“You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. 18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.” Matt 7:16-20
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.” He knew that others would try to deceive us, and that’s why He warned us to put people to the test by examining their actions. He told us not to just pay attention to their words, but to look at how they live. We will know if someone is a false or a true prophet based on the fruits that they bear. And the true Christians will manifest good fruits in their lives for the Lord’s glory and for the purpose of drawing others to the truth.
Many thought that if someone knows the Bible, they are Christians and they thought that they are spiritual. Knowing the scripture does not guarantee that someone is saved. We can post as many bible verses as we want and the devil will not care because we may still be in bondage of him. The devil knows the scripture more than most of us do and yet they are doomed to eternal destruction. What makes us different? We may know many bible verses but if our life doesn’t show holiness, our knowledge of the scripture profits nothing. What God was looking for is not how correct your message is, but how correct your life is. We must always examine ourselves. Are we living our lives as a sacrifice holy to the Lord? Or are we living like most of the people do? Does our action speak louder than our words? Can other people see and feel that we are a Christian without even telling them that we are?
Many can have sound teaching but there is no light. They may teach good words but it may be accomplished by their own effort only. It only comes from self and not from the Spirit. So those words, even it is good to hear, may not touch and change the spirit of another person. It will not penetrate within the soul because it does not originate from Daddy God. God’s Word is said to be alive and full of power. It is sharper than any two-edge sword.
“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing {and} sifting {and} analyzing {and} judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Heb 4:12
“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites {and} desires. 25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]” Gal 5:22
What are the fruit of the Spirit? It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The fruit of the Spirit shows the difference between a person who is under the flesh and a person who is walking by the Spirit. It is the Lord who cultivates the fruit of the Spirit in the life of believers.
There are some fruits that look good on the outside but may taste sour or bitter. It is really possible for us to act holy but deep inside we are not. Man can produce “good works”, but his heart may be still far from the Lord. There may be some who seems like good on the outside. They may show you good works and charity, helping people and saying gentle words. Outwardly, there seems to be obedience yet there is no joy, praise and reverence in the heart. Many speak their words well but their spirit differs. Some may speak about love, but deep in their hearts there may still be hatred. Some may say that they already forgiven someone but they still have impure thoughts about them. Some may speak humbly, but their spirits may still be full of arrogance. We may fake others with our outward actions but Daddy God knows our hearts. He is more concerned with the inward man. He wants fruits that come from the Spirit rather than merely through self-discipline. Our own best efforts at restructuring unregenerate human nature are doomed to failure. By contrast, people transformed by and consistently dependent on the power of God’s Spirit will live according to the traits of God’s character because of God’s empowerment, just as trees bear fruit according to their own kind.
“Lord, may we bear good fruit for Your sake. Help us to reject whatever will produce evil fruit. And help us to grow in faith, hope, love, sound judgment, justice, courage and self-control.”
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
“Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” John 15:4
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
Life's journey with DADDY 