In the beginning, GOD. It is GOD Who fills us and the universe and all that is therein, that is why it is said that HE is Omnipresent. Then, can two walk together except they be in agreement, this means that man has but really one choice, if he wishes to out last eternity as opposed to spending it as a sender in spiritual torment in the fiery pit, for the eternity of endless pain and agonies of thirst, with Satan and his lieutenant and army of fallen spirits. All the while rehearsing failures and lack of making wrong choices and being dead to GOD and separation from loved ones who chose to become one with Him as in the beginning. Why because these people chose to remain joined to Satan and his law of self-will, self-centeredness and all evilness and corruption of man. Instead of changing Lords. With this said I will be looking at mans spiritual fruit but first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and the old testament heroes. All being done with the ESV translation on my part, under the watchful eye of the LORD-Christ within me.
"Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah — by Faith"
"What more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah." (Hebrews 11:32)
"So much has been noted in these chronicles of faith concerning the extensive consequences that appear as faith accesses Grace. As our present verse implies, days and pages seem too short to also relate the testimonies of Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah — who many might view as "unlikely examples" of living by faith. Faith implies that they walked with GOD having His Spirit within them or at least upon them enabling them to do what they did as a witness of this.
In Gideon, GOD was calling an unlikely leader as His instrument for delivering His people. His humble reply was, "O my LORD, how can I save Israel? . . . I am the least in my father's house" (Judges 6:15). The LORD's promise was, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites (Judges 6:16). When 32,000 Israelites rallied for battle (see Judges 7:3), GOD diminished Gideon's army to an unimpressive, outnumbered 300. "Then the LORD said to Gideon, 'By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you" (Judges 7:7). Gideon went forth by faith, and the LORD was faithful to His (revelation) word. "When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion . . . and the army fled" (Judges 7:22).
Again, in Barak, another unlikely leader was selected by the LORD. First, he would not go forth to battle unless the prophetess Deborah accompanied him "And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go' " (Judges 4:8). Also, his godless opponent was actually defeated by another woman. "Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber . . . Then Jael . . . took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand . . . and drove the peg into his temple . . . for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died" (Judges 4:17, 21).
In Samson, we have another unexpected example of faith. Although he did many mighty exploits, he often proved to be a vain and foolish man (especially, concerning women). Yet, in his death, he won his greatest victory of all. "O LORD GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O GOD . . . So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life" (Judges 16:28, 30).
In Jephthah, we have one more unlikely example of faith. He was the "son of a harlot" (Judges 11:1). He made what appeared to be an unwise vow (Judges 11:1). Still, on occasion, his trust in the LORD was evident. "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah . . . and the LORD delivered them into his hands." (Judges 11:29, 32)
Spiritual Fruit:
Produced in All Periods of Life,
Psalm 92:10-15 "But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; You have poured over me fresh oil (of Your anointing). Therefore my eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; HE is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."
Perennial,
Ezekiel 47:3-12 "Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river (GOD's Grace in type) goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea (fish, the souls of man in type). But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Grown only upon Good Ground,
Matthew 13:3-9 "Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as He sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds (the words of GOD in type as light that breaks open the seeds out shell to bring forth life) fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."
Many Varieties of,
Galatians 5:16-24 "For I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires (Satan's self-centered, self-for-self nature) of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified (the prince of his law in the flesh of mans sin nature) the flesh with its passions and desires."
Without Defect,
Ephesians 5:6-14 and Philippians 1:3-11 "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of GOD comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the LORD. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the LORD. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Philippians 1:3-11 "I thank my GOD in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of Grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For GOD is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of GOD."
The Product of Heavenly Wisdom,
James 3:13-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the Truth (which is Christ). This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
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