30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 08 Luke 23 27-31 Fruit-bearing lives in the end times
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Sat 18 Dec 2021 – Fruit-bearing lives in the end times - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (08) - Bible reading: Ezekiel 20:47-48
The Lord is calling us to be green and fruit-bearing even when circumstances around us are becoming frightening. It is only when we are in the refuge of God that we will be green, lush and fruit-bearing.
Luke 23:27-31 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. (28) But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (29) For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' (30) Then they will begin 'TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, "FALL ON US!" AND TO THE HILLS, "COVER US!" ' (31) For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"
The last statement in the above passage is a part of the overall alert and warning that the Lord is giving the multitudes, especially the women.
God chose His people, the people of Israel, to be fruit-bearing. They were to demonstrate the character and nature of God to the people around them and be a blessing to the world. This was the expression of the greenwood.
Judah and Jerusalem had been as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God's word prophesies against those who do not produce fruit for God’s glory.
Ezekiel 20:47-48 and say to the forest of the South, (Forest of the south refers to Judea) 'Hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. (48) All flesh shall see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched." ' "
As much as this was the warning to the people of Israel, it is the same alert that comes to the church. We cannot give excuses that our circumstances were contrary and we were not able to bear fruit.
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Jesus is the vine and we are the branches and the branches ought to be laden with fruit because, we as branches are to be implanted into the vine, Jesus. If we are not resting in Jesus, we will soon dry up. The dry branches will be removed and burnt.
John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
It is when we are in Christ, we are being the salt of the earth but when we are not rooted in Jesus then we will lose our saltiness and the end for the saltless salt is scary.
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
The New Testament writers have also alerted and warned us of what would happen if we move away from Jesus, our habitat.
II Peter 2:20-21 For if , after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning . (21) For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
After tasting the Lord, if we were to turn away, then we become like the dry wood that burns.
Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) if they fall away , to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (7) For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; (8) but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
We are planted and cultivated by God so that we will bear fruit. After all that our Lord has done for us, if we are not green but have become dry and fruitless then the end is rejection.
Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth , there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries . (28) Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (29) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, " THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God .
This was the alert to the multitude of what would happen to the dry wood. We must ensure, in the enablement of the Holy Spirit , that our life is green and fruit-bearing, in the end times.
Thought to ponder
Fruit-bearing is to be a blessing to people through the character of Christ.