Living To Bear Fruit
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I 4cannot tell. [1]
But so far as concerns himself personally, it were, he acknowledges, better for him to die soon, because he would be with Christ. By his choice, however, he shews what ardent love glowed in his breast.[2]
0 rthat you may walk worthy of the Lord, sfully pleasing Him, tbeing fruitful in every good work and increasing in the uknowledge of God; [3]
10 Now 6may He who isupplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, 7supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your jrighteousness, [4]
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become cdead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should dbear fruit to God. [5]
8 jBy this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; [6]
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. [1]
35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. [1]
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. [1]
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”[1]
20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
[11]
2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
[12]
If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. 7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he [1]
11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’[1]
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.
[15]
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
[16]
15 I was eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And I searched out the case that I did not know.
[17]
25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
[18]
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart has not blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
[19]
10 All my bones shall say,
“Lord, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”
[20]
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
[21]
2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all.
[22]
Philippians 4:14 (NASB)
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
[23]
Philippians 4:17 (NASB)
17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
[24]
Philippians 4:17 (NKJV)
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
[25]
Love. God's love means that God eternally gives of himself to others.
love is self-giving for the benefit of others.
it is part of God’s nature to give of himself in order to bring about blessing or good for others.
Paul writes, "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.... You shall love your neighbor as yourself " (Matt. 22:37-38).
Isaiah promises God's people, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Isa. 62:5), and Zephaniah tells God's people, "The LORD, your God, is in your midst ... he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival" (Zeph. 3:17-18).
In fact, our love for others within the fellowship of believers is so evidently an imitation of Christ that by it the world recognizes us as his: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35; cf. 15:13; Rom. 13:10; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Heb. 10:24).
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NKJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
[26]
Cornelius
Dorcas
Judas
Alcoholics
If someone doesn’t work neither should he eat
If a man does not provide for the members of his own household he is worse than an infidel
The foundation that lasts through the fire
For the joy set before Him Jesus endured the cross
The cloud of witnesses
Let us not grow weary in doing good
A city whose builder and maker is God
The candles blown out at a birthday party
Life is vapor
How then are we going to live?
1 John 3:17 (NKJV)
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
[27]
James 1:27 (NKJV)
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
[28]
Acts 10:1-2 (NKJV)
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
[29]
Acts 10:31 (NKJV)
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
[30]
Galatians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
[31]
Isaiah 58:1-15 (NKJV)
1 “Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. 4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. 5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. 13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
[32]
----
4 do not know
[1]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Php 1:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2]Calvin, J. (1998). Calvin's Commentaries: Philippians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Calvin's Commentaries (Php 1:23). Albany, OR: Ages Software.
r Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 2:12
s 1 Thess. 4:1
t Heb. 13:21
u 2 Pet. 3:18
[3]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Col 1:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
6 NU omits may
i Is. 55:10
7 NU will supply
j Hos. 10:12
[4]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (2 Co 9:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
c Rom. 8:2; Gal. 2:19; 5:18; [Col. 2:14]
d Gal. 5:22
[5]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ro 7:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
j Ps. 22:23; [Matt. 5:16]; John 13:31; 17:4; [Phil. 1:11]; 1 Pet. 4:11
[6]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jn 15:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
u [Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Col. 1:6]
v John 14:13; 16:23, 24
[7]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jn 15:16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
a Gen. 8:22
b Matt. 9:37; Luke 10:2
c Dan. 12:3; Rom. 6:22
d 1 Thess. 2:19
[8]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jn 4:35). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
i Matt. 19:23; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10
j [Rom. 2:7; Heb. 10:36–39; James 5:7, 8]
8 endurance
[9]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Lk 8:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
w [John 15:5]; Phil. 1:11; Col. 1:6
[10]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Mt 13:23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
l Prov. 12:14; 14:14
[11]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Pr 18:19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
b Prov. 12:14
[12]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Pr 13:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
4 towns
d Ex. 23:6; Lev. 25:35–37; Deut. 24:12–14; [1 John 3:17]
e Matt. 5:42; Gal. 2:10
5 freely open
[13]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Dt 15:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
k Matt. 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8
6 freely open
[14]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Dt 15:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
n Deut. 8:17, 18; Job 1:21
o Job 5:11; Ps. 75:7; James 4:10
p Job 42:10–12; Ps. 75:7; 113:7; Luke 1:52
q Job 36:7; Ps. 113:8
[15]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (1 Sa 2:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
i Job 31:16–23; [Ps. 72:12; Prov. 21:13; 24:11]
[16]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Job 29:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
k Num. 10:31
l Prov. 29:7
[17]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Job 29:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
j Ps. 35:13, 14; Rom. 12:15
[18]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Job 30:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
l Job 29:12
4 Lit. her
5 Lit. loins
m [Deut. 24:13]
n Job 22:9
[19]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Job 31:15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
g Ps. 51:8
h [Ex. 15:11]; Ps. 71:19; 86:8; [Mic. 7:18]
[20]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ps 35:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
x Prov. 17:5; Matt. 25:40; 1 John 3:17
y [Job 31:15; Prov. 22:2]
[21]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Pr 14:30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
b Prov. 29:13
c Job 31:15; [Prov. 14:31]
[22]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Pr 22:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[23] New American Standard Bible. 1986; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996 (electronic edition.). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[24] New American Standard Bible. 1986; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996 (electronic edition.). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[25] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[26] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[27] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[28] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[29] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[30] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[31] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[32] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.