The previous time we looked at how Jesus said we were all thorn trees that bore thorns. We became fruit trees when we believed and now we have to bear fruit according to the new spirit we received from Him. Because a righteous person bears righteousness. This process of bearing fruit is transformation, and transformation is dying to self. It is a process of dying bit by bit until there is nothing left of the old. And the new is just that new and different. Jesus spoke on this exact topic in one of His parables. He said:
Luke 13
…”A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’
8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ “
This is such an amazing parable and teaches us so much. Let’s just look a little closer to see exactly what the Lord is teaching us. This certain man is Father God and we are that fruit tree. Jesus is the keeper. The tree is most certainly a believer because it is a fruit tree and not a thorn tree. The only problem is the tree has not been bearing fruit for a long time and the Man says chop it out and throw it in the fire. So this believer is not transforming, he is not obeying his new spirit and being a doer of the word. No instead this believer believes it is all done and all he has to do is believe or be there. But what does the Man say? Why should he waste space? Friends we are to be doers of the word, we need to transform and change according to the Spirit of God and become like His Son the Christ. If we do not do it, we will be chopped off and thrown in the fire. We do have a lifetime to do that in but we cannot tarry as we do not know how long that life is. Also we have an Advocate in Jesus before the Father for us.
Which brings me to the help that Jesus gives us. And this is where the false doctrine that I believe to be the number one destroyer of believers comes in. That false doctrine out of the deepest pit of hell is called the prosperity doctrine or also the health and wealth doctrine. Listen closely to what Jesus says to the Father. He says give me another year. That is the intercession for us with the Father. But He does not stop there, He also does something, He takes action. Let’s just look and see what that is. First of all, He digs around that tree, He breaks the hard ground and turns everything upside down. Now what does that feel like? It feels exactly like everything is turned upside down. Your whole life(soul) is upside down and everything is thrown out of place. Your job your family your finances your health, everything is thrown upside down. But He doesn’t stop there. He takes fertilizer and works it into that ground. But what is fertilizer? In those days it was dung from various animals and could even be human waste. So what does that feel like and more importantly what would that smell like? It would most certainly not fit in the mold of the health and wealth doctrine.
Let’s get something straight if you believe this false doctrine that you are supposed to have health wealth and nothing but prosperity here on earth you are gravely mistaken. In fact you are a fruit tree because you believe but you are bearing thorns. And Jesus, out of the goodness of His heart will have to send you some hardship to help you to transform. Life is NOT supposed to be all prosperity here on earth. Actually Jesus said we will have trials and tribulations here on earth if we truly follow Him. He said we would be persecuted because we follow Him. But that’s enough of that for now. I want to lastly show you what then happens to those fruit trees that were dug up and had dung to deal with.
You see the trees that actually embrace their situation and absorb the dung they actually start to grow and soon they begin to bear fruit. Only once they bear fruit they find that the Foreman of the farm named the Christ comes with a pruning hook and He cuts away all the dead branches and they actually bear even more fruit. They transform because they have the old removed and grow the new.
John 15
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
I pray that the Father reveals truth to you concerning this doctrine and that you would bear hundred fold fruit, in Jesus name, amen.
Till next time
God bless.
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