The Tree of Life

Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:1-24

Man was not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was to enjoy the fruit of the tree of life and live a spiritual life in communion with GOD.

The temptation to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was from the devil. His motive that caused him to fall from his position with GOD, was imparted also to man - "You will be like GOD, knowing good and evil." Man was enticed to step on the pedestal of pride which caused his fall. This broke his relationship with GOD. He lost his peace and immediately experienced shame, guilt and fear. Rather than walking with GOD, he hid from GOD his Creator!

We have inherited the sin nature and continue to crave for the fruit fromthe tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. The fruit from the tree of life is love.

We need to overcome this situation to have access to the tree of life.

We tend to steer our lives according to the selfish way of our soul, but as believers, we must yield our will to the Holy Spirit.

 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James 1:12-1

Selfishness desires fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Once eaten, the fruit makes us self- conscious and self-centred. This leads to feelings of shame, guilt and fear.

The solution is, another tree!

 "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23

 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

Galatians 3:13

The LORD JESUS carried His cross to Calvary and He was crucified on it. He was nailed to the tree and hung on it.

 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Genesis 6:5-6

 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:11

The LORD, being pure and holy, had to go through the most unpleasant experience of seeing, hearing and knowing all the obscenities, vulgarities and evil that come out of wicked and perverted minds. That was the cup that was so difficult for the LORD JESUS to drink. At the garden of Gethsamane, He made the decision to drink it for the sake of you and me.

The cross of CHRIST gives us the picture of the curse that came out of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He took the curse of sin upon HImself by carrying the cruel cross and being nailed to that cross.

The cross of CHRIST also is a picture of the tree of life! The blood that flowed down the cross, washes our sin away, releasing forgiveness and freedon from guilt, shame and fear. The perfectly pure Son of GOD, changed the cursed tree into a tree of blessing. JESUS hung on the tree of the cross and through His intercession, changed the cross as it were, into the tree of Life! The cruel cross became the wondrous cross! By His immense love He took our punishment for sin upon Himself, and now releases blessing and life to those who come to the cross in repentance. 

Therefore it is only the cross of JESUS that bridges the gap between the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. He is the  Resurrection and spiritual Life to all of mankind who are dead because of the fruit from the cursed tree.

How do we overcome?  We overcome, by repenting and returning to our first love - the LORD JESUS.

 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicola'itans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'
Revelation 2:4-7

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Knowledge of Good and Evil

... and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." So the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 

The guilt of unclean thoughts and deeds causes us to hide from GOD, spoiling our relationship with GOD. We can give excuses, blame others and try to cover up. None of these things will help.

The only way to overcome this knowledge of evil is to go to the cross of CHRIST. As we linger at the foot of the cross and pour out out heart to the LORD, there is cleansing, release, deliverance and victory! The Holy Spirit cancels the lie and the uncleanness with the truth of the pure word of GOD. 

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil can be likened to the soul of man. The tree of life can be likened to the spirit of man. All knowledge should be brought into subjection to  our spirit that has been revived by the Sprit of the LORD, to separate the good from the evil and the false from the truth. We have the capacity and ability to make decisions in life, because we have control of our soul that consists of the will, intellect and emotion. 

It is so important for us to study, meditate on and memorise Scripture, to overcome the knowledge of evil in this world. We need to have more knowledge of GOD and the truth of His goodness than the knowledge of the devil and his lies and evil works.

Copious news and especially opinionated information crowding our mind affects our soul. It can create 'pride and prejudice' and cause us to have strongly biased views that can cause devision in the home and in the Church.

So let us beware of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you have a craving for knowledge that is more than what you can bring before the LORD and submit to Him, you must deal with it. You must discipline yourself to limit watching and reading even news to only what is necessary for prayer and intercession. The more information we gather, the more time we must spend with the LORD in prayer.

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Proverbs 15:1-2

 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." "Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 8:1

We are responsible to the information we receive and need to handle and deal with it correctly, beginning by taking it to the LORD in prayer. If not, it will puff us up and make us prideful and also poison our soul causing wrong attitudes. Therefore all knowledge that we receive should be processed through prayer into love.

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

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 FRUIT TREES

What kind of a tree are you?

 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:11

Just like the different kinds of fruit trees which carry the specific seed in the fruit, the LORD has made each one of us with specific skills, talents and personalities to bear fruit for the LORD.

 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Genesis 2:16-17

Fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was poison to the soul.

Isn't it so even now? There is more knowledge of evil than good. Lies, deception, perversion and violence are rampant in the media, flooding the minds of adults and children. Once you know something, you know it and it will affect your soul. You cannot 'unknow' that. It sticks in your mind and is able to change your attitude towards people and GOD. 

The cursor on your screen can be your curser if clicked on the wrong spots!

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; 

The devil continues to offer fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, to people everywhere through the various media. Even when one looks for the knowledge of good, evil pops up to corrupt the mind! Fruit from this tree continues to open the eyes of innocent ones to more and more evil while blinding them to the truth revealed in and through GOD!

 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
Matthew 13:24-30

Like sowing seeds in the ground, we receive information into the mind by seeing and hearing. Our mind is exposed to many things good and evil that we don't choose to receive. We can of course choose to weed out the evil and unedifying thoughts. Meditating on good thoughts is like puposefully planting them in the heart, watering and caring for the seed. The truth of the word of GOD is good seed that should be planted in our heart and watered by meditation, memorisation, prayer and obedience.

 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
Matthew 15:17-20

The serpent of old, the devil, still deceives people into eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, doesn't he? He says to the innocent, "click here; click there; watch this; listen to that; you need to know..." Then he prompts those people to share that evil fruit and to scatter that garbage by talking to others about it, passing it around and forwarding it on all kinds of media. 

 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Romans 16:19

 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Matthew 12:33-35

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Progressing in Love 

The Love Machine

Adam, Mark and Gracie teach us how to progress in love!

This story can be used for a skit or a puppet show!

Click on the link and enjoy!

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b5ySqRJ6wFhTTJCzMtEhyQ2_BfWGDq-GxTbq7vWmZaI/edit?usp=sharing

The Nine Aspects of a Fruit

 Nine Aspects of a Fruit

 But the fruit of the Spirit is: 

LOVE, 

joy, peace, 

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, 

faith, Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

You can take an Apple or an Orange 

or a Grape or a Mango,
and analyse its parts and characteristics.
A fruit is hard and sour when it is raw. 
The fruit becomes softer, jucier and sweeter as it ripens.
It also applies to the spiritual fruit - Love, we bear as individuals.
The fruit should improve as we mature in CHRIST.

Luscious - LOVE

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 

Pure agape love originates from GOD. It is the character of GOD. GOD's love is attractive and desirable. We receive this love through our relationship with GOD. GOD's love does not fail to satisfy our inmost being, dislodging all fear, bringing conviction that leads to repentance.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5 

Like an open cup placed below the spout of a tea pot or a tap, our heart fills with GOD's love when our mind is open and our heart is humble before GOD. Each of us needs to experience this love for ourselves by receiving the goodness of GOD with gratitude.

Juicy - JOY

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11 

This joy comes from the LORD and we receive it through our relationship with Him.

The juice is in the fruit. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

When trials sqeeze you from all sides, the pure juice of the joy of JESUS should pour out! 

 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 

This joy is eternal, and is based on the hope we have in the LORD JESUS and not on our situation or circumstance. 

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:10

This joy will be perfected when we come to Zion and when sorrow and sighing will flee away!

Pieces of PEACE

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27 

Real peace comes only from the Prince of Peace, the LORD JESUS. We receive this peace when we live in close relationship with Him.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 

GOD releases His peace to us when we trust Him each moment of each day. It is like enjoying eating small fruits or bite-size peices of big fruits - one at a time!
When our peace is disturbed, we must spend time with the LORD in prayer.  When we pour out our heart to Him, He will lead us to pray according to His will, which could be repentance, forgiveness or intercession. If we deal in this manner with each problem or situation we face, GOD's peace will fill our heart constantly.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Pectin - PATIENCE

 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6

GOD is very patient. That is His nature. He deals with us patiently and graciously.
Therefore patience is GOD's character produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8

The Pectin in a fruit is a soluble fibre that improves bowel health. Hence Pectin enhances the ability of the body to digest and absorb the nutrition in the food we consume. Thus the body is nourished and strengthened by the food.

Similarly, the gentle Holy Spirit causes the word of GOD to be revealed to us and to be assimilated into our soul. Thus our soul is nourished by the word of GOD and in due time the word becomes flesh, as the Holy Spirit enables us to live out the word! But this takes time. So we need to patiently wait and give sufficient time to see this happen in our own lives and in the lives of others. 

Vitamin - GENTLENESS

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
Psalm 18:35

The fruit has vitamins and other nutrients that have a gentle healing property on human bodies.  Vitamins are 'Vital Minerals' and gentleness is a vital ingredient of the fruit of the Spirit!

Gentleness is anoher word for kindness. Kindness, in the Hebrew language is 'chesed', which, when broken up into two words means 'compassion' and 'fetters'. 

 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:36

 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32

GOD, in His kindness and gentleness, looks upon the people who are fettered and in bondage and reaches out to them, bringing spiritual deliverance and healing to souls and bodies.

GOD's gentleness is reflected in and through us as we reach out with compassion, to those in various types of bondages. 

 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 Corinthians 10:1

Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Matthew 18:33-35

Even as the LORD sets us free, He expects us to set others free with compassion and the authority He gives us over the powers of darkness. 

 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19

Nutricious - GOODNESS

 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6

Just as the fruit has goodness in itself that nourishes others physically, GOD has goodness in Himself that flow out as blessings to people in every way.  

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:4

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

When we receive and partake of His goodness with gratitude, it brings health to your soul through repentance. 

O my soul, you have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You."
Psalm 16:2

 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10

As we humble ourselves and take time to taste and be nourished by the LORD's goodness, we will bear spiritual fruit that will carry that same goodness to bless others! When we are blessed by GOD, we will be a blessing to others. Our life will consist of good works for the benefit of others.

Seed - FAITH

 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:11

The LORD JESUS said that the word of GOD is like a seed.  The word of GOD is sown in the soil of our heart when we hear it and receive it. Thus faith is planted in the heart. 

Our Christian life on earth begins and ends with faith. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Without the seed, there is no fruit. 

 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Luke 17:6 

The seed that is planted in the heart, when watered by the Holy Spirit, germinates and grows roots, having the power to uproot other undisirable trees growing in our own heart. 

The stem grows, producing leaves. Then buds show up that become flowers. The base of the flowers, in time become fruits. 

Thus the seed of faith in the LORD JESUS, sown in a human heart, watered by the Holy Spirit, nourished by the word of GOD, in due time will bring forth the fruit that is love!

 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Munchable - MEEKNESS 

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 Corinthians 10:1

The LORD JESUS is meek. We need to be meek to receive Him and His word into our heart.

 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 
James 1:21

The fruit is for others. It is selfless! Such selfless availability to others indicates meekness. 

Meekness is simply Me-less!

The flesh of a fruit is crispy or soft and it gives enjoyment and fulfilment to people, animals and birds.

If it hardens itself like a rock, others can't bite into it and enjoy its flesh and eat it up! Are we soft and humble enough for people to approach us? 

 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah 50:6

Are we hardening ourselves against those who are evil and harsh? Are we blocking our ears from those who speak nasty words to us? The LORD JESUS stood in the gap meekly to intercede for the sinners. We need to be like Him to inherit the earth. 

 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:38-42

 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13

Skin - SELFCONTROL

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:9-11

Imagine a fruit without a proper skin covering! It will simply fall appart and the juice will drip out, because it is the skin that holds the flesh of the fruit together. Similarly, we need to bring our body and selfish mind under the control of the Holy Spirit.

While purchasing  fruits, don't we carefully pick fruits that have undamaged skin?

A fruit with damaged skin through which its flesh shows out, is not desirable. Such is a believer whose selfish nature shows up all the time! If you abide in CHRIST, all your relationships will be loving, healthy and beautiful 'In CHRIST'.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9

 

The skin protects the fruit from insects and germs. When you live and walk in the Spirit, and do not allow your fleshly carnal nature to take over, you are protected from the devil's ploys. The devil can only get access to a believer through his carnal nature when he walks carelessly in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

Therefore it is necessary for us to seek the LORD's guidance and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit every moment of our life. We must yield our plans to the LORD so that we can bear desirable lovely fruit for GOD's glory!

Let us live, move and have our being IN HIM.

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Best Fruit Ever!

Who doesn't like a good sweet juicy fruit?

A loving, joyous, patient individual who does good to others is like a fruit such as this!

Of course, the kind of fruit you expect from a tree would depend on the kind of seed you sow. Similarly, if we want to bear good fruit, we must sow good seed into the soil of our heart.

Are you happy or satisfied with the kind of person you are? 

Do you long to be one who will bring blessing and joy to others and not anger, pain and sorrow, especially to those you love?

 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:19-26

All of us are different like the variety of fruits. One may be like an apple and another like a banana and another like a pear! All differing in size, shape, colour, consistency, fragrance and taste. Yet, as children of the Most High GOD, having the same Holy Spirit working in and through us, we will bear good fruit that will bless others in various ways and bring glory to the LORD.

As we are all made different, let us not compare with each other nor copy one another. Let us also not compete with one another, but find fulfilment in bearing the specific kind of fruit the LORD has purposed for us to bear.

Strongholds

 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

1 Samuel 23:29

So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:22

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Proverbs 21:22

 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

2 Corinthians 10:4

The enemy of our soul, the devil, uses people as his tools to deceive us and to put fear into us through lies. These suggestions, accusations and intimidations could come to us directly through such individuals or through various media. These can push us into the way of angry Reaction or Fear.

When such words come to us, it is important that we handle them correctly, so that we don't fall into the trap of the enemy. Our mind should always be protected by the helmet of salvation. We should be established in the knowledge and experience of the eternal salvation we have, through the cross and the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

David the Shepherd boy knew His GOD and knew who he was in GOD! Although he did not wear a physical helmet, he had the spiritual helmet that protected his mind, even when he stood against the big, strong, scary looking giant! His vision of his Great GOD was not overshadowed by the physical appearance of the the giant before his physical eyes!

 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 

 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God 

for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments 

and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, 

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

We can imagine what was happening in David's mind as he confronted Goliath. He was pulling down strongholds of fear through the memory of past experiences with lions and bears. Then he spoke out the words in faith, thus fulfilling his 'Obedience of CHRIST'. Then he was able to punish the disobedient, Goliath who defied the armies of the Living GOD.

 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, 

and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 

I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; 

and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 

Your servant has killed both lion and bear; 

and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, 

seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 

Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion 

and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 

And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"
1 Samuel 17:34-37

According to GOD's word, now, we don't fight against flesh and blood, that is, human beings. We do not consider people as our enemies, even those who may be used to work against us, by our common enemy, the devil. We should not allow our minds to see them loom before our eyes to marr our vision of our Great and Awesome GOD! We must purposefully pull down the strongholds of fear that may be sitting in our minds through past experiences. We do this by taking to heart the words of promises from the Bible. We will then speak and act in faith like David. Thus our mind is set free from the fear of giants, as though by the stone of GOD's word. 

When our obedience if fulfilled, we will be ready to punish every spirit that stands disobediently against the knowledge of CHRIST! In this way, we will see people set free and walk in freedom in CHRIST!

When our mind is protected by JESUS and His word, we will see every situation in the right perspective. 

Let us decisively steer our mind in the direction of Faith, away from the dark path of Fear, where the devil waits to ensnare us!