FRUIT, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE GIFTS
I’ve been thinking about this the past couple of weeks and I
was just listening to a Graham Cooke YouTube which is at the end of this blog
and it spurred me onto sharing. I’ll start with one quote from this video he
said:
People have destroyed with their character what they have
built with their gift.
Another nugget comes from Wade Taylor’s book, “Secret of the
Stairs” as least I think so. I don’t want to misquote or say the wrong book but
I believe it’s from his book. When walking with God comes a revelation or riser
of a stair then a walking out of it first step before a another riser of
revelation comes and then walking that out and so on and so on.
So I’ve had this picture of a beautiful house. Decked out on
the outside with fancy and exquisite windows, doors, shutters, etc. Looks great
from the outside. But when on the inside it’s empty without even drywall or
proper supporting beams, trusses, etc. Looks good on the outside but inside
it’s full of the bones of dead men, if I may borrow Jesus’ estimation of
things. To add some grace, those bones can be seen with flesh and sinew coming
back to them.
I do want to say I love those who God is downloading
pioneering revelation and preparing the way for His second coming. It’s a hard
road to be on when the pioneers are trudging through new territory and the
settlers mock them from a distance. We need to intercede for them.
Intercession, my brother, often means bearing the scorn
of another’s enlightenment.” – Baxter Kruger
In the Old Testament (Ex. 28) we see the priestly garments
had a breastplate, robe, a turban with “Holy to the Lord” written on it and bells
and pomegranates attached to the hem of the robe. What I want to focus on
are the bells and fruit.
We know there are 9 gifts of the Spirit (that are active on
earth now) and 9 fruits of the Spirit (which are active on the earth now). You
can’t have one without the other (cessationism is heretical but I’m not
going to go there). I grew up in the non-denominational charismatic church all
my life with a brief stint in a beautiful Methodist church full of beautiful
people. I’ve seen the fruits, flakes, and nuts in Charismatica.
I’ve also seen
the beautiful bride within cleansing herself of every spot and wrinkle. And I
love them all the same. But what I see these days is great and needed but needs
refinement. (Heb. 5:14) People are seeking the Father like never before and He
is revealing Himself like never before. God is revealing Himself in the
Scriptures more and more. God is doing new things and more and more people are
stepping into them. But some lose the fruit on account of the gifts. When
the fruit should be the foundation and furnishing for the gifts to operate in
full capacity and glory. We see in the OT Tabernacle two tent pegs holding up
the tent poles all around. One being Spirit and the other Word. We do not live
50% Word and 50% Spirit but 100% of both. We do not live 50% gifts and 50%
fruit but 100% of both. I am sure there are many studies on how the 9 fruit
line up with 9 gifts like this one: 9 Gifts and 9
Fruits. This isn’t my teaching and I’m unsure of the other stuff on
that site but it’s a reference.
But I would say some walk around as revelation junkies.
Almost like a fix. Addiction to experiences can lead to an unhealthy dependency
if not fueled by a passion for Presence. We need to seek the gifts! (1 Cor.
12:31). But need to seek the agape Love that God is. They act offensively to
expose the religious spirit but, in doing so, expose their lack of fruit. They
use middle fingers and equate God with a drug which I believe is offensive and
grieves the Holy Spirit. A true father knows the current state of his son and
responds to him appropriately. Nevertheless the Holy Spirit still dwells
in them but only in the corner of their housetop (Prov. 21:9). Truth is
offensive in and of itself. Let your light shine, don’t make it
shine I say.
Revelation apart from the testimony of Jesus can lead to an
improper balance in life and lead to a twisting of divine truth. (Col. 2:18).
That scripture is not say we can’t have visions and walk after what we saw but
it must lead to humility and fruit and submission to the character of God.
Gifting apart for character leads to pride which is before a fall. Don’t get me
wrong there is a grace for pioneering in the Spirit. Almost all pioneers get
ridiculed and it’s not my heart to come against them but provide a foundation
in which gifting can be supported. Now this isn’t a works righteousness here.
All things come through grace and faith.
Faith is dead without works because
you know them by their fruit. All of us need healing in our lives and without
healing, gifts because our validation apart from the approval of God. Be warned
though that if you pray for fruit expect the ground around you to become
hostile. In order to move in the opposite spirit there must be opposition. We
must be broken in the sense that we know why don’t have it all figured out…and
there are many who think they have it all figured out, me included. You know
how the world will know we are His disciples? By our love for one another!
(John 13:35) Yet do we see this today? We build bigger boxes then the next
person and point finger while saying, “At least I’m not where that person is”
meanwhile we are choking under the weight of own pride. But God’s grace is
ever-present to lead us all out of our boxes into glorious liberty which Christ
purchased for us. And I speak with three fingers pointing back at me. If you
need milk then enjoy it to its fullness but then get on with the meat course.
But with meat comes a chewing process. It must be broken down to be receptive.
Our experiences and revelation of God must not be a pedestal or esoteric secret
knowledge because we are His friends and freely we have received we freely
give. The enemy doesn’t attack our gifting, he attacks our character. The world
looks at character. The world looks for stability of fruit.
We must walk out our current revelation with
character in order for us to be trusted with the next step. The fruit of
the Spirit is the only launching pad where the gifts can fly with accuracy.
You want gifting and revelation and experiences with God?
Build a foundation of fruit in your life. Attach some pomegranates to your robe
of righteousness. Mellow out your tongues with some love. Show grace. Be love.
Be kind. Be gentle. Be self-controlled. Be joyful. Be patient. Be peaceful. Be
faithful. Against such there is no law.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
His acts to the sons of Israel.
Many seek his hand while denying His face. Moses knew that
his face to face relationship was all he needed. Bill Johnson says, “When you
catch sight of His Eyes there’s nothing He blesses you with that could ever
distract you.”
Relying on gifting promotes your crown while character
casts your crown upon the feet of Him who purchased it. For once it’s cast it
become refined for a greater measure. And this must be a continual process.
Source: 1john417.wordpress.com
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