FRUITFUL CHRISTIANS
Genesis 49:22-24 (King James Version)
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
¨ The name Joseph means "increase,"
¨ health and prosperity
¨ Health is essential to fruitfulness
¨ Is thy soul in health? If so, then may you expect to be fruitful in the work of the Lord.
¨ Let us think of his—
I. Character
¨ "Joseph is a fruitful bough." Not a barren, withered branch in the vine
A. He is full of sap as by the Spirit of the Lord.
¨ John 15:8 (King James Version)
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
II. Position
¨ "A fruitful bough by a well."
¨ The roots have found out a place of fulness, and they abide there
A. A tree planted by rivers of water
¨ Psalms 1:3 (King James Version)
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
B. All fulness is in Christ, abide in Him.
1. Let the roots of your heart's affections be planted in Him, and you shall not know when drought cometh.
III. Usefulness
¨ "His branches run over the wall."
¨ Over the wall of selfishness and sectarianism
A. Something offered to outsiders and passers-by
1. Freely ye have received, freely give
2. Let your light so shine.
IV. Sufferings
¨ "The archers sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him."
¨ Matthew 5:11 (King James Version)
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
A. On your part He is glorified
¨ 1 Peter 4:13-14 (King James Version)
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
V. Strength
¨ "His bow abode in strength, and his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob."
A. My grace is sufficient for thee. Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power
¨ Colossians 1:11 (King James Version)
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
¨ Psalms 27:14 (King James Version)
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.