REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HARVEST

Matthew 13:18-23
In talking about fruit here, Jesus is clearly talking about new disciples and not about the fruit of the Spirit, because you cannot quantify the fruit of the Spirit and talk, for example, about thirty, sixty or a hundred times peace, joy, love, etc.

1. THE HARVEST REQUIRES SELFLESSNESS
Jesus does not talk of thirty, sixty or a hundred times a week, month or year. He seems to imply a lifetime. He expects fruit over the course of our lives and not just at particular periods. Sometimes we put ourselves under undue pressure by feeling that we must bear a certain amount of spiritual fruit in a set time period, e.g. five baptisms in one month, and as a result of the self-imposed pressure, we lose our joy.

Don't put yourself under such pressure. It is not necessary.

We have worry and pressure, we tend to focus on that, and not to focus on god. We can feel the pressure of providing for our families, performing well academically, etc. The good soil has the same pressures and responsibilities as those mentioned above, but casts its anxieties on Jesus. The good soil focuses on god and others because it has energy for that since it has cast aside its pressures.

John 12:23-24
Remember that we are the good seed that Jesus wants to scatter (Matthew 13:38). It is only in our death, i.e. selflessness, that we can be spiritually productive.

You should get what you plant, e.g. you should get mangoes if you plant mangoes, oranges if you plant oranges, etc. If you plan the word of God, through written scripture and through yourself, then you should get a disciple.

If there is no selflessness then there will be no harvest. The choice rests with each of us whether to go out and be selfless.

We sometimes think that if we bear more fruit than others do then we are better than they are. But to God, it's all good soil, none better than another, regardless of the level of productivity.


2. THE HARVEST REQUIRES ATTACHMENT TO JESUS
John 15:1-8
v. 4: it starts with us. If we remain in Christ, then he will remain in us. We are responsible for whether or not we remain in Christ.

Jesus is the vine.
We are the branches.
God is the gardener.

As gardener, God is working to prune us and help us to become increasingly fruitful. One thing is clear - without remaining in Jesus, we will not be fruitful. We must remain attached to Jesus.

Q. Are you attached to Jesus?
Q. Is it your desire to be attached to the vine?
Q. Do you want the Gardener to prune you to help you to be fruitful?
Q. Are you remaining in the vine or are you withering?

When a branch is connected to the vine, the nutrients that come up and in from the soil will find their way to the branch. Q. Is the power of Jesus flowing into you, changing your life and making you a light?

v. 7: remaining in Christ has an impact in your prayers. It is not a question of baptizing many people, but a question of remaining in Christ - being attached to him, e.g. if you are praying to God to help you go north but you are all the while insisting on heading south, it is futile.

The most important issue in our lives is not whether or not we get married, have children, or make more money, but whether or not we remain in Christ.

Illustration: As a father you are more likely to give your children good things if they are obedient. If they are disobedient, disrespectful and rebellious towards you then turn round and say, "Daddy, give me this or that," how inclined would you be to give then what they are demanding?

v.8 What gives glory to God is when we bear fruit. Remaining in Christ wins God's approval. Bearing much fruit brings God glory.