22 May 2019
James 1:8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Contemplating my own spiritual journey and listening to others I meet, I realize that we are all fighting the battle of "double-mindedness". The root of the double inside of us are the two trees in the garden and the two natures it depicts. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. These two trees in us are symbolic of the two spiritual "family trees" inside all of us – the family tree of life and the other of death. I praise the Father for the provision of Jesus Christ who died, so that we can uproot this dark tree inside of us.
We struggle to understand how someone that goes to church, plays in the band, is a missionary or even someone who serves as an Elder or Pastor in a church, can struggle with dark fruit inside of them. Why don't we understand what is going on inside of us? Why don't we realize that a tree produces fruit after its own kind?
Luke 6:43-44 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its fruit.
Each tree bears the fruit of its kind – so why do we struggle to discern the source of our dark fruit?
The Word says that a tree will be judged by its fruits. We can be avid scholars of the Word, quoting all the scriptures, but the fruit that comes out of us will determine if it has become life to us, or have fallen on unprepared soil. We need to ask ourselves; which fruit became manifest in my life when I shouted, lied, feared or were full of pride?
2 Corinthians 3:6 The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.
The fruit of a seed cannot be reaped unless it was first planted. We all understand that the seeds of death were spread by Adam and Eve’s choices – in the same manner our choices become our double tree. These two trees battle for dominion in the soil of our spirits, souls and bodies. Have you ever seen how slow an indigenous tree grows compared to the fast-growing pace of alien trees? Is this not the same with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (our flesh and self-centeredness) compared to the Tree of Life (the Spirit) inside of us?
The battle is real, but we have victory in the name of Jesus Christ. Through Christ alone, can true life be restored to us. His seed is a spiritual seed, a supernatural seed, that only Holy Spirit can sow in an open heart that seeks Him, cries out to Him and accepts Him as Lord and Saviour. Every part of our hearts (the garden inside of us) needs to be redeemed.
The Lord prophesied about the two seeds within man; the one would embrace Satan’s nature – being fleshly minded. The other would embrace Christ’s nature – being Spirit minded.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Sanctification is a step by step process. As long as I carry the dark bitter fruit, the dark bitter tree will reproduce inside of me. This is our reality. We all need to deal with our dark family trees.
Jesus has so much more in store for us. He wants His Holy Spirit (His supernatural seed) to grow in us. The more we grow in Christ, the more we will have the capacity to receive from Him. We need to drink from the River of Life so that our Tree of Life can grow and flourish. In His Presence, all our personal limitations begin to fade. Here, there is no focus on self, but out of the dark tree we produce self-centered fruit.
When we are "IN HIM" (I in Him and Him in me) – we will have no difficulty to trust in the ability of God. He is a good, good Father and I will trust in His goodness and the faithfulness of His nature.
To eat from the Tree of Life instead of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, requires a huge mind shift. It asks of us to trust, lean on and rely upon Him as vital necessity. It asks of us to speak the words of Jesus in John 8: 28 “I do nothing apart from asking my Father in heaven”.
Out of what tree do you live your life? Do we call ourselves Christians but operate out of the Tree of Good and Evil? How would you know? Only by your fruit that you see in your own life.
The fruit of a surrendered life is "faith in Him". The more time we spend with Jesus, in His presence, the more we will be transformed by His love. As we eat of the Tree of Life, our empty hearts will begin to flood with His love. Knowing this unconditional love will enable us to trust Him in every circumstance.
Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
What would be the true fruit of the Tree of Life? If we carry these fruits we will give, love, trust, bless ourselves and others. We will trust in God, His abilities and His timing.
I want you to see your heart as a garden – focus on the two trees inside of it.
Now let’s put the axe to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and open our spiritual hearts to Holy Spirit.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Only the Spirit of God can bring forth Christ’s likeness inside of us.
We cannot even try to do it out of ourselves.
As we remain in His presence, we will engage in real life.
I bless you my dear friend.
Let’s choose life so that we and our descendants may live!
Retah and family.