I. From Seed to Shoot to Fruit
Faith starts out as a seed that stretches to become a shoot.
That shoot is destined to eventually develop fruit.
Along the way faith learns to speak. It shall not remain mute,
Provided it receives good care and doesn’t “get the boot.”
Sometimes when Jesus puts a seed of faith in someone’s hand,
That person sees hard ground and simply cannot understand
How best to help that seed grow up into a miracle.
Faith is a substance which contains amazing potential
But if you wrap it up in rags of your own righteousness
Then you will surely find yourself engulfed by fierce distress.
For, like a buried talent, that poor seed of faith can’t grow
Through your own sin-stained toil. You must let God help you sow
The faith that works through love, made possible through his shed blood,
A perfect sacrifice for sin. Receive the cleansing flood!
Remember: Those who grew their talents did it through a trade,
Replacing their despair with joy for which their Savior paid.
His grace given so freely is the soil that will nourish.
Through the power of His Spirit, He enables faith to flourish.
II. Faith Produces Fruit Through Love
“For verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Miracles are a fruit of faith, but faith starts as a seed. The important thing here, however, isn’t the seed itself. It’s the soil in which the seed is planted.
“But that (seed, of faith) on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” – Luke 8:15
So then, must we strain to bring forth fruit?
“Faith . . . works by love.” – Galatians 5:6
“God is love.” – I John 4:8
“Love (charity). . . believes all things. . .” – I Corinthians 13:1-7
“I (Jesus) am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.”
“Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
“You shall know them by their fruits.” – Matthew 7:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
Signs, Wonders, Miracles 