JULY 24, 2021 SCRIPTURE AND SONG – A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUIT

Numbers 14:8-9 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

9. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defense and shadow (of protection) is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us; fear them not.

The Israelites were given a promise from God to enter into the land flowing with abundance. He told them He had given it to them. But they let sight rule and fear took over. They said the people of the land are giants and stronger than we are therefore we are not able. Only 2 men out of 600,000 believed.

We all have promises the Lord has given us. We can find a promise in the Bible and take it and claim it for ourselves. That is what He delights in. His word is there for us to use in our daily walk. We find the passage of scripture and take it to Him and say, “do as thou hath said.” How can He say no to something He has promised?

The problem is never with Him, it is always with us. We simply have to search our hearts and cry out to Him to forgive and cleanse us. We have it so easy compared to the Israelites. There were times when they admitted they were wrong, but the Lord would not hear them. He rejected them and let them die out in the wilderness. Why did He do that?

Numbers 14:1…and they wept all that night.

2. All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in this wilderness!

3. Why does the Lord bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey; is it not better for us to return to Egypt?

4. And they said one to another, Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt?

Their judgment came out of their mouth. They died in the wilderness. They got what they wanted. He waited for their children to grow up to send them to the Promise Land.

Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

We must guard our tongue especially in times of trial. We must focus on the good things we have been blessed with and keep a grateful attitude. There have been times for me when I was focused on circumstances and my own weakness and complained.

I have learned the hard way that I should never complain, to always ask for His help because I know He is holy and always right. I used to get my feelings hurt and get mad at Him because I did not understand why so much pain when all I wanted was Him. Now I voice what I have to be thankful for and things begin to change for the better.

The purifying process and the refining fire is painful. But He knows all along what we need to make us pure so we can be with Him. He was making a way for me to be with Him. I can see now what I could not see before and have learned how to shut my mouth (I hope).

We are like trees and they grow very slowly. Roots are formed in the dark where no one sees but the Lord.

Matthew 12:33…for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.

34. …For out of the fullness, the overflow, the superabundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

When we have spent a long time in unforgiveness or any other sin roots form and they need to be plucked out by the Lord. It is a painful process. But He loves us too much to ignore problems of the heart. We can understand by what comes out of our mouth the trials that we face. We must see with what love He brings us to this place of deliverance and rest in His Arms because He is taking such great pains to make us pure!

POEM — STREAMS IN THE DESERT

Follow Me, and I will make you…

Make you speak My words with power,

Make You channels of My mercy,

Make you helpful every hour.

Follow Me, and I will make you…

Make you what you cannot be,

Make you loving, trustful, godly,

Make you even like Me.

SONG — SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN — PAUL WILBUR