Christianitree pt4 - Seasons/Legacy

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

SEASONS

It is known that trees bear fruit seasonally. Seasonally meaning that they have a time when they are abundant with fruit and a time when they seem dormant. The thing about these dormant times is that they are often the times when the plant is storing up and preparing for the next batch of fruit.

Mar 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Agriculture was a big part of Jewish upbringing in those days. They knew all about trees planting and clutivating. Jesus was a Jew of course and he knew all about agriculture. This is why of course he used so many parables of seeds and trees to give examples of the kingdom of God to his followers.

What he points out here is a tree in season. Don't look at this scripture for it's context cuz it really speaks about the signs of the return of the King Jesus. The fact is that the bible shows that Jesus spoke about a tree in season and things to look for in its progress.

There are a few things to look for in your seasons.

Pouring Out - When the tree bears fruit

Php 2:17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. (ESV)

Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Pouring out and rejuvination are key parts of a Christian's life. Constantly pouring out into others drains you becase you are taking something that is inside of you and pouring it out into use.

Paul was pouring out his life into the Phillipians so that their faith would be strengthened..He was letting them eat his fruit wholeheartedly.

The same thing was happening to Jesus. He often retreated to the hills to pray and store up in his spiritual room to be able to give out more.

It also gives us a chance to take stock of where we are and what we are doing and how it is progressing and what instructions we have to carry out next. This is where we pray and read God's word to continue to thicken that bark that was spoken about in Christianitree pt2.

You see the growth of the tree does not stop when it bears it's first fruit, it continues to do all the things that it did when it was working it's way up to fruit statge... just that now it goes through seasons of bearing and seasons of strengthening until it's growth slows. However, this growth does not stop, internally the tree constantly needs to be pulling from the soil to get minerals to sustain it's growth..... if it does not it's fruit will come out smaller.

Refreshing - When the tree rejuvinates and takes from the soil again

Isa 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. Simply means, you can't continually bear fruit without waiting on God. In the seasons of your life and bearing fruit for others people who are hungry will always want to eat. When you meet a hungry person they may cling to you because they are getting good fruit to eat.

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Before the greatest pour out ever........ JESUS WENT TO PRAY. Here he had one of the most intense conversations with God recorded in the bible. What he was about to do was pour out himself for the WHOLE OF MANKIND.

So pouring out and refreshing can be likened unto the seasons of a tree bearing fruit. It shows the cycle that needs to take place to effectively bear fruit, not just any fruit but desired fruit that takes time to bear.

LEGACY

What happens when the tree dies? Does it immediately fall to the ground and no longer exist?

No that only happens to the small trees who have no foundation in the earth.

The really big trees who have brought forth much fruit and have spread their branches far and wide stay in the forest for years and years after...... as a hallmark of the forest for all other trees to see and use as an example.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Now this cloud is not a literal cloud in the sky. Cloud here is used in the context of such a large mass or large figure. It says great cloud of witnesses who were the witnesses. The heroes of the faith listed in Heb 11. These people examplified faith in God. They stood out so much so that they were given honorable mention in the new testament as a sort of example of what you are to be when you have faith in GOD. However...........

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

Looking unto JESUS. THE BEST LEGACY EVER LEFT ON THIS EARTH.

Even though we have the likes of David and Abraham etc to follow, these men were all fallen human beings trying to live up to God's standard. They should be followed, but only to a point..... Jesus is the only one who was worthy enough to redeem man and hence is the only person worthy of putting all our faith in.

His branches have spread so far and wide and his fruit had fed so much that he is the only example in the whole forest that every tree should follow. There are many other trees that leave a great legacy, but the tree of trees is Jesus.

As a tree, you don't stop bearing fruit until you are dead. Christianity is not finished when you get old or pass a certain age. It never stops, you never stop bearing fruit, you never stop feeding others, you never stop rejuvinating .... you just continue to grow until you die and you leave a legacy that casts an imprint on the whole forest to look up to.

Christianitree pt3 - Flowers/Fruits

Psalm 1:3

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

1. FLOWERS

As we begin to bear flowers we start to see some color in our christianity. Flowers are mainly there to attract animals. Humans count as animals also. When we bear our flowers we attract animals who come for nectar, but we also give an indication to the forest that fruit is comming soon. When an animal knows this they prepare to eat.

This is the same way our ministries are; we are to work at our ministries or giftings so that they become appealing to choice animals, meaning the ones we have to impact. Our section of the vineard as it were. When it becomes appealing those that are attracted to it genuinely would be glad to see the fruit and eat it.

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Mat 4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Here we see Jesus going about ministering to people and because of this they followed him. His ministry was such that peoeple were so impacted that they wanted to be around him more and more.

What was Jesus' response to his following......

Matthew 5 & 6 & 7........ The great sermon on the mount.

Here Jesus started to bear edible fruit for the people to eat and digest. He was healing and performing maricles before ... but this was hardcore teaching and impartation. The people were eating from his tree... digesting and seeds were germinating....

Some of the things he was saying were:

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Coming down to the end of the sermon this is what he said.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

He ensured that what he was doing had the message of salvation in it.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The people were astonished, amazed, and interested.

THEY FOLLOWED HIM.

Mat 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

They marveled at his flowers and they were ready to eat his fruit.

2. FRUIT

When the fruit begins to bear those that were watching the flowers now get a chance to eat.

If we study fruits a little more we can see that certiain fruits carry different weightings of minerals. What this means is that your fruit may have greater emphasis on love, because those that need to hear of love would come and eat yours. Some may have high amounts of peace, some loaded with longsuffering.

Jesus was the most complete example of fruit in the bible and that is what we have to strive to become. When we examine the fruit of the Spirit, we can see all of them, not just in Jesus' teachings but in his actions also.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

LOVE - the brotherly love expressed that does not think wrong of people.

agapē

ag-ah'-pay

From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

JOY - The calm delight that is expressed by our daily lives.

chara

khar-ah'

From G5463; cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

PEACE - oneness, quetness.... rest...... contentment.

eirēnē

i-rah'-nay

Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

LONGSUFFERING - patience, not ill tempered, enduring.

makrothumia

mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah

From the same as G3116; longanimity, that is, (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude: - longsuffering, patience.

GENTLENESS - kindness and graciousness. Not a gentle touch but it really means kindness to other people, extension of grace to others. Good deeds.

chrēstotēs

khray-stot'-ace

From G5543; usefulness, that is, moral excellence (in character or demeanor): - gentleness, good (-ness), kindness.

GOODNESS - The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity.

agathōsunē

ag-ath-o-soo'-nay

From G18; goodness, that is, virtue or beneficence: - goodness.

FAITH - reliance upon Christ. He was always speaking in the context of Christ. This must be evident that you depend on Christ for all things.

pistis

pis'-tis

From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

MEEKNESS - humility not pride.

praotēs

prah-ot'-ace

From G4235; gentleness; by implication humility: - meekness.

TEMPERANCE - self control. But not just self control in anger! Self crontrol in all things eg. eating, joking, playing etc. This is always confused for angry people, but it is self control in all things that you do.

egkrateia

eng-krat'-i-ah

From G1468; self control (especially continence): - temperance.

There is a reason that Paul said against such there is no law. Galatia was one of the first places to be Christianized and they had a controversy of wether they had to be circumcized or not to be considered Christians.

Paul was a major proponent of the arguement that there needed to be no outward works or requirements to be saved. so he in his letter laid out what one should look for instead of circumcision... look for fruit in the person's life.

So we can't look for people who go to Church, or who wear certain types of garments or practice certain rituals.... We have to look for fruit from a person's life.

The fruit in your life is the goal of your Christianity... nothing less!

BEAR FRUIT

Christianitree pt2 - Bark/Branches/Leaves

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.

BARK

1. The Bark and how to strengthen it. This is done via consistent reading of the word of God. Consistent gains in knewledge and understanding build a syatem of operation in your life and establishes a framework for propper feeding on the soil.

Xylem

The xylem is responsible for the transport of water and soluble mineral nutrients from the roots throughout the plant.

It is constructed via a series of tubes that work in union with each other. There is a set order of how things should move. Within this framework the plant gets it's nutrients from the roots.

The two main things that we do in our christian walk that establishes a set order of growth in our life is simple.

Studying

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Praying

Mar 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

You can never go wrong with such a foundation.

"read your bible pray everyday and you grow, grow, grow"

That song does not lie.

Feeding your bark does not only cause you to grow, but it gives your branches a better chance of stretching to places where sunlight is abundant and it can get CO2 to produce energy to bring forth flowers.

BRANCHES

2. Branches stretch out and grow leaves. Branches try to give leaves the best chance to receive sunlight. Stretching out far and wide. We to must stretch and try different things, different ministries, explore our giftings and see where we fall in.

Branching out is one of the most difficult things that one can do. It takes you out of your comfort zone. You have to do things you would not normally do all for the sake of Christ.

What really is branching out?....

Simple story.

There was a guy in a boat, who was all well and good inside and he was Jesus walking on the water.

Mat 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

What Peter did was step out and try something that he did not think he could do. Or he could have been thinking that he could do it. Either way he branched out from his comfort zone to meet Jesus somewhere else. He had faith that what he was going to do, God called him and he was going with the purpose of fulfilling Jesus' call.

Often times we get comfortable and don't want to spread out our branches... we stay in the boat and don't try to walk on water.

How do we practically stretch out our branches?

There are many activities in the Local Church that we can become active in. At the bark and branch stage local church involvement is the most important part. It is important because this is the stage where we start to see where our fruits are going to be brought forth.

Try Dance

Try Choir

Try Cleaning

Try Sunday School

Try Youth Secretary

Try Prayer Meeting

Try Music

Try Ushering

SPREAD YOUR BRANCHES.... you will never know which ministry is yours and where you are destined to bear fruit!

If you don't try, you will be in your comfort zone and you will be sitting down on your gifts. So yes, you will be an established tree, but you won't be bringing forth any fruit which is THE GOAL.

LEAVES

3. The leaves assist in making energy for the tree. When a leaf finds a favourable spot and conditions it gives rise to potential for a flower. When you settle yourself in your calling u start to work and prepare things to bring forth flowers....then fruit.

Photosynthesis[a] is a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight.

The purpose of the leaf is to produce sugars and material for the tree to flourish. It gets in a good position and takes the sunlight that it can get to convert it to minerals that the plant can use.

Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

The Local Church

The local church is not here to nurture you for your whole life just like a parent is not there to nurture you for your whole life. It is here to provide an environment where you can grow in God and then go forth. If Christ is the temple he was not there all the time, there came a time that he had to go. During that time whith his disciples however he imparted enough to them and they grew enough by doing different things such as feeding, healing, praying, teaching etc. These things were solidified when jesus said

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The Local Church is supposed to create a springboard of people that go out to impact the world. They don't have to leave the church membership but people have to spread their branches and find what the Lord has for them to do in this earth and begin to work in it.

AUGUST 09 MIXTAPE

IT'S FINALLY DONE.

AUGUST 09 MIXTAPE FROM DJLIVSTRONG.

DOWNLOAD HERE: August 2009 Mixtape

Minimum requirements:

A open mind

An open heart

An open ear

Winzip or Winrar (or whatever you unzip folders with)

Leave a comment

Give it to a friend

Reccomended Requirements:

A Nissan B13 Sentra with two 12" Pioneers pushed by a 1000W Amp

A home stereo system with at least 2000W of rms power

A pair of bose headphones

No grandmothers who cannot take loud gospel music in the house

TRACKLISTING:

djlivstrong - djlivstrong intro

Tedashii - I'm a Believer

Lecrae - Don't Waste Your Life feat. Cam, Dwayne Tryumf

Viktory - Livin It

Sho Baraka - Let the Record Drop feat Katalyst

Koen Duncan - Shine High

Da T.R.U.T.H. - Trumpet Blow

djlivstrong - GRACE Interlude (Disturbia Riddim)

Shiselon - The Sip Drink Acapella Mix

Hazakim - Genesis 18

Mary Mary - God in Me ft. Kiki Sheard

Papa San - higher hieghts

Russell Léonce - I Am (Feat. Joel Archer)

Samuel Dyer - Turn Me (Dance Remix)

Koen Duncan - A Miracle

Lecrae - Identity feat. Da T.R.U.T.H., JR

Kierra Sheard - Won't Hold Back

Damita Haddon - Don't Leave Me Lonely

Jai - Good To Me

Group 1 Crew - Movin

Lyndon Lai Tan - Stay a While

J. Prince - Holy Fire

Gmasta - Show Me How Much

djlivstrong - PEACE Interlude (Baptize Remix Instrumental)

Papa San - Church House

Dj Nicholas - Undersubjecion mix

Kadisha Adams - Another Day

Kierra Sheard - Wave Your Banner

D.J. Nicholas - Holy Ghost Gym

Elisha - Amp Up

Disclaimer:

If you don't look for Christ, you may not see him. :-)

PURSUE GODLINESS - THE BEST WAY TO SILENCE THE HATERS

PURSUE GODLINESS - THE BEST WAY TO SILENCE THE HATERS

Jul 31st 2009

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

The thing about this passage is that most people think it only applies to young people say less than 25

But when properly translated the word "youth" translates to newness or youthfullness. It can be said, let no one despise your "newness" or "inexperience"

neotēs

neh-ot'-ace

From G3501; newness, that is, youthfulness: - youth.

Youthfulness can be relative to the situation.

For example when a Prime Minister wants a youthfull cabinet to run for elections, he is not looking for anybody under 35. To him, that is youthful granted the circumstance.

Another example, when a gym instructior is looking for young prospects for gymnastics they are looking for pre-teens.

Same applies to timothy here, he was not a young tenage boy. Timothy was about in his early thirties.

(Paul met him at about 50 AD when he started travelling with him, he wrote 1st Timothy from Jail in about 63 AD... supposing that Timothy was about 20 at conversion he could have been about 30+)

So seeing that he was 30+ we are looking at a young man that was relatively young to be running a Church.

A church full of old ppl that would have been looking down at him.

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

A chuch full of converted Jews that still believed in doing certain traditions.

1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

So what he was facing is the fact that he was inexperienced because of his age. His teachings (even though he had a bout 10+ years of experience travelling with Paul ) were always going to be shunned by older people because of his age/inxperience/newness.

So what did Paul tell him to do.

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Ignore the fables or rituals that they would be trying to impose on you to make you.

But refuse profane and old wives' fables,

They are riddled with Jewish customs that they believe that should be part of worship to God still. This is why in 1Ti 1:8 he said

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;"

The church knows about the law and they know how to manupilate like a Judiazer would.

Exercise yourself rather to godliness.

That is figuratively "train" yourself unto godliness.

When someone is exercising, they can lose focus on what is their goal. If a gymnast focuses on weight training instead of being flexible he is still training, but missing the goal of his/her sport.

Likewise if a weight lifter is focusing on flexibility rather than strength training he/she is missing the goal of his sport.

Timothy was to focus on charachteristics of Godliness, not on the traditions of the Jewish Religion and how to combat them.

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

How he was to carry about this pursuit of Godliness was laid out in vs12. The reason he was to pursue godliness was two fold.

To reach to the level where he was not concerned about what the Jewish customs were and how they applied.

The be an example to the believers showing them that true godliness was not in the customs and traditions but in the actual acting out of one's faith in Jesus.

So he starts of with "Let no man despise your youth" because he knew that his youth was/would be despised. What he wanted Timothy to grasp was that the only way for his youth/inexperience/newness to be not despised was by his EXAMPLE.

Be and EXAMPLE in:

Word - logos

The spoken word with more emphasis on preaching and teaching. What you say out loud. Many times we say things out loud without much thought behind it. These things affect out example and damage our credibility.

Conversation - anastrophē

Behaviour. The way we carry about ourself where, behaviour is interaction with other people in conversation. Communicatoin via conversation does not just happen verbally but it happens non verbally also. So our conversation is more of the way we interact with other people.

Charity - agapē

Love in a moral sense aka brotherly love. True brotherly love is not thinking wrong of anyone but always thinking of their best interests whenever interacting with them.

Spirit - pneuma

Rational soul or vital principle or mental disposition. Your mental disposition applies best in this context. Your outlook on things and the redemtion that you have via Christ's spirit that is in you. Don't always be negative, or downtrodden.

Faith - pistis

Reliance upon Christ for Salvatoin. Assurance in Christ.

If we don't show that we have this relienace on Christ for all things our example is tainted and there is room to be despisied because of it, moreso it slows down our press to Godliness. (remember this is two fold)

Purity - hagneia

Chastity (undefiled not just sexualy, but clean in actions deportment, words, corruption.). All these affect out strive to godliness and fuels the despise from older ones.

So when Paul was writing to Timothy about his youth his goal was to provoke Timothy to Godliness in an effort to helping focus not on the eyes that were on him, but on the goal set before him.

So finally:

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

:-)

Christianitree pt1 - Roots/Sapling

Roots/Sapling

19/07/09

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.

There are 191 references of the word "tree" in the bible.

Of these references, there are many different contexts and applications that we can look at.

Life Cycle of A TREE.

What is the goal of a tree?... to bear fruit.

In the tree of Christianity, your goal is to bear good fruit so that others can eat, CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT YOU GETTING YOUR BLESSING.

It is about you blessing others by being used by God. To be surrendered as a living sacrifice. (Rom 8:1)

We can use many references such as vessels like pots and treasure in earthen vessels... but more than anything Trees were used.

HISTORY/CONTEXT

Why were trees used?

Simply because for most of the time that the bible was written, agriculture was a major part of the culture and one of the cheif sources of income. It should be noted that trees were integral in the garden and the fall of man.. .so their history and heritage in the bible is important.

In this series of messages we will go through the life cycle of a physical tree and see how this marvel of nature applies to our lives as christians.

THE SEED - SAPLING

A tree's life cycle begins with germination. An adult tree will drop a seed to the ground, usually in fall or winter, and the seed will lie dormant until spring. When the conditions are right, the dormant seed will start to receive warmth, water, sunlight and oxygen. This will spark the growth of the baby tree embryo and begin its life cycle.

To become a christian a seed has to be first planted in your life. This is why the gospel has to be preached, when it is preached it falls on the hearts of men and leaves a seed that once the spirit wills and the heart is not hardened the person makes a decision to follow Christ by faith in him alone because of what they have heard.

A simple example of this is.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?

So some of us have seeds in our life and we have not removed the hardness from our hearts. So when you see someone in church for a long time and they are not making any decisons to follow Christ, their heart is simply hardened to the gospel and the seed cannot germinate.

How do we deal with a hardened heart? How does it get softened?

By the spirit of God.

When you are constantly exposed to situations where the spirit of God is prevalent you expose yourself to the power of the spirit. YOU DO NOT HAVE A SAY IN WHEN THE SPIRIT MOVES.

BUT YOU DO HAVE A SAY IN WHERE YOU PLACE YOURSELF..... is it in places where the spirit is moving or where Satan is working?

To people with children, friends, family and whatnot who have hardened hearts..... keep exposing them to places where the spirit is moving and keep praying, trust in God to move on their hearts.

There are a lot of things you cannot control, but there are things you can in terms of exposure.

I am speaking from a purely theoretical perspective, but from a sound biblical perspective.

What better way to expose them to GOD than THROUGH YOURSELF?!!!!

1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,

When I was talking about exposing people to places where the spirit is moving, you were probably thinking about Sunday School, and Bible study and prayer meeting............ NO I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

GET THE SPIRIT MOVING IN YOUR LIFE AND THEN YOU WILL BE PUTTING THE PEOPLE YOU INTERACT WITH IN A POSITION TO ALSO RECIEVE FROM GOD......

BECAUSE CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT YOU.... JUST LIKE A TREE IS NOT ABOUT ITSELF....... as we go along the series of messages you will see what a tree is really there for. Remember Psalm 1:3

So the seed germinates and turns into a sapling.

SAPLING

The baby tree will sprout a root, which will instinctively seek out groundwater. If it finds it, the root will then become submerged in the earth. As it takes root, a stem will sprout up towards the sun, usually carrying the seed casing with it, up into the air. As it straightens up and grows upright, it will drop the protective casing and start its life as a seedling.

1Co 13:11 When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant.

The first thing the sapling starts to do is become rooted. Some of us been at the sapling stage for yearssss...... trying to become rooted. You know the amazing thing about the rooting process? At that point in time it is extremely difficlut for it to push those roots down and look for water, but it searches heavily and digs deeeppppp...... if it is not really set on doing it, it will never become rooted properly which can lead to many difficulties later.

Seedlings need extremely favorable conditions to survive to adulthood. Just a few too many days of dry conditions or sunlight can quickly kill a seedling.

Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

They need water and nutrition externally, this could be a farmer who throws fertilizer, sades it, props it up, fumigates it and what not.

That is the role of the Church.... to nurture and bring these saplings to a tree where it can STAND ON IT'S OWN.

Sapling digs deep.... asks questions, seaches, deliberates, trusts finds water and FEEDS!!!

Problem with a sapling is that it takes alot of work, the ground must remain fertile.

For us, ever heard the phrase "rooted in the word?"

Yeah the reason a whole lot of us are still saplings is cuz we have stopped pushing our roots down and we get accustomed to the farmer (pastor/church) shading and tending. spraying fumigation (praying)... throwing fertilizer (breaking down the word for us).....BUT WE DON'T PUSH OUR ROOTS DOWN!

After a while, that farmer is going to become frustrated and wonder if that tree will ever grow.... you know what is going to happen?

you will hear this scripture a lot in the series of messages.

Mat 3:10 And now also, the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

Stay a sapling and see what happens.... remember you goal IS FRUIT!

How do you spread your roots down?....... You have to do it yourself, Get into your bible show the farmer that you are trying and the farmer will be more than willing to assist in the growth process. As you dig deeper you will have questions and concerns.... the most important thing in rooting yourslelf in SOUND DOCTRINE is not taking everything at face value..... cuz there are corrupt farmers (pastors) out there who will cause trees to bend how they want.....

But ROOTING YOURSELF IN SOUND DOCTRINE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AS A SAPLING.

That determines what direction the tree grows in.

Ras Shorty I has a song called "Change Your Attitude"...... it contains my favourite quote

"When de tree young and you bend it wrong, it hard to straighten when it old and strong"

False doctrine is alll around us..... ALLL AROUND US. The only way you can fight it is to get sound teaching... not lecturing eh... cuz lecturiing just talks to you.... TEACHING ALLOWS YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND....and when you do that, you GROW IN UNDERSTANDING....

We can't count the amount of times the disciples asked questions of Jesus' doctrine and he explained and they asked and he explained and they asked and he.... explained.....

That time Peter was a sapling.... but he grew into a HUGE TREE........ (Read 1st and 2nd Peter) lol .... why cuz he pushed his roots down and did not just take shade and propping up from the farmer!

Eph 4:13 And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Eph 4:14 so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.

What is one of the most dangerous things to trees? THE WIND. ever see a hurricane uproot a tree? Yeah that is wind.

the goal is to get your roots as deep as possible so when the WIND OF FALSE DOCTRINIE blows you will be firmly rooted and grounded and WILL NOT BUDGE!

replace the word infants with saplings and you will see how any wind of doctring can toss you to and fro .... the only thing that can help that is being rooted...

If you are still a sapling you are just asking for wind to blow you down.....GROW UP!

Start to DIG.....so that you can grow into a propper tree and fulfill the purpose you have which is FRIUT......

Stay Tuned for the continuation next week.

HOW TO MAKE IT TO YOUR MARRIAGE A VIRGIN.

Now that I have your attention.
This note is not me boasting or taking pride in any accomplishments. My accomplishments are nothing unless God gets the due glory for it.

As most of you know, I just got married and my wife and I (always wanted to say that lol) made it to the marriage as virgins.

What I hope to accomplish is to help anyone out there who want's help on the strategies we used to keep pure. Each one is backed up by the word of God from the Bible so that you know it's God who gives the strategy to overcome anything.

1. DON'T ATTATCH
1Co 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now up to the time I was writing this note, I took the scripture literally, but in deeper analysis the word touch means attach . Paul was a single man and he was a proponent of the single life and all that can be accomplished through it. So he was saying to the Corinthians that it's good for a man not to touch a woman. It's good for people to be single and nothing is wrong it doing the single thing.

We live in a culture that promotes quick attachments for the purposes of gratifying our fleshly desires. If we only knew that EVERYTHING even our relationships are there to gratify God.

With this in mind we would not be going around "looking for love" as much as we are right now because instead of looking for "love" we would be looking for God and how to get into a relationship that GLORIFY'S HIM....... NOT OUR FLESHLY DESIRE FOR A MATE.

You see.... staying single until you understand what glorifying God begins to mean is very important to me because when you start to understand the whole Romans 12:1 "surrender your body as a living saccrifice" thing then you stat to understand that your life is not yours and everything about your life is for God and then the choice becomes a whole lot easier when you want to attach.

2. See your relationship as a budding COVENANT.

It does not hit much people that marriage is the 3rd of only 3 UNIONS in God's eyes.
1st. God - Son - Holy Spirit
2nd Christ - Church
3rd Husband - Wife

A union covenant (not to play down all other covenants) is the most important of all.... just look at the company it's in.... the Trinity... and The Bride and Bridegroom!....... yeah.....

God won't break those unions (xcept for when he disconnected his son for 3 hours to judge the sin on his shoulders)..... but that was to create the 2nd one.

If you are in a relationship and you understand the concepts of serving and gloryfing God, then you would understand the implications of damaging the covenant.

1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Paul says.... NEVER THE LESS....... meaning even though it is good not to be married and single and what not TO AVOID FORNICATION let every man and woman have his own wife and husband respectively.

Why is is to avoid fornication? because you will be attracted to people and even if you want to be single you may see the need to enter into covenant relationship with someone as an act of fulfillment of God's purpose for your life.

This natural human attraction will always lead to instinctive mating. (see society). But your job is to ensure that you seek out your wife and husband and when you have found him or her it's not to experiment.... it's for marriage so you will be avoiding fornication.

For those of you who don't see it as a budding covenant you may be one of those who has "divorce" as an option if it does not work out.
In that case I suggest you read this not by my buddy Joseph
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=77372364272

3. RUN
Now for those who may already be in relationships and have begun touching and feeling because they did not see it is a covenant and what not as yet and probably now starting to see it that way.............well that snowball has begun........once you start YOU CAN'T STOP!!!......... no matter how strong you feel you are and how good your will is.... the human instinct to pro-create is almost unstopable....it can be slowed... but it just overtakes you.

What do you do in these cases?.........RUN!!!

Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Joseph was a man experienced the pull of a woman, not just any woman, but a HOT woman too. In dem days the wifes of high ranking officials were well kept and treated like goddesses.
Home boy Joseph just had to RUN!!!.... cuz if he tried to fight it by himself he knew he would have succombed..... becuase it is just sooo easy to lose control.

I don't say this theoretically... i say it from experience..... whenever you are alone (it doh even have to be dark) the attraction takes over all your logic and you can easily find yourself in a compromizing position..... EASILYYYYYYYYY.

Minimizing ONE ON ONE interactions is a KEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY STEP IN PRESERVING PURITY.

No matter how much you want to spend time in each other's company once you have already started the touching game you are on the snowball down the hill.
I don't reccomend you try to stop it cuz.... plain and simple you don't have it in you... all you have in you is a natural inclination to sin.

The most that can be accomplished is small spurts of non activity which leads to a big explosion after.

Make the interactions much more open and as harrrdddd as possible to have sex. It only takes one interaction in the dark to lose it.

4. ACCOUNTABILITY
It always helps to have somebody you know that you can talk too in the faith and who would challenge you daily in your Christian walk. You should be accountable (willfully) to them and they should be always keeping tabs on you to ensure that you are not going down a road where you cannot see the dead end, but they might be seeing it and pull you up.

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

If I did not have to tell one of my good friends about my sexual relationship with my now wife leading up to my wedding......... boy oh boy.... I could have slipped. He helped me just because I knew there was someone I was accounting to, it addas a human aspect that no super spiritualism can superseed.

5. DESIRE GOD MORE THAN A PERSON
At the end of the day, sex before marriage is a sin against God. Christians are not SINLESS....... but they do try to SIN LESS This is important because the only thing that is going to prevent you from sinning is your desire to please God.

Most people try not to sin so that they will not be seen as sinful in the public's eye. But true believers in Christ GENERALLY attempt to sin less and not put themselves in a position where they can sin. This includes in your relationships with people.

You won't go playing pranks around someone who is given to anger easily. Nor would you make a sentimental joke with someone who get's emotional easily.

Therefore you won't go around someone you are courting in a one on one situation ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT when you know they are heavily attracted to you.

Sin is something we have to face daily, but the methods that we use to combat is have a part to play in our victory through Christ.

Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.


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Above ALLLLLLLL things, your growth in GOD must always be your NUMBER 1 PRIORITY!!!!! No relationship or feeling of attraction should ever overtake that feeling or desire.... or else it becomes your idol.

Again I do not write this with any amount of boastful pride in my accomplishments.

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

My aim is to help those of you out there who may be going through what I just went through and how to overcome it so that God will be well pleased with your COVENANTS when they are sealed.