Bearing Fruit In All Season

"And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]."

Psam 1.3 // AMP

Fruit in all season.

Psalm 1 verses 1-3 says:

1 [a]Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.

3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season;

Its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

Fruitfulness is often measured by what's reflecting on the outside. However, Galatians 5 tells another story concerning fruit.

The world measures by the visible fruit of success, social impact, wealth and other things.

God measures by the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control - that He can see inside of you whilst in the season he has ordained you to be in. This applies whether you are in a busy season or a resting season.

We often think that when we ask God to be fruitful, He'll bless us with all the external things that we want so that we can finally get our breakthrough. However, breakthrough often occurs internally within your spirit before it is visible on the outside. This is especially so right before your breakthrough is released because - more than anything - God cares about the state of your heart, mind, and spirit. He cares that you look like Him at all times, both in the valley and on the mountain. He cares that you are both internally and externally prepared.

Rod and staff...

I'm reminded of Psalm 23, where is is written, "Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me," (verse 4). I recently stumbled upon a passage in Isaiah that made me see this differently.

Isaiah 28 verses 24-27 says:

24 Does the farmer plow all day to plant seed?

Does he continually dig furrows and harrow his ground [after it is prepared]?

25 When he has leveled its surface,

Does he not sow [the seed of] dill and scatter cumin,

And plant wheat in rows,

And barley in its [intended] place and rye within its border?

26 For his God instructs [him correctly] and teaches him properly.

27 For dill is not threshed with a sharp threshing sledge,

Nor is a cartwheel rolled over cumin;

But dill is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a rod.

In the case of shepherd, the rod (to protect) and the staff (to guide) are for comfort. However, in the case of the farmer, the rod and staff are for correction and discipline.

Perhaps the discipline of the Lord is intended to get you back on the right path where you may have once strayed (correction). Some see this as punishment. I see this as mercy as opposed to being left to our ways of sin and rebellion. However, perhaps the discipline God puts us through is meant to shape us into His image (maturity; preparation; holiness).

The push before the crossover...

Before every transition, there are threshold spirits that aim to deter you from crossing over. They bring resistance, pressure, and various attacks. God is never the One hurting or harming you. However, God may allow certain things for His reasons. It is always to prepare you by strengthening you, training you, guiding you so you can conquer (because of Him, through Jesus, and by the power of His Holy Spirit) and be fruitful.

The bigger picture is that these moments are meant to forge you and I into His image so that we forever remember that He is our Treasure and Prize (nothing else). Such great intimacy is developed in these seasons, too, if you don't fight it [and if you don't fight Him].

Sometimes, we're being corrected. However, sometimes, we're just being called higher and deeper, which means some things need to be pruned. Prunign hurts.

Oftentimes, what needs to break is our own way of doing things so that they don't overtake His will or even Him. To maintain our dependence on Him. To obey His commands at all times and remain in right-standing with Him.

It could also be that you're so close to your breakthrough, and God is protecting you so that, when you receive your breakthrough:

• You won't be tempted to take the glory and honour for what He has done.

• You won't become prideful, but will instead remain humble in the next season.

• You remember Him and call on Him on the mountain top just as much as you remembered and called on Him in my valley.

• You can bear fruit in all seasons and look like Him.

The Refiner sits by the fire until He can see His reflection in the silver.

I invite you to reflect on this verse in Malachi 3:

³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.

Perhaps the sign that you are about to receive breakthrough is the painful, but merciful, season that precedes it - where your Heavenly Father sits by the fire refining you, waiting patiently until He sees His image before He opens the floodgates of breakthrough and smashes all that stands in your way.

This is often the season nobody talks about because we're so focused on breakthrough and blessings. At the end of it all, the seasons may change, but the ultimate preparation leads us all to one place - where we are refined, purified, sanctified, tried and tested, and can stand blameless before our King (both now and at the end of the age)... bearing His image after having endured seasons that required us to be moulded by His Holy Spirit.

What if true breakthrough is when our person is now completely shed; where we have died to self, and have been forged by moments such as the one you might be in now...; where we have been crushed, broken, seasoned through trial, all so the Righteous One can look upon us and see His own image looking at Him?

What if the true breakthrough is for us to no longer resist God in our hearts, minds, souls, and with our strength, so much so that the Holy Spirit of God shines through without limit?

This is how we bear fruit in every season.

I won't discount that these seasons hurt. I know. So I hope Isaiah 28 encourages you by showing you that the crushing will end:

28 Bread grain is crushed fine,

Indeed, the farmer does not continue to thresh it forever.

Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually damage it,

He does not thresh it longer.

Points to Ponder (Reflections Questions):

1. In what ways have I been resisting God's discipline?
   

2. How can I yield to the loving discipline of God more and completely?
   

3. What is God trying to teach me in this season?
   

4. Where have I believed the lie that God has brought this upon me instead of seeing that it has been allowed for a reason, and that He is working all things for my good and for His glory.
   

5. Am I relying on the Holy Spirit or on my own strength? Holy Spirit, how can I rely on You more?
   

   
   

God is with you. God is for you. His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. YOU WILL TAKE THE GIANTS OF CANAAN DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!

Whatever it feels like right now, remember this.

If you're reading this as someone who doesn't know Jesus, it's important for you to know that Jesus is the only way to God - the only door; the only ladder; the only One through whom anyone can get true salvation and freedom in life. He paid the price to save our lives and souls (the price we were meant to pay - death and eternal separation from God - God's wrath). He alone holds the keys to the door we're all looking for - the path to relationship with God and finding our purpose in Him. If you'd like a relationship with Jesus, you can start by approaching your Heavenly Father (Yahweh or God) and talking to Him (i.e. praying). You can pray to God for forgiveness, and ask for Jesus to be your Saviour. You can use your own words or the ones below:

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for creating me. I believe that You are God. I admit I am a sinner, and I need You in my life. Jesus, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that You are the Son of God, and that You died in my place and rose from the grave. I choose today to follow You. Heavenly Father, please forgive my sins. I surrender my old ways, and ask that You wash me clean and make me brand new in Jesus' name. I surrender my life to You, and ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life. Please may You give me Your Holy Spirit so He may help me to follow You. Thank You that I am now Your child and that you are my Father. I pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus.

Amen."

Note:

The good news is that after you have accepted God's gift of eternal life and salvation through Jesus, you do not have to do this life alone. God gives you His Holy Spirit to help you, and transform you - this is the part where you surrender so He can do His work in you. His Holy Spirit is there to help, comfort, guide, teach, and so much more. If you prayed this prayer, welcome to God's family! Your next step is getting a bible and finding a good bible-believing church community. Here's a great app you can use in the meantime to start reading the Word of God. If you don;t know where to start, start at the beginnning (Genesis) and ask Holy Spirit to teach you as you read along. Please get in touch with us by emailing hello@lwap.com.au if you would like some help finding a church.

God bless you! :) Jesus loves you.

Sincerely yours,

Pamela.

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Jesus loves you, and He's coming back soon. Stay alert.