2 Corinthians 5 vs the World

[Drought of the Heart]

The world can really mess with our minds. Following God in this world is not easy. Following God never looks like what the world says it looks like. Fruit is used from the beginning to the end of the Bible.

Taking that fruit from the one tree God said not to take from , got us in this mess.



God knew in the Garden humans could not follow one rule much less many. God provided all they needed but wants came into play ...Adam and Eve had all a person could dream of but since day one we are weak and flawed. We just need to know that and Who to go to for everything we need. They did not ask God first and look at us now ...In my life it was the things I did not ask God first and listen to His answer , that got me in all kinds messes ...



I use to think if I did what God called me to do, I would would see the fruits of that work as the world says. God has allowed us to see in the lives of many gone before us , what the world calls successful what the world calls fruits , that leaves a soul and Spirit empty. We can be on stage with thousands watching and listening to what we say and do and be alone. We can make something everyone wants and sell all we make and be broke.

There are few people in Scriptures that lived to see the fruits of what they did for God, Jesus and Moses are our best examples.

Jesus spent His time doing God's will and look what the world did to Him, He is our example. For the first time in my life I have clarity on fruits of and for God.



Ephesians 5: 9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...

Galatians:5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,



How funny they are both in chapter 5 , I love the Bible.



Love in a world of evil and hate. Joy in a world of pain and sadness. Peace in the middle of the war.

Longsuffering in a world that says fun and happy or 20mg. Gentleness in a world that is unkind. Goodness in a world that takes. Faith in a world that listens to the serpent. Truth in a sea of lies...



Matthew 7:16You will know them by their fruits.



Fruits may not be seen in our bank accounts , houses , cars , crowds or popularity. Fruits are seen in the pain and suffering of this life. Those fruits prepare us for tribulation even when we have all the world offers... We are farmers for God , to show others what real fruit is.

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.



Question what the world says looks good, what the world says is pleasant ,what the world says is wise ...

God provides for our needs and our needs does not look like our wants , Eve shows us that. Our want in this life should be one thing found in 2 Corinthians 5: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight: 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.




He is showing us earth is not our home or should not be our want, He created us to walk in the Garden with Him ...

 

[Drought of the Heart]

We got kicked out of a place that we spend our whole lives trying to get back in. If we think about it, we try everyday to undo what thistles , thorns , sweat , and pain was to remind us of .

So when we create an environment we do not sweat , feel pain or struggle, God will remind us in other ways...

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Every Christian is already seeing the fruits of their labour if what they did for God was to 'internalize their faith' because it produces fruit of character shown in conduct that stays their position, not needing fanfare. In that is confidence (in God) strength (God's) endurance based on faith because our yoke is shared with Him Who prevailed and received that which He was led to, a place at the throne. And that's just the beginning of being accepted in Christ. The rest is found while at the throne of grace.