August 11, 2022
Eternal Fruit
At that time, you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. (John 16:23-24 NLT)
Precious one Jesus taught His inner circle how to be fruitful so that their joy may be full. I experience this kind of joy frequently. When I go to minister whether it is in a church, conference, retreat, or one-on-one and I witness God heal and restore them my joy is full and overflowing. This kind of fruit is eternal. Think about it, when was the last time God gave you a divine appointment with someone, and you were able to be a light, a witness for Christ Jesus, and He touched them, and you left full of joy? When I leave a Retreat of any kind event, we always fruit, the before and after are amazing with each person! I often say this when I leave an event and God has changed lives, ‘I feel like I am swinging from a chandelier’ because there are no words to express the joy I experience. Jesus said, ‘Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.’ (John 16:23-24 NLT) God chose you and me to go bear fruit. The Bible says, ‘You can identify or know anyone by their fruit, that is, by the way, they act. (Matthew 7:16 NLT) Are you a fruit bearer?
Jesus entered Jerusalem during exultation from the masses gathered for Passover. Early in the morning as He traveled from Bethany, He was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree full of leaves, He went to inspect the tree full of anticipation of having a fresh fig. He was so disappointed when He reached it, He found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. In a shocking turn, He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” He cursed the tree, and His disciples heard Him say it. (Mark 11:12-14 NIV) This seemed so out of character for Jesus for the compassionate healer and storm calmer! The fig tree withered up and died. (Mark 11:20-26) What can we learn from this scene? Lesson number one we can learn:
1. There is power in our words and power in our prayers. (Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 21:20-22)
2. Fruitlessness leads to judgment. (Psalms 1:1-3)
A lack of fruitfulness is a form of rebellion. “Be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve or worship other gods. If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.(Deuteronomy 11:17 NLT) The fig tree cursing, a parable if you will, is also a serious warning for us today. You will know someone by their fruit. How are you known? You are producing either good fruit or bad fruit, either way, you are known for your good or bad fruit. Are you producing good fruit in your life?
