Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
The tree of life produces the fruit of life. The family of life produces the fruit of life for the sake of all who need life in the world. That fruit is life-giving to all who eat it. As leaders, we are leading others into the testimony of life. We are the people of God and it is the fruit of our lives that testifies to this truth. Natural knowledge feeds our perceptions to make judgments according to the understanding of our own hearts and the thoughts of our own minds. It is only the knowledge of God that empowers our lives to bear the fruit of true life. The knowledge of God is not a knowledge of right and wrong, it is an intimacy of right love. It is a testimony of an internal transformation of our hearts and minds that empowers our lives to bear the fruit of life. This is true community. It is a coming to unity around the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of God’s word – His character, nature, way, power, and authority from the Spirit of Christ within. It is our internal connection with God that empowers the fountain of life within our hearts. If we look to the external influences of the world as a source of thought to our minds we will not produce the fruit of life for the sake of others. This is not a time to think ourselves smart, it is a time to keep our hearts connected to God in order to give life to one another.
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
It is the connection to God’s Spirit that causes the life-giving waters to flow from within us to those in the world around us. It is evidenced in works that testify of life. These are not works that seek to oppose the enemy, but works that testify of Christ. This is the true power over every enemy. Life is more powerful than death in all things! The source of true wisdom is found in the life of the Holy Spirit within us. It is the mind of Christ that releases the life of Christ through us. Jesus didn’t come to justify our own minds, but to give us new hearts and minds in Christ. When we judge things according to our own thoughts and opinions we are often motivated by the bitter experiences of our own lives. This is the testimony of the saltwater of the world. The spirit of the world is a spirit of self-preservation and the wisdom of the world is like the wisdom that led to the flood resulting in the saltwater that covers the sea. More than 70% of the earth is covered with saltwater and that is the testimony of the fall of Adam. It is the result of man seeking a knowledge of good and evil from their own hearts. The result was a hardening of hearts unto God and to one another. It produced the fruit of self-seeking ways. This is the testimony of the wisdom of the flesh. It is earthly, sensual, and becomes demonically inspired.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
We are not to condemn the world for their worldly ways, we are to shine as light in the darkness with a wisdom that comes from God. We are called to manifest God’s ways in the sight of men. The secret to shining is to keep the focus of our hearts upon God, His ways, and His purpose in the earth. It is a wisdom that is fully dependent upon God and willing to be shaped, molded, and formed to become His testimony in our world.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
We must keep our focus on the fact that God is great, God is good, and His mercy endures forever! We must embrace the truth that He takes even what the enemy intends for evil and turns if for good in our lives. All things are working for us because God will be with us in and through all things. God’s wisdom will not make us aggressive towards one another or the world. God’s wisdom manifests a gentle spirit within us. God’s wisdom empowers us to be teachable, changeable, and shapeable in all situations. The testimony of being the light of Christ is seen is our ability to demonstrate mercy and to manifest good fruits. This is not with some and not with others. It is with everyone! The wisdom of God doesn’t inhabit a heart filled with hypocrisy. The accounts of everyone have been reconciled by the blood of Jesus on the cross and anyone can come to the saving grace of God in Christ. Our relationship with God is empowered by God’s love and a revelation of that love in our hearts and minds. This is the revelation that will empower us to make peace in our world. This is the true light of Christ.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
