FAITHFULNESS AND FRUITFULNESS IN MINISTRY

1 Corinthians 4:1,2

INTRODUCTION:
In ministry, God expects us to be faithful as faithfulness is regarded as a spiritual
fruit itself. Whatever any minister may have succeeded to accomplish in the work of
God without proof of basic faithfulness will amount to vain oblation and abominable
incense before God. Isa. 1:13.
Paul admonished us to regard faithfulness as basic to acceptable fruitful ministry. 1
Cor 4: 1, 2.

1. FAITHFULNESS
The word is found over a hundred times in the scriptures as faithful, faithfully and
faithfulness.
MEANING:
Faithful
- True and truthful to the person, group or plight you are related to
- Keeping rules without bending, moving along a straight line.
- Unshaken in trust or belief about a thing
- Trustworthy, dependable, reliable e.g. a faith servant, faithful husband/wife etc.

Faithfulness
- Art of being truthful, trustworthy, and dependable.
- Ability to keep the rules, holding firmly to and practicing what is believed
- Tenacious attachment to the stem that bore you.

2. FRUITFULNESS - Jn. 15:1 -7

(a) Fruitfulness is the ability to reproduce your bare kind. Multiplying yourself,
or ability to expand, extent or enlarge beyond our little starting point.
(b) To be full of fruits especially good fruits.
(c) It is the opposite of bareness
(d) It means effectiveness, productiveness

3. CHRIST ON THE MATTER

Our Lord showed the interdependence of both words in several of His parables
and illustrations
a. Follow me, I will make you ………. Mt. 4
b. Abide in me and I in you, without me ye can do nothing ………. Jn 15:1-7
 c. Minister’s deep rooted relationship with Christ produces enduring fruits.
d. Faithfulness is the character of God – Dt. 7:9, I Cor 1:9, Rev. 1:5

4. AREAS WHERE FAITHFULNESS IS REQUIRED

Faithfulness In little and great things Mt. 25: 21 – 23, Lk 16:11
a) Stand by faith, feed on the word – II Cor. 5:7; Ps. 119:11, 105; Col. 3:16
b) Study and develop yourself to be effective relevant and marketable. II Tim
2:15; Jos. 1:8; I pet. 3:15
c) Disseminate the word without fear or favour, with simplicity and clarity. II
Tim 4:2; Mt. 9:35
d) Faithfully respect and obey church rules – pay your tithes and offerings
together with progress/growth levies – Mal. 3:8 – 12; Prov. 3:9,10; Ex.
23:15; 34:20;
Dt. 16:16,17.
e) Honour and respect the leadership in your church, department and CAC
Worldwide. Heb 13: 7,17
f) Live clean openly and privately as a source of productiveness – Rm. 12:1,2.
g) Man or woman of prayer is always effective and fruitful in ministry – 1
Thess. 5:17.
h) Take care of your personal ministry as one conscious of accountability.
Trade your talents well. Eccl. 3:15; Mt. 25:14 – 46; Lk. 19:13.

5. FRUITS FOLLOWING FAITHFULNESS

The fruit of faithfulness will endure
* God is faithful that’s why His works – physical, spiritual stand forever.
* Christ is faithful; the church stands as a testimony to it.
* Christ Apostolic Church is a product of faithful ministers of God gone by.
* As faithful ministers, established, believing and enduring Christians are the
first expected fruit of faithfulness service to the Lord.

6. CONCLUSION
Faithfulness is the root of acceptable service to the Lord because they are based
on rules. Paul said, “And if a man also strives for masteries, yet he is not crowned
except he strives lawfully….” II Tim 2:1-6