Don't Shake Your Fruit Tree (Part 2)
by Sis. Jane Kimmes | January 13, 2015
Hello all at GWOD,
I hope you and pray you are all doing well today. Let me continue with Pastor Crowder's interpretation of Elderess Jefferson's dream (see Part 1 for the dream). Pastor explained that the tree represented Sis. Jefferson and the fruit was all of her labors, her ministry, and everything connected with it. She is not to shake the tree by moving out of God's will, for she could lose the precious fruit by jolting them to the ground and then would have to start all over. Instead she is to stay in God's will for her life so that this fruit can stay on the tree and grow and mature in abundance and sweetness. Pastor then explained that this dream is good for all of us and took us deeper into the meaning of the sufferings that come to each of us as the Lord is making us ready for His work and His assignments. We all must suffer in the Lord and we will suffer too in laboring among the people we are around, saints included, until each of us grows. This takes time and patience. You will suffer and "go through" to be made into what God wants for you. So do not shake your fruit tree and cause your fruit to fall off, be careful. The definition of shake is the following: "The act of shaking, vibrating, jerking, or rocking. To move (an object) up and down or from side to side with rapid, forceful, jerky movements. To cause to lose stability or strength, to disturb or agitate."
So we have been exhorted that when we are suffering or "going through" we must be extremely careful not to shake the tree causing the fruit to fall. Instead be patient and know that you are being strengthened and growth is happening. It takes prayer and intercessory prayer to hold onto the growth. Praise Him during this time of growth, it is not by feeling, it is by the Holy Ghost. She explained that when flour was sifted properly in biblical times, you could put your hand through it and hardly feel it. Because of being so finely sifted, it would just fly into the air. Bless God, everybody, Bless Him again right now and Praise Him.
When our flesh is being crucified is it very painful. I cringe right now when thinking about the pains of growth but I know it is necessary in order to be purified and made more like Him. We put on Christ and die to self by crucifying the flesh, living in the world but not of the world. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. It is an honor to grow and be able to hear God, knowing we are the son's of God through faith in Christ Jesus and in His presence. Be joyful while you are going through the testing or trial, it is for our good.
Pastor Crowder went on to say that when Jesus was crucified, His flesh was torn but none of His bones were broken. As an illustration Pastor used the sufferings of Jesus' crucifixion to explain the sufferings you and I will experience when we are going through a trial. We will experience some of the following: Some words spoken to you will tear your flesh, some attitudes shown to you will tear you flesh, but your bones will not be broken. The nails went through His nerves. When your nerves are touched you are on edge, your flesh is being crucified. The thorns on His head were a light affliction compared to the other atrocities Jesus was suffering, these thorns are your light afflictions. You will get pierced in the side and be handed vinegar and gall. We have to go through these sufferings in order to serve Him. Don't back up from the trials or the crucifying of your flesh, endure it with Jesus. He is with you and in you. Below are the scriptures God gave to Pastor Crowder by the Holy Ghost during the service and the explanation of each, all to help us as we are growing and maturing in Christ and leading others to grow and mature at the same time:
Heb 12:11-13 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
There is a place in each of us that is not healed or sanctified yet. Endure in this place that God has you in right now and let God do the work. Don't let a "Judas" step in and cause you to stumble. "Let me just pick up my purse and leave!" No! Do not listen to this voice in your head or to the "friend" whom the enemy will send to "help you" out of your pain, thereby taking you out of God's will for your life. Follow Jesus. You are dealing with people and God wants you to pray for them and help them because you are the "medicine" that they need. Be sure to give them the correct dosage for their weight (their growth level) and don't kill them with too little or too much or the wrong kind of medicine! May I add that we can share our mature fruit with them, the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit will be healing to them through our actions of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance as we reach out to help them. Sis. Mary said, "We are a people of joy, peace and hope." Let's let Chirst's light shine through in our actions and how we live.
Deut 8:2-5 "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD the God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandment, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee."
God is saying to us: We do not live by bread alone (not by what you think) but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (His Will and instructions for each of our lives). He has led us all these years and fed us manna (spiritual food) and we aren't delivered yet? To make it personal, He has led you through the wilderness to humble you and let you know what is in your heart, and whether you will obey Him or not. I will say it louder to HUMBLE YOU. When God humbles us it is so strong that it can upset your stomach. Tell God you hear Him! Ask for forgiveness and get into intercessory prayer to break up that fallow ground; ground that has been pointed out to you, but that has not been broken up yet in deliverance. Be obedient. Pastor Crowder has to obey God and touch our inner man with correction, she is pruning each of our trees and she made it clear that she is not shaking our trees because there is some precious fruit on these trees that needs to grow and mature. Obeying God will make room for new fruit to grow too (our next assignment from God). Don't judge God's leaders and please leave Moses's seat alone, unless of course God has put you there!
Psalm 119:71-73 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments." God is working on you and you are growing to perfection. Say out loud, "Lord deliver me so I can be a light to the world." Thank Him.
Isaiah 11:1-3 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:" Jesus comes forth in us and give us a quick understanding. So whip the devil and kick him out! Follow God's leading.
Psalm 119:67-68 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." This means that we were in a mess before we were afflicted and with the affliction we have double trouble. But He did not leave us in this condition. Pray: I'm keeping your Word now Lord, teach me the right way. Praise Him and thank Him.
Exodus 15:25-27 "And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that health thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." The tree here is a symbol of the cross and it sweetens the souls of men, the Blood of Jesus makes it sweet.
Do you all see what a rich word we received and how it was given by His Spirit and confirmed in His Word? Only God could do that so perfectly. God was answering our prayers and if we have an ear and do what is right today, we will come into that peaceful place there by the Water.
So let me ask you now, how is your fruit? Is it growing? Are you being careful not to shake your fruit tree, but instead staying in the will of God and being obedient to Him? Are you watering your tree with the Word and fertilizing it with prayer, intercessory prayer, praise and worship, and labors of love in the Holy Ghost as God directs? Is your fruit firmly connected so it can grow and mature? Are you keeping the deadly pests away from it? Is your fruit abundant and sweet? Stay in the will of God and you will be healthy and produce an abundance of sweet fruit that only God can bring about and it will be sweetened by Jesus; by the Blood of Jesus, His Perfect Sacrifice for us so that we can have eternal life in Him.
Be Blessed and Strengthened today and remember suffering for Christ is a good thing. We cannot stay the same after a word like this. When you are in a battle whether it is of your own choosing or not, make a loud cry unto God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Deut 31:6. Love you very much.
Love, Sis. Jane
