Video Bible Lesson - Are You Bearing Fruit? by Ryan Duncan

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

7/27/2020

Are You Bearing Fruit?
by Ryan Duncan

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” – Luke 8:16
One of the traditions my family had while I was growing up was that every fall we would go apple picking at a place called Edwards Orchard. It was a great place. There were barn animals for kids to feed, a maze that my siblings and I would always cheat to win, and a small kitchen that made the best apple doughnuts on this continent. Once we had exhausted ourselves on all the activities and eaten enough doughnuts to last us for days, our parents would load us up on the orchard's wagons, and we would go into the trees to pick apples.
Afterwards, we'd enjoy a long stretch of apple-related meals at home, and I was particularly fond of my mother’s upside-down apple pie. Then one year, as we clambered out of our van like usual, we were met by an employee who informed us the orchard had closed that season. I don’t remember exactly why -- I think a storm had damaged most of the trees -- but the absence of our usual Macintosh apples was pretty noticeable the following week. This was the memory that jumped to my mind a few days ago, as I was reading the book of Luke. Take a look at the following verses,
And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" –Luke 13:6-9
The simple truth is that there is not much use in a fruit tree that doesn’t grow fruit, just like there isn’t much use in a Christian that isn’t living out Christ’s teachings. God made us, the Church, to be people of growth and action. It is his desire that we constantly seek to mature in our faith, and the way we do that is by getting involved in the world around us. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Become a greeter at your Church, make a small donation, or bring a meal to the couple that just had a baby. All that matters is if your heart is providing a harvest for God because you never know what he’ll do with the spiritual fruit you create.
Intersecting Faith and Life: Find your own way to serve Christ’s Kingdom, no matter how small.
Further Reading
Luke 14

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Prove me now (Malachi 3:10).

What is God saying here but this: "My child, I still have windows in Heaven. They are yet in service. The bolts slide as easily as of old. The hinges have not grown rusty. I would rather fling them open, and pour forth, than keep them shut, and hold back. I opened them for Moses, and the sea parted. I opened them for Joshua, and Jordan rolled back. I opened them for Gideon, and hosts fled. I will open them for you--if you will only let Me.

On this side of the windows, Heaven is the same rich storehouse as of old. The fountains and streams still overflow. The treasure rooms are still bursting with gifts. The lack is not on my side. It is on yours. I am waiting. Prove Me now. Fulfill the conditions, on your part. Bring in the tithes. Give Me a chance.
--Selected

I can never forget my mother's very brief paraphrase of Malachi 3:10. The verse begins, "Bring ye the whole tithe in," and it ends up with "I will pour" the blessing out till you'll be embarrassed for space. Her paraphrase was this: Give all He asks; take all He promises."
--S. D. Gordon

The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers! I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication innumerable times. What have I asked for? I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains! I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides! My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask.
--J. H. Jowett

All the rivers of Thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name.
(Ephesians 1:8-19).

Can You Trust Your Conscience?.....Dr. Charles Stanley

Can You Trust Your Conscience?

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Timothy 1:5-7

Let your conscience be your guide. This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don’t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God’s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions.

A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God’s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning.

A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to obey God. He won’t settle for what feels right or looks good, but instead prayerfully seeks the Lord’s will. In other words, he does not rely solely on his conscience but incorporates all of the Holy Spirit’s tools into his daily life: Scripture, prayer, etc. Moreover, when his spiritual radar sounds the alarm, he is quick to draw back and reject unwise choices.

A conscience isn’t designed to be our guide; it is a tool of the Guide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

When We Grow Weary in the Waiting

When We Grow Weary in the Waiting
LAURA BAILEY

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)

With every step, piercing pain shot from my heel to the base of my neck. For almost five years, nerve pain had been an unwelcome menace, intruding at the most inconvenient of times.

We were running late for a play, and I still needed to grab the camera, pack the diaper bag and fasten the shoes. I was determined to arrive on time, walking into the auditorium as a “picture-perfect family” held together by supermom glue.

In bed that night, with the aid of my two best friends — the heating pad and muscle cream — my husband inquired, “What happened tonight?”

Avoiding his gaze, I remained silent, although I knew exactly what had happened. I had ignored my doctor’s instructions to rest and wait a few weeks longer before engaging in physical activity. But I told myself, You don’t need more downtime; you're ready and able to get back into full swing now.

Enduring physical and spiritual pain, I wrestled with God.

Why haven’t You healed me? Why are You letting my girls see such a weak momma? They need me to be strong! I’m not asking to run a marathon; I just want to be able to move throughout the day!

Angry the Lord was “holding me back,” I switched off the light, pulled the sheets over my head and tried to sleep.

Unable to fall asleep, I got up and shuffled into the living room. My mind wandered to a passage I’d read earlier that day:“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 1:4-5).

Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection preparing His disciples to spread the Good News. I pictured them eager and excited to begin their mission, yet Jesus told them to wait. They were not to go anywhere until they received the Holy Spirit to go with them.

But the next verse reveals their focus was elsewhere; they wanted to know when Jesus would return to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus told them they shouldn’t worry about that time, but rather, wait for the Holy Spirit, whom they would need as witnessed of all they had seen and heard. (Acts 1:7-8)

I’m quick to judge the disciples' response to Jesus’ commands, yet I am equally guilty of ignoring God’s instructions for today, preferring to focus on my plans for tomorrow.

Jesus knew the disciples would fail in their own strength, and the same holds true for us. God wants us to trust Him and attend to His timing even when we think we’re ready for action.

The tendency to thwart God’s timing when life feels like it’s moving just a little too slowly was not unique to my situation. Like a queen bee, I often buzz around at my own pace, only to suffer both physical and spiritual consequences. Then, nothing dulls the ache in my sin-stung heart besides confessing my rebellion and surrendering to the Lord's will instead of my own.

Today, God gives His children the same Holy Spirit for guidance, comfort and strength that He gave the disciples over 2,000 years ago.

When we believe our ways and timing are better than God’s, we miss out on the precious gift of full and abundant life lived through the power of the Holy Spirit. Embrace patience and wait on the Lord until He is ready to use you and send you forth. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our strength when we are weak. Please help us to wait on Your perfectly timed plans, fully surrendering our lives to Your leading. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (NIV)

Labeled

Labeled
by John UpChurch

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. Ephesians 5:29-30

Early in their marriage, Kate* discovered her husband, Jim, had a pornography addiction. She confronted him about it; they prayed; and he promised to change. For several months, Jim seemed to be doing just that by throwing himself into his ministry position. Their marriage returned to normal.

But the façade soon collapsed. Kate began suspecting something when she discovered Jim had been to a questionable restaurant several times with some of the other members of the church staff. She searched his computer and found hundreds of porn sites in the browser history. She also came across personal items belonging to another woman in his car.

When confronted, Jim begged for forgiveness. Kate moved out but agreed to counseling—if Jim would be serious this time. But he wasn’t. He was late when he did show up for the counseling sessions. Mostly, he just didn’t come.

Kate filed for divorce—and picked up a label. Many members of the church where Jim worked couldn’t believe he would do anything. So, they blamed the divorce on Kate. They knew she had her eye on someone else for months. They knew why she really wanted a divorce.

And that label went with Kate. Thanks to the power of the Internet, the certainty of Kate’s actions spread to other friends and family members. Jim, for his part, did nothing to dissuade the rumors, and Kate refused to slander Jim to the church—even if he’d hurt her, even if it meant wearing the label.

Kate eventually moved back to her hometown, but even there, enough people knew her past to keep the stories and “certainties” churning. They knew who she was and what she’d done. Jim stepped down from the church staff, ostensibly because of the turmoil, but picked up his own label: poor, discarded husband.

Years later, Kate still wears her label. She remarried, but for many people, she’s still the woman who ran out on her husband, who didn’t fight hard enough, who really had ulterior motives for leaving him. Even after Jim left ministry and church altogether, the reason behind his apostasy fell at her feet. She’d been labeled, and that was enough.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Church can be a scary place because the process of living life together is messy. Husbands and wives cheat. Doubts bubble up. Irrational fears overcome. We’re joined together at our most vulnerable point: trust.

We’re all tempted to categorize events and people, especially when something goes wrong. Categorizing makes it all seem safer, so different from us. But the purpose of the church isn’t just for when things are going well; it’s for when things mess up. Once we categorize and label, we’ve made things seem tidier in our heads, but that tidiness rarely exists in real life.

For Kate, healing took years—all because those she trusted fit her neatly into the box where they wanted her to be. And for Jim, labeling meant he never dealt with his sin.

For Further Reading

John 8:1

It’s Only By His Spirit

It’s Only By His Spirit
By Mark Jeske

Gideon was a man who knew no fear when he knew that he had the Word of the Lord behind him. A gigantic coalition of nomadic peoples headed up by the Midianites had rolled into Israel like an invading army of locusts, stealing their animals and destroying their crops. Their camels “could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.” Their army numbered 135,000.

Gideon mustered 30,000 Israelites, but the Lord didn’t like those numbers. He thought Gideon had way too many. He led Gideon to reduce Israel’s force to a small battalion of 300. He gave Gideon a positive sign, allowing him to overhear a Midianite man’s dream of Israelite victory.

“When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, ‘Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.’ [He divided]the three hundred men into three companies” - Judges 7:15-16.

Not only did Gideon welcome the sign and believe the Lord’s promises; he actually divided his tiny force into three companies. The Lord didn’t even need the three hundred—he simply drove the Midianites and their allies to attack and kill one another. Through Gideon’s strong leadership, Israel had peace for 40 years.

It pleases the Lord to no end to do great things through small people, to make the extraordinary happen from the ordinary. Never say, “We are too small.” Never say, “God can’t.”

A Prayer for When You Fear Death

A Prayer for When You Fear DeathBy Greg Laurie

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1

Have you ever been stung by a bee? It’s not a fun experience. But though it’s painful for the person being stung, it’s fatal for the bee.

When a honeybee stings a person, it can’t pull its little barbed stinger back out. This is a one-time experience for them. They had better think carefully about who they are going to sting, because once they do it, they are not going to survive.

When a bee stings you, not only is the bee’s stinger left in you but also part of its abdomen and digestive tract, as well as nerves and muscles. This massive abdominal rupture kills the bee shortly after it stings.

That is what happened when Jesus died on the cross. In his enduring hatred for God’s Son, Satan thought it would be a great idea to have Jesus betrayed, arrested, beaten within an inch of His life, and then crucified and put to death on a Roman cross. The devil said, “This is my moment. I am going to sting Him. I will have a role in His death. When He dies, that is the end of Him.” Everything went according to Satan’s plan, and like a bee, he flew off thinking he had succeeded.

But everything went according to God’s plan as well, and the sting of death was its own defeat. As 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 says, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Where is the sting of death for the believer? It is ripped out, because at the cross, Jesus took the stinger out of death. This is a great truth. As Christians, we no longer need to fear death because our souls will live on forever with Christ.

Dear Lord, we will face many terrifying events throughout this life, but may we never forget that the ultimate victory belongs to you. Through your sacrifice, death has been defeated. As we continue to walk in your truth, help us to set our eyes on Heavenly things.

Amen.