#Wordfortheweek Week 11 #Fruit

“Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:8, 10 NKJV

Any time I see fruits on a tree, it gives me an indication that the tree is fruitful and not barren, in a way an evidence of fertility.

A fruit is also an indication that there will be reproduction of its kind. We can note that from creation and the declaration of God – “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. Genesis 1:11 NKJV).

Apart from the relation with plants, fruit is also likened to fertility of human beings – children are fruits of human reproduction. Fruits can also be likened to type of character in a person through the outcome of our words, actions and behaviours. By their fruits you shall know them.

In the outline passage above, John the Baptist was rebuking the religious leaders and teachers of that time – the Sadducee and Pharisees. They went to him to be baptised, with unrepentant hearts. How would John know they had not repented and turned to God?

The evidence was in their character. What they did was not in keeping with the spirit of the law. Jesus also laid the same reproach on them (Matthew 12:34). They were zealous to keep the letter of the law but not the spirit of it. Their actions were in contradiction to the spirit of love that underpinned the commandments of God.

Fruitfulness is also an evidence of life. As a child of God, the Holy Spirit quickens in us, the new life in Christ Jesus. We now have the Christ-like ability to bring forth fruit of the Spirit.

Fruits of a tree gives an indication of the type of tree it is. A good tree will bring forth a good fruit. A bad tree will bring forth bad fruit. A tree will not tell you if it was good or bad until you taste its fruit. A beautiful looking fruit is not an indication of how good the fruit is. It is not how you look but the outflow of your character – fruit, that evidence the Holy Spirit of God in you. When people relate with you, they will ‘taste’ your fruit.

Are people experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you? The good fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, that produces the fruit of life in me. May my life reflect Christ in me through my words and actions. Help me to remain fruitful as I abide in Christ who nourishes and produce good fruits in and through me. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 12 #AWAKE

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15 NKJV

We are living through an extraordinary time in the history of the world. The world is basically under quarantine in a time when there is no human war. But a non-human war against a virus that is moving faster than humans.

In the now popular(for the wrong reason) city of Wuhan, a local "wet market" which sold both dead and live animals including fish and birds became the agent of a global pandemic that brought the world to a lock down.

As all social gathering are minimised, with many churches now holding remote online and house fellowships, the church is waking up to the reality of the end times.

Was this pandemic a surprise to the church? I went to search the prophecies for 2020, nothing. Did God speak to warn, but we did not hear? Did He not speak because our hearts are now far from Him because we are focused on things that is far from His own heart?

We the body of Christ are meant to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Were we also in the dark or dull of hearing? Are we now pouring salt when the meat has been cooked?

This is a wake-up call for the church. We can not afford to be found sleeping or snoozing; comfortable with church numbers, church planting, church programmes, prosperity messaging, religious prayers and fasting and activities that is blinding us and making us lose our spiritual hearing. Time to wake up!

Yes, God is still Almighty, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is the Alpha and Omega. He knows everything. But are we His ambassadors on earth occupying and doing the work of the Father and representing Him effectively? May we not be found naked and exposed as one without power and authority. It’s time to awake from our slumber!

Nevertheless, If His people, which are called by His name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways; then will He hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin, and will heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It is time for you and I, the church to awake and be spiritually alert.

#Prayerfortheweek

Help us oh Lord. May we hear and do what the Spirit is saying at such a time like this. May this be a wake up call for revival in our fellowships, the church as one and in the nations. May the nations seek You, the Only Living God. May we stay permanently in Your secret place, seeking to listen and hear, obey and do Your will all the time and in all ways not the nice convenient ones, teaching others and living out our Faith. I will not miss rapture because of slumber. In Jesus name. Amen.

I pray that this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with Elohim and be determined to be more and do more for Him in 2020. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 5 #Courage (Part 1)

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from [a]Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So, they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and [b]lodged there. Joshua 2:1 NKJV

I was watching a TV series of the Israelites journey to the Promised Land recently. The story of Rahab captivated me afresh, not only because she was one of the few women mentioned in Jesus’ lineage in the Bible but from a curiosity about her life.

Rahab was described as a prostitute. Now we know the word ‘prostitute’ immediately brings a stigmatised image even in the purest of mind. Rahab was a woman many mothers would keep their daughters away from. A woman most wives would have cursed. A woman, men despised yet are drawn to but hated her for it. I could imagine the society’s response to her.

Rahab lived in the walled city of Jericho. Her house was on the wall by the gate, convenient for her profession – sex with many for money. Her house was also quite convenient as lodging for the Hebrew spies.

The bible did not expatiate on how the spies were found out and reported to the king. What made me curious was why Rahab helped them? How did she cone to believe in the God of Hebrews? And if she could have faith even in her profession what was her story – what led her to prostitution?

The Israelites crossed the Jordan and conquered the Promise land under the leadership of Joshua. The magnificent exploits of God through Moses would have been told and retold to nations in that area throughout the forty years of the Israelites sojourn in the wilderness. It is possible that Rahab through her profession in meeting many traders and visitors to Jericho heard of these mighty acts – testimonies that ignited something in her. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.

What Rahab heard was not just information to her. It ignited a faith in her to say to these spies, “I know that the Lord has given you the land…”

What faith just by hearing. To be continued

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and salvation. Thank You for Your Holy Scripture that helps us to know You more. Help me to be not only hearer of Your words but believer and doer as well. May my faith continue to grow in Christ Jesus. To the glory of Your Holy Name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

I pray that this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with Elohim and be determined to be more and do more for Him in 2020. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020