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2009, THE YEAR OUR FRUIT IS MANIFEST
12/27/08
Hi Loved Ones
Spiritually speaking, the number 9 represents the 9
fruits of the Spirit. 2009 is the year that the fruit
of our lives becomes manifest. Before a baby is born, a
seed is planted and then it takes shape and silently
forms within limited boundaries. In the fullness of
time, that baby breaks forth outside its limits and
suddenly appears. In that moment of breakthrough, we
see its “face” for the first time. That is a good
analogy for 2009 in regards to making known the
manifestation of the seeds that were planted and
nurtured in our lives.
Jesus told us to “know” the fruits. In the Greek, this
means to be fully acquainted with, to be sure,
understand, resolve, perceive and be knowledged about
what kind of fruit we are producing and what to do about
it. The Lord wants us to understand; understanding is a
well of life! (Prov 16:22)
Without this knowledge, we see through a glass darkly
and only know in part. But when the Lord shines His
light, then we see the face of our fruit and we will
“know” even as we are “known.” This same Greek word to
“know” (#1921 Strongs) is in both of these scriptures
below:
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad
tree bears bad fruit . A good tree cannot bear bad
fruit , nor can a bad tree bear good fruit . Every tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will
know {#1921} them. (Matt 7:17-20 NKJV)
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face
to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know
{#1921} even as also I am known. {#1921} (1 Cor
13:12 NKJV)
As we suddenly see the face of the good and bad seeds we
have nurtured in our lives, what can we do in 2009 to
partner with the Lord ? Here’s some tips on how to
“face and embrace” both kinds of fruit and understand
them as God does.
SEE GOD’S PERSPECTIVE: SWALLOW HIS LOVE
Bad Fruit
When the Lord spotlights our bad fruit, it is so that He
can deliver us from the death that bad seeds cause in
our life. See destruction from His perspective.
He loves us so much, He wants to deliver us from
destruction and death!
Fools, because of their transgression, And because of
their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred
all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of
death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their
trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them
from their destructions . Oh, that men would give thanks
to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful
works to the children of men! (Ps 107:17-21 NKJV)
I am suffering the bad seeds of affliction in my body
that seems to have come full blown manifest in one
year’s time. That scripture has become one of my
favorite verses. I am crying out to the Lord in my
trouble and He is saving me out of my distresses,
sending forth His Word to heal me and delivering me from
all my destructions. I want everything that is planted
in my body, soul and spirit that is producing death and
destruction in my life to be cut off and thrown away. I
dont want death, I want abundant life. Jesus died for
me so that I can have life and have it more abundantly!
(John 10:10) GO GOD, GET IT OUT AND GET IT GONE.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and
that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the
sheep. (John 10:10-12 NKJV)
Good Fruit
When He reveals the good fruit we are producing,
scripture says that we bear fruit TO God. We can
produce nothing without abiding in the Lord as our
Source, but if we do, then what we are overcoming
becomes our gifts back to Him. To think we can actually
give God a gift, (Who is the richest and has everything)
it is a wonderful honor to be able to give Him something
that really ministers to Him.
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to
the law through the body of Christ, that you may be
married to another — to Him who was raised from the
dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which
were aroused by the law were at work in our members to
bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered
from the law, having died to what we were held by, so
that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and
not in the oldness of the letter. (Rom 7:3-6 4 NKJV)
For instance, if someone is treating me unkindly and it
hurts me deeply, it is a chance to overcome this and
bear good fruit. I take the circumstance back to the
Lord, cling to Him for help and then start pouring seeds
of kindness back into that person. Through my sacrifice
of kind words, deeds, prayers and forgiveness, I am
starting to grow the fruit of kindness in my life. In
the fullness of time when that fruit of kindness is
generating good fruit, I give it to God as a loving
sacrifice for all that I suffered. Regardless of
whether I ever receive kindness back from that person,
the Lord receives it unto Himself knowing the pain I
went through to bear that beautiful fruit. He receives
the gift of our fruit as very, very precious.
EXAMINE OUR FRUIT THROUGH SCRIPTURE
I am overcoming an affliction in my bones. So what did
I do to cooperate with God? First I looked up the word
“bones” in scripture and it revealed a LOT of
understanding about my life and my past.
Scripture told me that a good report and pleasant words
makes my bones healthy and the fear of the Lord
strengthens them. I learned that when David sinned, he
was tormented at night in his bones. I learned that
bone pain is a rebuke and chastening and that a broken
spirit also dries them up. I learned if I take away the
pointing of the finger, the Lord will strengthen my
bones. Best of all I learned that if I walk upon the
Holy highway I will be healed.
(Prov 3:8; Prov 15:30; Psa 6:1; Psa 31:10; Psa 38:3;
Psa 102:3; Prov 17:22; Job 33:19; Isa 58: 9,11; Heb
12:12; Isa 35)
I also learned to honor (esteem and value) my parents
and honor the Word through the prophets so that it will
go well in my life and I will prosper. (Ex 20:12; Eph
6:3; 2 Chron 20:20)
As a result of these findings, I started to change and
make serious choices to speak good reports and pleasant
words and no longer judge others and point fingers at
them. I resisted fellowshipping with sources that did
not speak good things. I learned to honor those whom
the Lord has placed in my life as His representatives.
I learned how to fear the Lord in believing His promise
of reaping and sowing. Have I arrived yet? No, but I
am sincerely improving and making my best efforts in the
fear of the Lord.
I learned to embrace His loving chastisement so that I
can produce the peaceful fruit of righteous choices in
my life. Why? Because when I don’t make righteous
choices, it produces death and destruction in my
members. When I make righteous choices, it produces a
healthy tree. I WANT A HEALTHY LIFE.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise. If the righteous will be
recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and
the sinner. (Prov 11:30-31 NKJV)
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the
peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it. (Heb 12:10-11 NKJV)
[Also Prov 12:12-14; Eph 5:9-14}
EXAMINE THE SEEDS IN OUR PAST TO CHANGE OUR FUTURE
I wanted to know where the seeds if this affliction came
from. The Lord began to highlight my ancestors; their
employment and personalities and how I emulated certain
choices that did not honor the Lord. And on the
balanced scale, He shed light on the good gifts that
have been passed down from my ancestors then gave me a
thankful heart and creative, tangible ways to honor them
for their cultivating their good gifts.
He reminded me of past dreams, visions and Words
revealing the seeds of affliction I had my whole life,
and how ALL was a part of my destiny in overcoming. He
showed me where I had made bad choices to feed those
seeds, which gave me ideas on how to change. And on the
balance scale, He showed me where I was doing a good job
at overcoming and closing demonic inroads so that I
could be delivered and healed and keep my healing.
When the affliction hit me full blown and the impact
suddenly came fully manifest, He told me places where I
was being corrected because I had resisted His voice and
not obeyed His Word. He also showed me places where I
was NOT being corrected so I would not fall prey to
condemnation, but to hold my life in light of His truth
on what scripture says He feels about me. He is very
jealous and loves us passionately and fiercely; He is
relentless to gain every portion of us, even if He has
to correct us and take us through spiritual surgery.
EXAMINE THE FRUIT OF WHAT WE SAY
Scripture promises that we are known by what we say and
we will eat either death or life by what we say. If we
fear the Lord, we will realize how scary it is to eat
the fruit of our own lips. Scripture also promises that
those who are teachers will be judged by a greater
accountability and standard.
Parents, what are we speaking into our children’s
lives? If we speak correction, do we also speak the
good promises of what comes from change? Do we honor
the good fruit and changes when we see them?
Are we speaking positive and helpful things into
people’s lives? Are we tearing them down? Do we seek
the good in people and speak into their potential?
Are we blasting our leaders, nations, schools, cities
with judgment and criticism? Do we want to be judged in
that same way? Are we thankful for what we do have? Do
we pray over our concerns?
The Lord is saying it is a time to fear Him and speak in
the right way. When we speak, we need to balance the
scales between good and evil and then tip the scales to
where goodness overcomes evil. (Rom 12:21)
For a good tree does not bear bad fruit , nor does a
bad tree bear good fruit . 44 For every tree is
known by its own fruit . For men do not gather figs
from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble
bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of
the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke
6:43-45 NKJV)
A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of
his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be
filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the
tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
(Prov 18:20-21 NKJV)
"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace,
peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,
"Says the LORD, "And I will heal him." 20 But the wicked
are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose
waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 "There is no peace,
"Says my God, "for the wicked." (Isa 57:19-21 NKJV)
EXAMINE THE FRUIT OF OUR DOINGS
When I raised my young son, instead of yelling “NO!”
(and thus producing deaf ears) I taught him to make
choices. I would stop his behavior and help him see the
results, often with the wisdom of understanding himself
and the behavior. I would give him much praise when he
made good choices. It was based upon the reap and sow,
or truth and consequences system where rewards and
privileges were given or taken way based on his
behavior.
That method is exactly how our Heavenly Father is
raising us. Due to fallen generations where we have not
heeded scripture, we have lost the understanding about
the fruit of our lives. Listen to the following
scriptural principals and promises of how God treats us:
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways, according
to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:10)
You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the
iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children
after them — the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is
the LORD of hosts. 19 You are great in counsel and
mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways
of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his
ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer
32:18-20)
Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the
fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall
eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the
full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of
the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools
will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will
dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of
evil." (Prov 1:29-33)
Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them,
For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe
to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward
of his hands shall be given him. (Isa 3:10-11)
Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own
works praise her in the gates. (Prov 31:31)
So how does it help us to accept that we will eat the
fruit of our doings? In the bad fruit, it suddenly
impacts our lives when we have had sexual sin produce
the fruit of a sexual disease. It tells us that the
reason we are suddenly going through a season of
accusation and misunderstanding is because we treated
someone else the exact same way. It tells us that if we
have yelled at our children, then it is no surprise when
our employer does the same thing to us. It tells us
that if we have mistreated and plundered our bodies, the
temple of the Holy Spirit, then when we are older, we
are probably going to see the fruit of those choices.
Accepting the fruit
of our lives is coming to peace with God’s ways and
being encouraged to change - so our lives will be
better.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked ; for whatever
a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to
his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who
sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for
in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to
all, especially to those who are of the household of
faith.
(Gal 6:7-10 NKJV)
In the good fruit, scripture promises us that when give
in our productive seasons, then in times of leanness the
fruit of it will come back to us when we need it.
Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at
some other time they can share with you when you need
it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met. Do you
remember what the Scriptures say about this? "Those who
gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who
gathered only a little had enough." (2 Cor 8:14-15 NLT)
We may be suffering a painful time, but the Lord will
bring us a harvest of the good fruits of love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and even self-control through how people
treat us when we need the help the most. And we will
experience these fruits in our own emotions during
difficult circumstances. (Gal 5:22-26) And best of
all, God will heap upon us these same good fruits in how
He treats us during our time of need.
BETTER CHOICES FOR A BETTER FUTURE
We may feel like our lives are tottering on the edge,
but we still have the rest of our lives to make better
choices for a better future. YES???? It is never too
late to change and God will honor us as we bow low,
repent, and submit to Him.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of
the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits
in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the
law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and
night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose
leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall
prosper. (Ps 1:1- 3 NKJV) |
