Their fruit

  Their fruit.

Jesus said,

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20.

Here we are told by Jesus to watch out for false prophets in sheep’s clothing. These false prophets hide themselves in the guise of honest Christians. They know what to say in church and what not to say.  

The apostle Paul writes,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4

Such things are happening today. We have groups who are calling themselves Christians but are not. They are wolves who have infiltrated the Church for their own gain. Leading people down a pathway that leads to Hell. These are people we must watchout for.

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Paul makes it clear we are to expel false teachers from the church.

Question...

Are the pastors, evangelist, and religious leaders you follow wolves in sheep’s clothing?

Do you know the fruit of a false teacher is?

Do you know what the fruit of the good church leader is?

Please think about it.

Watch out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:15-23.
If ever there was a warning that needed to be heeded by Christians in the twenty-first century this is it.
We live in a multi media world that allows anyone to say anything with impunity. We in the west and particularly in North America live in a society with incredible freedoms.
The freedoms we have are very much a two edged sword. While they let us practice our faith. They also let those who teach false doctrine thrive.
Christians need to use caution. Christians need to be reading their Bible and studying it for themselves. Not just relying on what some pastor, evangelist or teacher says. Especially if those people are in the media.
It’s easy for false teachers to hid behind the right to free speech. It’s easy for anyone to take scriptures out of context and twist them to say things that are wrong. That’s why I encourage people to read the Bible for themselves. It’s the only way you will know if there are errors.
I would also urge Christians to find a good solid Bible believing Church. A Church who studies the Bible. I recommend Baptist Churches world wide because they are generally a good stable group.
What I also suggest is that if you support anyone in the media check them out. Ask them for a statement of faith. Check it out against the Bible to see that the scriptures they use to support their beliefs are taken in context. If they don’t give you a doctrinal statement have nothing to do with them. If you think what they say in their statement of faith is wrong ask them for clarification if they don’t clarify it have nothing to do with them.
If you want to support an evangelist or pastor financially also ask them for a financial statement. All good groups will willingly give you one. If they don’t give you one have nothing to do with them.
Ultimately the word to Christians is “beware”. There are a lot of false teachers out in the media today. They talk a good talk but are not staying true to the word of God.
The best advice I can give to Christians other than check them out scripturally, and financially, is to pray and ask God to lead you to good teachers. To a good Church.
Please think about it.