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eisakouo

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Tag Archives: spiritual growth

Has the Lord Given You the “Dung” Treatment Lately?

02 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by eisakouo in Our Spiritual Process

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dung treatment, real friut, repentance, roots, spiritual growth

 “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

All parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Here are the working parts of this parable: 

  • The Owner of the vineyard is God.
  • The fig tree is you.
  • Roots are all of your physical and spiritual senses which allow you to understand truth and growth.
  • Fertilizer is refuse, compost, and manure.  It is anything (good or bad) that comes into our life that stimulates real spiritual growth.   

      Just think, God loves you so much…He plants your life in the middle of manure to assure growth.  How do you smell today? 

      According to this parable, the Father is always searching for real fruit in our lives.  The first type of fruit He desires to see in us is repentance.  In short, repentance is the belief, confession, and outward evidence that you have turned from sin.  The angels rejoice when we repent.  There is no need for anyone to stay in sin.  Real repentance is a fruit we all should be consistently bearing. 

      If the Father doesn’t discover fruit in our lives, He takes this corresponding action:

  1. He tills around our roots and exposes them to water, air, and nutrients.  This may shock our system as it does most plants, but it is just what we need. 
  2. Next, the manure is piled on!  Nutrient rich and easily digested truth should bring growth to our lives.  Since our destiny is to produce fruit, this is just what we need.    

      Understand, God always approaches us privately about our sin and the need for repentance.  When this does not work, His confrontations become more public.  If you stink today from God’s dung treatment, it is not because the Lord wanted it this way.  He would rather you live fertilizer free. 

      Decide now to be quick in your obedience to the Lord.  Your spiritual growth and well-being depends upon it.  Smell well, my friend!

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He Loved Me So Much, He Was Late

21 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by eisakouo in Our Spiritual Process

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delay, Lazarus, postpone, process, real faith, spiritual growth

“So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”  John 11:15

      This is a difficult statement to read and digest.  Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes for a moment.  We can be sure they all had love and affection for Lazarus and his extended family.  We are told Jesus did.  Now we discover Jesus is “glad” He wasn’t there so that Lazarus could die!  Does this sound cruel to you? 

      Most of us have had someone special or very close to us pass away.  Times of loss are especially difficult.  Was the Lord there by your side in your time of need?  Maybe you have been sick, even to the point of death, or knew of someone else in this condition.  Was the Lord there by your side during your time of need?  Hasn’t the Lord met you in all your moments of great need? 

      My point is this – One of the ways we know we are truly growing in the Lord is when He delays or postpones His answer or arrival.  It is in this precise moment of delay that we are not bothered or confused by the Lord’s actions because we trust Him.  Faith at its finest can undergo delay or postponement and not be detered. 

      If you are not really maturing in the Lord, then His presence or lack of presence may not mean much to you.  If you are in the process of growth and His friendship and nearness is vital, then this type of testing from heaven is what you can expect.  Lazarus, his family, and even the twelve disciples, were all expecting the Lord to move one way.  They believed Jesus could only heal Lazarus before he died.  But the Lord chose to  “delay” because He loved them and wanted their faith to grow beyond it’s current limitations. 

      Does the Lord love you so much today that He would purposefully procrastinate in answering your prayers?  Or are you one of those followers who completely falls apart when heaven appears to be inactive or indifferent.  If the Lord’s movements appear to be unusual, it just maybe He is attempting to stretch your faith.  Purpose today to “get over yourself” and grow past your fears to discover a deeper belief in the Lord.

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