You Are Known By Your Fruits

Good morning to all on this Thursday morning and God is in His Heaven and all is truly right with the world. I am in New Orleans continuing my training with health centers and last night had to drive to Baton Rouge for a dinner meeting. I drove back late and God was truly with me as the ride got longer and I became more tired. When you have God watching your back you can truly live your life robustly. Continue your prayers for our country and continue to pray that God's hand continues to guide us.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 12, verses 22-37, "Then they brought Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He who is not with Me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Boy those Pharisees were relentless! They continued to try and discredit Christ and His ministry. They had closed their minds and hearts to the Spirit of God and this is the sin that would not be forgiven and would land them in an eternity without God, or hell. They also tried to persuade their listeners to "hi-five" their hate message-- sound familiar? What I think Christ is telling us in these scriptures is that we will also be misunderstood by those that do not want the Kingdom of Heaven to be preached. This is a "Spiritual" fruit! When you are attacked because of your spiritual witness then you should count it for good--you are in good company and are walking the same path as Jesus did. He has also given us a clue--when you are attacked because you are promoting the Kingdom of Heaven, call upon the Holy Spirit to guide you and meter your steps. It is spiritual warfare at this point and cannot be won in the flesh. The Holy Spirit will protect you and guide you. It is during these times of trials that your spiritual fruits or lack there of will become evident as well. If you have junk in your trunk, if you have a lack of  forgiveness toward your brother,  if your harbor envy or hatred in your heart, those fruits will block the blessings of the Spirit.  I have to pray daily to remove the junk in my trunk so that the Will of the Father can be manifest in my life!

To know Him is to love Him; To Love Him is to Serve Him. To know Him is to Love Him, to Love Him is to serve you! Have a blessed day.

Stephanie