Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The International Standard Version of the Bible reads that same verse like this--
(ISV) Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.
The Contemporary English Version of the Bible reads this way--
(CEV) You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to save you.
And the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible reads as follows--
(LITV) On account of this, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of evil, in meekness receive the implanted Word being able to save your souls.
Where do people get the impression that they can live immorally and still claim salvation? I'm talking about a knowing, willing acceptance of their immorality? Maybe I’m being too harsh. I feel like I'm being too harsh - as if I'm being JUDGMENTAL and SELF-RIGHTEOUS, even though I’m not pointing a single finger at a single person. I look at my own life and know my own personal struggles and wonder if I'll ever be without filthiness in my life, and in wondering comes that sense of hopelessness that the Devil loves to use on us.
The path is STRAIGHT and NARROW.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The Bible tells it like it is without any sugar-coating.
We are lost hopelessly without our Savior.
We have to put away all the filth in our lives, we have to shun all evil- how much evil? ALL evil. We have to RECEIVE the WORD put within us with meekness if we are to have any hope of salvation.
Humbly we must receive the Word.
Conscientiously we need to stay away from all evil. Conscientiously we must choose right over wrong. Conscientiously we MUST choose to obey God.
Life is all about choices and we are accountable for the choices. We must choose to receive the Word meekly.
Our hope is solely in Christ.
We must choose Christ.
Maybe I sound like a broken record- constantly harping on our accountability to God, constantly shouting that we are saved by Christ's sacrifice, by Christ's righteousness, but I CAN'T stop. We live in a world that seems hopeless, and Christ is the ONLY hope we have. CHOOSING CHRIST is choosing to obey, it is choosing life over death, it is choosing salvation over hopelessness. It's a constant choice, a living breathing choice that surrounds us always and if we forget that then we are without hope. WE CHOOSE.
By the grace of God may we choose life eternal through our Savior over ANY and ALL evil that seems tempting to us. Only Christ is eternal, evil is temporary and one day will be gone forever.
In His MERCY!
Amen!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Satan's Sole Purpose
We WANT to walk upright, don't we?
We desire to walk upright in the paths of righteousness, yes?
We long to follow the ways of our Savior, correct?
Constantly we are buffeted by the enemy who doesn't want us to do any of those things. It is the enemy's JOB, it is the enemy's SOLE PURPOSE to keep US- each of us- from following the Savior. If something is your sole purpose what exactly does that mean?
You've heard someone say before - 'It's my sole purpose in life to love you, or they might say it's my sole purpose in life to get revenge on you.' They're in essence saying that they are LIVING for this reason. They are living to love you and without you they have no other purpose in life. Or they are living to hurt you and for no other reason. We know that when people say stuff like that it's usually an exaggeration. The same person who said they live to love you might turn around and ask for a divorce a few years later because they no longer can stand to be near you. As well as the one seeking revenge, their ire may cool and life make take on new purpose. But with Satan his IRE never cools, His love to deceive us never grows cold and will exist as long as He exists. This is the truth. He will EVER go about seeking to devour who He can, untiringly in his angelic spirit heritage he needs no sleep, no resting. And if we understand how intense it can be on a human to human level to have someone with a 'sole purpose' that is very changeable, how much more intense is it on the spirit level with a being who won't ever change?
We desperately wish to be Christ's and we have an enemy that will stop at nothing to keep us in doubt, keep us confused, keep us questioning, keep us hopeless and all he has to do is hold up our shortcomings to us and make us believe we will never be Christ's not with how exceedingly sinful we are. He loves to act as a circus funhouse mirror reflecting back at us our evilness, and yes, sin is evil and the sin we commit is evil- we can't pretty it up and say it's just a tiny little bitty sin, not one of those awful ones. And the funhouse effect of this mirror is to make us feel HOPELESS, so evil we can never be forgiven, never hope to be sin-free in Christ. He gets us to keep looking at ourselves so that we have no desire to take our eyes off ourselves and our failings. And as long as Satan has us looking at ourselves we are not looking at our SAVIOR! We have no hope in ourselves, NONE and the sooner we realize this the better. We have to STOP looking at ourselves and look beyond ourselves to our Savior. HE IS able to save us, we are NOT able to save ourselves!
The questions were…
We WANT to walk upright, don't we?
We desire to walk upright in the paths of righteousness, yes?
We long to follow the ways of our Savior, correct?
Then we have to LISTEN to the LORD! We can't close our ears to Him and expect to walk upright. We can't ignore Him and expect to walk upright. We can't close our eyes and expect to follow Him. Do you know how quickly one falls off a path once they are blindfolded? If we blind ourselves, if we keep ourselves in the dark we can't expect to find light on the path.
Remember yesterday's study… all those things we are told to do to understand the fear of the Lord and to find the knowledge of God?
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST!
Actions, verbs!
Here read it again…
Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
And there is more...
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Pro 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
Pro 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
Pro 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Pro 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Pro 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Pro 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
Pro 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Righteous and wicked.
We choose.
We are told to act in upright ways - to -
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST
And when we DO NOT do as we are told is it any wonder we can be tempted away to the wicked path?
We can do absolutely nothing and hope that doing nothing is enough. Or we can do the things we are told to do and HOPE that by the grace of OUR Savior it will be enough.
We can stand without armor on and hope to live, but the chances of that are very, very slim. We are told to wear spiritual armor and we are told what that armor is.
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Gospel of Peace
Spirit of the Word of God
Faith
We have to choose these things.
Not, put the armor on once and never again; not, only wear one piece of the armor and no more; not, put on the armor when the mood hits us. The war we are in is ongoing- night and day, everyday. Ask soldiers that go to war if they sleep in protective gear when they are close to or among the enemy lines. We exist in the enemy's camp without any hope of survival unless we have our armor on.
We must have SALVATION first and foremost and with our head protected we must protect the rest of us and that Salvation we have in Christ is also where we get the rest of our protective gear.
We have an inheritance in Christ and the Holy Spirit will guide us and keep us in the promise of that inheritance if we allow Him. We can be blessed with all spiritual blessings. We can be before Our Savior without blame in love. We are adopted by Jesus Himself! We have redemption through His sacrifice. This is WISDOM, the knowledge of HIM and His love towards us! It is the WILL of our Savior that we be with Him! Read it! I didn't write it… HE DID!
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
AMEN!
We desire to walk upright in the paths of righteousness, yes?
We long to follow the ways of our Savior, correct?
Constantly we are buffeted by the enemy who doesn't want us to do any of those things. It is the enemy's JOB, it is the enemy's SOLE PURPOSE to keep US- each of us- from following the Savior. If something is your sole purpose what exactly does that mean?
You've heard someone say before - 'It's my sole purpose in life to love you, or they might say it's my sole purpose in life to get revenge on you.' They're in essence saying that they are LIVING for this reason. They are living to love you and without you they have no other purpose in life. Or they are living to hurt you and for no other reason. We know that when people say stuff like that it's usually an exaggeration. The same person who said they live to love you might turn around and ask for a divorce a few years later because they no longer can stand to be near you. As well as the one seeking revenge, their ire may cool and life make take on new purpose. But with Satan his IRE never cools, His love to deceive us never grows cold and will exist as long as He exists. This is the truth. He will EVER go about seeking to devour who He can, untiringly in his angelic spirit heritage he needs no sleep, no resting. And if we understand how intense it can be on a human to human level to have someone with a 'sole purpose' that is very changeable, how much more intense is it on the spirit level with a being who won't ever change?
We desperately wish to be Christ's and we have an enemy that will stop at nothing to keep us in doubt, keep us confused, keep us questioning, keep us hopeless and all he has to do is hold up our shortcomings to us and make us believe we will never be Christ's not with how exceedingly sinful we are. He loves to act as a circus funhouse mirror reflecting back at us our evilness, and yes, sin is evil and the sin we commit is evil- we can't pretty it up and say it's just a tiny little bitty sin, not one of those awful ones. And the funhouse effect of this mirror is to make us feel HOPELESS, so evil we can never be forgiven, never hope to be sin-free in Christ. He gets us to keep looking at ourselves so that we have no desire to take our eyes off ourselves and our failings. And as long as Satan has us looking at ourselves we are not looking at our SAVIOR! We have no hope in ourselves, NONE and the sooner we realize this the better. We have to STOP looking at ourselves and look beyond ourselves to our Savior. HE IS able to save us, we are NOT able to save ourselves!
The questions were…
We WANT to walk upright, don't we?
We desire to walk upright in the paths of righteousness, yes?
We long to follow the ways of our Savior, correct?
Then we have to LISTEN to the LORD! We can't close our ears to Him and expect to walk upright. We can't ignore Him and expect to walk upright. We can't close our eyes and expect to follow Him. Do you know how quickly one falls off a path once they are blindfolded? If we blind ourselves, if we keep ourselves in the dark we can't expect to find light on the path.
Remember yesterday's study… all those things we are told to do to understand the fear of the Lord and to find the knowledge of God?
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST!
Actions, verbs!
Here read it again…
Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
And there is more...
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Pro 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
Pro 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
Pro 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Pro 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Pro 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Pro 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
Pro 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Righteous and wicked.
We choose.
We are told to act in upright ways - to -
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST
And when we DO NOT do as we are told is it any wonder we can be tempted away to the wicked path?
We can do absolutely nothing and hope that doing nothing is enough. Or we can do the things we are told to do and HOPE that by the grace of OUR Savior it will be enough.
We can stand without armor on and hope to live, but the chances of that are very, very slim. We are told to wear spiritual armor and we are told what that armor is.
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Gospel of Peace
Spirit of the Word of God
Faith
We have to choose these things.
Not, put the armor on once and never again; not, only wear one piece of the armor and no more; not, put on the armor when the mood hits us. The war we are in is ongoing- night and day, everyday. Ask soldiers that go to war if they sleep in protective gear when they are close to or among the enemy lines. We exist in the enemy's camp without any hope of survival unless we have our armor on.
We must have SALVATION first and foremost and with our head protected we must protect the rest of us and that Salvation we have in Christ is also where we get the rest of our protective gear.
We have an inheritance in Christ and the Holy Spirit will guide us and keep us in the promise of that inheritance if we allow Him. We can be blessed with all spiritual blessings. We can be before Our Savior without blame in love. We are adopted by Jesus Himself! We have redemption through His sacrifice. This is WISDOM, the knowledge of HIM and His love towards us! It is the WILL of our Savior that we be with Him! Read it! I didn't write it… HE DID!
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
AMEN!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Spirit Fed- from the Word of God
God Works in mysterious ways, of this there is NO doubt.
Yesterday my study -
Would you eat of the tree?
Resulted from starting to study Proverbs 2:22.
Tonight at Bible study I was prompted to come home and study more on having God's word in our hearts and lo and behold I was led back to Proverbs 2. Amazing.
Pro 2:1 My son, IF thou wilt receive my words...
IF we will receive the words of God. We have a choice on whether or not to receive them, don't we? When we hear something we can let it go in one ear and out the other as the saying goes. We don't have to receive the words we hear- it is as simple as that. People say you can't take back something you say- if you say something nasty and hurtful it can remain with someone for life and this is true. That something nasty and hurtful was RECEIVED, it wasn't allowed to go in one ear and out the other. Isn't it AWFUL that Satan has that power? Isn't it AWFUL that we allow Satan to have sway over us in that way? So that the BAD stuff lingers on and on and the good stuff gets pushed aside. It happens all the time. Can you relate something bad said to you? I believe you can and not only can you relate that bad thing you can recall how it made you feel and it's even possible the words still have the same effect on you today that they had on you when they were said to you. Turn the table - can you remember something bad you said to someone else and how hurt it made them feel?
Received words.
Received words are not only bad words said to us. We do recall good things people have said too. A bit of praise from a mother or father, a teacher, a boss, a co-worker, a husband or wife.
Received words are REMEMBERED words.
No, I'm not saying that you have to memorize the entire Bible- that'd be great but for most of us it's just not feasible, our ability to retain information isn't quite up to such a feat. I am saying that memorizing God's word is important- it's REMEMBERING God's word to us, it's RECEIVING God's word.
I know, I know you might be thinking that some of the Pharisees and such had the Scriptures memorized and they were no better off for doing so. It's true, you can memorize and in that way receive God's word but there is MORE to it and God didn't leave that part out. Let's continue reading...
Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee
AND hide my commandments with thee
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding
INCLINE ear to wisdom
AND apply thine heart to understanding.
Are you reading? Do you see there is more. RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY and there is till more!
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
CRIEST after knowledge
LIFTEST UP THY VOICE for understanding
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
SEEKEST Her as silver
SEARCHEST for her as for hid treasure
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST!
Pro 2:5 THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST - THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD!
You have to ask yourself- do you receive, do you hide, do you incline, do you criest, do you liftest, do you seekest, do you searchest - GOD's WORD?
We can't just receive, we must hide God's commandments with us, we must incline towards hearing wisdom, we have to apply our hearts to understand- do you see??? It's not enough to just receive to just memorize God's word, we have to do so much more with it! We have to cry out for knowledge, we have to cry out for understanding, we have seek this as for SILVER, search as if we are searching for a hidden treasure- not as if the treasure has been revealed- meaning we no longer have to search.
Do you see?
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Over and over we are told how amazing the word of God is.
Jesus said-- Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
When we stop feeding from the word of God our spirit dies.
If we stop feeding from the word of God we are feeding from other things. Satan has a whole slew of things he will try and feed us to quell the stirrings of a starving spirit within us.
What are you feasting on?
Where do you get your spiritual food from?
If you are discontented, if you don't feel inclined towards God, if you feel your life is filled with angst and worry, stress and pain you have to ask yourself what you're feeding your spirit. Are you feeding your spirit from the source of life everlasting or from the source of death eternal?
How often do you read, or hear about the people of God having a strange peace within them even in very trying times as they suffer unspeakable hardships? This is why. They are feeding from the source of life everlasting- their spirit is fed from the word of God, the Word of God.
It isn't something magical that only a few chosen are born with, it's not something reserved for special people- we can ALL feed from the source of life everlasting!
More on this tomorrow… :)
May God help us to …
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST - the WORD of God!
By HIS GRACE! BY HIS LOVE!
Amen!
Yesterday my study -
Would you eat of the tree?
Resulted from starting to study Proverbs 2:22.
Tonight at Bible study I was prompted to come home and study more on having God's word in our hearts and lo and behold I was led back to Proverbs 2. Amazing.
Pro 2:1 My son, IF thou wilt receive my words...
IF we will receive the words of God. We have a choice on whether or not to receive them, don't we? When we hear something we can let it go in one ear and out the other as the saying goes. We don't have to receive the words we hear- it is as simple as that. People say you can't take back something you say- if you say something nasty and hurtful it can remain with someone for life and this is true. That something nasty and hurtful was RECEIVED, it wasn't allowed to go in one ear and out the other. Isn't it AWFUL that Satan has that power? Isn't it AWFUL that we allow Satan to have sway over us in that way? So that the BAD stuff lingers on and on and the good stuff gets pushed aside. It happens all the time. Can you relate something bad said to you? I believe you can and not only can you relate that bad thing you can recall how it made you feel and it's even possible the words still have the same effect on you today that they had on you when they were said to you. Turn the table - can you remember something bad you said to someone else and how hurt it made them feel?
Received words.
Received words are not only bad words said to us. We do recall good things people have said too. A bit of praise from a mother or father, a teacher, a boss, a co-worker, a husband or wife.
Received words are REMEMBERED words.
No, I'm not saying that you have to memorize the entire Bible- that'd be great but for most of us it's just not feasible, our ability to retain information isn't quite up to such a feat. I am saying that memorizing God's word is important- it's REMEMBERING God's word to us, it's RECEIVING God's word.
I know, I know you might be thinking that some of the Pharisees and such had the Scriptures memorized and they were no better off for doing so. It's true, you can memorize and in that way receive God's word but there is MORE to it and God didn't leave that part out. Let's continue reading...
Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee
AND hide my commandments with thee
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding
INCLINE ear to wisdom
AND apply thine heart to understanding.
Are you reading? Do you see there is more. RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY and there is till more!
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
CRIEST after knowledge
LIFTEST UP THY VOICE for understanding
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
SEEKEST Her as silver
SEARCHEST for her as for hid treasure
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST!
Pro 2:5 THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST - THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD!
You have to ask yourself- do you receive, do you hide, do you incline, do you criest, do you liftest, do you seekest, do you searchest - GOD's WORD?
We can't just receive, we must hide God's commandments with us, we must incline towards hearing wisdom, we have to apply our hearts to understand- do you see??? It's not enough to just receive to just memorize God's word, we have to do so much more with it! We have to cry out for knowledge, we have to cry out for understanding, we have seek this as for SILVER, search as if we are searching for a hidden treasure- not as if the treasure has been revealed- meaning we no longer have to search.
Do you see?
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Over and over we are told how amazing the word of God is.
Jesus said-- Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
When we stop feeding from the word of God our spirit dies.
If we stop feeding from the word of God we are feeding from other things. Satan has a whole slew of things he will try and feed us to quell the stirrings of a starving spirit within us.
What are you feasting on?
Where do you get your spiritual food from?
If you are discontented, if you don't feel inclined towards God, if you feel your life is filled with angst and worry, stress and pain you have to ask yourself what you're feeding your spirit. Are you feeding your spirit from the source of life everlasting or from the source of death eternal?
How often do you read, or hear about the people of God having a strange peace within them even in very trying times as they suffer unspeakable hardships? This is why. They are feeding from the source of life everlasting- their spirit is fed from the word of God, the Word of God.
It isn't something magical that only a few chosen are born with, it's not something reserved for special people- we can ALL feed from the source of life everlasting!
More on this tomorrow… :)
May God help us to …
RECEIVE, HIDE, INCLINE, APPLY, CRIEST, LIFTEST, SEEKEST, SEARCHEST - the WORD of God!
By HIS GRACE! BY HIS LOVE!
Amen!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Would you eat of the tree?
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
The wicked will NOT inherit the earth. Satan will not inherit the earth. The earth was made for God's people. God made the earth for the people He created, people that will love Him, people that will trust and obey Him. This earth will NOT belong to the wicked- the sinners will be rooted out of it- gone forever! When you take a plant out by the roots it does not return. The wicked will NOT return to the earth once they are rooted out. Those who LOVE God with all their hearts, those who OBEY God, those who TRUST God- these are the ones who will dwell in the land, dwell in the earth.
A sinner is one who transgresses the law.
Therefore the perfect are those who do not transgress the law.
Our Savior was the ONLY human not to transgress the law and through HIM we can be adopted as sons of God.
We are made perfect IN Christ.
Where Adam and Eve chose to disobey the command to God, we must choose to obey the command of God.
It's all about choice, about choosing and that is up to US to do, God cannot choose for us.
We need to ask ourselves this VERY important question-
Would we eat of the tree?
We are SO very quick to condemn Eve and Adam for their failure and yes, they failed without having our sinful nature and we have that sinful nature through inheritance. We condemn them and yet when we stand before our TREE or in many cases- our orchard of trees we pick from them all and eat many forbidden fruit without a second thought. We disobey God all the time. We eat of the tree even as we stand there and have the gall to condemn others who eat from the tree. You say you're powerless, that you can't help but eat of the forbidden tree and maybe that's true to a certain degree. We do live in a world filled with forbidden trees and the refuge of a garden free of temptation scarcely exists. Because we live in this garden of temptation we feel as if there is no choice but to eat of the forbidden fruit just to live. It's like a complete OPPOSITE of the garden of Eden. Instead of just ONE forbidden tree, we have ONE righteous tree. Instead of countless righteous trees to feed from, we have countless forbidden trees. Instead of having to stay away from ONE forbidden tree, we have to cling to the ONE righteous tree. We have NO righteousness within ourselves, Adam and Eve had NO righteousness within themselves- they had their righteousness within their Creator who offered them a life of righteousness- eating from a TREE of life in a garden of righteousness where only a single Forbidden tree stood. We have our righteousness in our Creator who had Redeemed us, and we need to eat of this Tree while we live among countless forbidden trees. Before the Fall and after the Fall- our eternal life is found within Christ. Choosing to disobey God by partaking of the Forbidden trees is something we need to ask forgiveness for- not blame God for the Forbidden trees existences.
Would we eat of the tree? When you are faced with any situation where you need to choose obeying God versus disobeying God- ask yourself- would you eat of the tree? Place yourself there in the garden of Eden and ask yourself would you choose to eat of the tree- because eating of that tree was disobeying God- transgressing against God. All our sins are transgressions against God- and sin is the transgression of the law- God is the law.
Instead of making up excuses- fall at the feet of the Tree of Righteousness, choose the ONE who can save you, cling to your Savior as you fight, as you strive against sin, choose NOT to eat of the forbidden tree.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we choose CHRIST over all! This is something we MUST do. Choose Christ! And if anyone thinks they don't have to choose Christ they're sadly mistaken.
Choose Christ!
In His Love!
Amen.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
The wicked will NOT inherit the earth. Satan will not inherit the earth. The earth was made for God's people. God made the earth for the people He created, people that will love Him, people that will trust and obey Him. This earth will NOT belong to the wicked- the sinners will be rooted out of it- gone forever! When you take a plant out by the roots it does not return. The wicked will NOT return to the earth once they are rooted out. Those who LOVE God with all their hearts, those who OBEY God, those who TRUST God- these are the ones who will dwell in the land, dwell in the earth.
A sinner is one who transgresses the law.
Therefore the perfect are those who do not transgress the law.
Our Savior was the ONLY human not to transgress the law and through HIM we can be adopted as sons of God.
We are made perfect IN Christ.
Where Adam and Eve chose to disobey the command to God, we must choose to obey the command of God.
It's all about choice, about choosing and that is up to US to do, God cannot choose for us.
We need to ask ourselves this VERY important question-
Would we eat of the tree?
We are SO very quick to condemn Eve and Adam for their failure and yes, they failed without having our sinful nature and we have that sinful nature through inheritance. We condemn them and yet when we stand before our TREE or in many cases- our orchard of trees we pick from them all and eat many forbidden fruit without a second thought. We disobey God all the time. We eat of the tree even as we stand there and have the gall to condemn others who eat from the tree. You say you're powerless, that you can't help but eat of the forbidden tree and maybe that's true to a certain degree. We do live in a world filled with forbidden trees and the refuge of a garden free of temptation scarcely exists. Because we live in this garden of temptation we feel as if there is no choice but to eat of the forbidden fruit just to live. It's like a complete OPPOSITE of the garden of Eden. Instead of just ONE forbidden tree, we have ONE righteous tree. Instead of countless righteous trees to feed from, we have countless forbidden trees. Instead of having to stay away from ONE forbidden tree, we have to cling to the ONE righteous tree. We have NO righteousness within ourselves, Adam and Eve had NO righteousness within themselves- they had their righteousness within their Creator who offered them a life of righteousness- eating from a TREE of life in a garden of righteousness where only a single Forbidden tree stood. We have our righteousness in our Creator who had Redeemed us, and we need to eat of this Tree while we live among countless forbidden trees. Before the Fall and after the Fall- our eternal life is found within Christ. Choosing to disobey God by partaking of the Forbidden trees is something we need to ask forgiveness for- not blame God for the Forbidden trees existences.
Would we eat of the tree? When you are faced with any situation where you need to choose obeying God versus disobeying God- ask yourself- would you eat of the tree? Place yourself there in the garden of Eden and ask yourself would you choose to eat of the tree- because eating of that tree was disobeying God- transgressing against God. All our sins are transgressions against God- and sin is the transgression of the law- God is the law.
Instead of making up excuses- fall at the feet of the Tree of Righteousness, choose the ONE who can save you, cling to your Savior as you fight, as you strive against sin, choose NOT to eat of the forbidden tree.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we choose CHRIST over all! This is something we MUST do. Choose Christ! And if anyone thinks they don't have to choose Christ they're sadly mistaken.
Choose Christ!
In His Love!
Amen.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Lesser of Two Evils
Gen 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
Gen 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
Jacob didn't want to deceive his father. Jacob didn't want to bring a curse upon himself by lying to his aged father and taking the blessing that was rightfully his brother's. When he voiced his reluctance to his mother she told him this… OBEY my voice.
Jacob was suddenly caught in a situation a lot of us find ourselves in… called trying to determine the lesser of two evils because you must chose one or the other.
In Jacob's case it was DECEIVE His father or DISOBEY His mother.
The fact that his mother was willing to take the curse for him revealed to Jacob just how much she wanted Him to deceive his father and steal his brother's blessing. To disobey His mother was worse to Jacob than deceiving His father.
Though they were twins- Esau was more Isaac's and Jacob was more Rebekah's.
Read this--
Gen 27:5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
Gen 27:6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to HIS son.
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob HER son.
His son.
Her son.
Jacob was the favored by Rachel-
Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
The LORD told her that 'the elder shall serve the younger'. Rachel obviously believed the only way that would happen was if SHE took matters into her own hands.
Isaac loved Esau- over Jacob and she knew this…
Gen 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
We all like to imagine parents love their children equally but that isn't always the case is it? Jacob knew he was more loved by his mother and it was MORE important to him to obey her than worry about lying to his father.
Two wrongs.
Life is filled with having to make choices between bad things and it's NEVER easy. Never. Could Jacob have done neither? No. Because He would have to disobey his mother no matter what he chose if he chose not to do exactly as she said. He HAD to choose.
In choosing to obey His mother they were then separated. Rebekah no longer had her beloved son with her. Esau wanted to kill his brother and to protect Him, Rebekah wanted Him to go away, far away to be safe.
There are consequences to ALL our actions. We make choices and sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils and we have to pray and pray hard for forgiveness no matter what wrong we choose. It doesn't seem fair to be placed in a such a situation and we can ask God why all we want. We don't have to understand everything, we just need to trust Him that no matter what, some how, some way things will work out. Life isn't fair, life will never be fair, but a new life when our Savior returns will be fair and it's that life we need to live for, hope for, pray for.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior! In His love forever!
Gen 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
Jacob didn't want to deceive his father. Jacob didn't want to bring a curse upon himself by lying to his aged father and taking the blessing that was rightfully his brother's. When he voiced his reluctance to his mother she told him this… OBEY my voice.
Jacob was suddenly caught in a situation a lot of us find ourselves in… called trying to determine the lesser of two evils because you must chose one or the other.
In Jacob's case it was DECEIVE His father or DISOBEY His mother.
The fact that his mother was willing to take the curse for him revealed to Jacob just how much she wanted Him to deceive his father and steal his brother's blessing. To disobey His mother was worse to Jacob than deceiving His father.
Though they were twins- Esau was more Isaac's and Jacob was more Rebekah's.
Read this--
Gen 27:5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
Gen 27:6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to HIS son.
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob HER son.
His son.
Her son.
Jacob was the favored by Rachel-
Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
The LORD told her that 'the elder shall serve the younger'. Rachel obviously believed the only way that would happen was if SHE took matters into her own hands.
Isaac loved Esau- over Jacob and she knew this…
Gen 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
We all like to imagine parents love their children equally but that isn't always the case is it? Jacob knew he was more loved by his mother and it was MORE important to him to obey her than worry about lying to his father.
Two wrongs.
Life is filled with having to make choices between bad things and it's NEVER easy. Never. Could Jacob have done neither? No. Because He would have to disobey his mother no matter what he chose if he chose not to do exactly as she said. He HAD to choose.
In choosing to obey His mother they were then separated. Rebekah no longer had her beloved son with her. Esau wanted to kill his brother and to protect Him, Rebekah wanted Him to go away, far away to be safe.
There are consequences to ALL our actions. We make choices and sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils and we have to pray and pray hard for forgiveness no matter what wrong we choose. It doesn't seem fair to be placed in a such a situation and we can ask God why all we want. We don't have to understand everything, we just need to trust Him that no matter what, some how, some way things will work out. Life isn't fair, life will never be fair, but a new life when our Savior returns will be fair and it's that life we need to live for, hope for, pray for.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior! In His love forever!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Eat the fruit of their doings
Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As I was studying another subject I came across this verse and it pertained to 'fruit' (yesterday's study) so it jumped out at me.
Eating the fruit of their doings.
Our fruit bears fruit.
I know that sounds so simple and I can almost hear a loud- "DUH!" But this struck me particularly because I didn't really touch on it at all yesterday. I talked about people knowing us by our fruit and the idea of our fruit being plentiful and not always perfect fruit but fruit in various stages of perfection- well you know what I wrote if you read yesterday's little study. I didn't talk about the fact our fruit- bears fruit.
We know- unless altered by people- that God has it set up that trees and plants propagate on their own with no help from man. God uses the insect world, the bird world, wind, and animals to do for Him what He wants done so that one fruit tree will produce more fruit trees.
Most fruit will have seeds or a seed in it and from those seeds more fruit trees grow.
Our Spiritual fruit bears fruit. Our actions influence the actions of others and we can't for one moment believe otherwise.
Both the righteous and the wicked will receive a reward according to their *fruits*, according to their doings, the reward will reflect the work our hands. If the works of our hands, if the fruits of our doings result in even more wickedness- spreading evilness- we will be rewarded with the same.
Our fruit bears fruit, our actions result in actions. Is it any wonder that the fruits of the Spirit all result in peacefulness, in good? No, I'm not saying that our being kind is going to result in another being kind but it has a much better chance of doing so than if we are unkind, yes?
Ever notice how more often than not an unexpected smile from someone, even a complete stranger walking down the street, will result in your smiling back at them? What does a scowl from a stranger do to you? Makes you turn away and not think very highly of the scowler-yes?
We know as followers of our Savior we are called to react in kindness when confronted by abusiveness. It's not always easy to do but it's what our Savior wants us to do. Do you think it's because our Savior wants us to be abused? No. Our Savior is calling for us to reveal HIM to the world and not just through preaching, not just through praying. How likely are you to believe someone is a follower of our Savior if they are promoting arguing and angst when He clearly was against treating others abusively- either mentally, emotionally, or physically.
Seriously- turning the other cheek is a reality for Christians and way too many of us let that slip, justifying our anger.
You see, the fruit we bear - bears more fruit and if we are bearing thorns and thistles the fruit we bear will be nothing more than thorns and thistles.
Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
We all prefer fruit over thorns.
The wicked have no hope for anything good, they holdfast to their wickedness uncaring about their future and certainly not caring about the future of others. Are you willing to be known as you are known? Are you willing to 'eat the fruit of your doings?'
Remember this…
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
This is true.
You reap what you sow.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
We can't fool God. God will know the fruit of our doings. God knows- there is NOTHING hidden from God.
We definitely need to ask ourselves though if we are willing to eat the fruit of our doings.
May God help us be with Him, loving Him now and forever! May our fruit be fruit that is acceptable to Him, wrought through the Spirit. By His grace! His mercy!
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As I was studying another subject I came across this verse and it pertained to 'fruit' (yesterday's study) so it jumped out at me.
Eating the fruit of their doings.
Our fruit bears fruit.
I know that sounds so simple and I can almost hear a loud- "DUH!" But this struck me particularly because I didn't really touch on it at all yesterday. I talked about people knowing us by our fruit and the idea of our fruit being plentiful and not always perfect fruit but fruit in various stages of perfection- well you know what I wrote if you read yesterday's little study. I didn't talk about the fact our fruit- bears fruit.
We know- unless altered by people- that God has it set up that trees and plants propagate on their own with no help from man. God uses the insect world, the bird world, wind, and animals to do for Him what He wants done so that one fruit tree will produce more fruit trees.
Most fruit will have seeds or a seed in it and from those seeds more fruit trees grow.
Our Spiritual fruit bears fruit. Our actions influence the actions of others and we can't for one moment believe otherwise.
Both the righteous and the wicked will receive a reward according to their *fruits*, according to their doings, the reward will reflect the work our hands. If the works of our hands, if the fruits of our doings result in even more wickedness- spreading evilness- we will be rewarded with the same.
Our fruit bears fruit, our actions result in actions. Is it any wonder that the fruits of the Spirit all result in peacefulness, in good? No, I'm not saying that our being kind is going to result in another being kind but it has a much better chance of doing so than if we are unkind, yes?
Ever notice how more often than not an unexpected smile from someone, even a complete stranger walking down the street, will result in your smiling back at them? What does a scowl from a stranger do to you? Makes you turn away and not think very highly of the scowler-yes?
We know as followers of our Savior we are called to react in kindness when confronted by abusiveness. It's not always easy to do but it's what our Savior wants us to do. Do you think it's because our Savior wants us to be abused? No. Our Savior is calling for us to reveal HIM to the world and not just through preaching, not just through praying. How likely are you to believe someone is a follower of our Savior if they are promoting arguing and angst when He clearly was against treating others abusively- either mentally, emotionally, or physically.
Seriously- turning the other cheek is a reality for Christians and way too many of us let that slip, justifying our anger.
You see, the fruit we bear - bears more fruit and if we are bearing thorns and thistles the fruit we bear will be nothing more than thorns and thistles.
Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
We all prefer fruit over thorns.
The wicked have no hope for anything good, they holdfast to their wickedness uncaring about their future and certainly not caring about the future of others. Are you willing to be known as you are known? Are you willing to 'eat the fruit of your doings?'
Remember this…
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
This is true.
You reap what you sow.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
We can't fool God. God will know the fruit of our doings. God knows- there is NOTHING hidden from God.
We definitely need to ask ourselves though if we are willing to eat the fruit of our doings.
May God help us be with Him, loving Him now and forever! May our fruit be fruit that is acceptable to Him, wrought through the Spirit. By His grace! His mercy!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Spirit Fruits
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Fruits.
Our actions are a result of who we are. Our words are a result of the thoughts we think. A person who doesn't know you could enter your house and walk around and formulate an opinion on what type of person you are just by looking at your things. Talking to your friends, another person can ask them questions and get an idea of about you. We are often known by what we reveal. A person who keeps to themselves and lets no one into their lives will be known as a hermit, a recluse, an introvert. Someone who is boisterous and out going will be known as such. The more we know a person the more know the *real* them. Ask anyone who has dated someone how much they learn when they actually marry them and are living together- you learn A LOT about a person once you are together for extended periods of time. Family tends to know family better than anyone else. Mothers & fathers know children, children know mothers & fathers. You will hear- I've lived with them for years and never really knew them, but rarely. More often than not you know someone once you've been with them for years.
Our fruits.
Can you name some of your fruits?
Here are some of the fruits of the SPIRIT-
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
Fruits that are NOT of the SPIRIT would then be the opposite of those mentioned- right?
Hate
Unhappiness
War
Impatience
Harshness
Badness
Faithlessness
Prideful
Intemperance
Now, what are some of your fruits? We call them personality traits. Are you known as being argumentative, depressed, abrasive, impatient, gentle, peaceful, loving, patient? How would you describe yourself? It's important that we think about this isn't it? We are KNOWN by our fruits.
A question came to mind the other night as I thought about this a bit- the analogy of fruit. A fruit tree takes time to grow and then it takes time to bear fruit. A lot things affect the fruit bearing of a tree- weather, environment, insects, sunlight and more.
Often we don't take the time to get to know a person before we judge them. We watch them for a little bit and form an opinion on them. We hear a mother lose her temper with a child and most of us assume the mother has a short fuse. We don't know if that mother has been patient long and is having a bad day. We judge her as having *bad* fruit because of the revealed impatience we see. Could it be that the majority of her fruit is of the Spirit and just a PIECE of her fruit has gone bad? Trees very rarely have ALL good fruit on them. Some fruit grows faster than others, some have insect bites, some are formed badly from within, worms might get in some of the pieces of fruit but not all. You could pick a hundred apples from one tree and the chances of every single apple being perfect is slim to none.
We aren't perfect any more than a fruit tree is perfect, or fruit from the vine is perfect. We know and are known by our fruit and this is true, but it's a knowing that takes time. Are we a good fruit tree or a bad one? If we were a bad one, can we now be a good one? Also, can a good tree go bad?
We are a living breathing being and our fruit is continuous- good and bad. We need to produce good fruit and that comes from the Spirit. The closer we are to our Savior the harder our life will be. The insects will be after us, the weather might turn nasty, the pruning of us might be harsh. Our Gardener will protect us from the destroying power of the insect, from the harsh weather that would destroy us given a chance, and He will prune us for our own good so we can grow more fruitful in Him. If we find that the fruit we produce seems to be all bad and nothing good - we can't give up and let ourselves be cut down and rooted up- we have to realize that the Perfect Gardener can and will work to perfect us.
By their fruits you will know them- and this is true but we too have to figure out first and foremost if the tree is under the Great Gardener's care or not. If the tree is being pruned, if the insects are attacking the tree we need to know. If the tree only pretends to be under the Great Gardener's care and the fruit is rotten, we know we cannot trust in that tree.
Too many are fooled today by those they think are bearing good fruit and that is why we need to go to God's Word and hold them up against God's Word. We need to pray always and study the Word always and we will know that if someone speaks contrary to God's Word that even if it seems as if they are bearing the sweetest of fruit on the outside, they are rotten inside.
Fruit has an inside and outside and we generally judge it by the outside. If it's too bruised, if it bears insect holes, if mold covers it we can safely toss it away. How often though have you cut into a piece of fruit that looks wonderful on the outside, only to find it rotten from within? You won't know until you cut into the fruit but once you realize it's a bad piece of fruit you throw it away- you don't keep eating.
There are MANY things we can take from these analogies- but truthfully we need to pray and study endlessly and understand that we must look at our own fruit bearing and if we aren't bearing the fruit of the Spirit we need to figure out why. It might be that we've been pruned way back and are in the process of re-growth. We could be showing the effects of some bad weather. We might have been transplanted and our roots are settling. The thing is… we CAN'T Give up on ourselves because our fruit isn't ALL fruit of the Spirit. We have to trust that our Gardener will fix us. We have to keep ourselves with the Gardener- not try to take the role of Gardener. We have to keep ourselves where we can be tended to. As for others, yes, we will know them by their fruit, but with deception running rampant these days we need to hold all others up to God's Word which will reveal their fruit for what it is. Thorns and thistles abound, but pure sweet fruit exists too.
We are known.
May God help us to bear the sweet fruit of the Spirit and not thorns and thistles.
May God enlighten us as we try to discern what fruit others are bearing.
In all things may God's will be done in our lives through the loving forgiveness and mercy of our Savior, in HIS righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Fruits.
Our actions are a result of who we are. Our words are a result of the thoughts we think. A person who doesn't know you could enter your house and walk around and formulate an opinion on what type of person you are just by looking at your things. Talking to your friends, another person can ask them questions and get an idea of about you. We are often known by what we reveal. A person who keeps to themselves and lets no one into their lives will be known as a hermit, a recluse, an introvert. Someone who is boisterous and out going will be known as such. The more we know a person the more know the *real* them. Ask anyone who has dated someone how much they learn when they actually marry them and are living together- you learn A LOT about a person once you are together for extended periods of time. Family tends to know family better than anyone else. Mothers & fathers know children, children know mothers & fathers. You will hear- I've lived with them for years and never really knew them, but rarely. More often than not you know someone once you've been with them for years.
Our fruits.
Can you name some of your fruits?
Here are some of the fruits of the SPIRIT-
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
Fruits that are NOT of the SPIRIT would then be the opposite of those mentioned- right?
Hate
Unhappiness
War
Impatience
Harshness
Badness
Faithlessness
Prideful
Intemperance
Now, what are some of your fruits? We call them personality traits. Are you known as being argumentative, depressed, abrasive, impatient, gentle, peaceful, loving, patient? How would you describe yourself? It's important that we think about this isn't it? We are KNOWN by our fruits.
A question came to mind the other night as I thought about this a bit- the analogy of fruit. A fruit tree takes time to grow and then it takes time to bear fruit. A lot things affect the fruit bearing of a tree- weather, environment, insects, sunlight and more.
Often we don't take the time to get to know a person before we judge them. We watch them for a little bit and form an opinion on them. We hear a mother lose her temper with a child and most of us assume the mother has a short fuse. We don't know if that mother has been patient long and is having a bad day. We judge her as having *bad* fruit because of the revealed impatience we see. Could it be that the majority of her fruit is of the Spirit and just a PIECE of her fruit has gone bad? Trees very rarely have ALL good fruit on them. Some fruit grows faster than others, some have insect bites, some are formed badly from within, worms might get in some of the pieces of fruit but not all. You could pick a hundred apples from one tree and the chances of every single apple being perfect is slim to none.
We aren't perfect any more than a fruit tree is perfect, or fruit from the vine is perfect. We know and are known by our fruit and this is true, but it's a knowing that takes time. Are we a good fruit tree or a bad one? If we were a bad one, can we now be a good one? Also, can a good tree go bad?
We are a living breathing being and our fruit is continuous- good and bad. We need to produce good fruit and that comes from the Spirit. The closer we are to our Savior the harder our life will be. The insects will be after us, the weather might turn nasty, the pruning of us might be harsh. Our Gardener will protect us from the destroying power of the insect, from the harsh weather that would destroy us given a chance, and He will prune us for our own good so we can grow more fruitful in Him. If we find that the fruit we produce seems to be all bad and nothing good - we can't give up and let ourselves be cut down and rooted up- we have to realize that the Perfect Gardener can and will work to perfect us.
By their fruits you will know them- and this is true but we too have to figure out first and foremost if the tree is under the Great Gardener's care or not. If the tree is being pruned, if the insects are attacking the tree we need to know. If the tree only pretends to be under the Great Gardener's care and the fruit is rotten, we know we cannot trust in that tree.
Too many are fooled today by those they think are bearing good fruit and that is why we need to go to God's Word and hold them up against God's Word. We need to pray always and study the Word always and we will know that if someone speaks contrary to God's Word that even if it seems as if they are bearing the sweetest of fruit on the outside, they are rotten inside.
Fruit has an inside and outside and we generally judge it by the outside. If it's too bruised, if it bears insect holes, if mold covers it we can safely toss it away. How often though have you cut into a piece of fruit that looks wonderful on the outside, only to find it rotten from within? You won't know until you cut into the fruit but once you realize it's a bad piece of fruit you throw it away- you don't keep eating.
There are MANY things we can take from these analogies- but truthfully we need to pray and study endlessly and understand that we must look at our own fruit bearing and if we aren't bearing the fruit of the Spirit we need to figure out why. It might be that we've been pruned way back and are in the process of re-growth. We could be showing the effects of some bad weather. We might have been transplanted and our roots are settling. The thing is… we CAN'T Give up on ourselves because our fruit isn't ALL fruit of the Spirit. We have to trust that our Gardener will fix us. We have to keep ourselves with the Gardener- not try to take the role of Gardener. We have to keep ourselves where we can be tended to. As for others, yes, we will know them by their fruit, but with deception running rampant these days we need to hold all others up to God's Word which will reveal their fruit for what it is. Thorns and thistles abound, but pure sweet fruit exists too.
We are known.
May God help us to bear the sweet fruit of the Spirit and not thorns and thistles.
May God enlighten us as we try to discern what fruit others are bearing.
In all things may God's will be done in our lives through the loving forgiveness and mercy of our Savior, in HIS righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
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