The Fruit Of The Spirit (Part 3)

 

Pruning is a slow process with selective cuts. There are multiple reasons for pruning, but each is for the betterment and good growth by allowing light to reach the interior of the tree. You don't prune just to prune, there has to be a reason that you cut things away. No two trees grow alike. When pruning, you need to understand WHY you are pruning and HOW to prune each tree.

Our Heavenly Father understands these things. When He begins to remove things from our lives there is always a reason, and even though it may seem like it's a bad thing it is actually always for our good.

Ephesians 4:15-16- But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The first reason to prune is to create or maintain the shape of a plant. This is a slow process. Generally a cut is made and then you would step back and evaluate the tree. Is it growing in the way that you want it to?

I Corinthians 15:49- And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Pruning should be done from a young age, not as a problem-solving dilemma when it’s too late. Pruning is really the best preventive maintenance a young plant can receive. It is critical for young trees to be trained to encourage them to develop a strong structure.

God is shaping you into the image of His Son. You've been adopted into His family, but you weren't automatically changed into His image. That will take time.

Pruning is also often done to assist a plant in recovery from storm damage. When Hurricane Ida passed through Louisiana, they had to prune a lot of branches from the old Oak Trees on Oak Alley Plantation. The plants won't grow properly if you don't remove the portions affected by root injury, wind or mechanical damage.

Hebrews 12:10- For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

I Corinthians 5:6-7a- Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

Sometimes the Lord removes certain people from our lives because they have done damage to our Christian walk. If these people were left in our lives we could eventually become unprofitable. We would still go to heaven when we died, but we would be of no earthly value to the Lord's family.

Severe disease and insect infestations can be another reason to prune. If you have tried all the other control methods and can’t get it under control, reducing the size of the plant can help in controlling a persistent pest. Thinning a shrub can increase air flow; good air flow will reduce disease and insect issues.  Thinning a plant will also make controlling these pest issues easier.

Pruning can also remove safety hazards. Limbs that reach out over your house can fall during a storm causing damage to homes. Those that grow into power lines create a fire hazard to all around them. Even roots can grow through pipes in the ground or underneath sidewalks ruining the pathway.

II Peter 2:1- But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Romans 16:17- Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

If God left those who would lead others astray in the church, there would be so many young, naive christians who would be deceived. These must be pruned out so that the weaker, younger christians can grow properly.

THe more air and light a plant gets the stronger it will grow. The more prayer, sound doctrine, and guidance by the Holy Spirit a Christian gets the more mature and profitable they will grow!

Pruning can encourage new growth, which creates another good reason to prune. That may sound severe, but sometimes they need to be cut back further than usually recommended to remove dead or dying branches. If the roots are healthy, new shoots should emerge and can develop.  If the roots aren’t healthy, the plant may not recover. Sometimes, these drastic measures are worth it to try to recover a plant. Sometimes not; that choice is God's to make.

I Timothy 1:18-19- This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

There are both blessings and curses associated with older christians. An older christian that is sound in the faith and humbly walking with the Lord can be a great asset to the church; on the other hand, there are many young christians that have been rendered useless or destroyed by a stubborn, arrogant older christian who is set in His ways and not yielded to the Lord.

Careful pruning of both trees and brambles will encourage blooming and therefore, fruiting. When you remove the branches that suck the life from the plant, your tree can dedicate more resources to other parts of the plant that may be competing for the resources which your plant needs to produce fruit. Allowing more room for sunlight can provide the energy required to bear more fruit, and decreasing the weight of the branches can reduce the possibility of them breaking under the burden of the fruit. 

John 15:2,8- 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. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Christ wants us to grow. Not just by transforming us into the image of His Son, but also by us winning the lost- spreading the seeds of the gospel so new christians can take root and grow! 

Trees can be plagued by suckers. Suckers need to be removed before they get big enough to start diverting energy from the growth of the main trunk. If there are christians in the church who do nothing but suck the life out then that church cannot use its resources to help the ones who need it, the ones who are trying to grow and mature and reach others. So sometimes, God cuts them out.

II Peter 2:1-3- But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

There are those who would suck the very heart and soul out of christians. They make merchandise of them taking what they can and giving nothing in return. God wants them removed before they can do irreparable damage!

Sometimes the pruning is needed to remove branches that rub together. Rubbing branches cause friction and can impede the growth of other branches.  When one branch rests against another branch, they may rub in the wind, possibly causing damage to one or both branches in the process. If a rubbing tree branch causes a deep wound, one or both of the branches could be lost.

II timothy 2:24-26- And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Galatians 5:15- But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Christians are human. They have likes and dislikes. Sometimes they rub each other the wrong way and this creates strife and division. God chooses who should stay and who should move on. Sometimes both are pruned out for the good of the whole congregation. If God is the one doing the pruning you shouldn't worry, for He knows what is best for the church!

Pruning is not something to be taken lightly. It's a wound created on the tree and it needs time to heal. When you see that God has pruned some church congregation you should not be critical of WHY or HOW it happened. God may have had a reason for it. You should allow the Great Physician the time that is needed to heal the wound that He allowed.

I Timothy 4:6,16- If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)

 Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.​

Love
Love is the first fruit mentioned. It is one that will echo through all the other 8 fruits.
The love of God is selfless. I John 3:16- Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  Christ, our example, showed God's love at Calvary. Selfless love will give even it's very life for the one who stands in its center. It's the total giving of each to the other, in generous caring, with no ulterior motive or self-gratification.
We will feel a hole in our being until we realize that our self-will, and fleshly desires, keep us from experiencing the fullness of the love of God. When selfishness and self centeredness keep us from doing the will of God, they hinder us from acknowledging the love of God. The end result is a spiritual vacuum, a void of purpose and success in all areas of life.
I do want to point out that love and charity are two different things. If you raise your children according to the charity of I Corinthians 13, you will end up with spoiled monsters. Love will do what charity can't. Love will punish and correct, whereas charity just "bears" the wrong. There are times in our lives where we should be charitable, but those times should never cancel out the hard things we sometimes have to do, or endure, out of love.
I would recommend an essay by Henry Drummond entitled The Greatest Thing In The World. He says that it is a powerful discussion of the Love of God. Henry Drummond was a Scottish evangelist who was mightily used by the Lord. D.L. Moody called him the most Christ-like young man he ever knew. I recommend you read it at least once, it will change the fabric of your character.

 Joy

Many people confuse joy with happiness. While they may seem similar in appearance, they stem from different sources. Happiness comes and goes depending on circumstances. But, joy is a deep rooted emotion that helps us realize that everything is going to be okay even when all seems to be going wrong.

Happiness that is bound up in a person, or a thing, is volatile. Many people end up hating the ones they once were fond of- II Samuel 13:15- Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.  What happened? He loved her; the Bible says he did. But he went about to get his desire his own way and it turned the love into an immense hate- there was a lack of joy that only comes from doing things God's way. Our will leaves us feeling cheated and double-crossed even when we get the thing we thought we wanted most.

A person who accomplishes every goal they ever set, and has succeeded in every area of their desire may experience happiness at one point in time or another, yet still lack the joy. We cannot acquire genuine joy apart from God. Genuine joy is doing His will, and knowing that He will make everything come out in the end.

When we do our will, and strive for our desires, we cancel out the ability to experience the deep enduring Joy of the Lord by our sin.

Psalm 16:11- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  True joy is found in the presence of the Lord. There are many psalms that speak of having joy because the Lord is defending you- this means the psalmist is being attacked, he's not in utter despair even though his circumstances would warrant it. He has a deep seated knowledge that everything is going to be okay, even if he is afraid.

Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Christ is enduring the shame of the cross, and yet underneath there is a joy because He knows what the end result will be. Everything we go through is to make us more like Christ, and we should have joy in the midst of all of our trials and troubles knowing that the end result will be glorious.

 

Peace

Everyone wants peace. Most people will toast to world peace. Jeremiah 6:14- They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. The world will not have true peace until the Millenium. However, Christians can attain peace on a more personal scale.

Matthew 5:9- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Christ said that we can be peacemakers, that is, people who make peace with those around them.

Let me first say that Christ never gives peace at the expense of truth. You cannot give in to wickedness, or compromise righteousness, in order to acquire peace. Peace is something that comes to a Christian in the midst of adversity- Philippians 4:7- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So, what is peace? It's a quiet, gracious attitude that is not easily provoked. Christ was at peace when He was before the Pharisees and Saducees. He was at peace before Herod and Pilate. Christ is our example of being at peace.

If Christ is an example of peace, then the opposite would be the devil, an example of a problem producer. The opposite of peace is a self-centered, defensive attitude that always puts "me first". My wants, my desires, my comfort before His will. Christ said,  not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42) That's how we attain peace- by putting His will before our own.

In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul describes the works of the flesh, ending with they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And in Romans 14:17, Paul describes the kingdom of God as righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Are you seeing the pattern? We must let go of our pride which thinks we deserve our desires, and we must accept Christ's will for our life knowing that His ways are better.

 

Longsuffering

Longsuffering is a deeper form of patience. It is suffering long under adversity; the ability to bear with difficult people or adverse circumstances without breaking down. It's the ability to press on despite the afflictions that enter our lives because of those who may benefit from us. It's very selfless! It is not indifference!

Most people want to escape from difficult situations, not endure them. The Bible uses the analogy of an ox in a yoke. He's pulling through the tough ground, tearing out the stones, ignoring the heat and the flies, and just steadily plodding along.

Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. A yoke is made for two animals. You are in one side, and Christ is in the other helping you to pull! We achieve rewards in heaven when we persevere through the trials with a humble attitude. 

Christ displayed this character while on the earth. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister- serve. He endured rejection. He endured adversity. He endured physical abuse and torture.

God, Himself, is longsuffering. He gave Adam and Eve a chance to admit the wrong they had done. Noah preached for 120 years while building the ark giving the people time to accept the offer to get onboard. Time after time He sent mighty men to rescue His people after they brought bondage on themselves. He sent His Son for our sin!

II Peter 3:9- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

This character trait of God is something which He longs to cultivate in our lives. We should be longsuffering with others, not expect immediate perfection. We should pray for and encourage them and wait and see what God can do in their lives.

Ephesians 4:1-3- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Gentleness

Every modern version of the Bible changes this word to Kindness. However, you can be kind without being gentle. Gentle does have kindness as a part of it, but it goes way beyond just being kind. It's not patronizing or condescending. It's chivalrous, amiable, easy going, generally we are gentle because we care and do not want to harm or damage something fragile.

Gentleness comes after longsuffering, for if you cannot be longsuffering you will quickly lose the ability to be gentle! It's getting involved  to the point where it costs time and could cause inconvenience. It's sensitive to sorrow and suffering, and goes about quietly to help without requiring recognition.

God is very gentle in dealing with His young children. We mess up all the time and yet He says in I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Just confess and ask and it's forgiven and forgotten! 

He values this so much that when listing the qualifications for a pastor and a general servant of the Lord he puts this down as a requirement in two books of the Bible!

II Timothy 2:24-26- And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Titus 3:2- To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

What good is a shepherd if he can't gently lead the lambs? Isaiah 40:11- He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Goodness

This is an attribute that many people get wrong. They think goodness is being always kind and considerate, but there's another side to goodness. Goodness is also being just. If God were good and lenient to those who worked evil, then His goodness is not being shown to the victims of that evil- that would be cruelty for the victim of a violent, savage crime!

The price of sin is death. The cost of a soul is blood. In God's goodness, He sent His son to pay the price for our sin and to redeem our soul. But what goodness would it be to Christ to allow those who reject His sacrifice to enter into heaven?  

Romans 11:22- Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

When the world thinks of goodness, they see something weak and to be used or despised. The goodness of God is not soft and spineless! They miss the longsuffering in God's goodness. He's giving them time to repent before His wrath falls!

Psalms 145:7- They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Revelation 19:1-3- And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Faith

You would think that this fruit would be one of the first ones mentioned. We exercise faith when we believe that Christ died for our sins and we ask Him to apply that payment to our sin debt. But faith is fluid, it ebbs and flows.

As we walk through our Christian life, we are sometimes confronted with scenarios where we aren't fully certain what to do, or how to go on. This is where faith comes in. God has promised in His Word that no matter how rough, hard, ugly the situation, the end is a glorified body in a mansion in heaven with Him. But when we are walking through those dark times in life is where we learn to grow in faith.

II Thessalonians 1:3-5- We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Being a Christian who walks by faith is not for the faint of heart! It's not easy to put your faith in something the Scriptures promise when our experiences and emotions make us see otherwise. We must simply bow our heads and trust that God will finish what He has started!

Hebrews 12:2-3- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Meekness

Meekness is another misunderstood virtue. The dictionary definition is docile, overly compliant, spiritless, yielding or tame. Meekness is not simply humility. Meekness is not easily provoked, free from pride, having a modest demeanor and a humble opinion of self.

One person that the Bible points out as having this attribute was Moses- Numbers 12:3- (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) Think of all that Moses accomplished! He took on Pharaoh, the world power of his day! He spoke with God and saw God's glory! He liberated a bunch of slaves and led them until they became a mighty army!

Meek men are not weak men! They have tremendous inner strength and stable spirits without becoming prideful! They can stand alone for what is right. He can say, "I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Galatians 6:1- Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

A meek man can compassionately point out a fault in another person and then keep calm when that other person throws things back in his face. True wisdom has some meekness associated with it. Wisdom with meekness realizes that you don't know it all and you could possibly have misconstrued something, and so you approach the situation gently with prayer, but it doesn't run from a confrontation.

I Peter 3:15- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Temperance

Temperance is both moderation and self-control. A temperate person isn't easily riled up, nor are they quickly angered. They aren't inappropriate or unbecoming. Of all the fruits of the spirit, I believe this to be the hardest.

A temperate person is consistent. They aren't sweet and kind one day, and a volcano eruption of anger the next. Temperance for a Christian means that my whole self comes under Christ's control. My walk in life and my choices and decisions have become subject to God's will.

Christ is the greatest example of temperance. When He went into the temple and saw all the things going on against the Law of God, He didn't automatically start flipping out. He sat down and braided a whip- that takes time! When the Chief Priests and Pilate were interrogating Him He kept silent. When He died on the cross, He took the time to forgive those who were crucifying Him. That's temperance!

I Corinthians 14:32-33- And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

God won't take away your autonomy and force you to conform to His image. It is your daily job to bring your emotions, desires, and will in line with God's Word. By doing this, you will gain temperance.

Works of the flesh

The antithesis to the fruit of the spirit are mentioned just a few verses above and are titled the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who live after their fleshly lusts and desires will only find an empty, miserable existence. When a Christian lives after the flesh, the Lord will hound him all the way to the end of his life. Romans 8:13- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. The Lord doesn't have to destroy the person. His own actions and the consequences that follow will.

When a person is walking in the flesh, they are looking at their present lusts. Many times they forget to look at the price tag associated with those desires. After years of living for self, you will doubt your salvation, wallow in the loneliness of your decisions, and possibly even have to watch your health deteriorate from the aftermath of your choices.

Galatians 6:8- For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The Fruit Of The Spirit (Part 1)

In Galatians 5, Paul talks about the lusts of the flesh. He goes on to list the works of the flesh and then he contrasts those with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. There were 17 works of the flesh listed, yet only 9 fruits of the Spirit. Not only is salvation simple but living for the Lord was never meant to be complicated as long as we put our desires aside and follow the Lord's will.

The type of soil in our lives will reflect the fruit of the Spirit, or the lack thereof. Remember, a fruit tree cannot counterfeit fruit. You walk up to an apple tree, and you can see the apples. There are no leaves that look like apples but are not! Same in a Christian's life- you cannot counterfeit the fruits of the Spirit. Your walk, your talk, your loves, will all show what type of fruit you are bearing. John 6:63- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

We must realize that the abundance of love we have is in direct relation to our walk with God. We cannot bear spiritual fruit apart from Christ! God is not going to pour His fruit into a worldly Christian who just wants to look spiritual. John 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.

Fruit is produced by the vine onto branches that are mature enough to support them. 

Ephesians 4:14-15- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Everybody loves babies! But to have a 20-year-old who still acts like a baby is a tragedy! It's part of life to grow, both physically and spiritually.

John 15:5- I am the vine, ye are the branches....

Christ is our vine. He is perfect. We, however, are not. If a branch is diseased, dead, or compromised in any way, the vine won't be able to send the proper nutrients for the fruit to grow. Generally, when this happens, a gardener will need to prune the diseased or dead parts of the branches to make room for healthy ones.

As a Christian, we cannot bear fruit if our fellowship with Christ is broken or diseased. First, Christ will have to remove the things causing the disease or prune away what's broken. 

John 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.

Fruit trees need pruning for two primary purposes: to establish the basic structure (make us like Christ), and to provide light channels (Scripture) throughout the tree so that all the fruit can mature well.

Ephesians 5:1-2- Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Matthew 5:16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Pruning is done primarily in the dormant season. If you aren't growing as a Christian, then expect for things to get shaken up! Christ will never take away things that are in His will for you. When He takes things away, we need to understand that it is for one of these two reasons- to make us more like Him or, that His light can shine through us.

The two types of pruning cuts that are used are thinning and heading. Thinning is removing an entire shoot, branch, or limb, back to the point where it originated. Heading is removing part of a shoot, branch, or limb so that young trees get established correctly.

I Corinthians 5:6-7- Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

God may ask you to remove some things that are holding you back in your Christian walk. We may feel like this is too much to ask, but He sees the end result and He knows that it will be worth it! 

Each tree is different and will need different attention. When trees are expending all of their nutrients on creating branches and leaves, they don't have enough left over to bear fruit and that's when they get pruned. 

Luke 10:38-42- Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

There are many people that are so busy with programs, fellowships, and activities, that they aren't growing spiritually. They're busy about the work while neglecting their spiritual walk! When we get to this place, Christ needs to prune away some of the distractions so we can grow enough to bear fruit. 

Sometimes, they need fertilizer (super food to help give them the nutrients they need). 

Romans 10:17- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you aren't spending time in the Scriptures, then you have no hope of growing strong and bearing fruit. Listening to preaching is necessary, but it is never to replace our personal time spent in God's Word.

II Timothy 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Perhaps there's not enough pollination to initiate fruit bearing. 

Hebrews 10:25- Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

If you aren't attending a local church regularly, then you aren't getting the "pollination" that every Christian needs. The Lord knows that as humans we are social creatures. He created Eve so Adam wouldn't be alone. If you aren't getting together with other Christians for the purpose of learning from God, then you aren't going to get what you need to bear fruit.

Then again, it could be frost damage that has damaged the cells of the new growth that was trying to emerge.

Romans 14:13- Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Romans 15:1-2- We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

How many times has a weak Christian been thrown out of the race because of the self-righteous condemnation of an older, "wiser" Christian? Too many times our children quit the Christian walk because of the actions, words, etc. of other Christians. You will stand before God and give an account for every time you made a brother or sister in Christ stumble.

I Corinthians 8:9- But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

John 15:8- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

The Colored Cloth On The Cross

Have you ever seen the white or colored scarf draped across the cross? Do you know what this means or where it came from?

The Shrouded Cross is a cross adorned with the burial shroud draped over the cross; it is believed that it was the napkin that lay across His face, folded and set to the side in the tomb when Christ rose from the dead. 

Some people believe that Christ, Himself, took that cloth and laid it across the cross to show that He was risen from the dead. That is nowhere in the Bible! So, where did this idea come from?

In the days before Easter, Christian crosses draped with colored cloth is a common sight, and each church has their own traditional colors they use. When Easter Sunday arrives, churches change the purple or black drapes to white, representing purity and Christ's resurrection. Catholic traditions have seeped into Protestant denominations, draped in purple, the color of the Lenten Season, this cloth will remain on the Cross from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (the day the Catholics believe to be the Last Supper) to remind us of the Season of preparing for Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. On Good Friday (the day the Catholics believe to be the date of the crucifixion) through Saturday (the Catholic Day of Silence) they will be draped in black. Easter Sunday though Ascension Day, the white cloth will remain on the crosses. The crosses will then be rendered barren until the next Lenten Season.  This time period is known on the old Catholic liturgical calendar as Passiontide.

The modern color sequence of the Roman Catholic Church was first outlined in Pope Innocent III’s treatise De Sacro Altaris Mysterio (Book I, chapter 65, written before his election as pope in 1198 AD). That's over a thousand years after Christ was crucified! In the later Middle Ages other colors were used in various churches, such as blue for certain feasts of the Virgin Mary and rose color on the third Sunday in Advent and the fourth Sunday in Lent.

Pope Innocent III ordered the destruction of Christians in southern France. He burned down the city and 20,000 residents killed after a papal legate declared, "Slaughter them all!"  He was responsible for raising troops to fight the Fourth Crusade, which killed thousands of people. He used his religious and political authority to demand that the secular rulers of Europe follow his wishes. Not a very "innocent" person.

He was an anti-Semite! “Blasphemers of the Christian name (Jews) ought not to be aided by Christian princes to oppress the servants of the Lord but ought rather be forced into the servitude of which they made themselves deserving." 

It was through this man that the ordered annual confession of sins was instituted. Before this time people didn't confess their sins to a priest. It was common knowledge that God alone could forgive sins.

What do the Catholics believe happened to this bloody man? After his death, Innocent III was believed to be in purgatory because it is said that he appeared to St. Lutgarda in her monastery at Aywieres, Brabant, engulfed in flames.

Why would the "vicar of Christ" need to spend time in purgatory? I scratch my head at some of these ideas. But I guess the real question is why do so many Christians accept the traditions of Catholicism into their services? 

There is no Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, or Lent in the Bible. 

There's no way that Christ died on the cross on Friday and then spent 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb- anyone who can do basic math should be able to figure out that is impossible! 

There's also no purgatory, no limbo, no infant baptism, or other such teachings in the Bible, nor is there any reference to the idea of such things. 

So, why do some churches accept, and even teach, these traditions as facts?

It all boils down to lazy Bible teaching and even lazier Bible studying. 

Matthew 15:3- But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mark 7:9- And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Those who twist Scripture to fit in “traditions” are doing exactly what the religious leaders of Christ’s day did. They rejected Truth because they would have to admit they were taught wrong. They would rather crucify the Son of God than change their long-standing, but misguided beliefs.

You may want to hold on to your teaching, but what will the cost be? You cannot invalidate or twist Scripture to make yourself feel good about the bad doctrine you’re holding onto with consequences!

Mark 7:13- Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

But why would people do this? There may be a few who are innocently fooled, but the majority are going along with the crowd because that's where they get their paychecks.

Colossians 2:8- Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The Pharisees and Saducees weren't concerned with whether they were going against God, they were worried about their position and power.

John 11:48- If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

Christ, Himself, said in Matthew 12:40- For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Christ died on Wednesday. He was buried on Wednesday. His body will stay in the tomb for 3 nights (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening from 6pm to 6 am) and three days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6am to 6pm). And then He will resurrect on Saturday evening after 6PM. 

The stone gets rolled away from the door in the morning as the women were coming to the tomb- that's why people believe and teach that He rose on Sunday morning. The tomb was already empty!

Luke 24:1-3- Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

The stone was rolled away to let them see inside the tomb, not to let Jesus out. He walked through locked doors when the disciples were huddled in a room scared, why would He need the stone removed so He could walk out?

Luke 24:5-7- And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

The angels even reiterate that He would rise again the third day. But, sadly there will be many who will hold to their traditions and view this as the disciples did.

Luke 24:11- And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

One day, you will stand before God and He will ask you the same thing He asked the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Luke 24:25- Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Those who hold to Catholic traditions to be more inclusive must one day come to the realization that they allowed people to be deceived so they could get along with the religious crowd. Where will you draw the line and tell the truth?

Infant baptism won't save your soul.

You can't do whatever you want on a Tuesday and then get ashes on your head Wednesday, give up some things for 40 days, and be absolved of your sin.

Praying to Mary is useless because she was a mortal human who also needed a Savior.

There is no rosary mentioned anywhere in the Bible, and vain repetitious prayers are warned against in Scriptures.

II Peter 2:3- And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

You have a choice to study the Scriptures and stand for truth, or spout what you were taught like a parrot without ever checking it out by the Word. Whatever your choice, God will hold you accountable not only for what you teach, but also for all the souls you lead astray or to the truth.

Watch And Protect Your Tongue (video sermon)

Keto Powdered Coffee Creamer recipe

My recipe for liquid Non-dairy fat bomb Creamer is found here. But, for those who want something they can keep on a shelf instead of in the fridge, see below.

1/2 cup  Keto Collagen

1 cups Coconut Milk Powder

2 TBS Egg White Protein Powder

2 TBS Butter powder

2 TBS MCT Oil Powder

If you'd like to make it sweet, then add about 2 tsp of your favorite powdered sweetener.

Blend all ingredients together and store in tightly sealed jar.

I like the Keto Collagen because you can choose which flavor you'd like and have an instant flavored creamer available.

Note: You can add instant coffee to this to create a quick coffee drink!

Arise, My Soul, With Rapture Rise (poem)

 Arise, my soul, with rapture rise,

And, fill'd with love and fear, adore

The awful Sovereign of the skies,

Whose mercy lends me one day more.

And may this day, indulgent Power,

Not idly pass, nor fruitless be;

But may each swiftly-flying hour

Still nearer bring my soul to Thee.

But can it be? That Power Divine

Is throned in light's unbounded blaze;

And countless worlds and angels join

To swell the glorious song of praise.

And will He deign to lend an ear,

When I, poor sinful mortal, pray?

Yes, boundless goodness! He will hear,

Nor cast the meanest wretch away.

Then let me serve Thee all my days,

And may my zeal with years increase;

For pleasant, Lord, are all Thy ways,

And all Thy paths are paths of peace.

-Samuel Francis Smith

A Time To Fight (Song)

The Prophecy Of The Third Temple

 The original temple built by King Solomon around 950 BC was destroyed around 587 BC by the Babylonians. The second temple, which was rebuilt by the Jews after their return from the Babylonian captivity around 515 BC. This one was destroyed by the Romans around 70 AD. 

As a Christian, we know that Christ paid the price required by God for sin when He died on the cross. During his earthly ministry, He prophesied that the temple would be destroyed.

Mark 13:2- And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The idea of a rebuilt Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, particularly to Orthodox Jews, as it is believed that it will occur in tandem with the arrival of the Messiah, and only then will the sacrificial practices of the First and Second Temple be reinstated.

Orthodox Jews don't believe that Jesus was their Messiah. They won't read any of the New Testament of the Bible, and still think that the Messiah has not yet come.

The notion of a rebuilt Temple, on top of  what many call the Temple Mount, has been a core part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many believe that the site called the Temple Mount is where the original first and second temple stood. Several organizations, usually representing a small group of Orthodox Jews, have been formed with the objective of constructing the Third Temple in the present day. These organizations include the Temple Institute, which has made several items they say will be used in the Temple when it is established.

First, we should take note that what is called the Temple Mount is not where the original temples actually stood. Jesus prophesied that not one stone would be left of the original buildings in the city of David.

When Titus came to view the conquered city he said, "We have certainly had God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God who ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men, or any machines, do towards overthrowing these towers!"

According to Flavius Josephus, an historian and military leader, Titus gave orders to destroy the entire city and temple, leaving only the towers standing. In his words, " it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited."

The Bible clearly tells us in Daniel that the temple would be rebuilt. This was prophesied during the time of the destruction of the first temple.

Daniel 11:31- And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

All throughout the Jews history, prophets have told them not to make any idols. Beginning with Moses and the ten commandments, it was written that there were to be no images that were worshiped. When the Hebrews split into two nations because of King Solomon's apostasy, they both fell into the habit of worshiping idols- the Samaritans worshiped the golden calves that Jeroboam set up in Bethel and Dan, along with the false idols of those around them, and the Israelites of Judah began worshiping the same false idols along with the queen of heaven and Tammuz (Babylonian religion false gods) which Jeremiah prophesied against.

This is why the temple was destroyed the first time.

When Jesus was rejected as the Jews Messiah, Paul was called to take the gospel of the forgiveness of sins to the Gentiles. 

Acts 13:46- Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

The Jews tried to revolt against the Roman's rule and eventually this led to the destruction of both the city of Jerusalem and the second temple, as Jesus prophesied.

For the last two millenia, there has been no temple. The Jewish nation didn't come back to the area until the late 1800's AD, early 1900's AD. And still, after 100 years there is no temple though the preparations have been made.

Jesus echoed the prophecy of Daniel in Mark 13:14- But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

There will be rebuilding of the third temple. But, it won't be the Messiah that comes to it. It will be the antiChrist. He will create an image (WARNING) that he will expect the world to worship. This is what will prove that he is not the long awaited Messiah- because the real Messiah would NEVER go against the God given law of Moses and tell them to worship an image.

Right now, we have the blessing of being able to simply ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and we will be accepted as pure in God's eyes. But when the antiChrist is on the scene, the rules change- it will take faith in Jesus and works by keeping the law of Moses.

There isn't much time left, the time of the Gentiles is almost over, and everything is prepared for the time of Jacob's trouble.

Jeremiah 30:3- For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

The Jewish people are back in their native homeland. This prophecy of Jeremiah has been fulfilled. The rest of the prophecy is at hand.

Jeremiah 30:5-7- For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.