WOMEN ARISE!-BLOG SPOT

LEAVES BUT NO FRUIT


 {Matthew 21:18-19}

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.

{Matthew 7:15-18}

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.


 “fruit”-anything produced or accruing; product, result, or effect; return or profit. Ex: the fruits of one’s labor.


Do you want to differentiate a real Christian from a fake one? Watch and listen to them! As Christians, our lives may be the only bible that some people ever read! We may be the only encounter with Jesus they have! But if we aren’t living in obedience to the Word of God, or practicing what we are preaching, instead of being light in a dark and unbelieving world, we’ll become stumbling blocks!



We have to be very careful broadcasting that we are a “Christian” when we are behaving just as poorly-or even worse than an unbeliever! It is so easy to misrepresent Christ! I see so many professing Christians on FB and other social networks, posting their personal drama and cursing like sailors one minute; and then the next posting Scripture and praising God! My friends, THIS SHOULD NOT BE SO! {James 3:10} Many are hanging in the clubs on Friday and Saturday night, getting drunk and high, sleeping around, etc.; and yet oftentimes, they are the loudest ones in the church Sunday morning "praising" the Lord! Hmmm...



I know that no one is perfect and I certainly don’t claim to be, but daily we should strive… We need to be growing and seeking the Lord’s will for our lives each step of the way. Yes, we all make mistakes but we should be quick to confess and repent of those mistakes so that the Lord can continue to work in and through us for His glory. But if we pretend we are perfect, we are deceiving ourselves and we leave no room for Jesus to work as we can’t submit if our sins we don’t admit! {1 John 1:8-10}



 No, we are not saved according to any works we could ever do, but true faith produces good works (fruit). So if you are calling yourself a believer, but there is no ‘evidence’ (fruit); in other words, if there is no change or growth in your life-and you’re doing the same things you’ve always done (before coming to Christ), you must re-examine yourself. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you any area in your life that is hindering the Spirit’s flow! Be open and willing to receive the truth, confess and repent!


Don’t be like the fig tree that Jesus cursed because it was a phony (hypocrite), bearing leaves but no fruit!


{Galatians 6:7-9}

7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.





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