The Ultimate Fruit Test! See how you measure up to what the Bible says about being a Follower of Jesus Christ.

Posted on February 20, 2014 by HolyJustLove

Answer the following questions and look up the associated verses to determine if you are a follower of Jesus or just a really big fan.

Who You Are
Audit #1: Is your character in keeping with the Fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23
Audit #2: Do you Walk by the Spirit? Galatians 5:16-26
Audit #3: Do you Actively “Make Disciples”? Matthew 28:19
Audit #4: Do you Love God with all that you are? Matthew 22:38-38

God’s Law
Audit #5: Do You Crave the Word of God? 1 Peter 2:2-3. Romans 7:22, John 8:47, Matthew 5:6
Audit #6: Do You Keep His Commands? Exodus 20
Audit #7: Is God’s Law Written on Your Heart? Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:6-13
Audit #8: Do You Grow in Wisdom or just Knowledge? James 1:15

Understanding Love
Audit #9: Do You Love Others? 1 John 4:7-12
Audit #10: Do You Love your Enemy? Matthew 5:43-48, 1 Corinthians 4:12
Audit #11: Do You Have a Love Affair with the World? 1 John 2:15-17, John 15:19
Audit #12: Are you politically correct when it comes to Jesus and your friends, family and coworkers? Matthew 10:32-33, 2 Corinthians 5:20

Tests and Discipline
Audit #13: Do you Have Chronic Sin? 1 John 3:6-10
Audit #14: Do You Get Disciplined by God? Hebrews 12:3-11
Audit #15: Do You Get Tested by God? James 1:2-3, 1 Peter 4:12-14
Audit #16: Are you instantly convicted when you sin? John 16:7-11
Audit #17: Do you get persecuted for your faith? 2 Timothy 3:12, John 15:18, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 1 Peter 3:14, Matthew 5:10
Audit #18: Are you hated by some people because of your faith? 1 John 3:13, Luke 6:22,

A Changed Life
Audit #19: Do You See a Changed Life? Ezekiel 36:25-26
Audit #20: Is Your Spiritual Life Different from Last Year? Are you growing? Colossians 1:9-10, 2 Peter 3:18
Audit #21: Do You Find Assurance or Conviction When You Read the Entire Book of 1 John?
Audit #22: Christian: Would a stranger or even a close friend or family member who is not a follower of Christ convict you of being a follower? 1 John 5:19, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Corinthians 1:21-23

Fruit Audit – Do you grow in knowlege or wisdom?

Posted on February 19, 2014 by HolyJustLove

All over the Bible it tells us to ask for “wisdom.” You might be interested to know that the way Jews understood the meaning of the word “wisdom” is not how we use the word today. “Chokmah” is the Hebrew and “sophia” is the Greek word that is translated “wisdom.” The people of Israel all knew that when learning from the Bible or anyone teaching on things of Yahweh, then fully understood and appreciated it’s deeper meaning. Wisdom is the practical application of God’s will. So while you may be a knowledge seeker or someone who is the consummate student, always learning and taking classes, even on things of God, I encourage you to take a deeper look at your motives.

When you study, is it to gain greater understanding and greater knowledge? While knowledge and understanding of the Bible is a crucial part of the Christian walk, the more important factor is it’s practical life application. Do you pray for wisdom to understand the things of God or do you pray for wisdom to act on His will; to do what he wants and not what you want? Think of it this way: we are all selfish, self-absorbed, egotistical, self-centered humans. Right? That is really the top thing you are an expert on… you. So, when you fall in love and commit to another person, what happens? It becomes all about them and what they want (at least during the honeymoon stage). That is kind of how it is with God only it is permanent. Once you are His, fully and unconditionally His, your understanding of the word “wisdom” will come to life. Your prayer life will change. Your motives for your life will change. YOU will change.

This is another beautiful fruit that you will bring forth when Yahweh makes you His… A-men and Halleluyah!

For more on this topic check out these posts:
Wisdom
The Power to Do God’s Will

Maranatha!

FRUIT AUDIT PREVIOUS POSTS:
Introduction: Have Your Ever Taken a Fruit Audit?

Fruit Audit – Are you Allergic to Sin?

Posted on February 18, 2014 by HolyJustLove

To sum things up from the post on being a lawbreaker, remember at the beginning I stated “I used to be such a lawbreaker.” The important phrase in that sentence is “used to be”. OK, no, I am not perfect, however, now that I am a child of God, the Holy Spirit literally dwells inside me. Every time I mess up or break a law, aka sin, my heart instantly tugs at me. I am instantly convicted by the Holy Spirit. Did you know that convicting us of sin is one of his jobs? He came to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgement. John 16:7-11 It is a pure wonder and something that takes some getting used to. The best way I can describe it is I now am allergic to sin. If you have allergies this will make sense. Sure, I can play with a cat, but I will pay instantly if I touch my eye and I will pay in the long run with itchy skin if I play with the cat for a while. This does not mean I don’t ever touch a cat. I just know what will happen and it is very uncomfortable. There is no controlling the reaction I have. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. He convicts me on the spot every time, and like playing with a cat, his conviction is very uncomfortable. It is wild, and awe-inspiring, and now I FULLY understand why he is called our Helper.

If you want to see more on this topic check out this post:
God’s Law is Written on My Heart

Maranatha!

FRUIT AUDIT PREVIOUS POSTS:
Introduction: Have Your Ever Taken a Fruit Audit?

Fruit Audit – Are you a Lawbreaker?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by HolyJustLove

I used to be such a lawbreaker. I’m not talking about the big laws, but I was the typical entitled American. You know the kind. I generally obeyed traffic laws but pushed the limits by driving just under 80, not using signals, rolling through stop signs, making left turns over double yellow lines, parking in questionable spots because I was late, and any other area I could manage to justify, like running red lights in the middle of the night because no one was around. Or how about those people who don’t fully claim all their tips or cash payments to the IRS? Who’s going to know, right? What about that time you lied to your friend and used your kid being “sick” as an excuse for not doing something. Or you lied to your spouse about how much you actually spent on your new wardrobe. How about when you take home office supplies from your work? No one will care and they have so much and besides it is the least they can give you for all the crap you put up with.

I mean, really… We are a nation of self-justified and entitled people. No wonder other countries can’t stand us. Do you think God is going to say, “Oh it’s ok, that is just how they were raised.” I don’t think so. In fact, if you take a quick look at the very short list of 10 commandments he has asked us to keep, I am pretty sure you have broken all of them. Haven’t murdered anyone lately? Jesus said if you hate someone it’s the same thing. Haven’t committed adultery? If you are a man, have you looked at any porn in the last few days, or hours? If you are a woman, have you checked out a hot guy and wished your man looked like that? It’s the same thing in Jesus’ mind.

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” – 1 John 2:3-6

If you are interested in digging deeper into each commandment to see how you add up, here they are:
(To see the full text as it was written read Exodus 20.)

God is the only God. (simple… or not if you think God is basically the same god for every religion.)
You shall not worship idols (Like worshiping a TV show or celebrity, or food, or money, or your career, you get the idea.)
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (Like saying OMG or saying “my God” for no reason.)
Take one day a week to rest. Fully. No work at all. (Does anyone really do this command anymore? It is not a joke and is not antiquated.)
Honor your father and mother. (You may no longer be living with your parents and have kids of your own but think about it, do you honor your mom and dad or do you “know better” than they do and often put them “in their place.”)
You shall not murder. (Not a murderer? Think again. Check out Matthew 5:21-22)
You shall not commit adultery. (Even looking at someone with lust is considered adultery from Jesus’ standpoint. Check out Matthew 5:28)
You shall not steal. (I don’t know of a single person who can honestly say they have never stolen anything.)
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (This, like the 10th commandment is not talking about the person who lives next to you. God means anyone you know or even somewhat know. Think in terms of the person you like the least. Stop hating on them and spreading rumors and gossip. Basically, stop lying!)
You shall not covet anything that is your neighbors. (ie. his or her spouse, his or her job, his or her house, his or her car, his or her garden, his or her kids, his or her clothing, his or her hair, seriously the grass is not greener so stop coveting!)