You cannot carry a seed and expect to reap fruit while the seed has not died for a tree to grow for fruit harvesting. It is not scientific or logical; however, it is the process. An emerging farmer cannot compete with a seasoned farmer who has endured both failures and successes in the field. If the emerging farmer is intelligent enough, he/she would submit to the seasoned farmer for mentorship, not to undermine the experienced farmer. Similarly, the F student cannot beat the A student overnight; it takes devotion, hard work, and many sleepless nights.
You cannot be a representative of Jesus and still be in the world. You cannot serve in the kingdom and still want to serve yourself. NO! The self must die and allow the Holy Spirit to live inside us. We can speak the language, but our actions betray us as they’ll expose our authenticity, whether we have crucified the flesh or not. Therefore, before you act, pause and ask yourself if you’re walking in your lane or in an unhealthy and worldly competition. As a Christian, the measure of holiness is not the world standard, but the Word of God, and Jesus told us that we will know His disciples by their own fruits, not giftedness, skills, or cuteness! Matthew 7:15-23.
“Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV
“You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-23 NKJV
I pray that we will find the grace to be honest with ourselves and surrender our weaknesses to Jesus. I pray for true repentance and growth as we serve the Lord. I pray that every evil desire and ungodly competition be removed for us to receive the blessings of humility. Lastly, I pray that our values be grounded in the Word of God and faith in the Lord Jesus, not in the world.
#be true to yourself!
#measure holiness based on the Word, not worldly standards!
#“23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” Luke 9:23-25 NKJV
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I’m grateful for my pastoral team!
Adonai, God, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one!
