We can only bear fruit by remaining faithful to Jesus Christ. John 15:4, NIV. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine, Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” What kind of spiritual fruit does God expect from us? Galatians 5:22-23, TLB. “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” What man sows in this life, he reaps. Galatians 6:7, NIV. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” A person can be known by the way he lives. Matthew 7:20, NIV. “Thus, by their fruits you will recognize them.” John 15:1–8 — Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. Jesus teaches that: God expects fruit, God prunes us so we produce more fruit, a branch that produces no fruit is cut off, and Bearing fruit proves we are His disciples. Jesus says: “My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” Fruit is not optional — it’s the evidence of a real relationship with Christ. Matthew 7:16–20 — You Know a Tree by Its Fruit. Jesus says: Good trees produce good fruit, bad trees produce bad fruit, and fruit reveals the true condition of the heart. This means your actions, words, and lifestyle show who you belong to. Colossians 1:10 — Fruit in Every Good Work. Paul says believers should: Live worthy of the Lord, please Him, and bear fruit in every good work.
HOW ARE YOU LIVING, ARE YOU BEARING GOOD FRUIT, BAD FRUIT, OR NO FRUIT? WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOUR LIFESTYLE WHO DO THEY SAY YOU BELONG TOO, THINK ABOUT IT.
What does God expect of us? Deuteronomy 10:12-13, NIV. “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” God Expects Us to Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly. Micah 6:8 is the clearest summary of God’s expectations: “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” This captures: Justice — fairness, integrity, righteousness, Mercy — compassion that reflects God’s own heart, and Humility — obedience and reverence toward God. God Expects Love — for Him and for People. Jesus said the greatest commandments are: Mark 12:30–31 Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. This is the foundation of everything God wants. God Expects Obedience From a Loving Heart. Obedience is not about legalism — it flows from love. God Expects Obedience From a Loving Heart. Obedience is not about legalism — it flows from love. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” God Expects Holiness. 1 Peter 1:15–16 “Be holy, because I am holy.” Because He is holy, He calls us to be holy. Holiness means being set apart, living differently, and reflecting God’s character. God Expects Us to Show Justice and Mercy Toward Others. Care for the vulnerable (James 1:27). Treat people with fairness and compassion (Micah 6:8). This is not optional — it is central to God’s heart. God doesn’t want empty actions or religious performance. He wants: Your heart, your trust, your love, and your life surrendered to Him. “What God wants is really quite simple: He wants us.”
The Bible teaches that the Christian’s potential is extraordinary because it is rooted not in human ability, but in God’s purpose, Christ’s redemption, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Your Potential Begins With God’s Purpose. The Bible frames potential as something God designed into every believer. Jeremiah 29:11 teaches that God has intentional plans for His people — plans for hope, future, and flourishing. Ephesians 2:10 teaches that Believers are God’s workmanship, created for good works prepared in advance. Our potential is not random — it is tied to God’s eternal purpose for our life. Our potential is fully unlocked only through Christ’s redeeming work. Romans 5:18–19 teaches Through His obedience and sacrifice, believers are restored and empowered to live righteously. The Holy Spirit Empowers Your Potential. The Spirit is the engine of Christian growth and transformation. Believers are transformed into Christ’s image “with intensifying glory” by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches us that In Christ, you become a new creation, capable of living beyond old limitations. Philippians 4:13 teaches us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We must understand that our potential is supernatural because the Spirit Himself works in us. God Expects You to Develop Your Potential. Potential is not meant to stay dormant. The parable of the talents shows God expects believers to use and multiply what He gives (Matthew 25:14–30). Christians are called to grow in faith, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:7). Paul urges believers to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22). We must realize that our potential grows through obedience, discipline, and spiritual maturity. THINK ABOUT THIS: God Sees Potential Where Others Don’t. Scripture repeatedly shows God calling out hidden potential. God chose David not for appearance but for his heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Gideon was called a “mighty warrior” while hiding in fear (Judges 6:12). Jesus chose ordinary men — fishermen, tax collectors — and turned them into world-changing apostles (Acts 4:13). God sees what you can become, not just what you are right now. Let us realize that our Christian potential doesn’t end in this life. Believers will one day be fully transformed in resurrection glory (Philippians 3:20–21). Our potential reaches its fullness in eternity — perfected, glorified, and complete in Christ. THE BOTTOM LINE IS: A Christian’s potential is: God-designed (purpose), Christ-restored (redemption), Spirit-empowered (transformation), Growth-oriented (discipleship), Often hidden but God-revealed (calling), Ultimately eternal (glorification), AND THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD, AMEN AND AMEN.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Romans 16:24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT GOD’S GRACE. LET US THANK GOD FOR HIS FRESH GRACE THAT HE BLESSES US WITH EVERYDAY.
CHECK YOURSELF TOO MANY PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME CHECKING EVERYONE ELSE, BUT DON’T TAKE TIME TO CHECK THEIRSELF.
The Bible repeatedly tells believers to check themselves first —check their faith, motives, behavior, and spiritual condition. Check yourself before you check me, check yourself before you check others. 2 Corinthians 13:5 — “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” This is the strongest “check yourself” verse in Scripture. Lamentations 3:40 — “Let us examine and test our ways, and return to the LORD.” Self‑examination is tied to repentance. YES CHECK YOURSELF, GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER BEFORE YOU TRY TO GET SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE IN ORDER. Judge yourself before judging others. Matthew 7:3–5 — Remove the beam from your own eye before addressing someone else’s speck. Jesus teaches: self‑correction comes before correcting others. God teaches us to test our own work, not compare yourself to others. Galatians 6:4 — “Each one should test his own work.” This is personal accountability — not comparison. Let God search your heart Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God… see if there is any offensive way in me.” This is the deepest form of “check yourself”: inviting God to reveal what you can’t see. What “Check Yourself” Means Biblically Across all these passages, the Bible defines self‑examination as: Checking your faith (Are you walking with Christ?) Checking your motives (Why are you doing what you do?) Checking your actions (Do they match God’s Word?) Checking your heart (Is there sin, pride, bitterness, or self‑deception?) Checking your direction (Are you moving toward God or away from Him?)
The Bible teaches clearly and repeatedly that God listens to prayer and God answers prayer—faithfully, attentively, and according to His perfect will. This is one of the most consistent themes across Scripture. God hears the prayers of His people. Scripture emphasizes that God is not distant—He leans in to listen. 1 John 5:14 — God hears us when we ask according to His will. Psalm 34:17 — “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” Jeremiah 29:12 — “You will call on me… and I will listen to you.” Psalm 145:18 — God is near to all who call on Him sincerely. Psalm 66:19–20 — God attends to the voice of prayer; He does not reject it. Takeaway: God’s posture toward His people is attentive, compassionate, and responsive. God answers prayer—yes, no, or wait. The Bible shows that God always responds, though not always in the way we expect. Jeremiah 33:3 — “Call to me and I will answer you.” Matthew 7:7 — Ask, seek, knock—God promises a response. Isaiah 65:24 — God answers even before we call. Mark 11:24 — Believe when you pray, and you will receive. John 14:13 — Jesus answers prayer to glorify the Father. Takeaway: Every genuine prayer receives a divine response—rooted in God’s wisdom, timing, and love. God answers according to His will. Prayer is powerful, but it is not mechanical. God responds in alignment with His perfect purposes. 1 John 5:14–15 — If we ask according to His will, He hears and grants our requests. John 15:7 — Abiding in Christ aligns our desires with God’s will. Romans 8:27 — The Spirit intercedes according to God’s will. Takeaway: God’s answers are not random—they are wise, purposeful, and perfectly timed. God listens especially to the righteous. Not meaning “perfect people,” but those who walk with Him sincerely. James 5:16 — The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Proverbs 15:29 — God hears the prayers of the righteous. 1 Peter 3:12 — God’s ears are open to the prayers of those who do right. Takeaway: A life aligned with God strengthens the power and clarity of prayer. God invites persistent prayer. He wants us to keep coming—not because He is reluctant, but because persistence expresses faith. Matthew 7:7 — Keep asking, seeking, knocking. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 — Pray continually. Jesus’ parables (Luke 11, Luke 18) reinforce this truth (supported by the themes in the sources). Takeaway: Persistence is not nagging—it is faith refusing to quit.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER.
Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Psalm 3:4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. Psalm 4:3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him. Psalm 18:3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 4:3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him. 1 John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
TAKE YOUR CONCERNS TO GOD IN PRAYER. LIVE GODLY AND BE BLESSED BY GOD.
The Bible teaches that good health is a gift from God, a responsibility, and a result of living in alignment with His wisdom. Good health is seen as something God desires for His people. 3 John 1:2 expresses this clearly “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.” This shows that physical health and spiritual health are connected. The Bible teaches stewardship of the body. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and you should honor God with it. Scripture often links wisdom, obedience, and healthy living. Proverbs 3:7–8 teaches that fearing the Lord and turning from evil brings “healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” This shows that spiritual alignment affects physical well‑being. Emotional health affects physical health. The Bible recognizes the mind–body connection long before modern science. Proverbs 17:22 says: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Joy, peace, and hope strengthen the body; stress and bitterness weaken it. Prayer is connected to healing. The Bible teaches believers to pray for the sick. James 5:14–15 says the prayer of faith brings healing and restoration.
