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1/7 Reading Portions: Genesis 7; Matthew 7; Ezra 7; Acts 7
Matthew 7:20
“Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
FRUIT
Jesus said,
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
While the Master told His disciples (and us) that the unbelieving world would know us by the fruit of love in our lives freely produced and partaken for the benefit of believers, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is also a gage of discernment for believers to recognize other true or false teachers in Christ’s church. When it comes to the ministers in a congregation’s leadership, we are to be fruit inspectors. The true minister of Christ will exalt Jesus with his life because he is abiding in his Lord, who is the true Vine (John 15:1-5), producing good fruit, godly fruit—
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Ministers of the gospel must place upon themselves, what Mr. Spurgeon taught his students in the Pastor’s College, a “Self-Watch.” Yet it is our duty as Christian believers, by Christ’s instruction in Matthew 7:15-20, to be aware and beware…
“…of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
We all have a tendency in our flesh to turn fruitful abiding into legalistic work. Yet the leaders in Christ’s church are even more susceptible. We never saw a tree sweat, groan, or labor to produce fruit. A tree is either tended unto good fruit; or abused or neglected unto bad. If Christ is building His church (Matt 16:18), then why would He allow for false prophets in sheep’s clothing to teach in His classrooms and preach from His pulpits? Because the Lord Jesus requires all His children to grow in grace and grow strong in faith. Our Christian lives are not sedentary, but instead active and alive. We must learn to discern and distinguish so we may determine and do for God’s glory through Christ’s exaltation. Moreover, not only are we to inspect fruit in those handling God’s Word, but we are to be diligent in the truth of God’s Word, receiving…
…the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11
A healthy tree will bear good fruit,
So will a life with Jesus:
It’s full of love and clings to truth
Unto the Lord it pleases.
