“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:19-20 KVJ
Different tress may look alike but they will not all bear the same fruit! Most of us cannot look at a tree and say if it is apple tree, pear tree, or an orange tree! We really do not know what kind of a tree it is until it begins to show its fruit! Then, and only then can we determine with accuracy what type of tree it is. It is the same with people. They may seem similar to each other until the fruit of their life is measured and it comes to bear revealing their internal character. It is even more so applicable about the process of sanctification in our lives. Jesus warned His disciples about this very problem.
“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
Matthew 7:15-18 AMP
Clearly Jesus is talking about people or teachers and pastors inside the church who appear on the outside to have great spiritual gifts but are actually “ravenous wolves” fleecing the sheep and leading them in the wrong direction. I believe today that too much emphasis is placed upon the outward appearance of things and not the true condition of the heart. The Church at Corinth seemed to have fallen into this trap as they glorified the use of the Spiritual gifts to the neglect of the more important things like the fruit of the Spirit. Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites."
Galatians 5:22-24 AMP
I am not saying that the Spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are not important, they are! Without them in operation we can have no victory over the enemy. What I am saying is that I have known many people who did not move in the gifts of the Spirit but had a deeper respect and self-control than those with seemingly more “spirituality.” If you see that the first trait of the Spiritual life is love, then it makes sense that the Apostle Paul would tell the church at Corinth,
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].” 1 Corinthians 13:1 AMP
The Apostle taught that Spiritual fruit and Christlikeness, not his gifts, was the true indicator of the inward condition of the believer’s heart. Any benefit of the most spectacular demonstration of a gift is lost without love!
The list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians can only be acquired by going through the sanctification process. It is in the fiery furnace of God’s molding that our lives are transformed into a closer image of Christ! There is an interesting verse in the book of Isaiah,
“Indeed, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.” Isiah 48:10 AMP
Ouch!!! You see God is more concerned about our inward condition than our outward demonstrations. As we pass through the process of sanctification it is God refining us to be better reflection of Him to a dying world. If we cannot show those living in darkness a light of hope then we have missed the whole reason God has called us,
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 AMP
Why not let God continue His refining work so that those who see us will give glory to Him!
"Does Fruit Matter?"
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:19-20 KVJ
Different tress may look alike but they will not all bear the same fruit! Most of us cannot look at a tree and say if it is apple tree, pear tree, or an orange tree! We really do not know what kind of a tree it is until it begins to show its fruit! Then, and only then can we determine with accuracy what type of tree it is. It is the same with people. They may seem similar to each other until the fruit of their life is measured and it comes to bear revealing their internal character. It is even more so applicable about the process of sanctification in our lives. Jesus warned His disciples about this very problem.
“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
Matthew 7:15-18 AMP
Clearly Jesus is talking about people or teachers and pastors inside the church who appear on the outside to have great spiritual gifts but are actually “ravenous wolves” fleecing the sheep and leading them in the wrong direction. I believe today that too much emphasis is placed upon the outward appearance of things and not the true condition of the heart. The Church at Corinth seemed to have fallen into this trap as they glorified the use of the Spiritual gifts to the neglect of the more important things like the fruit of the Spirit. Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites."
Galatians 5:22-24 AMP
I am not saying that the Spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are not important, they are! Without them in operation we can have no victory over the enemy. What I am saying is that I have known many people who did not move in the gifts of the Spirit but had a deeper respect and self-control than those with seemingly more “spirituality.” If you see that the first trait of the Spiritual life is love, then it makes sense that the Apostle Paul would tell the church at Corinth,
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].” 1 Corinthians 13:1 AMP
The Apostle taught that Spiritual fruit and Christlikeness, not his gifts, was the true indicator of the inward condition of the believer’s heart. Any benefit of the most spectacular demonstration of a gift is lost without love!
The list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians can only be acquired by going through the sanctification process. It is in the fiery furnace of God’s molding that our lives are transformed into a closer image of Christ! There is an interesting verse in the book of Isaiah,
“Indeed, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.” Isiah 48:10 AMP
Ouch!!! You see God is more concerned about our inward condition than our outward demonstrations. As we pass through the process of sanctification it is God refining us to be better reflection of Him to a dying world. If we cannot show those living in darkness a light of hope then we have missed the whole reason God has called us,
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 AMP
Why not let God continue His refining work so that those who see us will give glory to Him!
Have a surrendered day! Pastor Ken