Fruitfulness: Obeying His Instructions

Obeying His Instructions

John 9

The season to grow in fruitfulness is right. "For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land” (Genesis 26:22). Fruitfulness is however, not guaranteed even when the season is right. Otherwise, every farmer would always have a bumper harvest. The farmer has to know timing, prepare the ground, sow the right seed, and nurture the crop with necessary inputs.

Obedience is the primary requirement for fruitfulness in Christ. The word of God is the power for all that you need (Romans 1:16). Obedience to it is the process that releases its power and benefit. Following the instructions in the Bible leads to the promises in the Bible.  He who remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit…..you remain in me if you do whatever I command you (John 15:5, 10, 14).  If you love me do what I instruct (John 14:15). Be doers of the word, not only hearers, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22-23).    Observe to do according to my word and you shall make your way prosperous, and have good success (Joshua 1:8). All these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of Yahweh your God (Deut 28: 2).

God speaks through the written word in the Bible. On that foundation, he also speaks through the inner voice of the Holy Spirit and through the tested prophetic word, His messengers bring. Tuning to the voice of the Holy Spirit and aligning to His lead is therefore a primary responsibility in your walk with Christ. That makes ability to listen and obey God’s instruction a crucial aspect of the believer’s life.

Many examples in the Bible illustrate the power of obedience. One such is the story of the man born blind that the Lord Jesus healed. Imagine you are blind from birth. You have never seen the sun and beauty of God’s creation. You are not even sure of your appearance. You carry many unanswered questions about why you are blind. You are now of age and one early morning you begin the day at your begging spot. That day you have a strange feeling. You wonder what it is that is going to either go terribly wrong or remarkably right. It certainly is an unusual day. He felt like something destiny related could be in store. As you settle to your business, Jesus appears. He is discussing with some people a subject you have grappled with on your own.

Jesus who was passing by decided to stop by.  Something must have drawn Jesus to the man. We know many times Jesus changed plans to show compassion to people in need. We also know by the man’s response that he was humble and full of faith. He welcomed Jesus and obeyed his instructions. Every person was born with a kind of blindness (disadvantage). What if Jesus stopped by you? Good news is that he has done so. More than stopping, he now stays with you.  He has not passed anyone by.  What he did for the blind man he is doing for you if you cooperate as the man did.

Before Christ appears, people around the blind man were already involved in his life remotely or closely.

1) The disciples represent people who had an explanation of the man’s condition of blindness. They sought to understand, theologize and analyze the problem (Deuteronomy 28:15). They made assumptions and suspected the man or the parents had sinned. The disciples like wise sought to apportion blame. Even if there was sin, he could start by forgiving them - ‘your sins are forgiven’. In this case, the man’s sins could not have caused his condition since he was born blind. Jesus set the man free from self-condemnation and stigma. Thank God, Jesus also exonerated the parents first, otherwise the man would have used his newly acquired sight to go and settle scores with his parents. Has someone misunderstood your problem and judged you unfairly. Who gave you the answers you live by? Jesus brings something different to your problem.

2) The neighbors represent people who bring an exclamation. The neighbors used to see him begging. They had formulated an image of who this man was. They were puzzled by his blindness and later amazed by his healing. They followed and discussed his condition. Has your problem become the talk of your relational circles? Jesus brings something different to your problem.

3) The helpers who took the man from place to place brought an administration. They helped oil life with the problem. They brought efficiency and some functionality within the problem’s constraints. Have you found help to cope along as best as you can with your problem? Jesus brings something different to your problem.

4) The Pharisees brought a tradition. They showed little concern about the welfare of the man. They cared more about the religious tradition and structure than people for whom the structure existed. Jesus brings something different to your problem.

5) The parents brought a consolation. They provided care and raised him up in his problem. They probably had lost hope of sight recovery. They comforted and stood for their son. They also now expected him to fend for himself since he was now of age.  Jesus brings something different to your problem.

6) Jesus brought a solution. He brings something different from what you are accustomed. The solution was in the blind man’s obedience to His instruction. The humanly puzzling problem became an opportunity for a divine solution. Christ declared that the problem was for the purpose of the works of God to be revealed in the man and through the man. He came to connect the man with destiny. He came to solve the puzzle of his life. He came to do more than the best man could do and contrary to the worst man could do. He came to catalyze the big decisive step towards that for which you were born with a problem. In Christ, you connect with purpose and destiny. Jesus rebranded the man such that he preached Christ to high profile Pharisees. He permanently transformed his outlook and perspective.

It does not matter the composition, background, precedence, science or theology of the problem. The key is to follow God’s instructions in faith. Listening – Instructions – Obedience - Answer – New Perspective.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive, 

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa