"Fruit"
“Fruit”
Blessings Folk!
Todays reading:
Matthew 7:15-20
Luke 6:43-45
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Fruit.
We all produce it.
We all have a product of the life we are living.
What is yours?
Jesus gives a directed warning as a commandment.
Watch out!
Beware of false prophets.
He tells us what they are - voracious wolves clothed in sheep’s clothing.
Jesus then tells us how to recognize them - by their fruit.
He thens give agrarian examples that all will understand...grapes, good/bad trees.
Jesus did not hold back.
“Offspring of vipers!”
He called them what they were...those who bore bad fruit.
Jesus then cuts to the point.
Those bearing bad fruit are manifesting what is in their heart…”for the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.”
Good people speak from the good in their heart.
Evil people speak from the evil in their heart.
Often it is asked what the “fruit” is that we are to recognize.
The “fruit” is not what man so often points to.
Many will point to the “success” that one has in the name of the Kingdom...buildings, programs, numbers of people, action, activity, etc.
Such is error.
Many an evil person today heads up “successful” enterprises in the name of the Lord.
The Word tells us what we are to recognize.
The fruit of the Spirit vs. the deeds of the flesh.
Here are the deeds of the flesh...
Galatians 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Here is the fruit of the Spirit…
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law
The Word tells us what to do…
Galatians 5
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do
You will know them by their fruit.
If someone professes to be something, yet you see jealousy/anger/rivalries/dissensions/ divisions/envy (so prevalent within the “professing church” leadership) then you can know they are false.
Those that are real?
You will see the fruit of the Spirit...and…
Galatians 5
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
Therefore,
Live by the Spirit.
Keep in step with the Spirit
Be not conceited.
Provoke not.
Envy not.
While you “watch out”…
Galatians 5
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another