Tag: Truth

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The Nail That Holds Together

NOVEMBER 14

MATTHEW 7:18_A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit…

This verse is the nail that holds together the principles which build this house. 

We are going a little deeper into the principle of a good tree brings forth good fruit. Jesus puts a bit of a spin on that— a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. Get this into your heart and meditate on it. It isn’t just that good produces good. It’s that the good cannot produce evil.

Let’s think of it in terms of a good teacher. This is a teacher whose teachings line up with the truths of the Bible. A teacher whose love and concern for you is unconditional—although you may not see that in the beginning. It takes time and some maturity to understand all the aspects of unconditional love. For instance, this is the teacher who taught you the truth even when you rejected and rebelled against it. This is the teacher who, when you finally had enough of your own bondage, welcomed you back to the fold and led you to freedom. This is the teacher who stands by you when times are tough.

This teacher is Jesus. The source you can count on not to produce evil in your life.

You don’t have to worry about this One being a ravening wolf. A good tree is salt and light!            

PRAYER

Lamb of God, I need people in my life who are salt and light. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.     

 Christ cannot produce evil fruit—I can trust in Him!

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The Key Word is “With”

NOVEMBER 9

MATTHEW 7:17_Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit…

Trying to do what is right and good can be overwhelming. There’s a reason for that—it is! You’ll never achieve it. Your being good doesn’t fit in that creation plan of good produces good.

Let’s go back to that verse in John 15 (KJV) which says, “5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Jesus just hit a home run! He didn’t say anything about doing good on our own. Nor did Jesus say if you work hard enough you’ll bear good fruit. He said, without Him you can’t do anything [good]. Nothing! Nada! Naught! Zilch! Do you get that? 

There’s only one way to bear good fruit—be a good tree. There’s only one way to be a good tree—abide in the true vine. Luke 1:37 (KJV), “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” The key word in that verse is with. Your ability to make the impossible possible is in the word with.

Your ability to produce good fruit is in the word abide. You not only can produce good fruit, but according to Jesus you can bring forth much fruit.    

PRAYER

Powerful God, I want to be with You and abide in You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                                  

Christ helps me bear much good fruit – I abide in Him!

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Till the Cows Come Home

NOVEMBER 7

MATTHEW 7:16_or figs of thistles?

Jesus teaches the same simple gardening plan for figs. If you go to pick your figs—you won’t pick them from thistles. There is obviously a point Jesus is making (must be about a way to freedom)!

Thistles are a type of weed. They produce purple flowers which are kind of feathery looking. Some of the flowers have more of a pom-pom look. The stem of the thistle is prickly and full of briars. They really are attractive, but if they grow in your pasture you want to get rid of them. Your livestock would appreciate it. Thistles produce an abundance of seeds and can take over a pasture, greatly reducing your livestock’s grass supply.

If you have thistles growing, you can look on them from now to this time next year and won’t find any figs.

Figs grow on trees—thistles don’t. So what is this all about? And how will it help with our freedom search?  If you want grapes—go to grapevine. If you want figs—go to the fig tree. If you want truth—go to the words of the Christ.

This is the correct path to freedom. 

False teachers lead to false paths. You can follow those paths up and down, left and right, from now till the cows come home—you won’t find any freedom.   

PRAYER

Holy Savior, Help me know I can only find truth in You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.     

Christ leads me to the path of truth—I find freedom!

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False Teaching

NOVEMBER 4

MATTHEW 7:16_Ye shall know them by their fruits…

Jesus is about to teach some clarity on how to recognize false prophets. If you think you don’t know any prophets, false or otherwise, change your perspective.

Look at something simple—like false advertising. You may covet some kind of product you see advertised.  You may save up all our money, or nag the life out of your parents, until you have it. In no time at all you discover it is not as advertised. 

Being taken by some false advertising is minor in comparison to being taken by some false teaching. False teaching can appeal so strongly to your flesh that your spirit is diminished.

False teaching appeals to your appetite for wealth and possessions, for glamour and fame, and for power and control.

In Jesus’ wilderness experience the devil tempted Him, Matthew 4:8-9 (KJV), “Again, the devil taketh Him [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto Him, ‘All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.’”  

Jesus knew the truth, He replied, “10 Then saith Jesus unto him, ‘Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.’”

PRAYER

Good Shepherd, Help me strengthen my spirit in the truth of the Bible. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.     

 Christ knows the weakness of my flesh—He will save me!

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To Snare Them

NOVEMBER 3

MATTHEW 7:15_but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

II Corinthians 11:3-4 (KJV), “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he [false prophet] that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him …13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

It is easy to be deceived by smooth talkers if you don’t know the truth. The more truth you feed your spirit, through the Bible, the quicker you recognize a lie. 

The inside of this sheep’s clothing is completely opposite from the outside.  A wolf will devour a sheep—so will a lion, I Peter 5:8 (KJV), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

The devil is actively searching for those who do not know the truth to snare them.

PRAYER

God of All, Help me know the truth and escape the devil’s trap. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                                               

Christ wants me to be vigilant in the truth—He saves me!