TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SERVE US FRESH FRUIT, PLEASE.
11th January 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: John 15:1, 4 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
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.”
It’s a bit ironic that people say that one thing that is constant in life is change, yet you hear the same people saying people don’t change.
Whichever one you agree with, as believers, one established truth is that every believer undergoes a transformation process from an old nature to new nature, which is entirely an outflow of the Holy Spirit we received when we became born-again. (Ephesians 1:13)
In Matthew 7:16 when scripture says, “By their fruit, you shall know them.”, what is it trying to tell us?
It’s simple. As long as it is impossible for a mango tree to bear an apple fruit, it is equally impossible for the old nature of sin to produce fruits of righteousness.
Likewise, if we believe that a believer has been raised to new life and has been born again(See Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 5:24), then the only fruits that can be produced by that person are fruits that are characteristic of his new nature that is Christ.
So this brings us to the question- Where is your new/fresh fruit?
The truth is, God doesn’t need fruit to know you but the world needs fruit to know you. The light that we are asked to shine is not for God but for men to see and glorify God. (Matthew 5:16.)
As new creations, you have to willingly give up the familiarity of the old life which has been killed. (Romans 6)
The reason some believers don’t reflect the character or fruits of the new life is because they are still toying with that old nature. This is why it’s so important for the believer to yield to renewing his mind; to produce new Christ-like fruits.
In the end, when people taste the new fruit you are producing and they look back at the old fruit they used to taste, they can testify that indeed, it is possible for a man to change by the saving power of Christ.
REFLECTION
What areas of my life needs to taste like the new fruit of Christ?
DECLARATION
-I am a new man in Christ.
-I have been grafted to a new tree therefore I bear new fruit.
-I abide in the vine.
-My old nature is dead and only the new nature finds expression.
-Christ is formed and revealed in me.
-Christ is my only reality.
-I exude the fragrance of Christ to everyone I come across.
-Today, I enjoy the benefits of the finished works of Christ.
-I am loved by God.
-I am BLESSED!
-Glory to God!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to The Mind of Christ >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
