Thursday January 12, 2012 Into The Fire!

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Good Thursday morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Thursday and the day we pray for churches, schools, and families, and remember please to pray for the family of God.

Into The Fire: Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)

Let's together today take a look at the scripture of today. The ax is already at the root of the trees. This coming Saturday there are some friends showing up at our little piece of earth here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, and we have trees already marked that will be coming down. Why? They have been damaged and are not producing what they should be producing, which in the case of these tress are just good leaves. Some have been broken off, other just sort of uprooted from passing storms, but those coming down are just not good trees. What will happen to them? They will be cut up, and yes,  tossed into the fire.

Let's go on to what it means to all of us. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Folks, it means that Judgment day is just not far away and those who are not producing good fruit will be tossed into the lake of fire. Let's look at another scripture to help us out on this one.

Matthew 7:19 - "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,' did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? 23 Then I tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (NIV) (Jesus being quoted here.)

Let me try and put it into Lehman's Language today (don't you love it, Lehman's Language?) While there are a lot of people who act like they are working for God, and maybe some of them do a lot of things around their church, but when not around the church, do they live their life to please God? To bear good fruit, to me, means that you not only need to confess your sins to God, you must repent of them, do your very best to live your life to please God in all you do. You don't go out on a Saturday night and drink yourself silly and then get up on Sunday and go to church, right? Or do you? You need to talk to God often and see what He wants you to do for Him. He might change your plans once in a while. You need to invite Jesus into your heart and into your life, and that means into your home and into all you do. If Jesus was walking with you, would you act differently than you do now? Think about that!! Would Jesus approve of what you are going to do today? One thing I think a lot of us fall short on from time to time is speaking out for Jesus. How often have we missed that chance to witness to someone because we, we, I said, we were not comfortable in doing it right there. And you think, next time, and maybe you will not have a next time with that person. Brothers and sisters, that ax that is already at the root of the tree, is really at the tree of all of us. However,  once the Lord returns, those who don't bear that good fruit will get tossed into the fire, meaning go to hell, but those who have repented and work for God and bear good fruit will get into heaven. Now I am not the judge on this, Jesus is and PRAISE GOD, HE DIED TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS, for dare I say not one of us is worthy of getting into the Kingdom without His grace being poured out over us.

Tomorrow, more on that man that some called wild... And yes, I am talking about John, and tomorrow we are going to see that special person that John baptizes. Who will it be?

Dear Father in Heaven, forgive us this day of our sins, and Lord, help us each day to produce good fruit, even on a day we rest, even on the day you want us to rest, we need to produce good fruit. And Lord, by that I mean even on our day of rest, we want to please You. Help us with it, Lord, help us to repent, and Lord, help us to live our lives like we are holding onto Your hand as we walk, and Lord, help us to do just that. Light our way, dear Lord, and help us when we slip and fall. Lord, bless churches this day and those who are assigned to take care of the flocks, bless schools this day and help us to get the word of Jesus to the children in those schools. And Lord, bless families and most of all bless the family of God, and Lord, may we all be brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, thanks for a very good day yesterday with our ministry team, Lord, watch over Dolores, Pam, Wanda and Grant and also me as we keep moving forward in Your name. Lead us to others, Lord, that need help, and let us help them. In the mighty, mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth bearing and sharing good fruit, meaning your blessings, and brothers and sisters, please try and do your best to share your blessings from the top, and not the leftovers, for if we share from the top, there will be left overs... now enjoy your day and enjoy it as your walk with Jesus... love ya, Pastor Dan.