Thursday, 10 May 2018
Make the tree good, and its fruit good – Matthew 12:31-37.
A heated, climactic encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees had ensued in which they were trying to discredit Him. He had just healed a blind and mute man who was demon-possessed, and they were charging that He only casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. The Lord engaged them head on.
He told the Pharisees that they were a bad tree producing bad fruits. There was no way they could say anything good about Him since they were evil and spoke forth evil things out of the abundance of their evil hearts. They blasphemed and sinned against the Holy Spirit by attributing the miracles of healing and casting out of demons which Jesus did by the Holy Spirit to the devil. As such this sin of blasphemy against the Spirit of God would not be forgiven them. Furthermore, unbelieving men will give an account for every idle word they speak in the day of judgement. By their words they will be justified, and by their words they will be condemned.
Interestingly, none of the above concerns us as Christians or believers. We were born again by grace through faith, and this is the work of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. Therefore we cannot speak against Him, because He lives in us. We cannot speak idle words because we’re no longer bad trees that bear bad fruits or idle words. Jesus says either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make it bad and its fruit bad, because a tree is known by its fruit. We were bad trees that have now been made good and their fruits good. We cannot be condemned by our words, but can only be justified. It’s a gift from God. Justified and condemned cannot be on the same whatsapp group. God justifies those He calls, and there’s therefore now no condemnation for them.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. Jesus said make the tree good and its fruit good. We’re the trees that have been made good. Out of the abundance of the heart that’s been made good our mouths speak. Therefore we bring forth only good things through our mouths. Now let’s speak good things; let’s say to the mountain be removed and be cast over there and it shall be done for us. We believe only and do not doubt. Doubt is not good, and therefore should not be found in a good heart of faith. Since we speak out of the abundance of the heart of faith, we’re justified by our words of faith. Speak on, move mountains, change things and bring forth good things. Hallelujah!
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