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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Living Fruit, How Do You Water Your Garden?

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

         The Psalm of David Chapter 15 is the perfect example of how we should be living in today’s world!  How often have you wondered about Matthew 7:16-20 saying how others will know us by our fruit?  I'm not talking about just being as good as you can be, no David tells us exactly what's expected of us, IF we want to please God. 
          The Lord has not written the Bible with A, B and C's so anyone can just look up and understand what they need.  No, we have to search it out.  He didn't do it to make it harder for us, He did it to insure the ungodly couldn't get the answers and thereby the blessings. 
          An example of this is in Rev 2:7, where it says "to him that overcomes" and is repeated seven times in chapter's 2 and 3.  Yet, did you notice it doesn't say "how to" overcome?  You have to go to Rev 12:11 to get your answer.  It's the same throughout the Bible (Isaiah 28:9-10). 
          Many people say we don't have to read or obey the Old Testament, because we don't live under the law.  Yet, through years of study I have found that the Old Testament reveals a depth of answers to the message Jesus and his disciples (all Jews) brought us.  Remember, Jesus new the Old Testament and said he came to fulfill it, not eliminate it.  The new beginnings we receive through Christ, came from the root of God's plan which He developed and taught His people in the Old Testament!  When you haven't been raised in the knowledge of the Israelites, I feel it's mandatory to learn what they did right and what they did wrong.  Truly we do not want to live in the past, but neither do we want to repeat the same mistakes over and over again!
          To that end, I feel Psalms Chapter 15 is the A (instructions) and B (promise) of what C (Christ) is telling us in the New Testament to watch for.

PSALM 15:1-5

          This Psalm of David tells us "who does" abide with God and "who does not" abide with God.  All of these instructions are yours to freely choose or to ignore.  BUT, if you choose them, you will win your race as Paul talks about in Hebrews 12:1  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"  for this is what God set before His children - then, now and all future generations.

1)  The person who walks (acts) with integrity (doing what you know to be right).
2)  The person who speaks the truth to themselves, not allowing what the world says to sway their decision.
3)  The person who watches what they say - and refuse to talk negatively about anyone.
4)  The person who refuses to exalt a person based on the material things they have and how they got them, but will honor and help those who walk with the Lord.
5)  The person who is hurting yet doesn't change into an embittered or hardened person.  This person will continue to trust in God no matter what the trial, just like Job did.
6)  The person who gives freely, without expecting anything in return.
7)  The person who can't be bribed or coerced into hurting anyone, especially the innocent.

          David has listed 7 ways to develop your fruit.  He's also shown us 7 fruits to look for in others.  We also get insight into Matthew 6:10  "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." for this is the way we will live in heaven for eternity!  Oh what a glorious day that will be!
          The person who attains to these goals in their life, shall dwell with the Lord.  What's more, according to Psalms 25:12-15 a person who seeks God - He will instruct and tell His secrets to, so their soul will understand and prosper.  If they choose to walk in Him, their descendants will also inherit the land.
          A non-Christian could never comprehend the reasons why we Christians would choose to obey these rules - BUT, the promises from God makes our choice clear.  WE WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN, because 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
          I would exhort all my brothers and sisters in Christ, if your life is constantly upset and you have been wondering where God is, then go over these seven ways to live.  You may need to realign your responses in the world.
          Are you talking against anyone?  It doesn't matter to God if they are His or not, for God said judge not, least you be judged (Luke 6:37).  Are you doing what will help or hurt someone?  When you give your opinion, which by the way is your counsel, is it what Jesus would say or the world?  When you've been hurt, do you get angry and dwell on what that person did to you, becoming spiteful - or letting it go and letting God deal with the problem and heal your hurt?
          These seven principals will set you free and remove the yoke of bondage (Matthew 11:29) you've been living under. 
·       Mentally - Renewing your mind
·       Physically - Being healed
·       Spiritually - Receiving more from God and being a vessel He can use.

          The steps a child takes are small and unsteady.  Yet, as that child grows their pace increases and they cover more ground in less time.  We are in the harvest (John 4:35) and God say's the laborers are few (Luke 10:2).  God will use the children to harvest His crop, but He also needs the adults to cover more ground.  We need to focus more on WHAT GOD SAYS TO DO, then worry about what the world says.
          Finally, I would like to ask you a question.  Every day, mankind is forced to listen to those lovely four letter words coming from someone during a normal conversation.  We hear in the media and TV all about homosexuals, adulters, liars, drunkards, mediums, etc., telling us what THEY think is OK.  Yet the Christians are not giving their opinion - Why?  Also refer to I Chronicles 16:8-36 and Esther 4:13-14 and Psalm 107:2 which agrees with us not keeping silent.
          The Holy Spirit has been dealing with me lately that if the non-Christian can say what they think and I have to listen to it, then why, don't I say what I think - and TOUGH COOKIES if they don't want to hear it!  We're allowed "rebuttal" time, not in anger or judgment, but in the love of our fellowman.  If they don't hear the truth, they can't be harvested.  They can't be set free, because faith comes by hearing and that by the word of God! 
          Think about it.  Start telling everyone your opinion of the truth.  Speak what's on your heart.  That's how we are to spread the Gospel of Jesus to the entire world!  That is how your fruit is revealed.  I’m not talking shoving it down their throats – Heaven forbid!  But when we have a situation, that we got our answer by doing the Word, share that with them (Rev 12:11).

May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you (Numbers 6:23-27)


SF -The Lord's Servant

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