The Multiplication Mission Pt. 3
In Part 2 I talked about the cause of Christ, which is to produce much fruit, which is other true followers of Jesus Christ. We have a mission of multiplying disciples. But we also have a mission of multiplying the representation of Christ; and that’s the other fruit the Bible refers to. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23 NLV. Those are essentially nine very unique qualities of the character of Christ!
Ideally, every true follower of Jesus is being consistently and constantly formed in the character of Christ, developing his character; which in turn enables us to demonstrate his cause. Jesus multiplies his ministry through the life of every true follower who is, as Paul says, serving as a Christ Ambassador- 2 Cor. 5:20! This too is an essential aspect of our mission, since we can’t really demonstrate his cause without developing his character. What the world really wants to see, is the real Jesus- not the flannel graph Jesus or the Judge Judy Jesus, or dare I say, the Westboro Baptist Church Jesus. They long for the true representation of a loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled Jesus, lived out through the lives of those who call him, Lord.
That’s why, it is also critical that we submit ourselves to Christ (see Mark 8:34-38) and thus allow the Holy Spirit to produce this kind of fruit… Because after all, to really love, I need Jesus. To really be joyful, I need Jesus. To really have peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…. yeah, you guessed it, I NEED JESUS! And I need Jesus- his character to be truly represented in and through my life because my world NEEDS JESUS! This has to be our one and only motivation.
Again, how’s it work? Simple… yet, oftentimes such a struggle for us- surrendering our will, submitting to his will, and serving willfully! Then the Spirit of Christ has every opportunity to not only produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), but enable us to produce the fruit of the Vine (Jn. 15)!
