The fruit test

Besides the “words test” and the “money test”, Jesus gave us the “fruit test”.

I find it interesting that in Matthew 7:1 (NLT), Jesus said “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” But just a couple of verses later, in Matthew 7:15-20, He said “… Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? … just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (NLT)

What kind of fruit are you putting out? Do people see you as a diligent worker, a faithful steward, a helping hand? Or do you slack on your job? Do you put off your responsibilities? The fruit you produce is evident to those around you – they don’t need to make a judgment.

Let’s bring forth good fruit!

Doug

The money test

I wrote the other day that God’s tests are positive, designed to show us were our faith is at for some part of our lives. I also wrote about the “words test”. This time I’m going to write about the “money test”.

Jesus said “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 NLT).

Are we tithing (or at least making a good-faith effort in this economy)? Are we giving to the poor? Are we making wise or necessary purchases?

Or are we spending our money on things that wear out quickly, that give us a small thrill and are put on the shelf, or that serve to impress others more than meet needs?

There is some room for both types of spending, but what are our priorities? What is the balance?

Doug

God’s tests are positive

A couple of days ago, I said that God doesn’t test us. I probably need to clarify that a little.

I believe that God does not test us with poverty, cancer, or things that are part of the curse (the things that came into this world as a result of the fall of man). I stand behind this. However, there are tests that God gives us so we can see where we’re at, and where we need to improve. I’m going to write about some of these tests over the next few days.

The first test is what I call the “words test”. In Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus tells us that out of the abundance (KJV; NIV says “overflow”) of what’s in our heart is our mouth speaks, and that our words will acquit or condemn us.

Are we speaking positive, or negative? Are we praising God for what He’s done and what we believe He will do? Or are we constantly saying “Why me? When, God?” and the like.

Are we criticizing our friends, enemies, neighbors, co-workers, boss, parents, or friends at church? (Either to their face – or behind their back?) Or are we sparse and honest with our criticism and correction, and lavish with our praise?

Everyone – God and man – can tell what attitudes are inside our hearts by what we’re staying. What are our heart attitudes today?

Doug

Let it begin with me

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
– Sy Miller/Jill Jackson

“Lord, let it begin with me” ought to be our prayer.

If we want change in our church, ask God to start with us.
If we want more healings in our church, ask God to start with us.
If we want more worship in our church, ask God to start with us.
If we want more of God’s glorious presence in our church, ask God to start with us.
If we want more shalom (peace, prosperity, wholeness, well-being and success), ask God to begin with us.

We can’t always depend on the pastor or the song leader to “pump us up” or carry the whole load themselves, any more than we can expect others to carry the financial responsibilities of the church without making a contribution. We have to be an active part, not a spectator.

Doug

Is everything that happens God’s will?

Whole books have been written on the sovereignty of God and what it means, and the meaning of God’s will, man’s will, and the origin of bad things have been debated by far greater minds than mine.

My take on it: Not everything that happens is the will of God, although He does know about it beforehand. I base this on James 1, which says that temptations, trials, and tests don’t come from God. There are other verses like 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says that God won’t allow you to be tested beyond what you’re able to endure.

For example: if I decide to go to bed for the rest of my life, some would say that this was actually the will of God for me to do, or it wouldn’t have happened. However, if you read the book of Proverbs, we’re told over and over how bad it is to be lazy. Is God responsible for my laziness even though He condemns it?

Another example: 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 say that God wants all to be saved. Do people die without Jesus as their Savior? Every day. Some say that was actually God’s will working out, that God sovereignly chose who should be saved and who wouldn’t be. Others take these verses to say that God would actually save everyone, whether that actually believed in the Lordship of Jesus or not. I politely disagree with both of these views. God has a plan for mankind, and a purpose for each person, but it is up to us, working with the Holy Spirit, to find that plan and enter into it (Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6).

There are those that say sickness and disease are God’s will, and point out Old Testament experiences to validate their beliefs. But if you look at the various judgments in Exodus, they fell on the Egypt for the redemption of Israel – “… but there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.” (Exodus 10:23, NLT).

My take on it:

• There was no sickness that we know of before the fall of man – in fact, it was the fall of man that allowed the curse to come in.
• Jesus healed EVERYONE that came to him. We don’t have any examples where Jesus denied someone a healing. Jesus demonstrated the Father’s will: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.” (John 14:9-11 NLT) and” and “I came to do my Father’s will” (John 5:30, paraphrased)
• There is no sickness or disease in Heaven, and Jesus told us to pray that God’s will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

I can’t explain why sickness happens. But I can say “God can win with a pair of twos”, to quote Bill Johnson of Bethel Church. God can turn around any situation we face. We have to keep our eyes on God and not let the problem rule our attention. To accept bad situations as God’s will is passivity.

Doug

Don’t build a case against answered prayer

We’ve all prayed for something that didn’t happen – or at least didn’t happen on our time schedule. There’s a couple of reasons for this happening, which include:

- You may have prayed for the wrong reason (see James 4) or someone else’s will or decision is involved, not just yours and God’s.

- God may have something better in mind than what you’re asking for (Ephesians 3:20)

- Our relationship with God is not where it ought to be, and He is more interested in relating to us as His people first, than just being a sugar daddy (Matthew 6:33)

- The situation may be more complex than you realize, and you’re asking for a quick fix when you need to be asking for something different or more substantial.

What we have to avoid doing, however, is “building a case against answered prayer”. This is what happens when we say “I prayed for this, and it didn’t happen. I prayed for that, and it didn’t happen. There’s no point praying for the other, because odds are it won’t happen, either,” or simply “Go ahead, you can pray” when there’s no expectation on your part. You’ve filled your heart with the disappointment of unanswered prayers, and let it get bigger than your ability to believe or expect.

Hebrews 11:6 says that God rewards those that believe that He exists, and that diligently seek Him. Building a case against God or answered prayer is not faith, it’s unbelief. The irony is that Jesus wants us to avoid unbelief (Mark 16:14, for example). Instead, we have the church telling us to avoid presuming that God might want to answer our prayer. I’d rather be full of faith at the risk of presumption, and trust that God will correct me if necessary.

Even in Jesus’ ministry, He ministered to some people more than once (see Mark 8:22-26 for an example). Sometimes a problem is much like an octopus, and each time pray about it, another tentacle comes loose. If you quit praying, you may never see the end result.

Sometimes you just have to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens).

Doug