Now that harvest time is here, it is a good time to reflect and take inventory of our fruit. Our fruit will reveal what is working and what is not. It will confirm our productivity and if we are advancing our taking steps back.
Every tree stands based on its root. The root supports the branch which bears the fruit. The branch doesn’t support the root (Romans 11:18). What we are rooted in will determine the kind of fruit that we produce.
Matthew 3:10
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
We do not want to be the tree that gets thrown into the fire. That is why it is critical to take an honest look at ourselves and make the proper adjustments. For example, if we have produced a fruit of bitterness, then somewhere there is root of unforgiveness. So many times we try to put Band-Aids on the symptoms instead of finding the root cause of all the trouble. It’s like continually taking medicine for a headache, without ever trying to find out the reason why we are having them. The root could be that we need glasses, have allergies, or not getting the proper sleep. If we never seek the root cause, eventually the real issue could get worse, causing more problems. The medicine that we take could be damaging our liver and kidneys, while the real problem continues to increase without our knowledge because we are masking the symptoms.
Most times we don’t want to evaluate the real issue because it seems impossible to deal with. Our hurt and pain have put mountains before us. We would rather take the long way around the mountain than digging into it to conquer.
Job 28:9
He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
God has given us the ability to overturn mountains at its roots. Not only that, we will find precious gems and gold as we conquer our mountains. Our mountains are removed by our faith and obedience. We have to let God work new levels of faith in us so that we can move those mountains and move our trees to a new place. We must get past the issues of our past that have caused us stagnation. God is bigger than any abuse, neglect, rejection, abandonment, trauma, shame, etc. that we have experienced. He is bigger than the voice of the enemy that has planted roots of evil that have caused us to fall out of agreement with what God has called us to be.
Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
If our roots are planted in a dry place, then we will never be able to produce the fruit that God wants to come from our trees. The water that we need comes from God’s Word and the river of the Holy Spirit that He has placed on the inside of us. If we deny those things, then our prosperity will be hindered.
Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
When we are planted by the water, there is no need to worry or fear. We will always produce the fruit God intended when we are rooted in the water of His Word.
Colossians 2:6-10
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[a] with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
When we are rooted in Christ, we become established. We can walk in His authority and faith. We can be thankful for His abundance and become whole. God completes us and because of this, we have power over every evil power that would try to come against us.
Ephesians 3:16-19
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
When our roots are planted in love which is Christ, we are strengthened and filled with the fullness of God. This love will overpower any and every bad seed that tries to infiltrate our root system. When we are lacking love, we become weak. When we lack love, we produce fruit that is the opposite of God’s purpose.
It’s time to speak to our mountains. It’s the season to pull up our trees and plant them by the water. We need to cut out roots that are hindering our fruit and establish ourselves in faith and love. We have to be honest with ourselves and stop treating the symptoms without finding the cure. We have to address the issues of our past without fear, knowing that God will reveal the gems to keep and the lies to throw in the fire. We are complete and have access to the fullness of God through His love.
Father, we thank You that You are the root that supports us. Forgive us for allowing the enemy to come and intertwine evil roots that have produced rotten fruit or hindered our production of good fruit. Forgive us for treating the symptoms instead of seeking You for the cure. Search us and help us evaluate our fruit according to Your Word. Increase our faith to speak to our mountains and move our trees to a place where Your water flows. We want to prosper in ever season. We want to be rooted, established, and strengthened in Your love and faith. Let us be known by our fruit which is produced by Your love. Do it Lord, according to Your riches in glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Every tree stands based on its root. The root supports the branch which bears the fruit. The branch doesn’t support the root (Romans 11:18). What we are rooted in will determine the kind of fruit that we produce.
Matthew 3:10
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
We do not want to be the tree that gets thrown into the fire. That is why it is critical to take an honest look at ourselves and make the proper adjustments. For example, if we have produced a fruit of bitterness, then somewhere there is root of unforgiveness. So many times we try to put Band-Aids on the symptoms instead of finding the root cause of all the trouble. It’s like continually taking medicine for a headache, without ever trying to find out the reason why we are having them. The root could be that we need glasses, have allergies, or not getting the proper sleep. If we never seek the root cause, eventually the real issue could get worse, causing more problems. The medicine that we take could be damaging our liver and kidneys, while the real problem continues to increase without our knowledge because we are masking the symptoms.
Most times we don’t want to evaluate the real issue because it seems impossible to deal with. Our hurt and pain have put mountains before us. We would rather take the long way around the mountain than digging into it to conquer.
Job 28:9
He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
God has given us the ability to overturn mountains at its roots. Not only that, we will find precious gems and gold as we conquer our mountains. Our mountains are removed by our faith and obedience. We have to let God work new levels of faith in us so that we can move those mountains and move our trees to a new place. We must get past the issues of our past that have caused us stagnation. God is bigger than any abuse, neglect, rejection, abandonment, trauma, shame, etc. that we have experienced. He is bigger than the voice of the enemy that has planted roots of evil that have caused us to fall out of agreement with what God has called us to be.
Luke 17:6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
If our roots are planted in a dry place, then we will never be able to produce the fruit that God wants to come from our trees. The water that we need comes from God’s Word and the river of the Holy Spirit that He has placed on the inside of us. If we deny those things, then our prosperity will be hindered.
Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
When we are planted by the water, there is no need to worry or fear. We will always produce the fruit God intended when we are rooted in the water of His Word.
Colossians 2:6-10
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[a] with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
When we are rooted in Christ, we become established. We can walk in His authority and faith. We can be thankful for His abundance and become whole. God completes us and because of this, we have power over every evil power that would try to come against us.
Ephesians 3:16-19
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
When our roots are planted in love which is Christ, we are strengthened and filled with the fullness of God. This love will overpower any and every bad seed that tries to infiltrate our root system. When we are lacking love, we become weak. When we lack love, we produce fruit that is the opposite of God’s purpose.
It’s time to speak to our mountains. It’s the season to pull up our trees and plant them by the water. We need to cut out roots that are hindering our fruit and establish ourselves in faith and love. We have to be honest with ourselves and stop treating the symptoms without finding the cure. We have to address the issues of our past without fear, knowing that God will reveal the gems to keep and the lies to throw in the fire. We are complete and have access to the fullness of God through His love.
Father, we thank You that You are the root that supports us. Forgive us for allowing the enemy to come and intertwine evil roots that have produced rotten fruit or hindered our production of good fruit. Forgive us for treating the symptoms instead of seeking You for the cure. Search us and help us evaluate our fruit according to Your Word. Increase our faith to speak to our mountains and move our trees to a place where Your water flows. We want to prosper in ever season. We want to be rooted, established, and strengthened in Your love and faith. Let us be known by our fruit which is produced by Your love. Do it Lord, according to Your riches in glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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