Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

“By their fruits ye shall know them.” All the followers of Christ bear fruit to Hisglory. Their lives testify that a good work has been wrought in them by the Spirit ofGod, and their fruit is unto holiness. Their lives are elevated and pure. Those who bearno fruit have no experience in the things of God. They are not in the Vine. Read John15:4, 5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, exceptit abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the Vine, ye are thebranches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: forwithout Me ye can do nothing.”If we would be spiritual worshipers of Jesus Christ, we must sacrifice every idoland fully obey the first four commandments. Matthew 22:37, 38: “Jesus said unto him,Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and withall thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” The first four commandmentsallow no separation of the affections from God. Nor is anything allowed to divide, orshare, our supreme delight in Him. Whatever divides the affections, and takes awayfrom the soul supreme love to God, assumes the form of an idol. Our carnal heartswould cling to our idols and seek to carry them along; but we cannot advance untilwe put them away, for they separate us from God. The great Head of the church haschosen His people out of the world and requires them to be separate. He designs thatthe spirit of His commandments shall draw them to Himself and separate them fromthe elements of the world. To love God and keep His commandments is far from lovingthe world’s pleasures and friendship. There is no concord between Christ and Belial.The people of God may safely trust in Him alone and without fear press on in the wayof obedience.289