BEARING FRUIT IS NOT SIMPLY WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHAT EMPOWERS YOU TO DO IT
“…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit … ” (John
15:1-11 NASB). "…My
Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples”
(John 15:8 NIV). “…Ye shall know … [God’s people]… by
their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
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“…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit … ” (John
15:1-11 NASB). "…My
Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My
disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“…Ye shall know [those
JOINED to God, the Holy Spirit]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16
KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…Apart
from [God, the Holy Spirit
you] can do
nothing (BEAR NOTHING)….” (John 15:5 KJV).
The WORD tells YOU when YOU repent; you
will RECEIVE the Holy Spirit. “…Peter said to them, "REPENT …and
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit….”
(Acts 2:38 NASB).
“… He (she) that is JOINED
(in a covenant relationship with) unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT (sealed)…”
(1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
The Holy Spirit is ALSO referred to as a
SEAL, which signifies that THEY belong to him. WEDDING RINGS signify that the
husband and wife NOW belong to one another in a covenant relationship.
The WEDDINGS RINGS and God’s SEAL also
signify a PLEDGE has been made.
The PLEDGE made by the indwelling HOLY
SPIRIT is the SEAL of PROMISE which assures those who are JOINED to HIM
(through the Holy Spirit) of ETERNAL SALVATION. “… [you]… are sealed (joined
with the holy spirit) unto the day of redemption…” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV).
“… [I will] … never leave nor forsake you…”
(Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
The WORD of God has the POWER to JOIN the
SOUL and SPIRIT and the WORD of GOD has the POWER to SEPARATE the SOUL and the
Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the WORD of GOD. “… He (Jesus) had a name written, that no man
knew … his name is called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).
“…He that is JOINED unto the Lord (Jesus, the
Word) is ONE Spirit…”
(1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…The word of God (Jesus) is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).
God SAID: “…in
the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die…”
(Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “…She … ate it [and] her
husband …ate it, too…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “…At that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis
3:1-7 NLT). “… [They were IMMEDIATELY] … separated
from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). “… the
dividing asunder
of soul and spirit…”
(Hebrews 4:12 KJV).
“…It is the
SPIRIT who gives LIFE…” (John
6:63 NASB). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the
body without (apart from) the [life
from the holy] spirit is dead…” (James 2:26 KJV).
The
Holy Spirit separated from man. “…BY THE WORD of the Lord …” (Psalms 33:6 NASB). “…thou shalt surely die…”
(Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “…The word …dividing
asunder
of soul and
spirit…” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV). “… [Their]
… iniquities …separated [them]… from God…
…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…God asked the woman, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:7-13 NLT). “…
[the union between god, the holy
spirit and man’s soul [was very good…” (Genesis 1:31 KJV). However, “…ONE sinner destroy[ed]… MUCH GOOD…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18
Being JOINED to the God, the HOLY SPIRIT,
through Jesus Christ means you are in a COVENANT relationship with him and he
is NOW the HEAD of your LIFE. “…the HEAD
of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, the HEAD of your LIFE “WILL”
provide EVERYTHING YOU need (Genesis 22:7-8). “… [God]…
will supply every need…”
(Philippians 4:19 KJV).
You willfully CHOOSE to surrender your trust
and dependency upon God and to his “loving” CARE. “...Casting all your care upon
him; for he careth for you…” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
You willfully CHOOSE to
relinquish control or authority to the INDWELLING SPIRIT, which is God the Holy Spirit. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is in YOU…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Submit to God...”
(Job 22:21 NLT). “…Surrender your pride and power…” (Jeremiah 4:4 NLT).
“…In this world we are
LIKE JESUS…” (1
John 4:17 NIV). Therefore, “… have this
attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed
in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but taking the form of
a bond-servant emptied Himself,
, and being made in the
likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
(following God’s Holy instructions) to the point of
death (to the flesh), even death on a cross …”
(Philippians 2:5-8 NASB).
Jesus was and is the
example of true surrender. He willingly chose to surrender his personal power,
rights, CARE, and divine privileges to God’s will and plan. “… I lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord. …” (John 10:17-18 KJV). “….Christ pleased not himself…”
(Romans 15:3 KJV).
Jesus definitely did “…not come to be
served, but to serve,
and to give
His life a ransom for many...”
(Matthew 20:28 KJV). Jesus’ surrender ultimately turned into a sacrifice he
willingly CHOSE to make in order to follow God’s will and God’s plan; no matter
what it cost. Jesus said, “…Father
…not My
will, but Yours be done…"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
Most believers have their
OWN agendas WITHIN the covenant relationship with God through Christ.
They have important
plans for their OWN individual lives and most times they are “NOT” God’s plans. “…You hypocrites
…This people honoureth me with their
lips, but their
heart is far from me…”
(Mark 7:6 KJV).
Many of God’s people have
their OWN personal plan for their careers, their travels, their desired spouse,
their pursuit of happiness, getting financially set, obtaining self-peace,
establishing comfort, sustaining health, and maintaining autonomy “…the HEAD
of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV). “…
The people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we
want to…”
(JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
Many of God’s people CLAIM to be in a
covenant relationship with God, but don’t LISTEN to the plans and instructions
he has for their lives. “…the
HEAD of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV). “…My people would not listen to me.
They kept doing whatever
they
wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
Most of God’s people IGNORE God’s plans
OVER their OWN plans, especially if they don’t FIT into WHAT THEY WANT for the
lives. “…the HEAD of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV). “…Submit to God...” (Job 22:21 NLT). “…Surrender your
pride and power…” (Jeremiah 4:4
NLT).
Many of God’s people pick and choose the
part of God’s plans that meet their APPROVAL and prefer to follow their own
traditions. “…You skillfully ….hold on to your own tradition...”
(Mark 7:9 NLT). “…the HEAD of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV). “…Submit to God...” (Job 22:21 NLT). “…Surrender your
pride and power…” (Jeremiah 4:4
NLT).
It is easier to submit to the part of
God’s plans that are convenient. Many of God’s people, therefore, surrender to
God’s plan for peace, prosperity, or other spiritual benefits; but not HIS
agenda to forgive, submit, extend mercy, answer his call to ministry, or
sacrifice their heart or life completely to his will. “… We will continue to live as we
want to…”
(JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
Jesus was sold out to God’s plan for his
life and he was unequivocally surrendered to his will; no matter the cost. “…I do
nothing of myself…”
(John 8:28 KJV).
They were a covenant, relational team. “I and the father are one” (John 10:30
KJV).
Because of Jesus’ radical surrender to
God; he said: “…Father …not My will, but Yours be done…" (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
I use the word radical to
paint a picture of Jesus’ absolute SUBMISSION to God’s will and plan for his
life. “… [Jesus came] … to serve,
and to give
His life ...”
(Matthew 20:28 KJV).
For
Jesus, it really wasn’t radical at all; it was a lifestyle CHOICE “…I desire to do your will, my God…”
(Psalms 40:8 KJV).
Jesus’ SUBMISSION is meant to be a standard
for the believer’s own submission to God’s will and plan. Jesus
said: “…that the world may know … as
the Father gave me commandments, even so I do…”
(John 14:31 KJV). “…I must
be about my Father's business?”
(Luke 2:49 KJV).
Many of God’s people
don’t submit to God’s will and plan; even on the most basic level. “…My
people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil
hearts (or their own plans)…”
(Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
“…the HEAD
of EVERY
man is Christ ….” (1 Corinthians 11:3
KJV). “…Submit to God...” (Job 22:21 NLT). “…Surrender your
pride and power…” (Jeremiah 4:4
NLT).
God’s people who are
truly in a covenant relationship with HIM willingly present themselves to God,
just like Jesus did, as a “…living
sacrifice…” which is “… [they KNOW is their] … reasonable service…”
(Romans 12:1 KJV).
“Reasonable service” is one that is equitable, just, and fair or the
“least” you can do; considering what God has done for YOU. “…The
LORD has done great things for us …”
(Psalms 126:3 NIV). “…Rejoice and be
glad, For the LORD has done great things…”
(Joel 2:21 NASB). “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person,
though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially
good. But God showed his great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT).
Nonetheless, many of
God’s people are not willing to give even their “…reasonable service…” to God, the
Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1 KJV).
For instance, FORGIVING
others, as God’s Holy WORD asked you to do, is a “reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1 KJV).
Whatever you GIVE UP to surrender to God’s
will, God’s plan, or as a “reasonable
service”; God promises to
reward you for it abundantly (Romans 12:1 KJV)! “… [You]…will receive NOW in return (in this life) a hundred times as many houses, brother, sisters, mothers, children, and
property…” (Mark
10:28-31 NLT).
However, please note, God does NOT reward
you because you EARNED it, or DESERVE it, or because “you” think you are WORTHY
of it. “…it is [because of] … God’s kindness ….not
by [your] good works..,[Or else]… God’s
GRACE would not be what it really is—free and undeserved…”
(Romans 11:5 NLT).
God will REWARD
you because of his kindness, GRACE, and because of your TRUST IN HIM (dependency upon him). “…My GRACE is sufficient for thee...” (2
Corinthians 12:9 KJV). “… How blessed is
the man who has made the Lord
his trust (his dependency)…” (Psalms 40:4 NASB).
“…How blessed is the man who
trusts in You (DEPENDS UPON YOU)!”
(Psalms 84:12 NASB).
It is NOT simply your “reasonable SERVICE” or surrender to
God’s will and God’s plan, but it is your TRUST
in (or dependency upon) his will and plan. “… Blessed is
the man who trusts in the Lord
(depends upon the Lord) And whose trust (dependency) is the Lord…”
(Jeremiah 17:7 NASB).
Your TRUSTING SURRENDER to God’s will and
plan is simply your “… reasonable service…”
(Romans 12:1 KJV).
Job’s attitude of surrender to God’s will
and plan, for his life, was his “…reasonable
service…” Job said,
“Naked
I came from my mother’s womb, And naked
I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor
did he blame God …” (Job 1:20-22 NASB).
Job was hand-picked by
God for purpose. Jesus was hand-picked for purpose too and thus God “…spared not his own Son, but delivered
(surrendered) him up for us all….?” (Romans 8:32 KJV).
God will not spare you either. Job lost EVERY personal PLAN he had, regarding family and wealth,
tragically and yet he said, “...though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”
(Job 13:15 KJV).
Job knew inwardly that
surrender to God’s will and plan was his “…reasonable
service…” and he CHOSE to continue to
submit to God’s plan.
When God’s will and plan
drives the direction of your LIFE, whatever is lost, altered, or totally
transformed becomes worthless when compared to the ever growing and developing,
covenant relationship with God. “… everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus
[our]… Lord…” (Philippians 3:8 NLT).
God’s people CHOOSE to
willfully and voluntarily submit themselves into the safe sovereign care of
God, the Holy Spirit. “…The LORD “WILL” accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns
[you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “...Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
“...he careth for you…” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
Surrendering to God’s will and God’s plan, is surrendering to HOLY
LOVE. God’s CARE becomes a place of SAFETY and REST. “…The
name of the Lord
is a strong tower (REFUGE); The
righteous runs into
it and is safe…” (Proverbs 18:10 NASB). “…God
is our refuge and strength, A very present help
in trouble…” (Psalms 46:1 NASB). “…you will find rest for your
souls…” (Matthew 11:29 NASB)
The believer CHOOSES to
trustingly surrender control to the God, the LOVING, INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. “…He alone is my refuge, my place of safety…For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He
will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you
with his wings. His
faithful promises are your armor and protection. … If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High
your shelter, no
evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
…The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who
trust in (depend upon) my name (my word)…”
(Psalms 91 NLT).
Gods people voluntarily give
up their OWN personal PLANS for God’s PLANS. “…not My will, but Yours be done…"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “…I desire to do your
will, my God…” (Psalms 40:8 KJV).
SURRENDERING to God’s PLAN is what
TRANSFORMS YOUR life. GOD’s main PLAN is to CONFORM you to the
IMAGE of JESUS CHRIST (the WORD of GOD). “… He
(Jesus) had a name written, that no man knew … his name is called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “…God …predestined [you] to be
conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:29 NIV). “…be conformed
to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29 KJV). “… The
Son (jesus, the word of god) is the … exact representation of his being (god, the holy spirit)…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
“…In this world we are
[to become] LIKE JESUS (the word of god)…” (1
John 4:17 NIV). “…the … exact
representation of his being
(god, the holy spirit)…”
(Hebrews 1:3 KJV). Therefore, I CHOOSE to “… lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord. …” (John 10:17-18 KJV).
The INDWELLING HOLY
SPIRIT does the WORK of TRANSFORMING! “…it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [Therefore]…
we all … are
changed into the same image [of
Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV) “…by the GRACE of God I am what
I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
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