This document discusses the stages of spiritual maturity from disciple to apostle. It compares this journey to the stages of fruit bearing in the Bible. The three stages discussed are: 1. The first 3 years/as a disciple where the fruit is uncircumcised and not eaten. This represents being a new believer. 2. The 4th year where the fruit is holy but not yet eaten, representing growing in strength and the word abiding in you. 3. The 5th year and beyond/as an apostle, where the fruit is fully yielded and eaten, representing spiritual fathers who bear the fruit of the spirit abundantly.

1. LIFE ABUNDANTLY
DISCIPLE TO APOSTLE
Intro.
Jer 4:10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surelythou hast greatly deceived this
people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword
reacheth unto the soul. Apparent contradiction, facts and emotions don’t
add up to promised deliverance.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly. Christian life is like all human life, just with the volume
turned up.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them. The same Saviour that delivered you the last time is still in office.
TIMING: DISCIPLE TO APOSTLE
Lev 19:23-25
23
And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have
planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as
uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcisedunto you: it shall
not be eaten of.
24
But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy
to praise the LORD withal.
25
And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit
thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD
your God.
I. 3 years
II. 4th
year
III. 5th
year

2. Josh 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of
the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more;
but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Josh 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcisingall
the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were
whole.
Deut 6:10-12
10
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have
brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to
Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou
buildedst not,
11
And houses full of all good things, which thou filledstnot,
and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which
thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
12
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of
the landof Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Prov. 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other
men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them.

3. Three years:
Lev 19:23-25
23
And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have
planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as
uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcisedunto you: it shall
not be eaten of.
24
But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy
to praise the LORD withal.
25
And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit
thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD
your God.
Dan 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat,
and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at
the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Luke 13:7-9
7
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these
three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down;
why cumbereth it the ground?
8
And he answeringsaidunto him, Lord, let
it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9
And if it bear
fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
abode with him fifteen days.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three
years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Age groups of Maturity: 1John 2:13-14
I. Child 0-3 years/ all things new
II. Young man 4th
year/ strong and the word of God abideth in you…
III. Fathers 5th
year +/ ye have known him that is from the
beginning…

4. (1John 2:13-14) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the
beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I
write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14)
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the
beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of
God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Maturity of Fathers: Lev 25:18-22
(Lev 25:18-22) Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do
them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. 19)
And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye
shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20)
And if ye shall say, What shall we eat
the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: 21)
Then I will
command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three
years. 22)
And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year;
until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.
 Blessing in the 6th
year (3yrs fruit)
 Sew land 8th
year (eat old fruit, like 2days manna)
 9th
year eat new fruit
Examples: Mark 4:26-29
(Mark 4:26-29) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed
into the ground;
27)
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up,
he knoweth not how. 28)
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then
the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29)
But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
(John 15:1-2) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2)
Every branch in
me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he
purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

5. Fruit = Fruit of the Spirit
(Rom 8:23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body.
(Gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
(Eph 5:9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
(Ps 1:3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.