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Luke 13:7 ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ (NIV)

We humans are very good at putting off until tomorrow what should be done today.  We have the idea that there is always a tomorrow.  God expects us to bear fruit.  That is why He leaves us here after we accept Jesus, His Son, as our Lord and Savior and are adopted as God’s children.  Our question is, are we bearing fruit?  Are we so busy with our own agenda that God’s agenda for us is put on hold for tomorrow?  We must be sure we are rooted in good soil (rooted in the written Word of God) and then praying and listening to God through the Holy Spirit, going about ministering His love and His word.  We are to be sharing the fruit of His Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.   Let’s not put off to tomorrow the fruit God gives us to share today. 

All Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (NIV)

We usually don’t mind instruction or training when we’re not sure what to do.  However, we have a bit of trouble receiving correcting or rebuking.  We don’t like to admit when we’re wrong.  So often, when we read the scriptures and are reading a word of correcting, we are very quick to apply it to someone else.  We are so very good at finger pointing.  Jesus said we need to become as little children.  That doesn’t mean to be immature but to be open to teaching and correction.  We need to read the scriptures with an open heart and mind.  Not only should we pray, “Lord, teach me the way I should go,” but also, “Lord show me my wrong ways and correct my steps and words to be in line with Your direction for me.”   Let us learn to apply all scripture to our own teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Habit

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. (NKJ)

A habit is a repetitive thing that is repeated without thinking.  Prayer is a two-way conversation with God.  The question is, do we have the habit of prayer?  Throughout our day, are we in conversation with God?  Do we do most of the talking or do we spend time listening?  Are we in the habit of thanking Him for the beauty we see and hear in nature?  Are we in the habit of calling His attention to someone we see who looks like they need help?  There are so many things, as we walk through our days, that we could and should be talking to God and listening to Him.  By not having this as a habit we are missing the blessing of His doing something through us.  Developing the habit of prayer is very possible.  Activities practiced over and over will eventually become a habit.  If you aren’t already in the habit of prayer without ceasing, I strongly recommend the effort.  There is joy unspeakable when we walk through each and every day talking and listening to the One Who loves us and watches over us more than we can comprehend.  Let’s be in the habit of praying without ceasing.

Really First?

Luke 12:15 ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (NIV)

I’ve been very frustrated lately with my lifestyle and that of the majority of Christians.  We are so very spoiled.  We live in houses with all sort of electronics, have closets full of stylish clothes, multiple shoes to pick to wear, food enough for leftovers and an overabundance of so very much.  Many preachers even preach that we should be prosperous if we are really people of faith.  I can’t find that in the Bible.  I actually find more about living a life with trials and tribulation.  Most of us don’t really know what real tribulation is.  We need to spend more time in giving to the needy and doing for those who need help than we spend trying to decide what we want to buy next.  Even many of our churches are very opulent.  We keep the A.C. or heat set on more than comfortable temperatures, give ourselves banquets and all sorts of entertainment.  There is nothing wrong with owning things, having fun, etc. as long as it is all kept in proper perspective.  Our first priority is worshiping God.  Next comes spreading His word to others.  We must be more consistent in our intercessory prayers.  We need to pray for the governments of this world.  We need to pray for the Christians who are being threatened for worshiping, praying, reading the Bible and spreading the gospel.  We need to take spiritual warfare seriously.  When any of those takes a back seat to our other endeavors we are not following the life of Jesus.  Many of us will find ourselves hearing Jesus say He doesn’t know us because of our wrong priorities.  Let’s be sure to put Him first in reality, not just in words.  Let us be sure putting Him first shows in our finances, our homes, our churches, our words and our actions.

Peace Within

Isaiah 52:7 ⁷ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (NIV)

Most of mankind seek peace.  The peace referred to in the above scripture isn’t the absence of war.  This peace is the peace of God.  This peace is only possible through the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit only sheds inner peace to those who have accepted Jesus, God’s Son, into their hearts, minds and lives.  This peace is beyond human understanding.  This peace can be in us even when we are in the midst of earthly war.  This peace is between a person and God.  This peace is the assurance of the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, God’s Son, brought the good news of this peace.  This peace had not been available to people since Sin entered mankind in the Garden of Eden.  This peace is the evidence of God reigning in us.  If we are lacking this peace we must get on our knees and confess anything that is blocking our God’s peace in us.  Let us continually live in His peace.

Miracles for Glory

Isaiah 35:5-6 ⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. ⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy (NIV)

Miracles aren’t for our convenience or comfort.  Miracles are to show the love, power and glory of Almighty God.  Jesus did miracle to show how much God, the Father, loves us.  Though Jesus had love and compassion for those who came to Him for healing, the miracles He performed were for the purpose of bringing glory to the Father.  So many times, we pray for a miracle for our own desires.  We forget we are here to bring glory to God.  We get upset at God when the miracle we ask for doesn’t appear.  Some even turn away from God when they don’t get their way.  We act like God is there to serve us.  We don’t understand our position in relation to God’s.  Let us understand, without the grace of God, we wouldn’t even be.  Let us realize and accept God made us to have fellowship with us.  Because He made us, He loves us intimately.  He wants only the best for us.  In our sinfulness, we don’t know the best for us.  We moan and complain at any discomfort or disappointment.  We want the thrill of miracles.  We’re not content with day to day companionship.  Let us confess our self-centeredness and live our lives being content and rejoicing in the fact that God loves us and respond to Him in love and thanksgiving.  This doesn’t mean we can’t pray for miracles.  It means we glorify God in all circumstances and, when He blesses with a miracle we make sure we give praise and gory to God rather than the miracle.

Eternity

Psalms 90:17 ¹⁷ May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands. (NIV)

This prayer is a request for God to establish for all eternity the work our hands have done.  There is only one thing we can do that will last for all eternity and that is only through the Holy Spirit.  That is to lay the seed in someone to come to know, accept, love, worship and follow Jesus Christ.  When we have a part in that, our part will last throughout eternity.  Let us spread the word of our Lord profusely.  We do this through our prayers, words and actions.  We must consider how much work do we have established that will live for eternity.  Let us be buy about this task.  Not for our own glory, but for the glory of God for He desires that not one be lost.  Let us be about the work that God will establish for all eternity.

Ready?

Matthew 25:1 ¹ “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (NIV)

Please read the entire parable.  The 10 virgins represent the Bride of Christ, the believers and followers of Christ.  In the parable it is evident the virgins don’t know how soon or how long it will be before the bridegroom would come.  5 maintained a state of readiness for Him and 5 did not.  If Jesus were to come for us before we read the next word, are we ready?  The oil in the lamps represents the Hoy Spirit.  What does it take to be ready?  We must not have any unforgiveness in our heart.  We must maintain the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and keep His fruits in us healthy and growing.  Later on Jesus tells us just doing good deeds won’t make Him recognize us.  He sees our hearts, our motives behind what we do. We must be quick to forgive.  Quick to confess.  Always seeking for a continual filling of the Holy Spirit and maintain a rich and bountiful diet on the written word of God shoring up and growing His fruits He has so lovingly placed in us.  Let us always and consistently be ready.

Continued Action

John 11:44 ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (NIV)

The men weren’t finished working with Jesus when they rolled the stone away.  After Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth (He had to use Lazarus’ name or all the dead would come forth.) He told the men to remove the burial clothes so Lazarus would be free.  When we see our prayers answered or our words taking effect or the devil starting to turn away, we are still team players with God.  We must continue to listen to Him and continue to obey His leading.  The battle won’t be over until Jesus returns to earth for His Bride (the body of believers).  Every day is a day to communicate with God.   Every day is a day for us to speak His word.  Every day is a day for us to act as the hands and feet of Jesus.  In this electronic age many have become lazy.  Let us be on our guard against spiritual laziness.  Let us immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, allow the Holy Spirit to give us interpretation for application and wisdom and be loving and obedient joint heirs with Jesus, God’s only son Who loved us so must He suffered on the cross for us and rose from the dead so we could be forgiven for our sins and be filled with the Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort and guide us each day.

Team Work

John 11:39 ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” (NIV)

Jesus had all power.  He could speak to the stone and command it to roll away on it’s own.  He could speak to the stone and have it disintegrated into sand.  Instead he chose to have men join Him in this miracle and move the stone themselves.  So often we wonder why our prayers seem to be unanswered.  So often we wonder why when we get the courage to come against the devil nothing seems to happen.  Quite often when we speak a word it seems to evaporate into thin air.  Jesus was teaching us that, as joint heirs, we are to work with Him.  Yes, first we must look to Him, speak to Him, listen to Him for directions and instructions, but then there comes a time for us to act on what He leads us to do.  God isn’t living our lives for us.  He did that when He sent Jesus down to die on the cross for us.  He wants to live our lives in Him and He in us as one.  He wants us to be team players with Him.  He doesn’t need us.  He wants us because He loves us.  Next time we think our prayers aren’t being answered, our spoken word is evaporating into thin air the devil is continuing to hassle us, let us re-listen to hear what instructions God has for us to do to team up with Him.