psalm 128:3 NIV)

ii) What is the condition?

#1) 1Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. (Psalm 128:1 NIV)

c) Bear fruit in every good work.

i) 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12 NIV)

ii) The question is "How do we live a life worthy and pleasing to him everyday?"

#1) The answer is simple: Just do what he tells us to do!

3. What scriptures are associated with it?

a) 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16 NIV)

@1. Highlights:

i) This is the divine appointment for fruitfulness.

b) 50Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (Genesis 41:50-52 NIV)

@1. Highlights:

i) We should focus on God to make us fruitful.

4. What was Joseph's firstborn son called and meant?

a) 51Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." (Genesis 41:51 NIV)

b) But Ephraim would be greater. Why? Because 52the second son he (Joseph) named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (Genesis 41:52 NIV)

c) We should let go, forgive and forget the hurt and offenses.

5. What was God trying to say to the Israelites about the land they were entering to take over?

a) 10The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. 12It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. (Deuteronomy 11:10-12 NIV)

@1. Highlights:

i) Land - God knows the important of land. It is used for buildings, agriculture etc. Without land we cannot do much. It is a precious commodity. Prophetically, God will give us much land (our businesses, our jobs etc as our inheritance).

ii) Mountains & valleys - talks about challenges ahead. Whether it is a mountain top experience or valley experience... God is there for us!

4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NIV)

iii) Rains from heaven - talks about divine blessings (health, wealth and spiritual growth).

6. What were the conditions for God to send rains?

a) Obedience, love and serve.

i) 13So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. 15I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. (Deuteronomy 11:13-15 NIV)

ii) Rains always speak about blessings.

7. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we will enter into the land God has prepared for us this year.

b) Pray that we will be obedience, we will love and serve so that God will send rains on our land in its season, both autumn and spring rains - divine blessings.

c) Pray that we will forgive and forget all wrongs that have been thrown at us.

d) Pray that this year will be the year of fruitfulness and abundance in the midst of challenges ahead.