Fruit That Lasts: Abiding in Christ for Mission Impact

Over the years, I have read books and listened to teachers discuss tools and best practices for ministry success. Most of these are fine, and rightly applied, can help the missionary as she labors to reach the lost. We can all be helped by insights from experts. However, I have also observed well-intentioned missionaries spend countless hours trying to implement the latest strategy, all the while neglecting the primary means for success – cultivating a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus.

In John 15:5, Jesus tells his followers that the path to bearing fruit or remaining fruitful is a growing relationship with Him:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV)

This call to “abide in him” speaks of our communion with Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Bible challenges us to nurture this relationship through our daily walk. When we read the rest of this teaching in John 15, we see that our responsibility is not to create this relationship (v. 3 shows us that He did the work), but to nurture it. My pastor says that Christian growth is a combination of resting in Jesus and a disciplined, active pursuit of him. Our responsibility is to nurture this relationship; he makes it fruitful.

Vance Pittman (Vice President of Send Network at NAMB) says, “The primary call on our lives is not ministry, it is intimacy. God wants to be with us, then he wants to do something through us.”

So, what can we do to nurture and deepen our relationship with the living Christ?

Spend quality time in God’s Word

Today we have so many resources for incorporating Scripture into our life’s rhythms, whether it’s reading through a Bible plan in a year, memorizing or meditating on verses or whole books of the Bible, listening to sermons or Christian podcasts, or reading Chrisitan books based on the Bible, etc.

One thing I have personally found helpful and sought to apply over the past several years is regularly asking myself if I am spending as much time in the Word as I am reading books about the Bible or the Christian life. While those things are good and helpful, they aren’t BEST.

Spend time in prayer and worship

Any growing relationship requires communication. Prayer and worship are our methods of communication with God.  According to C.S. Lewis, “The great purpose of prayer is to come humbly, expectantly, and – because of Jesus – boldly into the conscious presence of God, to relate to him, talk with him, and ultimately to enjoy him as our great treasure.” 

For many of us, prayer only consists of presenting a list of things we want from God. Rarely do we approach prayer as an invitation to commune with him. This can come from being a people who are accustomed to doing things for God and wanting God to do things for us rather than being comfortable with just being with God.

A. W. Tozer says, “God wants worshipers over workers.” He goes on to say, “…the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship.”

If you want to deepen your prayer life, here is something to consider and try: 

Begin your prayer time with adoration, thanksgiving, and worship. Enjoy being in the presence of our Savior, who also calls us friends. You can do this by asking him to guide your mind and heart, or by singing hymns or praise songs. Then begin praying through a list of requests that may include personal needs, needs of family, friends, co-workers, or your church community, missionaries, and needs around the world.

Our bearing fruit is contingent on our abiding in Christ. Think about how you are currently pursuing Christ and nurturing your relationship with him and seek to make adjustments where needed.

So, what is the missionary benefit of this emphasis on abiding in Christ?

One of the most important outcomes of our intimate relationship with Christ is spiritual fruit.

This fruit is manifested in several ways:

• Our character is shown in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23),
• Our faithful evangelism and seeing others coming to Christ (Rom. 1:13),
• Our sanctification as we grow in holiness and obedience (Rom. 6:22),
• Our good works (Col. 1:10).
• Our love for Christ and others (Jn 15:9-10)

Each of these aspects of “fruit bearing” contributes to the missionary task. The main verb in the Great Commission is “to make disciples.” However, let’s never forget that the fruit that lasts is a direct result of our relationship with Christ.

Let’s make “abiding in him” our priority.