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Galatians 5:19-25

[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Matthew 7:17-20

[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The fruit that we bear will declare the nature of the tree, right? What we show and demonstrate each and every day will show what is of the true roots of our being! That’s pretty plain to me! When I examine myself and I do not see Christ in every action and word then I have received the answer to “what do I need to change”. The first fruits of our lives should be Christ!

Romans 7:5-6

[5] For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

As we read here, we know the fruit of the old man represents the person that we use to be or what we tend to try to fall back on when we face harder times. We must learn to recognize this so that we can learn to grow out of that discouraging life!

Romans 6:21-23

[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
[23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we read this, we recognize the fruit of the new man: it is what we have become through Christ and what we consume to live!

Mark 11:13-14

[13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
[14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Fruit is expected and not just leaves alone; in other words not just to know God but to have the relationship and the spirit bear witness. That is to say, it will be something you know and feel and that others will be able to partake from you.

John 15:2,8

[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
[8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Fruit bearing is helpful to you but is of most benefit for others. It is for the molding of your life and the example to be ‘witnessed’ by others. Most importantly, as you come through in victory your testimony and the impact it has upon other people gives glory to God.

Matthew 13:22

[22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Fruit is hindered by bad surroundings (ground that is not kept). In other words if the flesh or part of us that will not let God lead us refuses to break down, the ground will be impossible to receive seed.

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A lot of us need to forsake our focus on “God’s will for my life”. I know that that sounds like a big shocking statement, but read on. God wants a response about us moving and working in his spirit today! We use searching for God’s will as a crutch so our fears over making mistakes never come. We need to come to a decision to start living now. Let us use a couple applied examples from the scriptures.

Galatians 5:16-25

[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The spirit and flesh work directly against each other. Verses 19-21 lay out some specific works of the flesh. Verses 22-23 lay out some specific works of the spirit. If they are Christ’s, we have already put to death the flesh (along with the parts that lift it up). If it’s in there, let it go with you! Put into practice what you believe in Christ!

Paul said in the passage above to walk by the spirit and you will not gratify your flesh; that if we live in it (the spirit) thereby we also walk in it. In essence that is saying if the spirit of God lives in you that it is going to show on you and show to others.

We’re getting into this mold of what we like to call church, with new followers who will not follow. God does not want big numbers, short services, an engaging speaker and all of that with no spirit!

He wants his bride to be a faithful people and lovers of him.

I am beginning to wonder if the Lord is looking down upon us and seeing us as the prophets of Baal more than the prophet of Elijah, the prophet of God.

1 Kings 18:18-40

[18] And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
[19] Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
[20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
[22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
[25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
[26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
[27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
[28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
[29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
[30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
[31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
[32] And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
[33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
[34] And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
[35] And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
[40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Sounds like some of our services, right? There is lots of noise but no God?!? They did not say how wonderful the speaker or praise band was, but they acknowledged God alone for the works that were performed at that time. We need to learn to worship what has been performed in our lives, and to not settle for just a bit of peace, but the peace of God:

Philippians 4:7

[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When you consider Elijah, read the passage below and it will begin to unlock higher heights and deeper depths in your life.

Three things stand out here:

1) It wasn’t in the numbers

2) Giving glory to anything other than God will not work

3) God is powerful enough to defy anything that we would consider impossible

James 5:15-20

[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
[17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
[18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
[19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
[20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

He (Elijah) was subject to the same battles we face, and yet still took a stand for God. He prayed earnestly, passionately; this is where we need to find our prayer lives: with faith and with passion!

Praying for rain and no rain and seeing them both come to pass not only demonstrated the faith that Elijah had but the almighty power of God!

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