Oh Tree, Where are your fruits?

There is something that scriptures teaches us concerning being fruitful. By the Grace of God and His wisdom I want to unpack the message of being fruitful. To do so I will refer to scriptures on the subject.

Green leaves but no fruits

One day Jesus was hungry and went over to a fig tree so that He may find fruit to eat but there was none. Jesus then cursed the tree and by the next day the tree was already withered. Full story can be found in Mathew 21:18-22.

From afar Jesus could see green leaves on the fig tree. He went to the tree thinking He may find fruit to eat but there was no fruit not even one.

As I was researching about the fig tree I found out that a fig tree forms its first crop of figs before the leaves appear. And so the fruits can appear first before the leaves meaning when the leaves appear, the fruits would already be there so Jesus was not wrong in expecting fruit.

A Christian can likewise show signs of fruitfulness when in actual fact bearing no fruits. A Christian who is only a Christian by appearance is in danger of becoming cursed and withered. The Pharisees are an example, they dressed in priestly garments, memorised scriptures and followed religious acts of Sabbath, tithing and ceremonial duties.

Please hear me well, they were not wrong to do so. What was wrong is that IT WAS ALL FOR A SHOW. IT WAS ALL DONE TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS. They had green leaves which is very good but they lacked fruits which is very bad.

To see the Kingdom of heaven, our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees meaning we should have green leaves but we should excel and have fruits also. Whatever we do should be for the glory of God.

Of Age but no fruits

Jesus told a parable of how a man had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. For 3 years the man looked for fruit from his vineyard but found none. The man told the caretaker of the vineyard to cut down the tree because it was using up the soil for nothing but the caretaker asked that the tree be given 1year so that he might dig around it and fertilise it. If after it produces fruit then well and good and if not then it will be cut down. Full story can be found in Luke 13:6-9

When I was reading I found out that a fig tree usually takes 2 years and then it begins to bear fruit. So this fig tree was late in producing its fruits. Likewise most of us have known Christ for a long time. 

From the time we received Christ, we have been chosen that we may produce fruits. Some people can boast of 50 years in Christ which is noble except if it is just age without fruits. The question is as old as you & me are in Christ are we fruitful?

The saving grace for this tree is the caretaker who pleads on behalf of the tree. This is the Holy Spirit of God, Christ Himself and other believers who intercede on our behalf and as such God has extended mercy but it is time to produce fruits in keeping with repentance and righteousness and Holiness by the Holy Spirit.

A Fruitful Tree

A Christian bearing good fruits can be compared to a fruitful tree.

A Christian who walks in love for God and man, showing kindness without partiality, shunning all manner of evil, hardworking- never idle, disciplined, honest, honouring parents and elders, willing to share all good things with others, obedient to God’s commands, patient, speaking words of encouragement and correcting what is wrong, self-controlled and not addicted to anything, prayerful, fasting often, humble not proud and boastful, ethical, resourceful not wasteful, modest not extravagant, pure, innocent, merciful, bold to declare the power of God, peaceful and not violent, imitating God and not the ways of the world, seeking righteousness and holiness, compassionate, repentant, fearing God, hearing from God, seeking God’s will above one’s will, principled and following what is good.

Whatever is good, whatever is worthy, whatever is just and whatever was commended by God and man of our forefathers; that constitutes a number of the innumerable fruits that Jesus Christ is looking for in today’s believer.

Mathew 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance

Philippians 1: 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

Galatians 5:22 -23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...

Ephesians 5: 9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

On a different note, please read this important message so that you may share with your loved ones, Click here

God bless & help us to be fruitful

Heavenward in Christ Jesus

Paul writes to the Philippians a good message. In chapter 3 he makes known that his confidence is not in his body or the law or any titles but that his confidence is in Christ. He also makes known his goal (the reason for his race) which is to get hold of his price for which God has called him heavenward.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

He then urges readers to have the same view of things.

He urges that we should not put our confidence in our personal good works or acts of righteousness but that we should put confidence in Christ. Having also the righteousness that comes by faith in God.

Concerning righteousness some people have asked me why I teach that people especially women should dress modestly and embrace their natural beauty. Some have questioned this because according to them I’m teaching legalism (righteousness that comes from strict adherence to rules and laws). I want to address this and say that dressing modestly constitutes Holiness. And God requires us to be Holy just as He is Holy.

Peter said that Holy women of long ago did not dress themselves with braided hair, jewellery and expensive clothes but with gentleness and quietness. 1Peter 3:5 For this is the way Holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful….

For me personally it is about pleasing God and I have learnt that it pleases God that He should be glorified in my body as I follow the good example of Holy women in the past. The matter is even serious now that the Lord is calling for complete separation from the world. There must be a difference between Deborah and Delilah. A child of God should not look like those celebrities who do not have the fear of God.

Paul also urges that our focus should be the High Calling of God on our lives. He is saying in all we do we should be heaven focused and not earthly minded.

A child of God cannot afford to live as though the earth is their home. No!

Our citizenship is of heaven

Soon we will be home if we hold on to the truth and press toward the mark of the high calling. Do you know your calling?

Eternal Life is your calling

And as we live in this world waiting for our Saviour to call us home, we occupy until He comes.

This means we do not fold our hands and relax, No!

We continually activate the Grace given to us so that Christ is made manifest in our labour, conduct and speech.

And when He comes, we will receive gifts from Him for He is generous.

We should not copy or follow those who live as enemies of God. Enemies of God and the cross of Christ seek only to fill their stomachs, they glory in shameful things and their minds are on earthly things. Their destiny is destruction.

In these evil days people celebrate what is wrong and they trample on what is right. Many people seek riches without righteousness and holiness. Teachers teach only the blessings of God and make no mention of the wrath of God and His judgement.

But let only Christ be our confidence

Let only Christ be our boast

Let only our trust be in Christ

Till He comes may we run the race to get hold of the prize for which He is calling us heavenward. Amen!

A Faithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant

 In Christ we are a Chosen People, a Royal Priesthood and a  Holy Nation and as such every person can be categorized into one of the following:
King
Priest
Leader
Servant
Whichever category that a person may find themselves in there is a distinction that can & will be made between an Unfaithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant and a Faithful King/Priest/Leader/Servant
A distinction can & was made between  Saul & David
A distinction can & was made between Eli and sons & Samuel
A distinction can & was made between Korah & Moses
A distinction can & was made between Job's wife and friends & Job

The One who makes the distinction is God Almighty Himself. It is God who searches the intentions of a man's heart to see if he fears the Lord. A man who fears the Lord trembles at the Word of God. This means a man who fears the Lord is a doer of God's will.

Saul was a King. He fell short of his glory as King when he disobeyed the command of God to utterly destroy the Amalekites.
And then God chose a King after His own heart (David) to rule the people.

Acts 13:22..He raised up David to be their King, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'

Eli was a full time priest in the house of God. He served God to his old age. In Eli's service as priest, he did not serve alone. He served together with his sons since they had been chosen as a tribe for the work of the Lord (Burning incense, receiving & preparing offerings and other ceremonial duties). Eli's sons Hophni & Phinehas did not fear God. They treated sacred and holy sacrifices and offerings of the Lord with contempt.
And so God desired to put them to death. God also raised for Himself a Priest after His own heart (Samuel) to take over from Eli.

1Samuel 2:34-35 This will be a sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die. But I will raise up for Myself a Faithful Priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in my soul; and I will build him an enduring house and he will walk before My Anointed always.

God called Moses and gave him the task to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. 
By virtue of God's call Moses became a leader together with Aaron and Miriam. 
God had chosen the tribe of Levi to be ministers in the tabernacle of the Lord. 
Among those ministering were Korah and Dathan. They were also leaders of Israel chosen by God. They however took action against Moses saying it was not Moses only who was holy but that they too were holy and could therefore perform duties of the Priest and so Korah, Dathan and other community leaders who had been appointed members of the council gathered against Moses.
Moses told them that in the morning God was going to choose who was His Chosen and Holy Leader. The next day God chose Moses and Aaron but Korah and his followers were all swallowed up to the grave alive.

Psalm 106:16-17 In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram

When God was boasting about Job He called Job His servant. Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Job’s wife however talked like a fool asking Job to lay down his integrity. Three of Job’s friends despite being wise men did not speak of God rightly.
So Job remained a Faithful Servant of God who spoke right about God and remained faithful to his God despite losing everything.

Job 42:8...You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

The conclusion of the matter is even in the house of God, God makes distinction between the Faithful and the Unfaithful. Being a King is good but being a Faithful King is excellent and brings glory to God. In the same manner God is glorified and pleased by Faithful Priest/ Leader/ Servant.
Obedience to God is important for every person who wishes to please God and receive a good report and inheritance from God.

God bless

Imitators of God

Oh how wide, how deep and incomprehensible is the love of God.

God is Love – not the love of mere feelings and emotions or mere words but great love to die for the whole world.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

So sad how selfish and totally ignorant we are of the Love of God. 

We have not come to fully comprehend the love of God because if we had we would not do the things we do, we would not speak some of the things we speak or dress some of the ungodly ways we dress.

We fail to love God back. 

We fail to imitate God in showing love.

The price has already been paid by the Lamb of God and so no one needs to die again but all we need to do is to live our lives for Jesus and yet what do we do; we live our lives for ourselves.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

We do not even spare a second to find out what is pleasing to God so that we may do it. All our time is spent on pleasing ourselves. Most of the things we do, do not even please God at all and so we grieve the Holy Spirit whom we have received from God.

Ephesians 5:10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

What wretched people we are if we trample on the love that God has shown to us. It is a bad thing to repay good with evil. Should we repay the good that God has done for us with evil?

Proverbs 17:30 If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

Here is what we should do; we should be imitators of God.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

There are many qualities of God to imitate. As I have already shared before in my previous posts; Holiness – God says, ‘Be Holy for I AM Holy.’ For without holiness no man will see the Lord

True Holiness comes from keeping oneself pure. A pure heart that thinks no evil towards anyone. A pure heart that does not habor resentment. A pure mind that thinks pure thoughts not violent thoughts or sexual fantasies or other evil thoughts. Pure eyes that do not allow darkness in. A pure body that is not exposed for everyone to see and lust at. A body that glorifies God, when people see they pass good comments. 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

For more reading on outward holiness click here

 Justice; God is Just and requires us to deal justly. For more reading on Justice click here

Righteousness for the nature of God is righteousness. To imitate God’s righteousness one needs to walk with God. Righteousness is a right walk with God whereby you do things that please God. 

1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For more reading on righteousness click here

God is Merciful and if we want to imitate God we must also be merciful. Mercy pardons, it gives second chances even third or fourth. Those who show mercy will themselves be shown mercy.

God is Love. We must walk in Love, not as the world defines it but as God defines it. There is no love that leads people to sin against God, that is called deception. And loving God means loving my neighbour for anyone who says they love God and yet do not love their brother or sister is a liar.

Many people do not know this but God is a Hard Worker. Jesus imitated Our Father in demonstrating hard work in His mission. Jesus would wake up early to pray. He would even skip food so as to continue ministering because fulfilling His work was His mission.

John 5:17 In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working."

We should also imitate the Wisdom of God. We do this by reading the scriptures to find out more about God and Jesus. We should also ask for wisdom in prayer.

Ecclesiastics 7:12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

God is Sovereign and no one can take His place. We should not desire the Sovereign position of God but we should celebrate it and also take our positions as heirs of God. We are God’s offspring, Royal Generation. Chosen people, ordained by God to produce good fruits. We have Dominion over the earth and dominion over our bodies.

1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We imitate God and glorify Him with our lives. We do all of it by living our lives by the Spirit of God who is our Helper and by living by faith. The world is groaning for this.

Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Do you trust in God?

God knows you by your name.

He knows even the number of the hairs in your head.

He also knows you need food and clothes and other things.

But that’s not the best part, the best part is God cares. I know this because God is Love and Love is Kind and Caring.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

No God cannot forget you!

Isaiah 49:15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Has God not blessed you before?

Has God not provided for you before?

Has God not led you before?

What then can stop Him from doing even more?

But you have to trust in God.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

This is the biggest lesson of life; learning to trust God. And it is not an easy thing to do. Sarah laughed when she heard that she would be pregnant. The Israelites even though they had seen the wonders of God; the parting of the red sea they did not trust God but complained and grumbled against God in the wilderness.

Psalm 78:22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.

You cannot Trust in God and at the same time speak or act contrarily. I have actually found that when I find it hard to trust in God and I’m tempted to complain all I have to do is to look back at the string of testimonies of God’s Love in my life then I find that I’m able to trust in God. 

Sometimes just hearing someone else’s testimony is enough to help me to keep trusting in God. God cannot just say Trust me from nowhere. He wants us to consider the works He has done in the heavens, on the earth, in our families, in our lives and in other people’s lives.

Psalm 78:7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

God simply wants us to finally realise that He is not like other Gods who though they have eyes cannot see and though they have ears cannot hear. Other gods who cannot give life because they themselves do not have it.

Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.

God wants you to know without doubt that He is very real and very alive. A Real Father, A Real Friend, A Real Saviour, A Real Healer, A Real Helper……

John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.

But you cannot experience any of this if do not approach God. The cares of this life are many, we have many needs and wants. 

If you carry all of your burdens on your shoulders you get weary, you get sick, you get depressed and stressed. If you share your burdens with other people, they also get wearied and depressed or they gossip and laugh.

Psalm 108:12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

But if you take it to Jesus; He will give you rest. This does not mean that you won’t cry or suffer. It means that even though you may cry and suffer you will always have a reliable and faithful companion leading you to victory for life.

Mathew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

But if you continue carrying your burdens, satan will find opportunity to take the Word of God from you and Jesus will come back at a time you are carrying your own burdens because you failed to trust in God and just as the Israelites who did not trust God did not see the promised land so those who fail to trust in God will not see the Kingdom of heaven.

Luke 21:34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life--and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

Remember even to Trust in God, we need God's help for we can do nothing by ourselves. So then let us ask the Holy Spirit of God to help with our unbelief. When Peter was sinking when he was trying to walk on water, he called out and Jesus helped him. Another man also believed and still he asked Jesus to help him.

Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

God bless!

Look after him

This devotion is by Adrian - Missionary

“‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

Luke 10:25-37

We are like the innkeeper whom God asked to look after the victims of oppression and injustices using the blessings given to us.

Following Jesus examples, may we understand that we need to be intentional in extending compassion to others not only because we are told so but because it is the right thing to do. 

Despite our own needs and challenges, we have all been blessed with something to help others; may it be our time, our talent, service or even financial assistance.

Prayer

Dear Lord, may I learn to always acknowledge how you have helped me and blessed me despite my unworthiness May you guide me to serve 

Here is link to his blog 

God bless

Love is 14 things

Love is patient

Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Love is kind

Desires to do good to others; goodwill and charitableness

Love does not envy

Does not get discontented or resentful because of desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to someone else

Love does not boast

Does not talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.

Love is not proud

Does not show a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions 

Love is not rude

Not offensively impolite or bad-mannered.

Love is not self-seeking

Not lacking consideration for other people and not concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.

Love is not easily angered

Not lacking control over one’s emotions.

Love keeps no record of wrong

Forgives and forgets

Love does not rejoice in evil but rejoices with the truth

Supports the Word of God

Love always protects

Safeguards, shields, preserves, defends, cushions, shelters, secures, fortifies, guards, 

Love always trusts

Firmly believing in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something

Love always perseveres

Always persistent in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

Love never fails

Never lacking, never missing, always succeeds.

‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29- 31