Fruit That Pleases

Matthew 7:19-23 AMP

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will a fully know them by their fruits. 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly( publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly[ disregarding My commands]. 

What is fruit?

Who defines and has defined its meaning?

Galatians 5:22-23 AMP

22 But the fruit of the[ Holy] Spirit[ the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy( gladness), peace, patience( an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness( benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness( meekness, humility), self- control( self- restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law[ a that can bring a charge]. 

Ephesians 5:9-11 AMP

9 For the fruit( the effect, the product) of the Light or a the Spirit[ consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. 10 And try to learn[ in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord[ let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. 11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead[ let your lives be so in contrast as to] a expose and reprove and convict them. 

Fruit as defined by the Word of God.  It is the fruit that pleases the Lord.

Mat 6:13 Deliver Us

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

Mat 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 

Keep us in Your strong arms, for we walk in the wilderness. 

Give us eyes to comprehend the light of Your presence, that it might light our way.

No one can snatch us away from your hand if we choose to abide in Your heart. 

Let it be so this day, that by and through the power of Your Most Holy Son we walk confidently in the valley with our eyes on Your Holy mountain.

Covering

God fashioned coverings for Adam and Eve after they were cast out of the Garden. Later He provided another covering for their sin, the blood of His own Son.  The door is open for the return. 

Mat 6:12 Forgive

Matthew 6:12 ESV  

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

 It is scary to think that God's forgiveness is linked with our forgiving others, but then so is love. 

Just as love flows from above, so does forgiveness. Both reflect the living water coursing through our lives. If we dam up the outgoing flow, the incoming flow is impacted. The less we hinder that living water, the more and faster it passes through our lives. The more we are blessed and bless others. It is to the glory of our Father. 

Speaking And Listening

Spirit words are given utterance in all languages of man. There is One Spirit, but many men. There is One Word, but many languages and dialects. 

Even if one uses "English", Spirit words spoken in that tongue are not understood by one that does not have the Spirit. An interpreter is needed and the purpose is life. When we seek the presence of the Spirit, He will guide us into all truth. He brings us into the things of God. 

"Speaking in tongues" can and does happen in the everyday language. We can hear and recognize it. 

Listen...

Asking For Wisdom

1 Kings 3:7-14 ESV

7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? ” 

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. ” 

Because Solomon asked and asked for the right thing, according to the will of God, his prayer was answered. God said yes, for He was pleased and that was His pleasure.  Not only that, He blessed Solomon with much more. 

Solomon became the wisest man on earth, but the wisest thing he ever did was ask God for wisdom. The same is true for you and me. 

Ask, knock, and seek

And it shall be done

Notice the word "if" appears again. Throughout the OT and NT, the same and eternal God says that we must walk in His ways. It is up to us ask and do. It has always been this way. 

John 15:16 What He Chooses

John 15:16 AMP

16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you[ I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting[ that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name[ as a presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. 

Isn't it interesting that the word often translated as "appointed" (see post on biblicalgreeknuggets.blogspot link at bottom of blog) can also mean placed or planted. Jesus is speaking of Himself as the vine and of us as branches. He attaches those who believe in His name to the vine of His body. 

It is there, and only there, we can bear good fruit in God's eyes. It is not for a short season, but a continuous bearing of the fruit that comes from abiding in that vine. 

Even though we are to remain in Him , we are to then go and be ourselves in Him, to glorify and give witness to the Father, and to truly live an abundant life. That's what He chooses for us.