tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post3373959427215198523..comments2019-11-06T04:20:06.664-06:00Comments on Rivers Of Living Water: Select FruitAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10416115895992614360noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-79943141444091161892014-04-13T06:47:12.725-05:002014-04-13T06:47:12.725-05:00Funny thing, I woke up this morning and had two re...Funny thing, I woke up this morning and had two recent "So-and-S0's Got Talent" videos runnung through my mind. Then I come to find your comment. It is a very sad reality that the church system follows the ways of the world. Have you noticed the number of 'high priest' failures in these churches, especially the mega-churches? Nanette and I talk about this and the obvious conclusion is as you have stated in your comment. Leaders tend to separate themselves above common relations and accountability. Left to this place, one is extremely vulnerable to the temptings of the enemy.<br /><br />Great insight, here Cheryl! Thanks for dropping by and expounding on the tangible consequences that come by failing to become intimate with the Spirit of the Word.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416115895992614360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-6096918066369934292014-04-12T21:01:24.693-05:002014-04-12T21:01:24.693-05:00Excellent post Paul. All around us we see that gi...Excellent post Paul. All around us we see that gifting is valued over the bearing of fruit, both in the church system and in the world. The insatiable crowd gathers around the obviously gifted, demanding more and more of their gifting. The gifted are burned out, without ever learning how to produce abundant fruit, and then often quickly passed over and left for the next celebrity gifted one. We see this phenomenon in the world with the never ending quest for the next new 'star' and whole TV shows/industries devoted to it. Unfortunately, I have seen this too many times in the church and seen the result when the 'anointed' one inevitably falls into moral/financial failure or has some kind of breakdown. This is not the way Christ taught us to relate to one another. We need this message you have shared here so desperately.Cherylhttp://www.breadforthebride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-68925995867901312282014-04-12T16:01:33.808-05:002014-04-12T16:01:33.808-05:00Ah, the beauty of being enveloped by Him. We can f...Ah, the beauty of being enveloped by Him. We can flow with His life without even knowing it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416115895992614360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-57547226371320624462014-04-12T15:52:38.047-05:002014-04-12T15:52:38.047-05:00Ooh I love that connection to Jesus 'drawing n...Ooh I love that connection to Jesus 'drawing near'! Didn't see that before. I wasn't even sure what I was saying... :)Pamelahttp://www.intimatekingdom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-91399177167062864422014-04-12T15:42:15.170-05:002014-04-12T15:42:15.170-05:00I had forgotten all about that fact of the fig tre...I had forgotten all about that fact of the fig tree. Interesting that you point out that 'nearness' is the determining factor in discerning the spirit of anything; we then see Jesus as well had to draw near to the tree to see if it had fruit.We too must be close to others in order to detect the truth of their presence.<br /><br />I love your poem! Especially the last two lines. It reminds me of the uninvited wedding guest who had no wedding clothes. The Bible says that after being confronted, the stranger was speechless. Sneaky things don't like to make much noise, lest they incriminate themselves. :-0<br /><br />Thanks so much for adding to the article, Pam! <br />The beginning of the fruit of the Spirit is love!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10416115895992614360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5071732335132609896.post-32115322704643934942014-04-12T14:01:50.275-05:002014-04-12T14:01:50.275-05:00Well said, Paul. The confusion of gifts as fruit i...Well said, Paul. The confusion of gifts as fruit is so very prevalent. Fruit must be tasted, and maybe we have to get close to each other for this to be discerned. Close in a way perhaps that the other disciples didn't even have with Judas.<br /><br />About this subject of fruit, below is a poem about Jesus cursing the fig tree. I think it fits with what you shared. I wrote it after discovering something unique about fig trees - that as soon as the leaves appear on them, it means there is also fruit. So when Jesus saw from afar a fig tree with leaves, he expected there would be fruit. We know of course there wasn't, and what happened. <br /><br />Here is the poem. Love you!<br /><br />There once was a tree<br />that shouted it had leaves,<br />which meant it should have fruit.<br /><br />Other fig trees were barren,<br />as it wasn’t their time,<br />so quiet, they stayed put.<br /><br />From a distance Jesus noticed,<br />and hungry He drew near,<br />to hopefully find upon this tree,<br />what it said it did so bear.<br /><br />But alas, it lied! It’s fruit, a farce.<br />It’s leaves were all it had.<br />It acted the part, it looked to be good,<br />when the truth was it was bad.<br /><br />So in anger, Jesus cursed<br />the tree with fruitless limbs.<br />Not because it bore no fruit,<br />but because it lied to Him.Pamelahttp://www.intimatekingdom.comnoreply@blogger.com