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NASB | Matthew 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; |
Subject: Grace AND? |
Bible Note: Greetings Rowdy - referencing John 15:2 - note this word: airĂ´ it means to lift or to hoist, can you picture the Vinedresser tending His vines. He comes upon a vine that has no fruit - it is still part of the True Vine - what does He do? He LIFTS it up, where it has more exposure to the light and the rain. He does not reject the unproductive vine, He cares for it. What is "fruit?" I believe that fruit is the expression of the presence of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer. The Presence is a reality and does not depend upon the visible manifestation of "fruit." Continue the analogy of the vine and the branches. If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches what SHOULD be the expression of His presence IN us? FRUIT - this is the manefestation of "Christ in us!" (Col 1:27) Fruit is the result of a healthy relationship with Jesus. (Trust and obey!) The fruit of the spirit:love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, are qualities that will be evident in the life of one who has yielded his/her life to the Lordship of Christ.(The degree of their operation in our lives can be used as barometer of sorts!) "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:11-14 Fruit is always possible for any believer,as Jesus assures us: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5 Bottom line, we can choose to believe in Jesus and be grafted into the "Vine." (Trust) Afterward, we have the privilege of living in Him which means CHOOSING to live for Him, submitting to HIS will, allowing Jesus to be at work in and through us to bring forth fruit that will last. (Obey) Without Christ at work, the believer is non-productive or fruitless. "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 1 Cor 3:11-15 I would also remind you that any "work" apart from the work of God will not stand the test of the Refiner's fire. Consider this: faith without the regenerating WORK of the Holy Spirit is DEAD - hence, the demons believe and tremble. Blessings in Christ, mommapbs |