Spiritual Fruitfulness From Faithfulness
Why the constant striving? I often reflect on and remember the past seasons of the Lord’s faithfulness and breakthrough. This is actually a healthy practice and a Biblical instruction. In part, I am prompted to remember so I can encourage myself with the Lord’s faithfulness to me and others. This is why I began to document a prophetic history document years ago. As I remember, I then begin thinking of ways to recreate those circumstances and seasons. I often think, "If only I can get Those people, That amount of money, This place, That schedule, Those circumstances, etc."
This is my own human response and natural attempt to produce something in my own strength. We often think to ourselves “If it worked in the past, surely it will work again.” The only challenge is that the past season and all that was good in our life was a direct result of the favor and grace of our loving Father. Jesus gives us such a beautiful understanding of this from John 15:5 in the analogy of of farmer, vine, and the branches that are connected to the vine in the larger garden.
John 15:5 “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.”
This process cannot be replicated or reproduced in our own labor. It is God's gift to us. There is a coming harvest and it will spring forth supernaturally as we are faithful in our small and insignificant life-labor to remain in Christ’s heart. God our Heavenly Father will release his supernatural favor to us because it is His joy and love to do so.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted the church, and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth.”
John 3:6 'For the natural realm only gives birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life!'
David Futrell
International House of Prayer-Miami
Prayer Missionary & Director