Fruit.
Suppose you have a fruit tree in your yard what do you expect of it? Do you expect when you planted it that it would instantly have fruit? No.
Would you expect it to have fruit the next day? Or the next day? Or the next? When should you expect it to have fruit realistically?
It would depend upon what kind of fruit tree it was, wouldn't it? All fruit trees grow differently, have different seasons, right?
Yet no fruit tree will instantly produce fruit, it's impossible.
Fruit on a tree will only happen over time and maturing. It's no wonder that we talk of the fruit of the Spirit and how we desire to have the fruit of the Spirit, yet we need to realize it will only happen the more time we spend with the Gardener letting him cultivate us into producing the richest fruit that is possible for us to produce through Him.
We can't begin to even hope that we will produce fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit in us. Anything we manage to produce on our own might have the outward appearance of being the tastiest fruit in the world but one bite would expose the truth of the matter. Fruit we produce on our own will be bitter and inedible, it will be unacceptable. We must cling to our Lord and Savior and pray that the Holy Spirit will come live in us so that we can have the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Listen to the following few verses-
Proverbs {10:16} The labour of the righteous tendeth to life the fruit of the wicked to sin.
{11:30} The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
Jer. {17:10} I the LORD search the heart, [I[ try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer. {21:14} But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
Jer. {32:19} Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Hos. {10:13} Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Amos {6:12} Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock
Micah {7:13} Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Matt. {3:8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {3:9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {3:10} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matt. {7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. {7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matt. {12:33} Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
Mark {4:26} And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; {4:27} And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. {4:28} For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. {4:29} But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Luke {3:9} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Luke {6:43} For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {6:44} For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. {6:45} A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
Luke {8:14} And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. {8:15} But that 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.
John {15:1} I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. {15:2} 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 {15:3} Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. {15:4} Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {15:5} I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {15:6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned {15:16} Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. {15:17} These things I command you, that ye love one another. {15:18} If the world hate you, ye know that [it hated] me before it hated you. {15:19} If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Ro. {6:20} For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. {6:21} What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. {6:22} But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. {6:23} For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. {5:9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {5:10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {5:11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them.
Heb. {12:11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. {12:12} Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; {12:13} And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {12:14} Follow peace with all [men,] and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever, helping us to walk in His ways, filled with the Holy Spirit by the grace of our Lord, by His mercy, by His forgiveness. Father, ruler of heaven and earth, bless us all. Your will be done, not ours.
Amen.
Fruit.
Suppose you have a fruit tree in your yard what do you expect of it? Do you expect when you planted it that it would instantly have fruit? No.
Would you expect it to have fruit the next day? Or the next day? Or the next? When should you expect it to have fruit realistically?
It would depend upon what kind of fruit tree it was, wouldn't it? All fruit trees grow differently, have different seasons, right?
Yet no fruit tree will instantly produce fruit, it's impossible.
Fruit on a tree will only happen over time and maturing. It's no wonder that we talk of the fruit of the Spirit and how we desire to have the fruit of the Spirit, yet we need to realize it will only happen the more time we spend with the Gardener letting him cultivate us into producing the richest fruit that is possible for us to produce through Him.
We can't begin to even hope that we will produce fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit in us. Anything we manage to produce on our own might have the outward appearance of being the tastiest fruit in the world but one bite would expose the truth of the matter. Fruit we produce on our own will be bitter and inedible, it will be unacceptable. We must cling to our Lord and Savior and pray that the Holy Spirit will come live in us so that we can have the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Listen to the following few verses-
Proverbs {10:16} The labour of the righteous tendeth to life the fruit of the wicked to sin.
{11:30} The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
Jer. {17:10} I the LORD search the heart, [I[ try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer. {21:14} But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
Jer. {32:19} Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Hos. {10:13} Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Amos {6:12} Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock
Micah {7:13} Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Matt. {3:8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {3:9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {3:10} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matt. {7:15} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. {7:16} Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? {7:17} Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. {7:18} A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {7:19} Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {7:20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matt. {12:33} Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
Mark {4:26} And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; {4:27} And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. {4:28} For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. {4:29} But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Luke {3:9} And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Luke {6:43} For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. {6:44} For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. {6:45} A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
Luke {8:14} And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. {8:15} But that 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.
John {15:1} I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. {15:2} 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 {15:3} Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. {15:4} Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {15:5} I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {15:6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned {15:16} Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. {15:17} These things I command you, that ye love one another. {15:18} If the world hate you, ye know that [it hated] me before it hated you. {15:19} If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Ro. {6:20} For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. {6:21} What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. {6:22} But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. {6:23} For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. {5:9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {5:10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {5:11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them.
Heb. {12:11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. {12:12} Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; {12:13} And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {12:14} Follow peace with all [men,] and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever, helping us to walk in His ways, filled with the Holy Spirit by the grace of our Lord, by His mercy, by His forgiveness. Father, ruler of heaven and earth, bless us all. Your will be done, not ours.
Amen.
Showing posts with label Fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruit. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Light Revealing Dirt
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Galatians 5:22-23
Why is there no law against such things? Should there be? The answer- no. What purpose would such a law serve? Laws do serve purposes don't they? Otherwise why have them at all. A sin is a transgression of the law. The law exists to determine a standard of existence for those who have the possibility of choice. Given a choice there has to be something to choose between, a freedom to choose. It is no good to say you have a choice if the two choices are one and the same thing. There has to be a difference for a choice to matter. If there were only chocolate muffins on a plate I have no choice but to choose a chocolate muffin - if in fact I had to choose a muffin and had no choice but to choose one.
When man was created they were created with the possibility of choosing. It gave them a freedom from being mere creature with only the ability to follow one way and one way only.
Some say we should never have been allowed a choice at all.
Without it though we are merely stick figures, dolls to toy with, unable to truly love our Creator because there would be no other choice but to love Him. Forced love.
Some say you have to love family, but is it true? No. There are many people that don't love their family, in fact many that despise them. You don't have to. You should perhaps, under ideal circumstances but you don't have to. Some people say mothers have to love their babes, and yet they don't have to. Again, under ideal circumstances they will, but they don't have to, they are not forced to do so.
We understand the laws of our society exist to keep society functioning peacefully as possible.
The laws of God exist to reveal Him to us, to reveal His ways, His love.
Reading this-- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Galatians 5:22-23
We understand right away don't we?
Do we have a law against love? Joy? Peace? Longsuffering? Gentleness? Goodness? Faith? Meekness? Temperance?
No. None I know of. And who would ever seriously propose there should be laws against these things?
These things are the fruit of the Spirit.
If we have the Spirit indwelling in us as Jesus promised then the result of that indwelling - the fruit that grows- will be these *good* things, things there is no law against because they are God-ly things, they are right, they are just, they are wholesome.
Do you want to know if you have the Spirit dwelling in you, ask yourself how loving, how joyful, how peaceful, how longsuffering, how gentle, how good, how faithful, how meek, how temperate you are and there is some indication of the answer.
If you're like me you'll cringe knowing how far short of these marks we are. Maybe you're not like me and glory to God for that.
I read or heard once that the closer we get to the light the more dark corners the light shines into revealing the dust and the dirt, the hidden cobwebs. It's true. The indwelling of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit are such wonderful things, in fact they are points of light revealing the dust and dirt, the cobwebs and swampy dankness in our live and letting us know not to despair as some want to do (yes, it's very, very, very easy to despair) we see the dirt and how much easier can it get than to hide dirt rather than clean it up? Cover it up with the rug, push it under the bed, tuck it aside because it's easier and we don't have to look at it. That's just it...we don't want to see the darkness and dirtiness of our lives, so it's easier to keep the dirt hidden and be satisfied with the way we are because anything else means a struggle.
Am I advocating working for salvation? NO. I never do and never will. Salvation comes by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus who will give His Holy Spirit to us, the same Holy Spirit whose fruit are all those wonderful things we're talking about.
When the Holy Spirit reveals our shortcomings, our failings it's not so we hide from them and despair of ever being different, it's to encourage us to get closer ever closer to the One and Only person who can ever make us clean. The work we do is the effort we make to fall at the feet of Jesus and cling to Him, to His righteousness, His love.
Don't despair when the darkness and dirt in your life is revealed, we have to thank and praise God for allowing us to see our failings and recognize our need of Him.
May the Lord our God, our Savior, our Redeemer have mercy upon us all. May the Holy Spirit dwell with us and may the fruits of the indwelling be realized in us. When the darkness of our shortcomings rise up harshly let it be to remind us to cling tighter to the cross, to our Hope. The Holy Spirit will work within us, by the grace of God let us not try to push Him away and keep our darkness hidden but praise God now and always. May the Light shine ever brighter upon us leading us to the source of that Light, that Life, to Jesus.
By His Grace!
Amen
Why is there no law against such things? Should there be? The answer- no. What purpose would such a law serve? Laws do serve purposes don't they? Otherwise why have them at all. A sin is a transgression of the law. The law exists to determine a standard of existence for those who have the possibility of choice. Given a choice there has to be something to choose between, a freedom to choose. It is no good to say you have a choice if the two choices are one and the same thing. There has to be a difference for a choice to matter. If there were only chocolate muffins on a plate I have no choice but to choose a chocolate muffin - if in fact I had to choose a muffin and had no choice but to choose one.
When man was created they were created with the possibility of choosing. It gave them a freedom from being mere creature with only the ability to follow one way and one way only.
Some say we should never have been allowed a choice at all.
Without it though we are merely stick figures, dolls to toy with, unable to truly love our Creator because there would be no other choice but to love Him. Forced love.
Some say you have to love family, but is it true? No. There are many people that don't love their family, in fact many that despise them. You don't have to. You should perhaps, under ideal circumstances but you don't have to. Some people say mothers have to love their babes, and yet they don't have to. Again, under ideal circumstances they will, but they don't have to, they are not forced to do so.
We understand the laws of our society exist to keep society functioning peacefully as possible.
The laws of God exist to reveal Him to us, to reveal His ways, His love.
Reading this-- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Galatians 5:22-23
We understand right away don't we?
Do we have a law against love? Joy? Peace? Longsuffering? Gentleness? Goodness? Faith? Meekness? Temperance?
No. None I know of. And who would ever seriously propose there should be laws against these things?
These things are the fruit of the Spirit.
If we have the Spirit indwelling in us as Jesus promised then the result of that indwelling - the fruit that grows- will be these *good* things, things there is no law against because they are God-ly things, they are right, they are just, they are wholesome.
Do you want to know if you have the Spirit dwelling in you, ask yourself how loving, how joyful, how peaceful, how longsuffering, how gentle, how good, how faithful, how meek, how temperate you are and there is some indication of the answer.
If you're like me you'll cringe knowing how far short of these marks we are. Maybe you're not like me and glory to God for that.
I read or heard once that the closer we get to the light the more dark corners the light shines into revealing the dust and the dirt, the hidden cobwebs. It's true. The indwelling of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit are such wonderful things, in fact they are points of light revealing the dust and dirt, the cobwebs and swampy dankness in our live and letting us know not to despair as some want to do (yes, it's very, very, very easy to despair) we see the dirt and how much easier can it get than to hide dirt rather than clean it up? Cover it up with the rug, push it under the bed, tuck it aside because it's easier and we don't have to look at it. That's just it...we don't want to see the darkness and dirtiness of our lives, so it's easier to keep the dirt hidden and be satisfied with the way we are because anything else means a struggle.
Am I advocating working for salvation? NO. I never do and never will. Salvation comes by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus who will give His Holy Spirit to us, the same Holy Spirit whose fruit are all those wonderful things we're talking about.
When the Holy Spirit reveals our shortcomings, our failings it's not so we hide from them and despair of ever being different, it's to encourage us to get closer ever closer to the One and Only person who can ever make us clean. The work we do is the effort we make to fall at the feet of Jesus and cling to Him, to His righteousness, His love.
Don't despair when the darkness and dirt in your life is revealed, we have to thank and praise God for allowing us to see our failings and recognize our need of Him.
May the Lord our God, our Savior, our Redeemer have mercy upon us all. May the Holy Spirit dwell with us and may the fruits of the indwelling be realized in us. When the darkness of our shortcomings rise up harshly let it be to remind us to cling tighter to the cross, to our Hope. The Holy Spirit will work within us, by the grace of God let us not try to push Him away and keep our darkness hidden but praise God now and always. May the Light shine ever brighter upon us leading us to the source of that Light, that Life, to Jesus.
By His Grace!
Amen
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