The Tree of Faith and Its Fruit

UV 4258/10000 The Tree of Faith and Its Fruit A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Matthew 7 v 18 Just like a tree, a good man cannot have bad thoughts, use bad words, entertain negative emotions, cultivate bad habits and do bad things. Jesus also said, “No man is good, “ implying that no man consistently thought good, spoke good or did good things. We can, however, once we become followers of Jesus, emulate Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. The proportion of evil, the negative or bad needs to come down in the life and character of the believer. The spiritual fruit or the fruit of the Spirit do not come naturally but is produced supernaturally in us as we yield to the Holy Spirit. As we yield our thoughts to Him, as we meditate on His word, He turns the “bad tree” into a good tree. In this manner, Saul, the killer and persecutor of the followers of Jesus was transformed into Paul, the apostle. God is not only a name changer but a game changer. But even for believers, it is always a challenge to stay good, to avoid evil consistently. If we take our eyes off Jesus like Peter did on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee, we will sink. He is the One who completes or perfects our faith, our lives. We need to focus on Him from beginning to the end of our lives. We need to be aware that we need to produce fruit in keeping with repentance and salvation or thoughts, words and actions that are consistent with our faith and the word. Living intentionally and faithfully implies that we not only avoid bad thoughts, bad words, bad actions but replace it with good thoughts, good words and good actions. If there is a slip up or fall in any aspect, the Lord gives us time and opportunity to make up. We need not get trapped into a guilt trip by the enemy as it is not our thoughts, words and actions that make us good but the grace of the Lord in response to our faith in Him. Faith in Jesus is the “good root” that produces the good fruit in us. Even non believers, however, expect some change for the better once we profess to be followers of Jesus. The closer, more consistent and focused our walk with God, the more and better results or fruit will be manifested in our lives. The Holy Spirit will remind us constantly of our blind spots, weak areas, areas we need to change or improve. If we choose to ignore His whispers and promptings, it will become lower and lower such that we cease to hear it. If we truly need God, we need to heed His voice. We produce fruit just like trees not for our own consumption but to bless others. The more our lives are a blessing to others in terms of help, in terms of guidance, in terms of encouragement and inspiration, the more fruitful we are in the eyes of the Lord. Unlike a natural tree that produces only a specific fruit, a human produces a variety of fruit. In the book of Revelation, it is reflected in the metaphor of trees watered by the river of life that produce a different fruit for each month of the year.

The Refined Remnant

UV 4257/10000 The Refined Remnant The remnant of Israel will do no wrong nor speak lies, nor will have a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will eat and lie down with no one to make them tremble and feel afraid. Zephaniah 3 v 13 Believers are described as the “remnant”. The word remnant is like the final refined residue in a filtration process that removes the dregs and dross of the mix of life. The Lord refines us with fire and water experiences in our lives. Our character is what the Lord focusses on. We are to do no wrong, speak lies or say anything deceitful. We are to be humble and yet, confident and brave, gentle as sheep but bold as a lion. The Lord dwells in us, and among us. Hence, He is our source of strength and confidence. We are confident of victory in all our battles. We rejoice in the Lord again and again as He is the cause and source of our strength, power and triumph. We eat of the word as the Israelites ate the divinely provided manna. The word is more real and desirable to us than food for food cannot save us from disaster or from our earthly and spiritual foes and enemies. Having partaken of the food, we are full of courage and will not fear neither death nor the principalities and powers of darkness or any of their weapons. The remnant is the church or body of Christ. We are to be the blemishless bride of Christ. He is the head and the rest of the body is to do the bidding of the head. We cannot stray to the left or to the right. Righteous conversation is the sign of true conversion or transformation. Our speech needs to be disciplined and refined. Our actions need to be in alignment with our beliefs and principles embedded in the word. Since the Lord has taken away our guilt or judgements, we are free of fears of death, curses and punishment. Hence, we can be joyful in all circumstances, in the favourable and the less favourable or even adverse. Our hearts and minds should be positive in thoughts, emotions and motives or intentions. Taking every thought captive to Christ, something Paul advocated to the early believers, implies that we should subject all our thoughts and emotions to the control, direction, supervision of the Holy Spirit. Next to our thoughts, our tongues are the source of great evil, trouble and conflict. Only the mighty power of God, of the Holy Spirit can control the tongue and turn it from being a bitter and poisonous spring to a spring of pure and life giving, life enhancing water. This uni-verse was also a prophetic utterance about the character of the coming Messiah- it describe the character of Jesus, that He never uttered a deceitful word, spoke the truth, honestly without any flattery to please the hearers. He remained faithful and steadfast, never afraid of the consequences of speaking the truth, confronted false accusations, threats and eventually embraced death on the cross. He is the only One in history to overcome death. The remarkable thing is that after His resurrection, He did not remind anyone of their acts of betrayal or desertion of Him. He did not speak even of His own great suffering. He only exhorted them to share boldly about salvation, about eternal life and encouraged them to establish the church, the final remnant on the Rock, the cornerstone, faith in Jesus Christ as Risen Saviour.

Protosynthesis- Internalise, Personalise, Synthesise

UV 4256/10000 Protosynthesis – Internalise, Personalise, Synthesise The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear ( spiritually perceptive), your whole body will be full of light ( benefitting from God’s precepts). Matthew 5 v 22 The eye referred to in this uni-verse is not the physical eye but the spiritual eye, the ability to clearly perceive, understand, apply spiritual truths hidden in the word of God. The word is light. Jesus is referred to as the light of the world. When our hearts and minds are able to believe and receive Jesus, then our bodies and minds are full of light. The darkness cannot comprehend it nor extinguish it, the darkness being a metaphor for the world. For many in this world, the darkness or dark knowledge, or knowledge sans God, sans the truths of God is their light. The absence of such spiritual light will cause them to stumble and fall, to be deceived by the powers of darkness of this world. We need to ensure that our soul’s eyes are full of light, the truth of God. Such spiritual light is far more beneficial to us than even physical light emitted by the sun. We will be able to perceive all things in the light of the truth, from a godly perspective. We will be able to consistently take the right decisions. If the soul’s eyes are full of light, it will not cause us or allow us to sin. Every part of us, spirit, mind and body will be blessed, empowered, equipped, illuminated with the wisdom of God. No part of us will be condemned or marred. We need to constantly bathe in the light of the Word, implying covering or clothing ourselves with the promises of salvation, provision, protection, promotion. This is what I call “protosynthesis” as compared with the photosynthesis of plants. Protosynthesis has three phases or stages: We need to internalize the light or word through memorization, meditation, reflection, personalize through claiming promises, obeying or applying commands, emulating positive models, rejecting negative models, synthesise or produce new ideas based on scriptural principles, the teachings of Jesus to benefit people and the church. Unlike photosynthesis that happens only when the sun shines or the day time, protosynthesis happens all day, all year round as the Daystar, the Son never sets.

The Antidote for Worry are Worship, Work, Word

UV 4255/10000 The Antidote for Worry are Worship, Work, Word So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6 v 34 In this uni-verse, Jesus advices us not to worry. Worry will not add one hour to our lives while later medical research has proven that it, in fact, could shorten our lives. In place of worry, if we worship and thank God in every circumstance, be positive and joyful in every situation, hours, it would seem, have been added to our days, and days to our years and years to our lives. Each day has its own challenges. So our focus should be to give our best to the present moment without being distracted or sidetracked by worry about something likely to come up later and which may not even happen. Let us not spend time worrying about the uncertainties of the future, since we know the One who holds our future in His capable hands. We need to gladly accept where we are right now and then think of ways to improve on it over time. Living in the present moment is what Jesus advocates. Janus-like we should not keep looking over our shoulders into our past or stand on tiptoe to peep into the future with anxiety. Our faith in Christ who overcame every challenge humanity can face individually or collectively fills us with hope and hope fills us with joy. Worrying is not an option for believers and followers of Jesus who asked us to meditate on the flowers of the field for the Lord promises to clothe us much better than the flowers. He also asks us to think of the birds that do not sow or reap and yet have enough for its need. The promise is hidden in this word of Christ that even if we do not sow with tears and sweat, the Lord will reward the work of our hands. He blesses our labour far beyond just the wages that we deserve. When we make Jesus, the locus or center of our lives, He will not only give us what we sow by focusing on the day’s challenges, whether at work or home, but also add His generous bonus. The Lord is not asking us however to be complacent or indolent. He expects us to give our best to whatever we are doing, even go the extra mile. Worry demonstrates a lack of faith in the kindness, provision, generousity of the Lord. Worry achieves nothing and hence, instead we should think proactively and positively, aim to throw in all we got into facing any particular challenge we are confronting. The way God has organized time from sunrise to sunrise is that the future does not spring on us suddently but evolves day by day. Hence, moment by moment, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, if we end up doing our best, the Lord will take care of the rest in terms of the uncertain, the factors that are too big for us, the challenges and problems that are beyond human knowledge or control. Instead of worrying in any given situation, we can read, study, meditate on the word and the Lord will surely speak to us and give us a specific answer to that which we are prone ot worry over. To sum up, the antidote for worry are www or worship, word, work.

Revelling and Rejoicing in Weakness and Suffering

UV 4252/10000 Revelling and Rejoicing in Weakness and Suffering But He said to me, “ My grace is sufficient for you ( My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough- always available regardless of the situation); for (My) power is being perfected ( and is completed and shows itself most effectively ) in your weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ ( may completely enfold me and ) may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12 v 9 Sometimes, God weakens us to strengthen us, empties us to fill us, breaks us to make us whole. For when we are strong, we are tempted to think we do not need God and even think we are some kind of God. We develop pride and over confidence in ourselves and our strength. Paul was given what he called a painful thorn in the flesh, to torment and harass him, to keep him from exalting himself. He even called it a messenger of satan, allowed by God to humble him and make him dependent on the Lord. These offsetting circumstances and weaknesses the Lord allows so that we depend on Him in every situation. Paul had many unique revelations and experiences which could have make him think too highly of himself, being just flesh and blood. The Lord had to perforce send him reminders of his humanity, mortality and infirmity not to harm him, or to shame him but for his own good, that he would remain faithful and not lose his way or his salvation. Hence, Paul said that he would rather boast of his weaknesses than his strengths or accomplishments or his out of body experiences. When we are weak and dependent in some particular aspect on the grace of God, His power, mercy, guidance, protection and provision, the Lord gets an opening, an opportunity to work on our inner being, to set right our attitudes and keep us on the right track. The Lord uses the opportunity to show His love, to reveal Himself strong on our behalf, to manifest His power, wisdom, mercy towards us. Paul goes to the extent, in a version of Christian stoicism, to state that he revelled in his troubles, trials, insults, difficulties, distresses as it kept him on the straight and narrow and closer to the Lord, in alignment with his purpose and calling. We, too can emulate Paul and believe that when we are weak, we are strong in the Lord and therefore, as James says, rejoice in our suffering, be glad in our earthly trials, be patient in our troubles, confident that the Lord will show up on our behalf, strengthen us to endure, to bear it even if he does not take away the thorn that hurts us. Instead of resisting or resenting the troubles we face, we can let it shape our faith, our character, our body of work for the Lord. Such an attitude no doubt pleases the Lord who will quickly rush to our side, to comfort us through the Holy Spirit, to counsel us, to deliver us, to strengthen us. Instead of looking back nostalgically to the time when we did not face such an affliction, we should allow it to enable us to walk closer to the Lord, relying on His grace and mercy. It will enable us to be patient, mature, contented, resilient.

The Overflowing and Overtaking Anointing of Prophecy

UV 4251/10000. The Overflowing and Overtaking Anointing of Prophecy See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. Jeremiah 1 v 10 In this world, we are appointed to positions and roles according to our qualifications and experience. But the Lord calls, appoints us to roles and functions and then gives us the qualities or power to play that role followed by the experiences. The Lord had anointed Jeremiah even from the womb with an overtaking and overflowing prophetic anointing. That anointing gave him courage to speak truth to power. One of the chief functions and role of prophets during that age was to speak truth to power but today, the prophet is to speak the word of truth, word of knowledge, word of encouragement and edification to the average believer for the latter is anointed to be both king, priest and prophet. The Lord is the only one who can appoint us over the nations and over kingdoms for all other appointments are made in the nation under the seal of the highest office in that country. He appoints and anoints us, or prepares us to play our role and functions as king, priest, prophet to uproot and break down spiritual strongholds of darkness. He prepares us to be sharp edged threshing instruments to destroy and to overthrow such strongholds of evil in all nations, the sources of tyranny, corruption, division, conflicts, violence, aggrandizement and such evils. The role believers play is dual – to destroy as well as to build, to uproot evil as well as to plant the seeds of goodness and greatness. He has formed us from the womb and shapes us through all of life’s experiences, both great and small to fulfill His purpose in our lives. He has chosen us and consecrated us as His weapons and instruments to do His will. Since we have free wills, we can submit to the Lord’s purpose and plan or rebel against it. When we do the former, we are placed over the nations and kingdoms of this world. We are not subject to the erratic whims of the rulers of this world or the evil designs of the rulers of the powers of darkness. We are not like the blind being led by the blind but the Lord gives us the full and 360 degrees vision to see through the darkness, discern the will of God, to both uproot and plant, to destroy and build in accordance with the plan of the Lord. We do so not with weapons made by flesh and blood but with spiritual power and authority the Lord vests in us. It is this vesting or investing the Lord has done in us that is called the overflowing anointing, the overtaking anointing. It overflows in us and overtakes the enemy while he is yet plotting harm or evil.

The Beautiful and Amazing Foundation of Our LIves

UV 4250/10000 The Beautiful and Amazing Foundation And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent (for that purpose)? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “ HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” Romans 10 v 15 This morning as I walked to a nearby waterfall, the above rhema verse, uni-verse came to my soul. Paul, writing to the Romans, recalls this psalm. Then as I sat on a huge tree root under the beautiful waterfall that was soothingly massaging my feet, I recalled this verse and the Holy Spirit revealed that it was not our feet of flesh and blood that the Word is referring to but our godly foundations. The foundation of our wisdom is the fear of God and the foundation of our lives is the love of God and love for the Lord. All humans have feet of clay but it is our faith in the Lord Jesus that is the foundation of our lives that make it beautiful. All above is ugly but our faith foundations, our feet that enable us to stand, to walk, to work, to move, transforms our lives into something beautiful. It prepares us to hear, receive, share good news of good things, chiefly the agape love of God manifested in Christ. We are to diligently build on the beautiful foundation the Lord has laid in our lives. We are to build not with hay or materials that are easily destroyed but with what is good, true, wise, noble, useful, beneficial to others. Then, our lives will not resemble the beautiful statue interpreted by Daniel to symbolize all of human kind and all of human history that was destroyed even though everything above the feet was strong, beautiful, amazing as the weaknesses represented by the feet of clay gave way to the stumbling stone, the rock that was not cut with human hands- Jesus Christ. But to us who believe in Him and live in Him, live by His word, He is the beautiful, enduring foundation of our lives. On Him as the cornerstone, the foundation, we build the superstructure of our lives. Our rock foundation is dynamic, not static like the foundation of a building. It is like the roots of a tree planted by streams of water, like our feet ever moving. Both our coming and going, our staying and building are all blessed by it. It gives us strength to withstand the torrents of storms and the currents of moving streams. Unlike the feet of a human or the foundation of a building, our spiritual foundation being the most beautiful part of our anatomy, our lives, are not hidden like the roots of a tree but visible and ever manifest in a variety of ways in our lives.