I Like Fruit!

By Rufus M Parker

Text: Genesis 1:11 - "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."

I like fruit. No matter what kind of fruit, I seem to like all of them. When God created the world; on the third day,when He made the fruit trees, He said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself." Notice the fruit trees were to produce after his kind because the seed was in itself.

We will produce after our kind. If we are complainers, we will reproduce complainers. If we are gossipers, we will reproduce gossipers. If we are liars, we will reproduce liars. Because the seed is in the fruit and we will produce after our kind.

If we are Christians and are born again of the water and the Spirit, then we should be producing the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, etc., because the seed is in the fruit - and the fruit is in the seed.

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Editor's Note: Bro. Parker, former missionary to Okinawa and Mongolia, is now pastor of Calvary Apostolic Church (UPC) in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He has written a number of books, and publishes a daily blog called "Morning Manna." Here is a link...  http://morningmanna-parker.blogspot.com 

The Benefits of True Repentance...

By Marjorie Kinnee
Editorial

Text: Hosea 14:4-8; John 15:1-5
Key Verse: Matthew 4:17 - "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repentance is both a mercy and a privilege extended to mankind because of the grace of God  Every other part of man's relationship with God hinges on this essential first step. Repentance is taught in both the Old and New Testaments. David's Psalm of repentance (Psalm 51) has become a model prayer. Job 33:26-30 provides a clear definition of what true repentance entails. Every Old Testament prophet issued calls for repentance, and both John the Baptist and Jesus inaugurated their ministries with "Repent ye!"

But repentance is more than just acknowledging our sin and asking for forgiveness. Repentance leads us to cleansing and clearing and making things right with those we have sinned against - including and especially God! Once man's heart is reconciled with God, he begins to understand the benefits associated with a right standing in the eyes of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Hosea provides a list of them...

1. I will heal their backsliding.
2. I will love them freely.
3. My anger [against their sin] is turned away. 
4. I will be as the dew.
5. He [the repentant one] shall grow as the lily,
6. and cast forth his roots.
7. His branches shall spread.
8. His beauty shall be as the olive tree.
9. His smell as Lebanon [cedar trees].
10. They that dwell under his shadow shall return [extends to repentant's sphere of influence].
11. They shall revive as corn,
12. and grow as the vine.
13. The scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon [which has great drawing power].
14. All this comes at Jesus' expense! He said, "From Me is thy fruit found!" (John 15:1-5).

The old song says, "Oh, what peace we often forfeit! Oh, what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry - everything to God in prayer." He bore our sins in His body on the cross of Calvary. The price for our peace has already been paid. The benefits of true repentance are so great that it makes no sense to continue in sin any longer. Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Open the door of your heart to Him today!

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Galatians 6:7-10

Basically, the law of sowing and reaping is reciprocation. See Romans 15:27; I Corinthians 9:11; II Corinthians 8:14; and Galatians 6:6. It was instituted in Creation - "whose seed is in itself." Proverbs 11:18 tells us sowing "righteousness" means "a sure reward." Galatians 6:8 says, "sow to the flesh - reap corruption." The world says, "What goes around comes around" and talks about "yin and yang." Fruit bears witness to the kind of seed sown.

There is another law involved in sowing and reaping - seed reproduces itself abundantly. A single kernal of corn yields a plant on which there may be three or four ears of corn. Each ear may contain hundreds of kernals - a thousand-fold return on the initial planting. What kind of harvest you reap depends upon the kind of seed you sow.

Sowing to the flesh uses bad seed and brings a crop of far-reaching corruption. This list speaks for itself; adultery, fornication, lust, rape, abuse, gossip, false accusations, envy, jealousy, selfishness, greed, pride, impatience, covetousness, theft, disobedience, rebellion, anger, wrath, hatred, revenge, murder, violence, sedition, treachery, and betrayal.

Sowing to the Spirit also brings forth a crop. The fruit resulting from good seed being sown is far-reaching - and affects many other lives for good. Here's a starter list; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, kindness, gentleness, faith, temperance, mercy, forgiveness, prayer, Bible reading and study, repentance, giving, hope, a holy lifestyle, fellowship with the believers, witnessing, peace-making, godly wisdom, contentment and grace sufficient for every need. Note that the purpose of fruit is to enhance the prospect of the seed!

Hosea 10:12 declares that if we sow in righteousness, we will reap mercy. Proverbs 18:24 says, if you want friends, you must show yourself friendly. According to I Corinthians 3:4, in "due season - God gives the increase." Wishing and hoping won't do. Planting is our part - life and growth is God's part!

Turnips con't come up all by themselves. Someone has to be a seed planter! See Psalm 126:5. Taking care of the seed includes...

• Preparing the Soil - "Break up the fallow ground."
• Watering the Soil - "Sow in tears, reap in joy."
• Weeding the Soil - Plucking out the weeds that would choke the good seed.

It takes time! Be patient! (See James 5:7.) "Due season" is when God says so.

Sow what you want to reap! - in quantity, (II Corinthians 9:6) and in quality (Matthew 13:24, 37-38).

The Fruit of the Spirit

By Justin Jeffrey

Text: Galatians 5:16-26

We have choices...

1. Desire to please the flesh
2. Desire to have it both ways - please flesh and Spirit
3. Desire to please the Spirit - bear fruit

Whichever choice you're making begs the question...

• What are you doing to succeed in achieving your desire?

When a person goes all out to achieve their goal, (choice) they are willing to make sacrifices, burn the candle at both ends, do whatever it takes to attain that desire.

The fruit of the Spirt is; faith, love, joy, peace, gentleness, lonsuffering, temperance, meekness, and goodness. Note that they're called fruit for a reason!

Fruit is juicy, sweet, good for you, flavorful, refreshing, purgative, covered with skin, and contains seeds. (plant them!) If you just let them sit and don't eat fruit, it will spoil! What's more, when it comes to fruit; you want the real thing - not plastic, wooden, or styrofoam imitations.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Editor's Note: Justin is our Youth Leader here at New Life. Multi-talented, he is a faithful laborer in so many ways. God has highly favored New Life in selecting Justin for His service.