Where's the Fruit??

i have been so impressed by an article in the july/august issue of "new man magazine".

http://www.newmanmag.com/display.php?id=15370

http://www.newmanmagazine.com/display.php?id=15385

i encourage you to read it. the article is fantastic. it is well written, and the message is clear. but that's not what impressed me the most. what impressed me the most was that authors: stephen strang, thomas harrington and anthony bonna.. all took a stand. these men stepped out (even before the ames breakthrough) to speak out on behalf of what they believed to be the christian alternative for the presidential canidacy...mike huckabee.

in the current environment, with restrictictions being placed upon christians, and christian organizations..it is so refreshing to see somebody STEP OUT. to see somebody speak forth their convictions, inform and challenge the christian community...and not in a half hearted manner, but with gusto...with conviction. kudos to these men!

nowadays, just by looking...you might think our country was going through a christian revival of sorts. after all, books like, "the purpose driven life", "left behind" were both best sellers. cross stickers and fish on the backs of cars and windows seem to be ever increasing. many christian musicians are gaining popularity and are crossing over to the secular genre. celebrities and high profile people are talking about "God" and "blessings" and "prayer".

so what gives? if, in fact, christianity is at an all time high...why is our country at an "all time low"??

there are probably several reasons. but one reason i believe stands out, is the lack of fruit in people's lives.

so "why is fruit lacking?"....


"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. I am the vine, you are the branches. he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." john 15:4-5



without Jesus and the Holy Spirit....we are nothing and can do nothing. we can't "make our own fruit"...only by abiding in God, ('making our home with God') can we produce fruit. no matter how much an apple tree want to produce an apple...if it's not connected to the tree....it won't produce a single piece of fruit.

i'm not questioning anybody's salvation, or the authenticity of their faith in God. but to differentiate and discern between what people "say" .... we must see what they "do". there must be consistencies. we must look for FRUIT. anybody and everybody can claim christianity and faith in God. in fact, currently...it's kinda hip! but we're not looking for a fad...we're looking for authenticity.

a tree can claim to be an apple tree. but until you see an actual apple come forth...it could be a cactus, for all you know.

many people can profess their faith in God, they can use the spiritual words and phrases ....BUT WHERE'S THE FRUIT?? are they abiding in God?



"you will know them by their fruits. do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? even so, every good tree bears good fruit but a bad tree bears bad fruit . therefore, by their fruits you will know them." matthew 7:17, 20

we must be cautious, christians...there are many canidates in the presidential race, who are trying to associate themselves with 'God' and the 'religious right'. we must be discerning. we must look for fruit and consistencies in their lives...not just a convenient sound byte or endorsement.

in mike huckabee...i see fruit. in mike huckabee.. i'm told he's an apple tree...and i see apples.

this is significant. we need a leader that is PROVEN. we need to know there is a history of fruit in his personal life and career. we don't want to be promised an apple tree..only to find out later...it only produces lemons.

bear in mind, having the benefit of a fruitful abiding leader....we have a much better chance for a 'fruitful abiding nation'. maybe giving our country a chance to truly experience spiritual renewal and revival!

christians, there is "hope" in mike huckabee!!

onward!

"but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. against such there is no law." galations 5:22

christians for mike huckabee