It's Time to Pronounce It Dead!

Matthew 21:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

As we enter this month of August, the month of new beginnings, there is something that I need to address with my sisters if we plan to move forward in the 'new'. I want you to think about those things in your life that you need to pronounce dead.

What things do I mean? I mean those things that look alive but are not producing any fruit.

Those things that are not meeting the need that you need it to meet.

Those things that no longer serve a purpose in your life.

Those things that fooled you from a distance, but when you got up close and personal you saw that it was not what you thought it was. It was not what it was parading itself to be.

You see, in the text that we are highlighting, Jesus had been traveling and after a night of rest he woke up desiring something that would satiate his hunger. From a distance he could see the leaves on the fig tree, indicating that there was fruit on it. But when He came to it, there was no fruit at all.

I don't know how many of you can relate to this story on a more personal level. I know that I can. I know what it is like to be hungry for something and to see from a distance what I thought would meet the need. Only to find out that the fruit was not on the tree, only the premise. Thankfully, self observation has taught me that sometimes my gift of discernment doesn't work well when I am hungry but gets crystal clear when I am disappointed.

Now please know that I am not talking about food and fig trees. I am talking about other unfruitful things in life like ministry connections, business ventures, partnerships, jobs, personal ministries, relationships, toxic friendships, etc.

At some point, if you plan to move forward with a new beginning, you will have to pronounce death upon the thing(s) that is not producing life-sustaining fruit in your life. If it is not feeding your hunger, it's already dead!!

Stop putting your money, your time, and your energy into something that has lost it's ability to produce fruit.

Stop putting your expectations into something that has disappointed you over and over again.

Proverbs 18:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

I don't know who this word is for, but take it and do what Jesus did. Jesus pronounced the fig tree dead and He kept moving. Use your tongue to do the same! Open your mouth and speak directly to it. Call it!!! Time of death, August _____, 2018!!!!

Finally, Jesus made sure that that fig tree would not continue in it's deception. The text says that "immediately the fig tree withered away". Jesus had the authority to make this call and so do you!

My Sisters, let me leave you with this challenge. Stop being the life source to someone else's deception, even if it's your own. Pronounce it dead and watch it die!!

Then walk into your new beginnings!!

Much love,