| “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:16 |
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| Look for the FRUIT!! As Jesus gives the grave warning about false prophets, He gives one of the most basic illustrations to help us know the difference between the real and the false. In Matthew 7:15 He says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” He then continues by letting us know how to determine the true heart of someone by teaching, “You will know them BY THEIR FRUIT.” He continues with a very common-sense question asking “Can a man gather grapes from a thornbush or figs from thistles” with the answer of course not. Thus, you can tell the false prophet by their fruit or lack thereof. Look for the FRUIT!! Be a FRUIT INSPECTOR! Just as it takes time for an apple tree to produce apples and grape vines to produce grapes one will over time be able to tell who really has had a changed heart by Christ. The Christian will produce the fruits of righteousness (James 3:18) and fruits of holiness (Romans 6:22) as well as there will be the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Others will start seeing the supernatural fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control come from your life. Another way of saying this is ACTIONS speak LOUDER than words. Or a person’s BEHAVIOR reveals their true BELIEFS. So, more than the question WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART I ask WHAT IS COMING FROM YOUR HEART as evil deeds come from an evil heart and good deeds from a good heart. Luke 6:45 says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” As believers, we must beware of FALSE TEACHERS. Just because someone calls themselves a Christian does not mean they are one. Matter of fact this section of the Sermon on the Mount will have Jesus teaching that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) So, look for the FRUIT. Be a fruit inspector. Verse to DATE on July 16 (7/16) is Matthew 7:16. It says, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” And BTW – you will be known by your FRUIT. Continue Strong discerning the false from the true, And remember to DATE the Word |