Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
I believe the fruits Jesus was referring to in Matthew chapter 7:20 when he said, "you will know them by their fruits" is not necessarily pertaining to the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5:22-23. Notice it is FRUIT of the Spirit and not FRUITS. Also, the reason I say this is because any true believer could show a lack of the fruit listed in Galatians on any given day .... love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. When believers in Jesus Christ are not demonstrating these fruits, would this make them false? Of course not. And as we can see when reading the words of Jesus, the fruits of false prophets is pertaining to a different type of fruit than those mentioned above. Many will refer to that fruit listed in Galatians but Jesus makes a distinction. I do believe that in this present hour it is addressing professing "seasoned" believers' fruit revealed in whether they have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Do they practice unrighteousness? Do they have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness?
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Take Bill Johnson from Bethel church in Redding, CA, for example. He will give "lip service" to the truth that Jesus died on the cross and other foundational Biblical truths. But what is his fruit? Does he love righteousness and hate iniquity as Jesus did? No, he does not. He defends the adulterous ministers like Todd Bentley and lies to many people. Bill defends the sin of Bentley. Bill cares more about power and so called gifting then he cares about the pain of those who suffer from adultery. Many ask where is the love? Why can't you forgive Todd Bentley? No one seems to ask where is the love for his wife and children. Todd is still in adultery. Bill Johnson is an example of bad fruit and as we are seeing in these times, there are many just like him. Another example is Mike Bickle who will give "lip service" to the truth out of one side of his mouth then out of the other he goes and has fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Just that very same year that news came out about Todd, Mike Bickle went and spoke at Morningstar giving praise to his "good friend" as he called him, and might I add false prophet, Bob Jones. So we see the hypocrisy. They may speak some truth but they do not live the truth. Much can be said on the countless leaders in the modern evangelical churches who seem to teach some truth from their pulpits and then turn around and deny that truth by their lifestyles. These I refer to will often parrot truth regarding avoiding false prophets while continuing in fellowship with false prophets. I suppose they are false prophets as well. They will attend conference after conference, rubbing shoulders with them. They do not obey the scriptures command to, "Come out and be separate." They will not obey Jesus Christ by practicing the doctrine of Biblical separation. They will continue to make excuses for their actions and twist the scriptures to justify their wicked associations. Jesus calls these I am speaking of as ,"workers of iniquity." Not everyone who says ,"Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom." ~ Matthew 7:21
Those who compromise with the harlot church make themselves one with her and will receive of her judgments in full measure. (Revelation 18:4-5)
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
So we can clearly see the fruit is doing righteousness. Either the tree has bad fruit or it has good fruit. It cannot have both.
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
We can now find greater understanding of this verse....
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
I also believe then that we can conclude fruit is our works. But if the works are simply feeding the poor, then we can say even Ghandi had good fruit. So we see it is not the case....
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Obviously, Paul said he could do great "charitable" deeds and if he had not love he was nothing. And what is included in love?...
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
It certainly goes deeper and cuts to the heart and the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (See Hebrews 4:12)
Jesus tries the reins (the wills; hearts)...
Jer_17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer_21:14a But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD
Rev_2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Jesus goes on in his letters to the churches that he will reward each one of us according to our works. I do believe works may very well be fruits.
It truly is my service to God's people to share what he has laid on my heart. God bless you.
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
No comments:
Post a Comment