Date: April 15, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The key phrase for April is “Is Your Life and Walk Bearing Fruit?”

Counterfeit fruit is produced through pretense. We can become experts in the language, routines, and practices of Christianity while experiencing no real power or bearing fruit. Our hearts may remain self-centered, angry, and joyless even as we go through the motions of serving God. We can fall into the same sin as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day by judging ourselves based on how we appear to others while neglecting the actual state of our hearts, where all good fruit comes from. 

My brothers and sisters, if we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things as the rest of the world, we are not abiding by Jesus Christ. Even if our lives are filled with church-related activities, we live fruitless lives (1 John 2:15-17).

Our works will be tested by fire, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. This passage compares the foundation to gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, and straw. The quality of each person’s work will be tested by fire, and whether it will survive will be revealed. If the work survives, the builder will be rewarded. If it does not, the builder will suffer loss.

In conclusion, God is the judge of our thoughts and motivations. Everything will be brought to light when we stand before Him, as mentioned in Hebrews 4:12-13. We must surrender to God in everything and use all He has given us for His glory. Our fruit, which is unique to each of us, is what God has entrusted us with. He knows what He expects us to do with it, as mentioned in Luke 12:48. Our responsibility before God is to be faithful with what we have so that we can be trusted with more, as mentioned in Matthew 25:21.

Remember, “…With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop