| WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING |
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Wolf in Sheep's Clothing "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Should we believe everything we are taught these days? Absolutely not. There are too many false teachers, who are either consciously, or unwittingly, teaching things that are contrary to the real gospel. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (II Corinthians 11:13-15). "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 bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (II Peter 2:1-3). "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" (I Corinthians 11:17-19). What is heresy? An opinion or a doctrine at variance with the teachings of Christ. Notice how many of our modern teachings, and interpretations of scripture, now communicate the exact opposite of what Jesus and His apostles originally taught. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness..." (Jude 3-4). What is lasciviousness? That which encourages lustfulness - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." Does that not sound like many of today's teachers? Modern theology communicates that anything is permissible, and even encouraged, contrary to what the Bible teaches. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (I Timothy 6:3-5). "...spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..." (II Peter 2:13-15). What is the distinction of a genuine messenger of God? "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23). |
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| WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FRUITFUL? |
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FRUIT - WHAT WE PRODUCE DEFINITION: A word as used in Scripture denoting produce in general, whether vegetable or animal. The Hebrews divided the FRUITs of the land into three classes:, (1.) The FRUIT of the field, "corn-FRUIT" (Heb. dagan); all kinds of grain and pulse. (2.) The FRUIT of the vine, "vintage-FRUIT" (Heb. tirosh); grapes, whether moist or dried. (3.) "Orchard-FRUITs" (Heb. yitshar), as dates, figs, citrons, etc. I. "FRUIT" is used of children or offspring (Gen. 30:2; Deut. 7:13; Luke 1:42; Ps. 21:10; 132:11); also of the progeny of beasts (Deut. 28:51; Isa. 14:29). It is used metaphorically in a variety of forms (Ps. 104:13; Prov. 1:31; 11:30; 31:16; Isa. 3:10; 10:12; Matt. 3:8; 21:41; 26:29; Heb. 13:15; Rom. 7:4, 5; 15:28). SIMILAR TO THE FRUIT OF THE FIELD - PARABLE OF THE SOWER - Genesis 1...seed & creatures bearing fruit after its kind. Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Paul said, "Follow me, as I follow the Lord." What kind of example are we? Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. II. The FRUITs of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph. 5:9; James 3:17, 18) are those gracious dispositions and habits which the Spirit produces in those in whom he dwells and works. SIMILAR TO THE FRUIT OF THE VINE. COMPARE THE WORKS (FRUITS) OF THE FLESH WITH FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:19 Now the works (dictionary - deeds or actions) of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry (Colossians 3:5...covetousness, which is idolatry), witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 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. 22 But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Lust...a strong physical desire to have sex with someone; a lust for power; a strong desire to obtain something) IF IT'S CALLED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WILL IT EVER CAUSE THE VESSEL CONTAINING IT TO SIN? James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good FRUITs, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 17 And the FRUIT of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (Righteous, strictly observant of morality, always behaving according to a religious or moral code; a morally upright people) III. Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the FRUIT of our lips giving thanks to his name Matthew 12:35-37 Every idle word shall be judged - reveals the contents of our heart. SIMILAR TO "ORCHARD-FRUITS" STORY OF THE FIG TREE Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! WHAT IS THE KEY TO FRUITFULNESS & HAVING CORRESPONDING JOY? John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not FRUIT he taketh away: and every branch that beareth FRUIT, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more FRUIT. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear FRUIT of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much FRUIT: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 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. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much FRUIT; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT MY JOY MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth FRUIT, and that your FRUIT should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. |
| TEN CONDITIONS OF LONG LIFE |
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Ten Conditions of Long Life 1) Live Free from Idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:25-26) "When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed." 2) Keep Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:40; 6:2; 11:8-9; 32:46-47) "Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever." "That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." "Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey." "And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." 3) Honor Parents (Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2-3) "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." "Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." 4) Walk in God's Ways (Deuteronomy 5:33) "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess." 5) Fear God (Deuteronomy 6:2; Proverbs 10:27; Ecclesiastes 8:13) "That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." "But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God." 6) Humility and Obedience (Deuteronomy 17:20) "That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel." 7) Kindness to Animals (Deuteronomy 22:6-7) "If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days." 8) Faithfulness to God (Deuteronomy 30:15-18) "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it." 9) Having Understanding and Knowledge (Proverbs 28:2) "For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged." 10) Hatred of Covetousness (Proverbs 28:16) "The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days." |
| AVOID BITTERNESS |
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Bitterness and unforgiveness is the root cause of broken relationships. God is all about relationships - love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. And of course, we should love our spouses even more than our neighbors. May we all live according to God's word. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled..." (Hebrews 12:14-15). |
