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Deuteronomy 28:11-14 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (12) The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (14) And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (KJV)
When flipping coins to determine an answer or outcome for a situation one is subject to however it bounces and where it lands in order to determine an outcome. For those in Christ that truly know their rights and authority in the word of God they are not subject to chance, or luck, or any bounce of a coin they hope will go their way, but rather one is able to know for sure they can be the head and not the tail. Even in times of fuel shortages, rising prices all around us, and any other manufactured thing man comes up with to make more profit, the Lord promises to supply all our need and allow us to rise above any situation that comes along, as long as we hold Him to be true above and beyond the outward circumstances. If one goes back and reads the first 14 verses of this chapter you see a simple life of blessings which the Lord promised His people, while after verse 14 life becomes quite complicated and unpleasant to those that choose to be the tail. The reason people end up at the back end and not the head is in many cases they don’t know who the head of the Church is and how to access Him in order to stay in that position. Rather than being seated in the heavenly realm to hear the message of Christ they stay entangled in the affairs of this life and end up with, for lack of a better phrase, crappy results. We all get one life to live, that’s it, and what a shame that so many people waste their opportunities the Lord provides, and not partake of the Lord’s good treasure He has available for any or all that would call upon His name and be obedient to what He is asking this day. Which realm are you partaking of today; is it truly the one the Lord promised or are you settling for second hand cheap imitations of the devil and your life resembles more of what comes out the tail than the head? Psalms 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (KJV) Remember this Psalms which we hear recited over and over again? Notice the first thing that has to take place in order for the rest to follow? Is the Lord really the shepherd or head of your life and calling the shots, or are you allowing the devil to get in cheap shots? There are times that we are confronted with situations which can overwhelm our minds, and the outcome seems like we are walking right into a valley of darkness and death, but that is where you realize that God has not given His people the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind that holds fast to a sound victory. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives as long as we allow the Lord to be the head of our life. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (KJV) We see a simple order of how God set up His church to operate, and what allows these blessings to be in play for His people so that they can stay assured they are one of His despite all the turmoil going around them in this fallen world. Anytime this order is changed or altered by mankind, then they are no longer able to partake of the Lord’s good treasure, but end up back at the tail section receiving whatever comes out that end. If one wishes to be the head then they need to know who The Head is so that they can hear His message and learn to be imitators of Christ. Mankind alters and changes the message God sent through His Son thinking they will find peace. But in the end, and that would be the rear end, they end up with a pile of steaming strife and confusion fresh from the bowels of hell. While on this subject, apparently there seems to be a lot of confusion about marriage these days, somehow man no longer accepts the concept of a man and woman, but rather they think they can incorporate their own ideas into the equation. The Lord is quite specific on what He blesses and approves of and what gets sent to the back of the line, and nowhere in the His word does He alter from the man and woman concept. The above verse is clear to point out the head of man is Christ, not another man as some think or try to alter into a different lifestyle our Lord didn’t intend as an alternate. 1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (KJV) Many are called but only a few chosen, because the many try to build their house without the Chief corner stone in place, and that stone would be Christ. Many are confounded, which means disgraced or put to shame, because they try to alter God’s plan of salvation to fit their lifestyle rather than rising up and sitting with the head giving ear to how He would have His church built, which you just happen to be. Today, this moment, you have the opportunity to rise above this fallen world through the victory that we have in Christ so that you can be the head and not settle for the tail end of this fallen world. God bless. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (KJV)
Why should you expect the best? How about the fact that you serve the best, someone who always has your best interest at heart. When mankind was in dire need of a savior God gave us His best in the form of His Son Jesus Christ to restore the fellowship between us and Him, and give us the gift of life. When the answer to your prayers manifest you know it is of God because there is not a shadow of doubt that it came from Him and was just what you needed; at times above and beyond what you could have ever thought of or asked for. We have been reborn into a new realm of the Spirit by the word of truth so that we could tap into the tree of life and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, now becoming rooted and grounded in the love of God which is shed abroad in our hearts. So when you come before the throne of God and make your requests, do you truly expect the best or are your prayers like throwing dice, hoping you will get a good roll? Romans 11:16-22 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. (17) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (18) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. (19) Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. (20) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (KJV) You know Church this tree you have been grafted into is not one of chance or luck, but rather a sure thing to those that partake of it. Actually you are grafted into the tree of life which is Christ so that you can now be an active participant in a new life. A branch can break off a tree because of high winds, or in the case of a believer winds of doctrine that blow through which causes one to doubt and speak words that cut them off from the source of life. What is the cause for the branch being broke off; simple unbelief. What allows you to continue to partake of the root and fatness of the tree; simple faith. The more one stays attached to this tree of life the more deeply rooted and grounded they become in it and bear the fruit of it as well. God is no respecter of persons and didn’t play favorites with His natural branches which were the Jews, and He has now allowed any and all that would call upon the name of the Lord to be saved and partake of this new life in Him. As long as you continue to remain rooted and grounded in the love of God partaking of this tree of life you to should be expecting the goodness of God in your life. Psalms 23:4-6 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (KJV) There are times that our carnal minds wander in the depths of despair, a shadow of death because we have allowed something to block the light from shining in. As a true believer in Christ one should be retraining, renewing their mind to think like our Lord, reminding ourselves that we are the head and should quit acting like the tail end. So once one is able to get their mind out of the gutter, that valley or low point in their walk, and recover themselves they are able to clearly see the answer the Lord has for them in verses 5&6. We have all experienced heartache and frustration in the past; trying to find peace in the dead realm of the flesh, exerting so much energy only to end up frustrated and defeated. Now that we are grafted into this new realm of the Spirit, a realm of victory, we need to be confident in the fact that surely, not maybe or possibly, goodness and mercy is now a part of my life and continues to follow me all, not just some of, the days of my life. God has prepared a table for you in His heavenly realm and is now seeking those that wish to be seated with Christ and partake of the meat of His word on a daily basis. The more you stay seated with Him the less you will be caught up and entangled with the things of this life, so that like with a branch, the fellowship won’t be broken again. Quite simply put, now that you are a part of the tree of life bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit you should continue to expect the best from our Lord and not expect the results you used to get from your past. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (KJV) You are a new creature, a new creation in Christ, old failures, old results, old excuses are now passed away and your life should be a totally new experience, one of confidence and peace as well as a newfound inner strength that you never knew existed before. When you pray and make your requests to God through Jesus Christ, where there was once a shadow of doubt there should now be a new expectation of confidence, boldness, and assurance that your prayers are heard and answered. What was once a life of a day late and a dollar short is now replaced by an assurance that in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Instead of being a loser and ending up with the short end of the stick, I can now expect my cup to be running over with living waters which flow from the heart and bring new life and shed light where there was darkness and despair. Are you living in the new today or are you still holding to the past, stuck in a valley looking for the way out? Do you really expect the best from God? Then start giving Him your best effort, because with what measure you give His way will come back your way. Sometimes the reason we don’t see our way out of a situation is because we don’t spend enough time seated in the heavenly realm to hear the message delivered by Christ and we end up stooping to the ways of the world. You need to spend enough time in the word of God renewing the mind so that you can take words like ‘I can’t’ or ‘it just isn’t possible’ out of your vocabulary and replace it with words like ‘I can do all things through Christ’ or ‘with God all things are possible’, and nothing I mean nothing is impossible to those that believe. A new creation in Christ means that what was impossible to man in his fallen realm is now possible and should be expected by those that are a part of this new realm, a new life made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord. Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. (KJV) You know, when you read the news of the world it is not really news or anything new, but rather the same negative things resulting from a fallen world. People fighting and warring trying to find peace in a realm the Lord said was dead, and there is no life. When one partakes of the word of God they are able to partake of a totally new realm, actually a realm where the victory is guaranteed before hand, with a promise of goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. If you give God your best then you can expect the best in return, letting His word be your one true source of life. Expect the best, because after all you serve the best. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Genesis 1:11-12 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (12) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (KJV)
Have you ever sat around and heard stories, versions of things that took place or those that claim they took place and how sensationalized they would become the more the tales were told. Whether it’s a fisherman, hunter, or even truck drivers they either caught the biggest fish, or made the most impractical shot, or drove their rigs through the most impossible situations; tales that are told to impress others without much regard for truth. Hey let’s face it, we all have told our own versions of things and added our own interpretations to make ourselves look and sound better than what really took place. Sometimes this mindset continues into the realm of the Church or what man claims to be the church, and the truth gets stretched, fabricated and told in a way to impress or to get the attention of others with little regard to truth. The verses in Genesis above are specific in the fact that what God created and how it continues to grow results from the seed; and only a certain seed will produce a certain offspring. To say something grows from a different seed is a fabrication and contrary to the word of God and is quite an exaggeration to say the least. Genesis 6:4-5 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (KJV) Ever hear the one about fallen angels and women procreating and then there were giants? Talk about a knee slapper. That is as bad as any fishing story I have ever heard; talk about a whopper of a tale. How this tale continues to grow and spread! So many are taken in by this sensationalized version of something that sounds more like the X-Files than anything that is Biblical. Fallen angels are no longer considered the sons of God. Once they are expelled they are no longer a part of the heavenly family. Only those that belong to His family are able to partake of His name and inheritance. Before you choose to spread this any further it may do you good to take the time to see what this really refers to concerning giants. Strong’s definition for giant: 5303 nephiyl (nef-eel'); or nephil (nef-eel'); from 5307; properly, a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant: KJV-- giant. As you can see from the definition, a giant is nothing more than a bully or tyrant, and not some offspring of the devil and women. Today we have the same issue within the Church realm also. Godly people marry the wrong person for the wrong reason and end up with a giant problem. Today we still have many bullies and tyrants. We see them in the pulpits, those who preach fire and brimstone and demand that the congregation live a rigid Biblical lifestyle which most of them are not willing to live by themselves. We see it in the workplace also, the hearts of many have waxed colder and colder; the love of God is drowned out by bottom lines and corporate stockholders rather than what’s fair and just for the employees. Our elected officials rule by force. Those that were elected to serve the people are in reality only serving their own special interests and desires. 1 Corinthians 15:38-40 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. (39) All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. (40) There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (KJV) Paul also wrote of seeds and that only a certain seed can produce a certain result or offspring. You don’t see fish and birds cross breeding and producing a half and half offspring. Man and animals don’t cross breed either, although man keeps trying to act like them. So how did this simple truth get so stretched and farfetched? I see absolutely no where in the word of God where fallen angels developed gender between heaven and earth. Yet to this day, this doctrine has spread and is preached whole heartedly as truth and not for the fabrication that it really is. Matthew 7:15-18 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (KJV) Again we see how simple and obvious the word of God is concerning the seed and what it produces, and how one seed cannot produce a different crop or harvest. Do you want to hear a tall tale? Then go get a tabloid magazine. But if you choose to be speaking on behalf of the Lord and are sharing His precious word of life, be much quicker to hear and slower to speak, especially when it comes to second hand fabricated versions of the word of God. Matthew 22:24-30 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. (25) Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: (26) Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. (27) And last of all the woman died also. (28) Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. (29) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (30) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (KJV) Mankind has been trying to equate the physical into the spiritual realm, and continues to miss the mark because of their lower carnal thinking. If angels are not given in marriage in heaven, then how could the fallen angels be when they supposedly landed here on planet earth? By not taking the time in the word of God and rightly dividing it, instead of standing on a rock solid foundation, you will end up falling for any tall tale man comes up with, and believing any gigantic fabrication of simple truth. Don’t be bullied around with a bunch of nonsense and sensationalized doctrines which produces more questions than answers; which by the way someday those that spread this stuff will have to answer for it. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yesterday we shared on the bearing of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. So today I would like to share Wycliffe’s commentary on the following verses.
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (KJV) Galatians 5:22-25 Everything here stands in contrast to the foregoing: fruit instead of works; the Spirit instead of the flesh; and a list of virtues altogether attractive and desirable in place of the ugly things just cited. The word fruit, being singular, as usual in Paul's writings, tends to emphasize the unity and coherence of the life in the Spirit as opposed to the disorganization and instability of life under the dictates of the flesh. It is possible, also, that the singular may be intended to point to the person of Christ, in whom all these things are seen in their perfection. The Spirit seeks to produce these by reproducing Christ in the believer (cf. Gal 4:19). Passages like Rom 13:14 suggest that the moral problems of redeemed men and women can be solved by the adequacy of Christ when he is appropriated by faith. In the light of Paul's preference for the singular form of fruit, it is not necessary to resort to the expedient of putting a dash after love in order to make all the other items depend on this one. Love is crucial (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor 13:13; Gal 5:6). Joy is conferred by Christ upon his own followers (John 15:11) and is mediated by the Spirit (1 Thess 1:6; Rom 14:17). Peace is the gift of Christ (John 14:27) and includes inward repose (Phil 4:6) and harmonious relations with others (contrast Gal 5:15,20). Longsuffering relates to one's attitude toward others and involves a refusal to retaliate or work vengeance for wrong received. It is literally long-spiritedness. Gentleness is better rendered kindness. It is benevolence in action, a distinctly social virtue. Goodness is an uprightness of soul that abhors evil, a clean-cut honesty of motive and conduct. Faith, in this setting, means faithfulness (if it were faith, it would stand at the beginning of the list). For a parallel use, see Titus 2:10 ("fidelity"). Meekness is based on humility and denotes an attitude toward others in keeping with due denial of self. Temperance is better rendered self-control (lit., a holding in with a firm hand), or control of the self life by means of the Spirit. Against such there is no law. "Law exists for the purpose of restraint, but in the works of the Spirit there is nothing to restrain" (J. B. Lightfoot, Galatians, p. 213). The same truth is stated elsewhere, e.g., Rom 8:4. Those who are truly Christ's must be like him in that they participate in his cross. They have crucified the flesh. Ideally, this points to their identification with Christ in his death (Gal 2:20). Practically, it emphasizes, the need of carrying the cross principle into the redeemed life, since the flesh, with its affections and desires is still an ever present reality (cf. 5:16-17). The same tension between divine provision and human appropriation is found regarding the Spirit. We live in the Spirit by God's arrangement, by means of the gift of the Spirit at conversion. But we walk in the Spirit as a matter of personal volition, taking each step in dependence upon him. (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary) Remember brethren, we are known by our fruit. So if the Lord walked by you today would He see His fruit and be well pleased? God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (KJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and remember, what goes into a man is not what defiles him but that which comes out of the mouth. Our heart produces the fruit of our lips. So that which is in our heart is what will come forth. Is it the fruit of the Spirit that comes forth from your heart continually, enabling you to be a living sacrifice singing praise unto God for the life that He has blessed you with in Christ? Our Father doesn’t want to hear or see empty lifeless words producing lifeless fruit in our lives. Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. (KJV) – Isaiah 29:13 Many have been taught that worship is singing, dancing, waving around like a bunch of lunatics; and yet in the Word it says: Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. (KJV) – Colossians 3:16 Colossians 3:16 The singing which is here recommended is widely different from what is commonly used in most Christian congregations; a congeries of unmeaning sounds, associated to bundles of nonsensical, and often ridiculous, repetitions, which at once both deprave and disgrace the church of Christ. Melody, which is allowed to be the most proper for devotional music, is now sacrificed to an exuberant harmony, which requires, not only many different kinds of voices, but different musical instruments to support it. And by these preposterous means the simplicity of the Christian worship is destroyed, and all education totally prevented. And this kind of singing is amply proved to be very injurious to the personal piety of those employed in it; even of those who enter with a considerable share of humility and Christian meekness, how few continue to sing with GRACE in their hearts unto the Lord? (from Adam Clarke Commentary) It is an inward worship that God desires; the reconstruction of our lives in the fruit of the Spirit with the fruit of our lips being Spirit and life. What better way is there to thank our Father in heaven for all that He has given us in His Son Christ Jesus, than letting our lives be a reflection of who He is and the love He is giving. For many the fruit of their lips are empty promises so to speak, because the fruit in their lives do not reflect a willingness to offer themselves up a living sacrifice of praise to Him continually; they are not thanking Him with their lives; they say they live for Him yet the fruit of their lips demonstrate otherwise. God is a Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let the fruit of your lips be in Spirit and in truth today; singing praise with thanksgiving continually unto Him who has given you life in Christ. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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