Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Genesis 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

• God has called us to a fruitful life.
• Living a fruitful life encompasses every aspect of our being: our thoughts, words, actions, and relationships. This is a condition of the soul. The soul is the central part of our humanity. It is our life’s launching pad. Everything springs from the soul. Man is a tripartite being made up of body, soul, and spirit. What happens in the soul will affect the body and our spirits.

Prov 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

• The state of our soul, influenced by our thoughts, desires, and beliefs, greatly impacts our ability to bear fruit for God's kingdom. When our souls are aligned with God's truth, filled with His Spirit, and guarded against worldly influences, we can live lives that bear much fruit to the glory of God. Conversely, when our souls are dominated by worldly desires, unbelief, and distractions, our fruitfulness is hindered.
• Matthew 7:16-20 (NIV): "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
• Here, Jesus speaks about how our actions and character reveal the state of our hearts, emphasizing the importance of producing good fruit.

Negative Impact vs.Positive Impact

Negative Impact

• When the desires of our soul are aligned with the values of the world rather than God's kingdom, they can hinder our ability to bear fruit that glorifies Him.
  • 1 John 2:15-16 (NIV): "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
• Unbelief and doubt can weaken our faith and trust in God's promises, hindering our fruitfulness as we fail to fully rely on His strength and guidance.
  • James 1:6-8 (NIV): "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
• When our souls are preoccupied with the cares and distractions of this world, they can choke out the growth of spiritual fruitfulness in our lives.
  • Luke 8:14 (NIV): "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

Positive Impact

Living a fruitful life is about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, transforming us into vessels that bear the fruit of God's kingdom for His glory and the benefit of others.

Living a fruitful life means not only growing in spiritual maturity and character but also producing good works and impacting others positively. It involves embodying the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as well as spreading the message of the gospel and making disciples. Ultimately, a fruitful life glorifies God and reflects His nature to the world.

Renewal of the Mind:

• Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
• When our minds are renewed by the truth of God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, our soul aligns with God's purposes, enabling us to bear fruit in accordance with His will.

Filling with the Spirit:

• Ephesians 5:18 (NIV): "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."