In her exhortation at the August 11 Thursday Showers, Pastor Esther Briggs told believers to bear fruits irrespective of the conditions.
The Assistant Pastor, The Fountain of Life Church, King’s Dome Parish, Egbeda, took her main text from John 15:1-10, noting that God expects His children to always bear fruits.
She explained that this fruit is not the fruit of the womb or marriage but productive in His vineyard. When this happens, she explained, Christians won’t be distracted.
“We are called to minister, howbeit in different capacities, and God wants to prune you so that you can bear more fruit.
“He doesn’t want you to be the way you’ve always been. So, when we allow God to prune us, He will take away diseases that are distractions from us,” the preacher said.
Pastor Briggs told the worshippers that every believer has a purpose: to bear fruit for Him.
“If you don’t know why you are here or what life is all about, you are just wasting your time,” she added.
In reiterating the importance of evangelism, the clergywoman said the easiest way to bring people to Christ is by inviting them into the fold. This, according to her, is the salvation of souls.
“You can use your platform to preach the gospel. But you never know who you’re going to minister to by what you do with your platforms,” Pastor Briggs added.
She also cited 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 7:20, and John 15:8 in explaining that God wants His children to be fruitful since it brings Him glory, shows that they are His disciples, and needs them to bear fruits to remain even when they’re gone.
“You can’t say you’re born again for over ten years, and your life remains the same. You’ve not brought souls to the Kingdom,” she maintained.
According to her, bearing fruit is evidence of a believer’s salvation, adding that such a fruitful life lasts forever.
“You are saved to serve Him and others and bear fruit. Be consistent in bearing fruit,” she posited.
Also reading James 4:7-10, Galatians 5:22, Proverbs 11:30, and Mark 16:15, Pastor Briggs noted the four types of fruits God wants His children to bear. She listed them as the fruit of repentance, fruit of the Spirit, fruit of another soul, and the fruit of ministry.
The cleric explained: “God has uniquely shaped you and wants you to minister to people with your spiritual gift, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences.”
She continued, “Use your gifts. Don’t let them waste away. It’s dangerous if you don’t use them to bring souls to Him. God wants you to be successful, and he also wants you to be fruitful. “
Pastor Briggs asked them to strive to bring souls to God’s Kingdom by their lifestyles, relationships, and words, noting that there is no preaching in heaven.
“You have no excuse not to preach the gospel. That’s the reason you’re here and not just to occupy space. How you live your life here would determine what the end of your life becomes at the end of the day,” she told the congregation gathered at the TFOLC headquarters, Ilupeju, Lagos.
Aside from the sermon, the Grace Levites led the congregation to the throne of God with praise and worship. There were also testimonies, notably that of Sister Ayomide. She recounted how God miraculously raised her collapsed business, delivered her from sudden death, and gave the reason for the joy overflowing in the worshippers’ hearts.
