What an incredible day! God is truly moving powerfully in so many hearts! Yesterday, after over 50 years of wearing only a label, James Jackson made a profession of faith, accepting Christ as his personal Savior, just before singing about “The Love of God.” Hallelujah! There have been several other salvation decisions recently as well! Please keep praying and inviting the lost—God is at work!
I must speak with urgency because the stakes are eternal, and I cannot afford to leave any room for misunderstanding. Many people place their trust in something they did years ago for salvation—perhaps a prayer they once said or a religious act they performed—but they have no personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. Please understand: if what you did, did not lead you into a personal relationship with Jesus, then you are not truly saved, and you need to come to Christ today. The Gospel message is simple enough for even a child to understand—Jesus invites us to receive Him, know Him, and be transformed by His love and grace. But Satan, the great deceiver, blinds many into thinking that merely knowing facts ABOUT Jesus or participating in religious activities is enough, even if their hearts have never fully surrendered to Him. This is a dangerous deception that leads to spiritual death, and ignoring it is far too risky. I urge you to take an honest, deep look at your relationship with Jesus. Matthew 7:16 tells us, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Examine your life—is there real fruit that shows a heart changed by Christ? If we claim to follow Jesus but bear no evidence of transformation, then we must confront the reality that our relationship with Him may be superficial. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—is not just for appearance’s sake but is the evidence of a heart touched by God. Without this transformation, we are like the barren fig tree in Matthew 21:18-19—alive in appearance but spiritually dead inside.
Furthermore, we cannot deceive ourselves into thinking that simply being involved in religious works will save us. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. Many will claim to have done mighty works in His name, but He will declare, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.” This reveals the danger of superficial faith—those who appear religious but have no real relationship with Christ are living under a false sense of security. The reality of salvation is a transformed life, where we no longer live in the flesh, dominated by sin and selfishness, but walk in the Spirit, empowered by God to live victoriously. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
EXAMINE YOUR HEART
Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
In Matthew 21:18-19, we read about the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit.
When Jesus saw it, He cursed the tree, and it immediately withered away.
This tree, though outwardly full of life with its green leaves, was barren and failed to fulfill its purpose of bearing fruit.
Jesus used this moment as a symbol of people who might outwardly appear righteous but have no true spiritual life within them.
They may be involved in religious activities, attend church, or say all the right things, but without true transformation, they are like the barren fig tree—externally alive but spiritually dead.
This serves as a stark reminder to examine our own lives. Are we bearing fruit, or are we simply maintaining an appearance of spirituality?
It is easy to attend church, say the right things, and even participate in religious activities without truly being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like the fig tree that looked alive but was fruitless, many of us can fall into the trap of going through the motions of faith without real change in our hearts.
Jesus warned us that we would be known by our fruits, meaning that true faith in Him will always result in visible change.
Today, take a moment to honestly evaluate your life.
Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)?
Or are you maintaining an outward appearance while lacking inward transformation?
Fruitlessness in our spiritual lives can manifest as selfishness, pride, impatience, or indifference to others. Where do you see these areas in your own life?
Think of a lamp plugged into an outlet. From the outside, the lamp looks connected and ready to shine.
But if no electricity is flowing through it, it remains dark.
It’s still plugged in, but it serves no real purpose because it produces no light.
Similarly, we can be plugged into religious systems or traditions without truly being connected to the power of God.
Without the Holy Spirit working in and through us, our lives, like the lamp, will show no visible evidence of Christ’s light.
God’s power in us should result in the visible fruits of love, kindness, and spiritual growth.
When we are truly connected to Him, it shows in every part of our lives.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I ask You to search my heart today. Show me the areas where I may appear outwardly alive in my faith but lack real fruit. Help me not to settle for superficial spirituality, but to live fully connected to You, producing the fruit of Your Spirit. Lord, I surrender every part of my life to You, and I ask for Your power to transform me from the inside out so that my life will reflect Your love, joy, peace, and goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSIGNMENT
Take some time to reflect and write down three specific areas in your life where you see, or don’t see, the fruits of the Spirit.
These may be areas like your patience with others, your willingness to forgive, or how often you show kindness to those around you.
After identifying these areas, pray each day this week for God to work in your heart and help you grow in these specific fruits.
Surrender these areas to Him and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in producing genuine, lasting change.
MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
James Parker
Kim McClain
June Davis
Danny Jarrard
Amy Garner’s Mom
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Daniel Cooper’s Mother
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donna Plunkett’s Brother in law
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ed Mays
Ellen Boyd
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gail Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
George Calhoon
James Burnette
James Parker
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary William’s Granddaughter
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Sandra Graham’s Family
Sarah Parker
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband)
Tom Witcher