Fruit that Remains- by Bishop Travis Gore
SPRING 2024 ISSUE | 4 minute read
In John 15:16, we are reminded about Christ’s purpose for placing us in the world. That purpose is simply to bear fruit. Basically, He’s calling us as believers to have such a personal, intimate relationship with Him that it results in His life being lived through us to produce or bear what is eternal.
As ministers, it should be our desire to have depth in our walk with God so that spiritual and eternal fruit is produced. Not just personal fruit but the fruit of the souls of men and women who are forever changed by encountering Christ. The great Welsh evangelist Evan Roberts said, “I felt ablaze with a desire to go through the length and breadth of Wales to tell of the Savior: and had it been possible, I was willing to pay God for doing so.”
The fruits of our labor matter. However, it’s not about adding another number to our minister’s report, making a social media post about our most recent spiritual results, or even sharing our latest success stories with our colleagues. It’s simply about leading men and women and boys and girls on a journey with Christ that will outlast and outlive us. They will be the fruit that “remains” long after our race is run.
The spiritual formation of those God has sent us to minister to might look different from one person to the next. However, I believe we should strive to lead people to an altar of salvation through the waters of baptism and into the upper room. We typically call those things spiritual results, but I would offer that it’s also spiritual fruit that God is helping us to cultivate in our place of ministry. There are probably a thousand and one ways to accomplish some of this, but for the sake of time and space, let me offer three suggestions to assist in maximizing our efforts in producing fruit that remains.
1. Connect
· Just as Jesus did with the women at the well in John 4, we must find common ground and conversation starters that will help us connect with those who are in spiritual need.
· Use the pulpit God has given you in your local church or wherever it might be that you are doing ministry to lead people to connect with Christ. Preach about the need for salvation. Preach about the importance of water baptism and what it means. Preach about the Holy Spirit and His desire to fill those who desire that gift.
2. Create
· Give people opportunities to respond to an invitation for salvation. Be intentional about scheduling dates for people to be baptized in water. You don’t have to relegate it to the last part of a Sunday morning or Sunday evening service, either. Make baptism important. Include it as a part of the worship service. Give altar invitations, yes, even on a Sunday morning, and pray for people to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. People cannot and will not take the next step in their spiritual walk if they are never given a chance to do so.
3. Celebrate
· Anytime someone makes spiritual progress, it's a big deal. Celebrate spiritual victories on a personal level with them, but celebrate as a church as well. When someone accepts Christ or is filled with the Holy Spirit, tell the church what has happened so they too can be a part of rejoicing. Send out personal invites ahead of baptisms to friends and family of those getting baptized. Take pictures of every individual baptism and post it on your church's social media page. As they come up out of the water, sing a line or two of an upbeat worship song that celebrates new spiritual life.
I'm not interested in just knowing a name and including them in an overall number. I want fruit that will remain, so when I get to heaven and hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant," I'll be able to look around and see the fruit from my labors here on this earth.
Bishop Travis Gore
State Ministries Director
Virginia Church of God State Office