Matthew 7:15-20 KJV and NLT

KJV: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. NLT: Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Thistles

Often labelled a weed, thistle has a prickly stem and leaves. Thistles grow in areas with compacted soil. Thistle will crowd out desired vegetation and will take over fields, meadows, and pastures. It often grows along roadways, and can grow in extremely dry conditions and in drought. A single plant of invasive Scotch thistle can produce over 40,000 seeds.

The soil conditions favorable for thistle to grow – compaction – are when dirt is tightly packed together, leaving little space between the particles keeping water from being received; Poor drainage and limited air supply in compacted soil hinders root development and plant growth because water cannot penetrate into the depths of the soil. 

Repression of emotional pain of any type (sadness, anger, disappointment), hiding vulnerability produces thistles. Gossip, disputes, and bitterness produces thistles. Really any sin can produce thistles. When we hold onto hurts, misunderstandings, ways people have failed us, anger about real or perceived unfairness, and feeling slighted, we get prickly and bristly, sharp and scratchy. Prickly literally means “ready to take offense.” Thistles can often stem from pride. Jesus desires to cleanse His church: [Ephesians 5:26-27 KJV] That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. We’re not able to receive the washing of water by the Word if our spiritual soil is compacted from stuffing things down within. It just rolls off of us like water on a duck’s back. When He breathes on us and wants us to receive His Spirit and we have no room for Him, we miss out on His help. We don’t receive the correction He desires and we continue to grow as thistle.

When we’re right with God, we’ve got nothing to hide.

[Genesis 2:25 NLT] Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

But then sin entered in.

[Genesis 3:6-7 KJV and NLT]

KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

NLT: The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

The top may look pretty, but the stem and branches below are prickly, and unable to be touched without irritation.  When we refuse God our vulnerabilities, we’re attempting to cover our own nakedness and shame. When we refuse to say, “Lord, this is how I’m feeling about this and I know it’s ugly and shameful, and I need you to forgive me for it,” we’re trying to pretend like nothing’s wrong with us. When in reality we know right from wrong and we also know when we’re right and when we’ve done wrong before God. We know when we have done something unpleasing to God because His Spirit convicts us of it. We know when we feel negatively towards someone. It can even feel like you’ve moved past it, (Luke 4:13 – And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season) only to find that the season of temptation to lash out or to respond with our flesh has returned. Anger over the same issue, hurt over the past, torment over something you have fought before is there with a vengeance once again. 

When we have thistles, we can’t grow in Christ the way He desires. He can’t get close to us the He wants to because our thistles are in the way. When we’re stuck with these feelings that cause thistles, we’re hard to be around. 

Thistles often give a person contact dermatitis (inflammation of the skin with itchy rash and hives) when they touch them. Nothing speaks volumes more than someone that feels like they give you a rash when you’re around them! You’re uncomfortable and itching to get away from them! Likewise a person’s toxic behavior creates a reaction to those around them. They legitimately have a “prickly” personality. God can allow a thistle type person in our life for a season to teach us. Though thistle is often considered a weed, it can be useful for medicinal purposes. God is the Great Physician after all! Sometimes we’re the thistle. If we’re battling our flesh and brush that feeling of conviction off about something, we’re not allowing Him to change us the way He needs to in order to correct us; in order to heal us. We will become like thistle. We’re not making ourselves available to God. We’re “ghosting” Him because we don’t want to hear it. We’re acting just like Adam and hiding from God in our shameful condition. We’ve got to turn around and cry out to God!

[Genesis 3:10-11 NLT]

He (Adam) replied, “I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

Thistles can grow just as pervasively bitterness can, proliferating and reproducing at a rapid rate, which takes over valuable heart space in us. Thistle ought to have no place in a child of God.       

When we’re thistle, we’re not tender before Him. We’ve got to be plucked, crushed, and changed in some way before we can be of use; and as a plant of thistle in the field (the place where we work for Him), we’re just an irritant to others or they’re an irritant to us. 

Hebrews 4:13 KJV and NLT

KJV: Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 

NLT: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.

If we’re accountable to God, then we have to hold ourselves accountable knowing sin easily gets us off course. Understand that if Jesus wept out of emotional pain, how much more do we need to have that same type of release? HE IS OUR HUMAN EXAMPLE. 
[Luke 19:37-44 NLT] When He reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher (Master/Rabbi), rebuke Your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers (of joy)!” 41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”

Salvation isn’t a one time prayer and done. I need Salvation every day. 

SALVATION

YESHUA

JESUS

SAVING HELP :: DELIVERANCE :: AID :: HEALTH :: VICTORY

First occurrence of yeshua: [Genesis 49:17-18] Dan (“judge’) shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for Your salvation, O LORD.

HE is my saving help every single day. The serpent is waiting to bite to try and throw me off. Any one of us is one step away from falling backward and we’re also one step from repentance when we’ve erred. It’s only by the saving grace of Jesus Christ that we can make it. Without Him, and without relying on Him, my enemies will set up camp all around me. They will be on every side and they would tear me apart if not for my Savior. I am one of Hell’s Most Wanted, because I was stolen away out of the pit. I wasn’t let go on good behavior. I didn’t serve my time for my sin. I was in slavery, chains of addiction and bonds of misery. No escape, imprisoned in the walls of depravity, and absolutely devoid of all hope. I was a prisoner of unrighteousness. I was serving a death sentence for my crimes, but then I cried out to Jesus! The moment I cried out, “FORGIVE ME,” it was a jailbreak out of darkness. He whom the Son has set free is free indeed. [John 8:36] 

Galatians 4:5-7 KJV and NLT

KJV: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

NLT: God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. 6 And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.   

Hebrews 5:7-9 KJV and NLT

KJV: Who (Jesus) in the days of his flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; 8 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; 9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;

NLT: While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

When we’re full of thistles and prickly, He is waiting for us to cry out with a loud cry and with tears to be rescued. [Hosea 5:15 ] I will go [and] return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early.

Please know this extends far beyond our salvation, because there is none who doesn’t sin. Not one.

Psalm 25:16-18 NKJV and NLT

NKJV: Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I [am] desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! 18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.

NLT: Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. 17 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! 18 Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.