WHERE IS YOUR FRUIT? Luke 13:17 Then said HE unto the dresser of his vineyard, behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and fine none: cut it down; why cumbereth (Being in the way) it the ground? I would like to take this time to tell GOD thank you so very much for allowing me to see a new year. A year that I never seen before 2003, "God has really been good to me down thru the years. He’s been better to me than I been to myself, and for that reason I say thank you GOD for what you’re doing in my life and my family, friends, Christian brothers, sisters and my enemies as well. I give "HONOR TO GOD" who is the maker and creator of all things, I give "HONOR TO JESUS CHRIST" who is my Lord and Savior who died that I might live eternally, I give "HONOR TO THE HOLY SPIRIT" who is my leader and guide and "HE" follows no one. I thank GOD for this opportunity to have this chance to say something about JESUS, and also I feel honored to be recognized as featured Pastor of the Month, therefore we say thank you to Apostle.com for this space on your program. Brother Hogan we appreciate the work you’re doing in this Christian walk. We’re proud to recognize our newly elected state president Elder Edward Buckner, moderator Elder J.R. Swilley we pray He will continue to recuperate from His extended illness may GOD continue to bless him. We thank GOD for our Pastor Elder F.R. Rush who is also our Vice President of the State Convention. Our hats go off to him for all his LOVE, LEADERSHIP and Christian Lifestyle. Thank you Pastor Rush for being a friend and a brother in trying times. After all that has been said, we’ll get back to the message at hand. The question is being asked Where Is Your Fruit? That is to say I don’t see any, so WHERE IS IT? Luke being the writer of the text poses something that is very important. A certain (you, me) man has a fig tree; put yourself as the owner of the tree what would you have done? Probably the same thing cut it down, burn it up, throw it away, it’s no good to me or for me. The vinedresser speaks up on behalf of the tree, saying master please don’t cut it down, I thought about "JESUS" when we was deep in sin and couldn’t see our way out, Jesus stepped right in on time to save us from sin and judgment. The dresser said, give it one more year. Sometimes it takes a little time for a fig tree to bear because of it’s rooting system was complex and took time to develop. Three years was plenty enough time. A baby learns how to: walk, talk, eat, play and is weaned from his mother in three years. An elephant can have a baby in two years, but this tree didn’t bear any fruit in three years. Lord have mercy on this tree (you and me). Give it one more year Father. The dresser is making a deal one more year and then if it doesn’t bear fruit cut it down. We sometimes go to church Sunday after Sunday, bible class after bible class, but Where Is Your Fruit? So many times we look at folk as been GOD fearing and spiritual because of the "GIFT" they have, but be aware because the bible states something about that it said in the book of Romans 11:29; For the "GIFTS" and "CALLING" of GOD are without repentance. That is to say I see you gift. Some folks judge by gifts. For example: She really can sing very well, but does her life represent Jesus Christ. He really can pray well, but what about the relationship he has outside of his marriage. Is God please with him? So then that let’s me know it’s not about our GIFTS. But Jesus said you know a tree by the fruit it bears. Amen. Matthew 12:33 WHERE IS YOUR FRUIT? Jesus said in the Gospel of John 15 Chapter 1-14 verses something very/very important. He said: Verse 1.) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (keeper). Verse 2.) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. We today as children of God need to be purged of our behavior, our walk, talk etc in order that me might bring forth fruit in 2003. Jesus also said in the 4th verse: 4.) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. We need to stay with Jesus in order to survive in this sinful world that we now live in, there’s no other way to make it without Jesus as the vine in our lives. WHERE IS YOUR FRUIT? Galatians tells us about fruit it say in Galatians 5:22; But the "Fruit" of the Spirit is: 1.) Love: In your heart as a believer 2.) Joy: He (Jesus) came that we might have joy and that our joy may be full. 3.) Peace: Peace deep down only comes from GOD. 4.) Long suffering: Patient with God and others. 5.) Gentleness: Kindness to all 6.) Goodness: Kind but, firm with it. 7.) Faith: Faithfulness in all things 8.) Meekness: Meekness is not weakness, humble to all, but firm. 9.) Temperance: Self control and the bible says against such there is not law. No one can jail you about loving too much, about being good and kind to one another. There is no law against that. There’s three degrees of fruit bearing: a.) Fruit (30) b.) More Fruit (60) c.) Much Fruit (100) Soul winning is a by-product of fruit bearing. Let’s get busy bearing fruit. The master of the vineyard has given us one more year before He cut us down, we might have been a little slack last year. Let’s tighten up a little more and be about the Father’s business. So when the question is ask one of these days whether it be later or soon we will be able to answer his call when He says WHERE IS YOUR FRUIT? AMEN. PRAISE GOD, HALLELUJAH TO HIS HOLY NAME. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU IS MY PRAYER. YOURS IN CHRIST, Elder Alvin J. Ford Pastor of Mt. Zion P.B. Church at Dawkins Pond Tallahassee, Florida