How are your fruits growing?
 

Sometimes in our group we have those that emphasize outward appearences as "Holiness" when in reality Holiness is an inward change.

I was thinking though how Jesus said make the inside of the cup clean first so the outside will be clean ALSO.

The true test of our spiritual condition is the fruit we produce. How is your spiritual tree? It's not the gifts. It's not any external thing you can put your finger on like music but it's the fruit. If you want to know the condition of your spiritual tree compare yourself to the FRUIT of the Spirit. These should be the result of a true inward change.

But even how we dress, how we act all that are not what makes us holy. Certainly though we should want to dress modestly...we want to dress "uncarnal", but just because someone looks "the standard" does not mean they are producing the fruit of the spirit. This is the problem I have with the word 'standard'. I've seen plenty of people that 'look' pentecostal and even talked a good talk, but the fruit was lacking.

Real standards should be the fruit of the Spirit. I fear using dress and hair and jewelry as a standard can be misleading to ourselves. Outward standards can become almost like a mask hiding a heart that has issues because as long as they look holy to us there is no question they are holy.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

I have one lemon and a whole lot of leaves... looking good though.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

The plums shrank and are now prunes. Not enough water or something

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

:tease

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Good post!

The fruit of the Spirit will only be made manifest if that tree truly has the
sap (Spirit) flowing through it!

The manifestation will come out of the inside. That's where the "sap" is. The "Sap", or Holy Spirit flows inside the "tree", but is manifested on the outside.
What is the sign the Spirit is inside. And how do we know that tree is bringing forth "fruit of the Spirit! By what comes out our mouths, attitudes, our words, whether typed, spoken, written, etc.

Also our actions! What we do, where we go, etc., etc. We will have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, gentleness, faith, and temperance.

(Psalms 104:16),
"The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted".

(Isaiah 61:3),
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified".

What is Jesus building His Church with! "Trees of righeousness, the planting
of the LORD, that HE might be glorified".

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

You know I just thought of something. AFF is helping me grow my fruit.

Every fruit tree or plant requires manure and fertilizer at the bottom of the roots, and that is exactly what AFF is sometimes.


:ursofunny:ursofunny LOL!!!

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

I am sad to say that this year my wife did not plant her usual tomatos. Normally we would be inundated with fantastic vine grown ripe tomatos about now but instead I am left buying them at the store.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

I hope mine are growing well. I was thinking about longsuffering yesterday. One of the definitions is: patiently eduring lasting offense or hardship. I am going through something that is teaching me longsuffering, and faith.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Our peach and fig trees are starting to produce. :)

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Speaking of trees, in a forest you will see the little trees come up all around the
mature tree. These little "sprouts" come from out from the parent (mature) tree and
is nurtured in it's shade from the heat, the storms, etc. It bears no fruit at this stage.

Although children are dressed in a way that pleases their parents that raised them,
many times when they get to a certain age, they rebel against their teachings. As I
began to get older I started desiring things of those around me. Then I received the
Holy Ghost and desired to please God. Didn't mean I suddenly became a fruit
bearer. Within two years of receiving the Holy Ghost, I married a young man who
received the Holy Ghost a short time after I did. Different revivals, but
same God! We began to grow together. As we matured and begat natural fruit, we
were also going through a process that would eventually bring us
to being fruitful "trees", the planting of the Lord. First the natural (earthy), then the
spiritual (heavenly). It is a process.

Something happened during those years that shook my tree and faith. I believe with
all my heart God gave me some scriptures that steadied me and only caused my roots
to just go down deeper, both naturally and spiritually.

The scripture He quickened to me and I committed them to memory and
drew from them often:

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine (teaching),
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man/woman of God may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished unto all
good works". (2Tim. 3:14-17)

Mature fruit trees that have been pruned through the years and nurtured, should
bring forth good fruit in its season.

A tomato cut open will have little seeds. You don't see those little seeds
as being like the tomato you cut open. But under the right conditions and
given time, those little seeds have the potential to become and look much
like the mature tomato they came out of.

Today in the natural I look much like my mother who bore me. I pray that
in the spiritual I am becoming more like the ONE who bore me in His own
body on the tree (Cross).

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

I'm getting tired of reading all these anti or bashing standard threads. The following question isn't solely directed toward Praxeas but the entire AFF crew. It seems many here talk about their love toward God, yet soul winning is a very significant role within our Christian walk.


On a daily basis, which do you find yourself doing the least, logging onto AFF or witnessing to strangers?


Luke 14:23
Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.


Maybe AFF should discuss the fruit of winning souls, after-all, it's a commandant.


He was given a crown of thorns, beaten, spat on, slapped, whipped, pierced, and nailed to a cross. What pathetic excuse can you possibly concoct to justify your lack of witnessing to strangers?

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

You must have read a different post than I did.

It is all ABOUT winning souls! How you got something else is beyond me.....

And incidentally I have seen some VERY ugly trees produce some of the most and best fruit and some picture perfect ones produce nothing!
Can one relate this to "standards"? Mmmmmmmm....

And lastly, how is fruit measured? Is it only by the souls you directly win? What about the missionary you help support? Or even other church members who may not give as much as you financially, but to whom you partially support with your offerings?

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Because man looketh on the outward appearance, how shall any man see the Lord if you don't follow peace with all man AND holiness? Peace AND holiness. Not just peace and not just holiness.

Outward holiness does NOT guarantee inward holiness; but inward holiness will result in outward holiness.

Is God concerned about outward appearance? Of course, otherwise why would he write about certain outward things in his word in the NT such as hair, modesty, etc?

Here is another true test of those who belong, speaking of ownership, to him...

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

You want to know who are Christ's, who belongs to Him? They that have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

What is the significance of the cross? That's where Jesus' flesh was crucified.

If we want to come after Jesus we are going to have to deny ourselves and take up our cross DAILY and follow him.

If one is not willing to deny themselves and to take up their cross daily to crucify their flesh with the affections and lusts and get renewed in the Spirit to be able to walk in the Spirit so that one will not fulfill the lust of the flesh; then they become enemies of the cross of Christ.

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

What happens to those who are born again, but do not want to take up their cross daily? They will endure sound doctrine for a while, but they time will come when they will no longer endure sound doctrine but after their own LUSTS - they don't want to crucify their flesh with the affections and lusts - shall they heap to themselves teachers who will - not cause them to have to repent over and over again until they learn - not rebuke and reprove them - not step on their toes - not openly rebuke them before all that all may fear - tell them what they want to hear - smooth things.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

How many instances did Jesus command His followers (us) to personally reach out to the lost?

What about supporting missions or the church financially? That falls under the category of a cheerful giver. Jesus said "ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).


There's a difference between a giver, a witness (which we are called to be), and a lazy wannabe Christian.


I'm logging off................I'm off to be a witness.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

So giving is in no way associated with bearing fruit...... I got it.

I think have some missionaries here will strongly disagree with that.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

In all honesty, I have some wizened longsuffering at the moment.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Pretty sad. There was not one thing in the first post that was anti standards or bashing standards

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

You know how it is bro:whistle

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Bro. Praxeas,

I thought your first post was very good and said so! I responded
as you provoked me to thought (in a good way) to write two lengthy
posts. At least you got some response! I guess it depends upon where
people are, whether they can comprehend what is being said or not.

I often wonder if the fact that I am many years farther down the
road that most on this forum, that it is difficult for many to "hear" or
understand what I am saying. I say that humbly.

Because of so much going on in my life (family, responsibilies, etc.),
and quite a bit younger, that when my late father would read something
that seemed so important, I simply could not fathom what he was saying.
Sometimes I wish I could go back and "hear" what he was trying to relate.
I am sure I could understand now!

So, dear Brother, I wouldn't take it personal! You know what you REALLY
said.
Can't help what others THINK you said!

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

If your talking about this thread, then your insane.

If your talking about alot of other threads recently, I agree.

----------

I feel like my fruit haven't been making enough progress the last month. I appreciate this post, I plan to try harder, reading the word and praying more starting now.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

Your post was great. IMO

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

I'm still working on my fruit.

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

If the Spirit is flowing inside a body and that body is growing in grace and in the
knowledge of the Lord, there should come a time and a season for that body to
start bearing fruit. The fruit is a result of the Spirit within. Spiritual fruit. Love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, temperance, meekness, faith.

As my children grew I realized if my children were going to turn out to be good
fruit, it would be because I paid attention to instructions given by the man of God,
my pastor father.

He said "If we do not pray and read God's Word, we cannot live for God"!

I kept that in memory as I wanted my children to turn out right.
I would have to be right and do right. I wanted to sow into them what had been
sown into me. God's Word, prayer and later the Spirit. When we have trained up,
been obedient to God's Word and walked in the Spirit, we can leave the results up
to God. When we sow a natural seed into the ground, we do our part and then we
trust God to bring forth the results. We have faith that what we have sown is going
to come forth. It the law of sowing and reaping. Fruit comes forth of its
kind!

Just some thoughts!

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: How are your fruits growing?
 

thank you