Tag: Luke 3:7-9

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Bearing Fruit

Bearing fruit is the result of sencere repentance

Some of the people who flocked to see John the Baptist and hear him preach were not sincere. Maybe curious. Or maybe they just wanted a glimpse of the “wild man” that lived in a wilderness and had a diet of locust and honey. Perhaps it was the message John preached that they were curious about. Regardless of their reasons for being there, their reasons did not include true repentance. The people did not “bear fruit” that they had experience salvation and repentance in their hearts. The Holy Spirit revealed to John that some of the people were going through the right motions, but their heart was not following the motions. John called these people poisonous snakes and warned them to change their attitudes.

Bearing fruit that leads to repentance

In Luke 3:10-14, the people responded to John saying, “What, then, are we supposed to do?” John told them to have compassion on others, to be honest and fair, to not abuse power, and to be content. He told them that if they were sincere in their repentance, then they would bear fruit that identified them as belonging to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what these fruits are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” The simple truth is that when we truly give our hearts to Christ and make Him Lord, the evidence is seen in the changes in our lives that come about as a result of Him living within us.

Godly fruit is the outward expression of an inward change that only occurs after we surrender our hearts to Christ. If Christ had taken up residence in the people following John, they would have had compassion on those who are in need, the tax collectors would have been fair and honest in the taxes they collected, and the soldiers would not abuse the power given them in their position and they would have been content with their wages.

You can go through the motions, but not experience salvation

Today, people still go through the motions without actually having a heart change. They go to church, tithe, live moral lives, and maybe even teach a Sunday school class. And yet they are as lost as the person who doesn’t believe in Christ. Without true repentance there is no salvation and they are heading for an eternity in Hell. This is what John means in verse 9 when he says that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

It isn’t up to use to judge others as to their fruit or lack thereof. The question we need to ask is, “Is there fruit in my life that gives evidence of Christ living within me?”

God, show me the fruit of Christ living in me. Show me the fruit that needs cultivating and help me to grow and produce abundant and rich fruit as evidence of You working in my life. May the fruit that I bear lead others to you.  

Revive Renew Redeem logo on self-care post

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]
Bible Reading Plan Download

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

This week’s new Christian Tees designs:

Blessings from Head to Toe

Let’s start a pandemic of blessings by praying a blessing over everyone you meet. Our “Blessings” design is meant to do just that. We’ve created this design in four different choices.

Blessings from Head to Toe
Blessings from Head to Toe – Hearts
Get the “Blessings” shirts and products here
Get the “Blessings – Hearts” shirts and products here
Blessings from Head to Toe – Roses
Blessings from Head to Toe – Floral
Get the “Blessings-roses” shirts and products here
Get the “Blessings – floral” shirts & products here

Graduating Seniors

For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.

Graduating Seniors
Find the “Graduating Seniors” shirts and products here

Here are some of our favorite designs

  • Godfidence
  • Anything is possible
  • With my song I will praise Him
  • All Things New
  • Joy of the Lord
  • Way Maker
  • Walk by Faith
  • Script Unstoppable God
  • Print Unstoppable God
  • Unstoppable Force
  • Steps of a Good Man
  • Something New
  • Seek and Find
  • Revive Us Again
  • Resist the Devil
  • Raise a Hallelujah
  • Path of His Commands
  • Prayer Warrior
  • Beloved- Mr and Mrs
  • Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan
  • Man of God
  • He Left 99 for Me
  • Cast All Your Cares
  • Giants
  • Faith over Fear
  • Faith Can Move Mountains
  • Don’t Worry
  • Don’t Quit
  • Created to Praise
  • All things are Possible
  • What the Lord Requires
  • Living for the world to see Jesus
  • Face Masks now available!
  • All things are possible
  • Run with perseverance
  • Revive Us Again, Lord
    Revive us again, Lord

New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.

God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.

Find the canvas print here

We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

Click here to watch the animated devotionals

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

WestBow Press logo

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Christianbook Distributors logo
Everything Christian for less!

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search:
Christianbook.com

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is FB-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is linked-in-logo-1.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is twitter-bird.jpg
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is instgram-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pintrest-logo.png

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Luke 3:7-9. Bearing Fruit

March 23 Luke 3 7-9 NKJV

Some of the people who flocked to see John the Baptist and hear him preach were not sincere. Maybe curious. Or maybe they just wanted a glimpse of the “wild man” that lived in a wilderness and had a diet of locust and honey. Perhaps it was the message John preached that they were curious about. Regardless of their reasons for being there, their reasons did not include true repentance. The Holy Spirit revealed to John that some of the people were going through the right motions, but their heart was not following the motions. John called these people poisonous snakes and warned them to change their attitudes. He told them that if they were sincere in their repentance, then they would bear fruit that identified them as belonging to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what these fruits are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” 

In Luke 3:10-14, the people responded to John saying, “What, then, are we supposed to do?” John told them to have compassion on others, to be honest and fair, to not abuse power, and to be content. The simple truth is that when we truly give our hearts to Christ and make Him Lord, the evidence is seen in the changes in our lives that come about as a result of Him living within us. If Christ had taken up residence in the people following John, they would have had compassion on those who are in need, the tax collectors would have been fair and honest in the taxes they collected, and the soldiers would not abuse the power given them in their position and they would have been content with their wages.

Today, people still go through the motions without actually having a heart change. They go to church, tithe, live moral lives, and maybe even teach a Sunday school class. And yet they are as lost as the person who doesn’t believe in Christ. Without true repentance there is no salvation and they are heading for an eternity in Hell. Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

It isn’t up to use to judge others as to their fruit or lack thereof. The question we need to ask is, “Is there fruit in my life that gives evidence of Christ living within me?”

God, show me the fruit of Christ living in me. Show me the fruit that needs cultivating and help me to grow and produce abundant and rich fruit as evidence of You working in my life. May the fruit that I bear lead others to you.  

click to tweet daily Bible reading

#obeyorexcuse #blessingormissedopportunity

spring divider 2

revive renew redeem

news and events

coronavirus prayer guide logoJoin us in 52 days of prayer as each day we pray for a different state. Commit to one day of fasting on the day we unite in prayer for your state. On the day we pray for your state, get a group of your Christian family and friends together via phone or video conference and lead a prayer meeting for your sate. As you pray each day pray for the following:

  1. Pray for God to remove the Coronavirus from that state. We will pray for states in order of most affected to least affected as reported on the World Health Organization Website.
  2. Pray for God to heal each person who has the virus in the state for which we are praying
  3. Pray for the family members who have lost loved ones due to the virus. Ask God to comfort them and to make His presence known to them.
  4. Pray for God to humble the hearts of His people and that they will seek His face with all their heart, mind, and soul
  5. Pray for repentant hearts that will confess any sin and to be willing to turn from sin and set their minds on Christ 
  6. Ask God to hear us from Heaven, to forgive our sin (both individually and nationally) and heal our land
  7. Invite God to be Lord in our nation, our government, and in our homes

Download the 52 day prayer guide by clicking the image below: coronavirus prayer guide logoThe prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

2 Chronicles 20:9

 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 

Meditate and apply:

Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country. 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

teespring spreadshop logos

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Luke 3:7-9

March 23 Luke 3 7-9 NKJV

Some of the people who flocked to see John the Baptist and hear him preach were not sincere. Maybe curious. Or maybe they just wanted a glimpse of the “wild man” that lived in a wilderness and had a diet of locust and honey. Perhaps it was the message John preached that they were curious about. Regardless of their reasons for being there, their reasons did not include true repentance. The Holy Spirit revealed to John that some of the people were going through the right motions, but their heart was not following the motions. John called these people poisonous snakes and warned them to change their attitudes. He told them that if they were sincere in their repentance, then they would bear fruit that identified them as belonging to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what these fruits are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” 

In Luke 3:10-14, the people responded to John saying, “What, then, are we supposed to do?” John told them to have compassion on others, to be honest and fair, to not abuse power, and to be content. The simple truth is that when we truly give our hearts to Christ and make Him Lord, the evidence is seen in the changes that come about as a result of Him living within us. If Christ had taken up residence in the people following John, they would have had compassion on those who are in need, the tax collectors would have been fair and honest in the taxes they collected, and the soldiers would not abuse the power given them in their position and they would have been content with their wages.

Today, people still go through the motions without actually having a heart change. Without true repentance there is no salvation and that person is still lost without Christ – heading for an eternity in Hell. It isn’t up to use to judge others as to their fruit or lack thereof. The question we need to ask is, “Is there fruit in my life that gives evidence of Christ living within me?”

God, show me the fruit of Christ living in me. Show me the fruit that needs cultivating and help me to grow and produce abundant and rich fruit as evidence of You working in my life. May the fruit that I bear lead others to you.  

spring divider 2
Cover_m

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) Also available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobel. It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

004

Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is booking for 2019 and 2020 events. Book with us now. Click the link and fill out the online form or call us at 904.524.8073.