Prophetic scripture: Ezekiel 36:20-27 (Brand Protection and Season Renewal) 

 

Genesis 1:28: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

 

> The path to dominion starts with fruitfulness. Fruitfulness starts with God.

 

The divine mandate to man begins with a call to fruitfulness, laying the foundation for dominion over the earth. It is essential to understand that true fruitfulness is initiated and sustained by our relationship with God.

 

Three Stages of Engagement for Fruit-bearing

 

I. Come unto Me (Matthew 11:28)

 

The invitation to “Come” highlights a posture of humility and surrender before the Creator.

A. Humility: This attitude opposes pride and recognises our dependence on God's grace.

- Romans 12:3: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

- James 4:6: “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

Proverbs 18:12: “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”

 

B. Gentle and Quiet Spirit:

- 1 Peter 3:4: “Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

- Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

 

II. Follow Me (Matthew 4:19)

 

The command to “Follow Me” implies a life of obedience and a willing alignment to God's will.

A. Obedience: This is more than mere compliance; it is a heartfelt commitment to God's authority.

- Hebrews 5:8: “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

- 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

 

B. Contrition and Brokenness:

- Isaiah 57:15: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”

- Isaiah 66:2: “These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

- 1 Peter 5:5: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.’”

 

III. Abide in Me (John 15:4)

 

The call to “Abide” denotes a life of dependence and continual communion with Christ.

A. Dependence: True fruitfulness flows from a reliance on God's strength and sustenance.