R.I.P.E. CHRISTIANS II“WE ARE THE PLANTING OF THE LORD”

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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Scripture Reference/Review

Isaiah 61:3 - To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty

for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of

heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the

LORD, that he might be glorified.

The greatest problem among Christians is grossly linked to a “lack of identity” or an “assumed

identity” apart from what we are identified with Christ

If people do not see the genuineness of the gospel lived out in God’s servants, then they won’t be able

to recognize the counterfeit.

While this world is full of deception in the church, focused on bringing disunity, confusion, and

rebellion, the world still needs to know what true Christianity is

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Review

Under Satan’s system, unbelievers minds are blinded so that

they cannot discern the truth. Believers are deceived so that

they may turn away from the truth (read 2 Cor 4:4)

Psalms 1:1-3 declares that we are to be like a tree planted

by the rivers of waters, that bring forth fruit in due season.

That brings forth its fruit in its season: The righteous

man bears fruit, such as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians

5:22,23). The fruit should come naturally in our lives,

because we are planted in the rivers of waters (God’s

life giving Spirit)

The goal of being “God’s planting is that God may be

glorified in our lives

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Trees of Righteousness: Isaiah 61:3

Distinguished by their relationship with God and are under his care and culture

The Nature of Trees

Jeremiah 17:8: He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the

stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not

anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

A tree stays connected to the source (Colossians 2:7: “…Rooted and built up in him and

established in the faith”) – The Holy Spirit is represented as living water

A tree bears fruit in its seasons - Psalms 1:3 - He will be like a tree firmly planted by

streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in

whatever he does, he prospers.

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Fruit also has a season

John 15:4 - 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.

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Trees of Righteousness

Psalms 1:3: He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in

its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

God delights in “fruit bearing” Christians (Galatians 5:22,23). What farmer plants,

waters, and cultivates and doesn’t expect to harvest

Proverbs 11:30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls

is wise.

Standard Religion produces “works” but True Religion produces fruit. What is this

fruit?

Disciples – evangelizing and instructing others to become disciplined followers of God

Deliverance – restoring and recovering people for the kingdom of God

Devoted Acts- ministering to those who are in need, support, counseling, and love

Fruit is developed and sustained by abiding in Christ, the ministry of God’s Spirit, God’s Word,

and obedience

Just as fruit identifies its plant, our fruit identifies us. Jesus said bearing much fruit (which happens

when we abide in Him) shows we are His disciples (John 15:8)

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R.I.P.E. Fruit

Who wants to eat fruit that is unripen? As a matter of fact, unripen or rotten

fruit it is not even good for you

Psalms 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that

trusteth in him.

We know that fruit must grow to maturity. We do not plant an apple tree

expecting ripened fruit to appear the next day. Spiritual fruit also takes

time to develop and mature.

Fruit is for the benefit of others not just to the fruit. As believers we are

called to fellowship and encourage one another, bearing spiritual fruit for

the benefit of all.

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Rotten Fruit

Matthew 7:15-20

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but

inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn

bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good

fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into

the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.

We are to examine fruit constantly, especially among those who present themselves

within the five-fold ministry

Jesus identified that one of the fruits of false prophets is “self-interest.” If we

observe men and women promote themselves or their doctrine over God - Beware

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Examine Fruit

How should we examine and ensure that what is being preached,

taught and ministered is true or not; good or bad fruit?

We should pay attention to the manner of living a teacher shows. Do they show

righteousness, humility and faithfulness in the way they live?

Do you observe a lifestyle of worldliness, pride, arrogance, or extravagance?

We should pay attention to the content of their teaching. Is it true fruit from

God's Word, biblically sound and proven? (2 Tim 2:15; 2nd Cor 4:2; 1st Tim 4:1)

Is it man-centered, seducing to the flesh or appealing to ears that want to be

tickled?

What do they teach about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit

We should pay attention to the effect of their teaching.

Are people growing in Jesus or merely being entertained, made more religious,

and eventually falling away?

Is what is being taught life changing (John 1:12); producing after its kind?

You may observe the rituals, but is it producing relationship?

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Example9

Practices: grave soaking, fire tunnels, prophetic practicing (example: sensing what’s in an envelope), releasing spiritual encounters (God, angels, spiritual

stuff), treasure hunting, mantle importing & glory clouds

___________mission is to create a vibrant

family of hope filled believers who deeply

experience the love and presence of God and

partner with Jesus to express the joy and

power of His kingdom in every area of life.

Church’s Mission/Vision Appears Sound

What They Practice

Spiritual Movement seems Authentic

Teaches that Jesus “had NO supernatural capabilities”; He was totally and completely a man but “in right

relationship to God” by the Holy Spirit:

As a side note: While these teachings represent a serious stray from doctrine, remember the Judaizers were the denominational structure that brought spiritual

bondage as well

However…..

Terms:

Fire tunnels: This is where you go between 2 rows of ministry people and

they reach out and pray for you and bless you. During this operation they

will, as they learn, give you a piece of the Holy Spirit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqGLJ0b5lh4

Grave soaking (sucking) or Mantle grabbing – Soaking up the anointing

from a dead person, preferably an anointed man or woman of God.

Treasure Hunting: A group of people (three to five per team) asks God for

words of knowledge about people’s names, clothing, appearance and prayer

need(s). They plot on their map and go to a location where they find people

who fit this description

http://www.croydonchurch.org.uk/Articles/224149/Croydon_Churches/Church_in_th

e/Treasure_hunting.aspx

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Observing Fruit

1 Timothy 4:1 - But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall

away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of

demons,

1 Timothy 4:6 - In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good

servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of

the sound doctrine which you have been following.

Pointing out what? Apostasy and Error

We put warning labels on food. We may even give advice to others to where we

can find good produce. Maybe we should consider that when we discover unsound

doctrine

Discern carefully and remember you are not the final authority. There are many

Christians in error who proclaim they see the error in others

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Reaping What You Sow

Galatians 6:8 - For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap

corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

A farmer reaps the same as he has sown. If he plants wheat, wheat comes up. In

the same way, if we sow to the flesh, the flesh will increase in size and strength.

This principle has application beyond giving finances – sowing and reaping

Sowing to the Spirit is like sowing apple seeds. Not only do you get one tree,

and one apple, but even that apple has many seeds. As we sow to the Spirit

consistently, we will reap godly fruit in so many areas of our lives

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• To sow is to satisfy the nature and yearnings

of your flesh or your spirit (yes, your spirit

yearns)

• Corruption relates to moral decay; a loss of

eternal salvation; eternal misery

Sowing to the Flesh

When we sow seeds of strife and discord, we reap

bitterness and disharmony in our lives and destroy others

(Proverbs 16:28)

When we sow to our flesh constant worldliness, consuming

corrupt media, and unbalanced teachings we reap a carnal

mind (1st Cor 3:3) and the works of the flesh (Galatians

5:19-21)

If you sow seeds of pornography, substance abuse, etc. you

will reap a corrupt mindset, oppressed by addiction and

lasciviousness (Gal 5:19; Ephesians 4:19)

i.e. Lasciviousness which is a gross form of wickedness with sexual

overtones begins with a sinful heart (Mark 7:21, 22), then

manifests itself in fleshly, carnal actions (Galatians 5:19) until it

becomes a state of “past feeling” (becoming insensitive, callous,

and hardened to the sin) (Ephesians 4:19)

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Sowing to the Flesh

Sowing to the flesh begins in the thought-life. Every

time you hold a grudge, entertain an impure fantasy,

wallow in self-pity, speak ill of another person, or fail

to carry out your responsibilities through

procrastination or laziness, you are sowing to the flesh.

To be self-centered, critical of others, or envious of

others is sowing to the flesh (Galatians 5:15, 26).

When we sow seeds of doubt, fear, unbelief,

accusation, bitterness, we will reap depression,

anxiety, financial instability, oppressive spirits, etc.

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Sowing to the Spirit

When we are sowing seeds by reading, speaking God’s Word, we are

reaping strong faith. (Romans 10:17; Psalms 119:10,11)

When we sow seeds of praise and worship, fasting, praying in the spirit,

and prayer, we reap faith and spiritual power (Jude 1:20; Matt 17:21)

When we sow to our faith, virtue and knowledge, we reap temperance,

patience, and godliness (2nd Peter1:5-7)

When we sow faithfulness we reap blessings in our spirit and in our lives

The fruit of the Spirit is rooted in Love (Galatians 5) and from God’s love

being shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5), we produce godly fruit.

Therefore to walk in love is sowing to our human spirit

When we faithfully endure trials, sowing good works in the midst of them,

we will reap joy and gladness (Psalms 126:5)

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Points of Emphasis

If people say to you that they are not growing, then you have to

ask them how they are sowing

Observing and fulfillment of religious obligations and attendance

is not sowing

It is the individual who surrenders to Christ in faith, becoming

rooted and grounded in him, abiding in the presence of His Spirit

on a consistent, daily

basis

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Sowing into Others

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what

he sows (Galatians 6:7)

What are you sowing into your marriage? Your family? Are you observing the

fruit of it?

What are you sowing into your children?

What are you sowing into the people God has connected you with?

All our thoughts, words, and acts—are seeds. They have in them a quality

which makes them grow where they fall, reproducing themselves, producing

life or death, encouraging others, building up, maturing in others, or even

destroy and cause the spiritual fruit in others to grow stale or stagnated.

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Sowing Seeds18

“I don’t know why you get so

stressed out? You must be crazy

or something!” You need peace!“Why won’t you talk to me? I an going

to pray that God drives that demon of

laziness and stupidity out of you! DO

you hear me?”

“You’re never going to be

anything but a whiny

crybaby the rest of your

life!”

Parents

Be careful what you sow

Always observe and watch it grow

For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us

as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we

may become sharers in His own holiness. 11 For the time being no discipline brings joy,

but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of

righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in

righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in

right living and right standing with God]. Hebrews 12:10-12 (Amplified)

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This Goes Both Ways

"Sow a thought—and you will reap an act;

Sow an act—and you will reap a habit;

Sow a habit—and you will reap a character;

Sow a character—and you will reap a destiny!“

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The root of almost all of our sins – our thoughts.

When we act in a particular way, those actions already lived inside our

hearts and minds

Be more careful of what you sow, for if you sow

You will reap

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Becoming R.I.P.E. Christians

Christians are best used for God’s glory when they are R.I.P.E.

Renounce the works of darkness and Reprove them (Ephesians 5:11)

Imitate - Be ye imitators

Pattern - a pattern of good works

Exhort, Edify, and Enlighten others

R.I.P.E. Christians need good soil

Luke 8:15 - But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people]

who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just ( noble, virtuous) and worthy

heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.

It does matter where you are planted and to be planted in a place

where you can grow and mature spiritually

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Renounce: To Give Up22

Keeping Oneself Unspotted – Avoiding contamination

From the book of Genesis, Lot is an example of a man who was spotted by the

world. He started living towards Sodom, disregarding the spiritual climate of the

area because of the prosperity of the area. Eventually he moved to the wicked

city and became a part of the city's leadership. Although he may have hated

the sin in that area, he was contaminated by his association with them.

You can’t come out of the world physically, but you can reject the world’s system

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all

filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove

(expose) them. (means call sin for what it is)

2 Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,

nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to

every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Joshua 3:5 , “And Joshua said unto the people, sanctify yourselves: for

tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

We used to say that we are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:

15,16). Today it seems that many believers are of the world, but not in it.

We bring so much worldliness into the church proceeding to contaminate it

with a corrupt culture, new age thinking, mysticism, and cultic teachings in an

effort to make it relevant to the current culture

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Imitate – Be True to the Model

Ephesians 5:1 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; (read vs 2-5)

1 Corinthians 11:1 - PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I

imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).

We must make God our example and model; we are not to compare

ourselves among others

We must have an accurate and spiritual knowledge of God and Jesus to

understand how we are to imitate them. Christ gave us an example during

his life here on earth. God is revealed throughout the scriptures

To imitate God means to be like him. For example, in Leviticus 11:45 God

said, "Be holy, for I am holy.“

Are you a imitator of Christ or a Jesus impersonator?

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Imitate Christ, but do not be an “Imitation”

Pattern

Titus 2:7 - In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:

in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

The definition of a pattern is someone or something used as a model to

make a copy, a design, or an expected action.

A person or thing considered worthy of imitation or copying; a predictable

or prescribed route, movement, etc

To be effective as a teacher, one must be an example

Paul was encouraging Titus to be an example, to show doctrinal stability

and integrity

Can someone look at your spiritual life today and express an interest or

desire to pattern themselves after you?

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Exhort, Edify, and Enlighten Others

1 Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to

doctrine.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but

that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the

hearers.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one

another, even as also ye do.

Have you taken any time to edify or exhort someone lately?

Edify means to build up

Exhort means to encourage men to perform their duties

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Final Note27

As you continue to grow in grace and be an imitator or Christ,

showing forth a pattern of good works, and be an example

for others to follow, try not to overestimate yourself.

Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and

organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life

changing principles for spiritual growth and development.

If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.

If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these

kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website

at www.practicallivingministry.org

If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your

church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian

culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at

kenjones@practicallivingministry.org

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