Scripture:
Matthew 7:15-23 ESV
[15] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. [18] A healthy tree can not bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits. [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Observation:
I absolutely love the Bible. It has given me so much direction and correction in my life. GOD’S word helps me to identify who I have around me. Ok, let’s get into the observation. There are many times when Jesus gives a warning much like this one. So I believe there is a very important reason. HE tells us to be careful and pay close attention to those whom we listen to. There will be those who don’t have the best of intentions. HE never just leaves it at that, though. HE goes on to tell us how to identify them, yet be very careful. Just before the scripture that the Holy Spirit chose this morning, we read that we are not to judge. This is very important. Because it’s not our job. After making the statement. To be careful of false prophets HE tells us how to identify them. The fruit in their lives will show you who they are. There were two sections of scripture chosen this morning, and I’m sure it was by no mistake. Verses 15-20 talk about fruit and how to tell if someone is who they say they are. 21-23 talks about motives. So let’s give a quick explanation so we can move on. The fruit in someone’s life bad, good or indifferent, shows you a lot about them, and the reason they do good works will express their motivation for doing so. It’s really hard not to just go into the application process of this scripture. Because I almost feel like it’s self-explanatory, and by this point, I hope the readers are eating a little more meat.
Application:
I remember a time in my walk with Christ when the fruit that was coming from my tree was rotten. I was stuck in addiction and knew no way out. Claiming to be a Christian but living a lie. On the outside in all appearance, one might think that I was on the right track. I was saying the right things in the right places but doing the wrong thing behind closed doors. A surface-level glance would say, “Yes, he loves Jesus.” But if you were to look at my fruit, you would see that I was not following HIM. My motives were a look at my theology. I’m doing this, I’m doing that. I was in a very dangerous place. Saying LORD, LORD, but living for what I was doing for HIM, not what HE was doing through me. I was doing things because it looked right rather than doing it because it was right. My motivation was wrong, and therefore, my fruit was rotten. In the past 6 or 7 years, GOD has done a work in me that I can not honestly explain. You might say HE dug around my tree and placed the proper nutrients, pruned some of my branches, and waited. I believe it changed my fruit. Not because I was trying but because of what HE did. I want good fruit on my tree. When people see my life, I want them to see what Jesus has done. Not what I have done. It’s just not about me… never has been… it’s about loving GOD and loving your neighbor.
Prayer:
Father, we can’t do this without you. We will fall short every time. Seeking to justify ourselves by what we do rather than allowing you to justify us by the blood of Jesus. We just want to do what is right not to earn a spot in your kingdom… but because we have one. Let the fruit in us proclaim your love for those whom you have created. I believe that it’s no mistake that when you had Paul write Galatians 5:22, you instructed him to start with love. Because out of it stems all the rest of it. We just want to praise you this morning for who you are. You are YAHWAH, and there is no other like you. Thank you for pruning my tree and being patient with me because now I know that it’s not me that does the work it’s the Holy Spirit that you deposited in me on the day of my salvation, and for that, I am so very grateful the only thing I can ask it let my fruit scream JESUS. Let us shout it from the rooftops so that all will know your name and give their lives completely to you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.