Known by Their Fruit
Jesus says “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sleep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth
good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits,
you shall know them. Not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 7:15-21).
He further warns us “take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come
in My name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of
wars and rumors of wars, se that you be not troubled, for all these things most
come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nations shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew
24:4-8).
The Bible says in II Corinthians 6:14 “Be you not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And
what communion has light with darkness”? Proverbs 22:24-25 says “make no
friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man you shall not go. Less you
learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul”.
The devil is God’s enemy and he constantly tries to hinder God’s work. The devil
likes to seek out believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually
weak, or who are isolated from other believers. As long as the devil can, he will
deceive others, and they in turn will be led to deceive others. One cannot
introduce deceit into any relationship or system without opening the doors to
satan, who is “the father of lies” (John 8:44).
The apostles warns us, Peter writes “be sober, be vigilant, because your
adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith” (I Peter 5:8-9a). If someone is trying
to convince you to do something that contradicts Scripture, you can be assured it
is wrong. II Timothy 3:16-17 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all
good works”.
Many false cults have deceived many – Yahweh Ben Yahweh of Miami, led many
astray, he caused many to give their property to him, and refused to allow them
to leave his cult in threat of harm; he did harm and even caused some to die and
he ended up in jail. Jim Jones of Ghana caused many to give poison cool aid to
their own children and drink it themselves. One person’s deception can cause
many to suffer. Any one that tell you that Jesus is not the only way to the Father,
is a liar and you should get away from them. The Jehovah witnesses and the cult
of Jesus Christ of the latter day saints, should be those to look out for.
The best way to know people by their fruit, is to be one that lets the word of
Christ dwell in them richly. Jesus said “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
vine dresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He takes away; and every
branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you
are clan through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you,
as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can
you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides
in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you can do
nothing. 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” (John 15:
1-6).
Peter writes in II Peter 2:1-2 says “but there were false prophets also among the
people even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them and bring upon
themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their shameful ways, by
reason of whom, the way of truth shall be evil spoken of”.
Paul writes don’t keep company with fornicators, in I Corinthians 5:11-13 “but
now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother
be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater or railer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner with such an one no not to eat” and in II Timothy 3:1-5,13-14 “this
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, truce breakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady,
high- minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. Evil men and
seducers shall wax worse, and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But
continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of,
knowing of whom you have learned them”.
An expression taken, the fruit of the Spirit refers to the evidence that the Spirit of
God lives and reigns in a person’s life. The fruit of the flesh are listed in
Galatians 5:19-21 “now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, enmulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. Envying, murders,
drunkenness, revilings, and such like of the which, I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God. And the fruit of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-24 “but
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affection and lusts”.
In Galatians 5:16-18 it gives us the solution, it says “This I say them, walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the
other, so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the
Spirit, you are not under the law”. A person who is abstaining from the works of
the flesh and is demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in their lives will be loving,
joyful, peaceful.
The devil can only devour those who do not know the word of God. We are told
to “study to show yourself approved of God”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 31, 2008
Jesus says “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sleep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth
good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits,
you shall know them. Not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 7:15-21).
He further warns us “take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come
in My name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of
wars and rumors of wars, se that you be not troubled, for all these things most
come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nations shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew
24:4-8).
The Bible says in II Corinthians 6:14 “Be you not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And
what communion has light with darkness”? Proverbs 22:24-25 says “make no
friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man you shall not go. Less you
learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul”.
The devil is God’s enemy and he constantly tries to hinder God’s work. The devil
likes to seek out believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually
weak, or who are isolated from other believers. As long as the devil can, he will
deceive others, and they in turn will be led to deceive others. One cannot
introduce deceit into any relationship or system without opening the doors to
satan, who is “the father of lies” (John 8:44).
The apostles warns us, Peter writes “be sober, be vigilant, because your
adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith” (I Peter 5:8-9a). If someone is trying
to convince you to do something that contradicts Scripture, you can be assured it
is wrong. II Timothy 3:16-17 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all
good works”.
Many false cults have deceived many – Yahweh Ben Yahweh of Miami, led many
astray, he caused many to give their property to him, and refused to allow them
to leave his cult in threat of harm; he did harm and even caused some to die and
he ended up in jail. Jim Jones of Ghana caused many to give poison cool aid to
their own children and drink it themselves. One person’s deception can cause
many to suffer. Any one that tell you that Jesus is not the only way to the Father,
is a liar and you should get away from them. The Jehovah witnesses and the cult
of Jesus Christ of the latter day saints, should be those to look out for.
The best way to know people by their fruit, is to be one that lets the word of
Christ dwell in them richly. Jesus said “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
vine dresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He takes away; and every
branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you
are clan through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you,
as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can
you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides
in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you can do
nothing. 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” (John 15:
1-6).
Peter writes in II Peter 2:1-2 says “but there were false prophets also among the
people even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them and bring upon
themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their shameful ways, by
reason of whom, the way of truth shall be evil spoken of”.
Paul writes don’t keep company with fornicators, in I Corinthians 5:11-13 “but
now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother
be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater or railer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner with such an one no not to eat” and in II Timothy 3:1-5,13-14 “this
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, truce breakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady,
high- minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. Evil men and
seducers shall wax worse, and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But
continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of,
knowing of whom you have learned them”.
An expression taken, the fruit of the Spirit refers to the evidence that the Spirit of
God lives and reigns in a person’s life. The fruit of the flesh are listed in
Galatians 5:19-21 “now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, enmulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. Envying, murders,
drunkenness, revilings, and such like of the which, I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God. And the fruit of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-24 “but
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affection and lusts”.
In Galatians 5:16-18 it gives us the solution, it says “This I say them, walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the
other, so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the
Spirit, you are not under the law”. A person who is abstaining from the works of
the flesh and is demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in their lives will be loving,
joyful, peaceful.
The devil can only devour those who do not know the word of God. We are told
to “study to show yourself approved of God”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 31, 2008
