25 December, 2023
Post By : Admin
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DIGGING DEEP NO. 1016 December 26, 2023 Fruitfulness Part II: Blight of Fruitlessness John 12:20-26 NKJV The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
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20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.
21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [d]grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
PART 1 REVIEW: Till the Ground
– There’s NOTHING ORIGINAL about man… man is akin to a glove, which plays “host” to a hand… Genesis 1:2-28 NKJV
– GOD breathes Ruach רוּחַ (pronounced: roo-lakh “breath of life”) in man. Genesis 2:7 NKJV
+ We are commanded by GOD to be fruitful and multiply HIS image!
– Division of labor in the Elohim* אֱלֹהִים (the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ ‘Ĕlōah’): 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 KJV
– JESUS is the umpire for “ministry”; however, to be considered for service you must first experience a New Birth; John 3:1-8 & Romans 12:4-8 NKJV
– The necessity for this New Birth is because the first man (Adam) pioneered rebellion, through the deception of Satan, whilst the second man (JESUS) pioneered obedience through the commandments of GOD. Rev. 12:7-10, 1 John 3:8* & John 14:30-31** NKJV
+ The seed/source of a problem MUST also be the solution:
Mr. Domingo & Dr. Eko’s question…
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The Life of Saul |
The Life of David |
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Saul was man’s version of King: 1 Samuel 10:23-24 |
David was GOD’s version of King: 2 Samuel 7:8-16 |
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Saul was a man after people’s praise: 1 Samuel 18:6-8 |
David was a man after GOD’s heart: Acts 3:22 |
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Saul’s kingship was rejected: 1 Samuel 15:23 |
David’s kingship was eternal through CHRIST: 2 Samuel 7:29 |
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Saul was cruel: 1 Samuel 20:30-32; 22:11-29 |
David was kind and benevolent: 2 Samuel 7:29 |
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Saul was unforgiving: 1 Samuel 14:44; 18:9 |
David was forgiving: 1 Samuel 26 |
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When confronted, Saul lied: 1 Samuel 15:10-31 |
David was penitent: 2 Samuel 12:13; 24:10 |
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Saul was fearful: 1 Samuel 17:11; v. 18-22 |
David was courageous: 2 Samuel 17:1; 1 Chronicles 18 |
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Saul was separated from GOD: 1 Samuel 16:14 |
David was at peace with GOD: Psalm 4:8; 37:11 |
– With this New Birth, dormant spiritual senses are “quickened” (made alive) — just like our physical senses (taste, smell, sight, etc.) are designed and fully developed in the womb, but are not intended for the womb, and only become activated upon breaching through water from a mother’s womb. Ecclesiastes 11:5 NKJV
– Upon birth, a child transitions from being nourished, protected, and housed by the mother’s womb to being nourished, protected, and housed by the Kingdom of the world. Psalm 58:3 NKJV**
– Likewise, a child of GOD MUST breach “water” in baptism and transition from being nourished, protected, and housed by the Kingdom of the world to the Kingdom of GOD. Galatians 2:19-20 NKJV**
– In the Kingdom of GOD, it is GOD and the systems, principals, and doctrines that govern the Born-Again believer’s life, through the New Breath of Life… not those of this world. Genesis 2:7, John 20:22 NKJV
QUESTION #1: What is required for service to JESUS?
ANSWER #1: According to scripture, to serve JESUS CHRIST, our LORD, a “man” must be born of a woman and must experience both the New Birth of water (baptism) & the New Life of the Holy Spirit (Ruach). Mind you, there are three types of baptisms (Matthew 3:11 NKJV)*. And the disciple must Die as JESUS died; both to himself and on the cross* daily, and follow JESUS through perpetual obedience (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV).
QUESTION #2: Why must we be fruitful? What does it mean to be fruitful?
ANSWER #2: According to scripture, we must be fruitful because we’ve been commanded to do so by GOD (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). To be considered fruitful, we’re first anthropomorphic, ánthrōpos (ἄνθρωπος, lit. “human”) and morphē (μορφή, “form”). This is critical to understanding fruitfulness because all things made were made in their image and likeness, whereas man was made in GOD’s image and likeness; as such, we must look to GOD (upward and outside of ourselves).
The Bible IS a book ABOUT A KING & HIS KINGDOM.
The GOSPEL is the REDEMPTION STORY of the KING’s Children BACK to HIS KINGDOM, through HIS son CHRIST JESUS by the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Desired Learning Objective:
- What is required for service to JESUS?
- Why must we be fruitful? What does it mean to be fruitful?
- Why is JESUS called the True Vine? What does it mean to be “taken away” and “thrown away” from the True Vine?
- How long does it take for a “fruit” to grow?
PART 2: Plant the Seed…
QUESTION #3: Why is JESUS called the True Vine? What does it mean to be “taken away” and “thrown away” from the True Vine?
JESUS is a situational/circumstantial teacher: In order for HIM to teach, HE will first wait for the right venue, political climate, audience, resources to be present before HE will teach. JESUS also RARELY spoke in plain language; but in idioms & parables — what the Intelligence Community (IC) calls classified* language. These elements of teachings are vastly different from what EVERY other teacher, prophet, priest or King taught throughout the Bible.
- Luke 4:16-22 NKJV:JESUS waited until Shabbat שַׁבָּת and returned to Nazareth, where HE was born and raised, to attend temple service. The readings were spread over approximately three and a half years, differing slightly from town to town. Also, synagogues did not have a single leader who preached every week, like a rabbi or pastor does today. Instead, one adult member of the congregation (or an educated Jewish/Proselyte* visitor) would be invited to read the Torah portion. On holidays and special Sabbaths, a prophetic reading called the haftarah הפטרה (HAHF-tah-rah), meaning “completion” is selected to coincide with the calendar. An Israelite adult, by accountability, not only age, would then choose a prophetic passage that fits the Torah reading and would give a brief meditation on how the passages relate to each other. It’s at this time that JESUS found Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV and read HIS commission in the temple, then closed* the book so that only those who came to HIM would understand its meaning (John 14:6 NKJV).
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV
The Good News of Salvation
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to [a]heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To [b]console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
BIBLE LOGIC:
– Every disciple of GOD has a “commission” that was foretold of them before their manifestation (Isaiah 61)
– Until you find* your “commission” in scripture; your ministry in JESUS has NOT yet begun (Luke 4:17)
– Your commission in CHRIST is not hidden from you (information) but FOR you (revealed).
– Why, you might ask? JESUS had to do the same, the Kingdom of Heaven is clothed in mysteries, and Mark 3:13-15 KJV
13 And He went up onto a mountain, and called unto Him whom He would have, and they came unto Him.
14 And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,
15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils:
- John 4:1-30 NKJV:JESUS waits for a Samaritan woman (religious and ethnic half-breeds) by a well. Although she’s looking to fetch water for herself, JESUS will instead dig a well in her heart so that SHE can fill her city with the “living water of life” which is the word of GOD. (John 7:37-39 NKJV). Also, remember that in John 3:1-8; JESUS did not recognize Nicodemus’ earthly accreditations (a Pharisee, ruler of the Jews) except that Nicodemus is a man; first and foremost. Whereas, the Samaritan woman addressed JESUS as a Jew, Sir (LORD; from the French: “Monsieur”), prophet, a man, and Messiah (the CHRIST).
BIBLE LOGIC:
– GOD calls men and women, NOT titles.
– GOD will reveal HIMSELF (HIS nature) to you before HE might send you… what do you know about JESUS?
– GOD will reveal HIMSELF to you, through given questions; and then seek answers*.
– The more water you drink, the more you are satisfied; but when you “drink” of GOD, a well of living water is dug in your heart and you will thirst for MORE of HIM*
– JESUS is the man; whereas CHRIST is the office. You must know BOTH before being sent.
**Whenever reading the teachings of JESUS, you must also educate yourself on the political, historical, economic & spiritual temperament at that time to understand JESUS’ teachings fully. NOTHING JESUS taught could be understood at face; neither then nor now.
A few times in the Bible, metaphors are used to describe GOD because, besides JESUS, GOD and the Holy Spirit are invisible. So, it means that even though we cannot see them, we can better understand them by their attributes or by the effects we experience. GOD has been described as Yahweh “YHWH” (LORD, Savior), Yeshua ישוע (the deliverer), a Lion (King with a Kingdom), Fruit bearing vine (The True Vine). We will focus on the “tree” aspect of GOD’s character.
Mr. Godswill Ogbomor’s question…
Yehoshua יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua) = Yeshua ישוע (Jeshua) = Iesous (Ἰησοῦς) = IESVS/Iesus = Jesus
Hebrew* Old English Greek** Latin
In John 15:1-8 NKJV, JESUS is teaching what theologians call the “testimony of GOD”. These are instances where GOD testifies about HIMSELF by HIMSELF. We see JESUS call himself the “True Vine”, HIS Father the “vinedresser”, we are the “branches”, and the fruits are “disciples”.
John 15:1-8 NKJV
The True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
As a branch, we must abide in the “True Vine”, because there are many “vines” out in the world, that support many “branches”, but you shall know them by their fruits
Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV;
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
As branches of the True Vine, we must produce “fruits” (disciples); otherwise, GOD will cut us off. Producing fruits is a command that’s been set forth since the beginning of creation, but in this instance, a branch that abides in the True Vine but refuses to bear fruits is an “unyielded” branch. It’s a branch that’s unwilling to deny itself, yield to GOD’s process of being sent, and die to itself. As such, it only receives life but doesn’t expel it… and we all know what happens to a person who eats and doesn’t expel it; they become constipated.
Spiritual constipation** is someone who’s in the church, knows of WORD, has been baptized, continues to increase in divine knowledge but refuses to be sent and develop other disciples. Mind you, disciples are not the same as converts; and discipleship is not mentorship. Disciples are commissioned and sent-ones. JESUS said in:
John 20:21-22 NKJV
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV
30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Luke 10:2 NKJV
2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Acts 13:1-2 NKJV
Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles
13 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene [Libya], Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
BIBLE LOGIC:
– Men spend money, and GOD spends “men”.
– Men deploy combatants, and GOD deploys “disciples”.
Anyone that is “taken away” means that the grace (spiritual capital) that’s been allotted for their ministry under CHRIST JESUS will be taken from them and reallocated to another branch in the True Vine who’s more yielded to produce “fruits”. Have you not read the parable of the talents, where the servant who was “given” one talent chose not to go out and multiply his talents but instead chose to hide it?
The shroud master took the lazy servants’ only talent and gave it to the servant who had 10 talents (Matthew 25:28-29 NKJV). Such is the same for anybody who is “taken away”. Also, GOD will make sure that any fruitless branches, sees his/her replacement before they die; because mantles don’t die, they either lay dormant or they’re transferred.
Another example of being “taken away” is the person who chooses to remain fruitless will become cursed by JESUS himself. Their lives are cursed to be without purpose, meaning, hope and life. They’re busy but NOTHING they produce will translate to eternal value.
Ever wondered why JESUS, who was hungry after fasting 40 days in Matthew 4; did not quench HIS hunger, yet HIS hunger in Matthew 11 was met with a curse?
Matthew 11:12-14 NKJV
The Fig Tree Withered
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
And His disciples heard it.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
ANSWER #3: According to scripture, JESUS is called the True Vine because there are many vines but JESUS is the only one that is pruned by GOD the Father, the vinedresser (John 15:1). And anybody that abides in the True Vine and does not bear fruits will be “taken away” meaning that (1) the grace (spiritual capital) that’s been allotted for their ministry under CHRIST JESUS will be taken from them, reallocated to a more fruitful branch in the True Vine who’s more yielded to produce “fruits”. And (2) their lives will be cursed by JESUS to be fruitless.
QUESTION #4: How long does it take for a “fruit” to grow?
Growing Watermelon Plant Time Lapse – Seed to Fruit (110 Days) – BRAVE brower
DISCUSSION: What did you observe?
First Fruits Giant Lemons Testimony
DISCUSSION: NOW what did you observe?
Leviticus 19:23-25 NKJV
23 ‘When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as [e]uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the LORD. 25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the LORD your God.
Questions from GOD:
+ After 4 years of undergraduate education, what do you become?
+ After 1-2 years of graduate education, what do you become?
+ After 3 years of law school education, what do you become?
+ After 4 years of medical school education, what do you become?
+ After 5-8 years of post-graduate education, what do you become?
But…
+ what do you become after attending church for 1, 5, 9, 12, 15, 20+ years?
JESUS began HIS ministry at about 30 years old and JESUS’ ministry lasted for 3.5 years; Luke says JESUS began HIS ministry at “about 30 years of age” (Luke 3:23).
John records three Passover events during Jesus’ ministry (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55). From this evidence, the conclusion is drawn: He began at age 30, he ministered for 3 years (through 3 annual Passover feasts), and therefore he died at age 33.
Luke 3:23 NKJV
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
John 2:13 NKJV
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 6:4-5 NKJV
4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
John 11:55 NKJV
55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
After concluding HIS ministry, and training HIS disciples, at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, JESUS commanded HIS disciples to go forth and make MORE disciples of ALL the nations; through baptism and teaching.
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Galatians 1:11-17 NKJV
Call to Apostleship
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Scripturally, it takes at least three years to make a genuine disciple of CHRIST. Consecrated and Holy until GOD as we’ve seen in JESUS’ and Paul’s ministries. There is no escaping process; and no apostle, teacher, pastor, prophet, and evangelist just appear. Anybody who appears suddenly will also disappear suddenly. Any minister of GOD who cannot be traced back to a man/woman will be traced back to the devil.
BIBLE LOGIC:
– Men and women of GOD MUST be traced back to a man or woman of GOD (Paul to Ananias)
– Fruit bearing is individual and covered
– YEARS are wasted in development and cultivating of a disciple/apostle* of GOD
– JESUS only developed disciples and apostle… even though, HIS ministry includes pastor, prophets, evangelists and teachers.
ANSWER #4: According to scripture, in Leviticus 19, we see that it takes five years total before a fruit is considered fruitful. And in Matthew 28, we saw that JESUS took over three years to train and develop HIS disciples into apostles.
Isaiah 11:1-5 ESV
The Righteous Reign of the Branch
11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
REVIEW Desired Learning Objective:
- What is required for service to JESUS?
- Why must we be fruitful? What does it mean to be fruitful?
- Why is JESUS called the True Vine? What does it mean to be “taken away” and “thrown away” from the True Vine?
QUESTIONS?