Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
People who have spent a lot of time out in the woods have a tendency to learn how to identify many of the wild foods that they can eat. They know what certain plants look like, and the fruit that they produce. Those who have been gardening for many years can quickly identify a tomato plant, and know that when it finally bears fruit, they can gather some up and have an enjoyable meal for spper. But you can easily recognize what a plant is simply by the fruit that It produces. For example, if somebody were to plant an apple tree, and then later on it produced hedge apples, you know that it’s not an apple tree at all. It is an osage orange tree which produces fruit that tastes disgusting. It’s been claimed that its fruit has a bitter soapy flavor and it’s milk sap can cause severe skin irritation.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Jesus foretold about many false prophets that would rise, and in this modern age we have been inundated with them. But it’s fairly easy to recognize them simply because of the fruit that they produce. Their works clearly display what they truly are inside of their hearts, because they are filled up with corruption, the works of iniquity, and are complete reprobates to the teachings of the Christian faith.
Matthew 7:15-23 (KJB) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But if an apple tree doesn’t produce good fruit, then it will eventually be cut down, something that John the Baptist illustrated to the religious leaders of that time.
Matthew 3:7-10 (KJB) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
The Lord Jesus spoke out against many people who appeared one way to the public, but deep inside of their hearts, they were complete hypocrites.
Matthew 23:14-15 (KJB) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 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.
Matthew 23:23-28 (KJB) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Many of these same people are still roaming the Earth today, but the only difference is that they claim to be Christians.
Titus 1:16 (KJB) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
These false prophets appear Godly, but they really do not possess those qualities at all. In their rebellion they completely resist teachings from scripture, and are condemned of themselves.
2 Timothy 3:5-9 (KJB) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
Jesus loves the Heavenly Father with a perfect and obedient heart, and He is our example of how we should live our lives towards God.
1 John 2:3-6 (KJB) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
It doesn’t matter if somebody appears like an apple tree on the exterior, it matters the type of fruit that they produce. To bring forth good fruit, it must come forth from a good-hearted person, which will only happen through sincere repentance and sincere submission to the teachings of God’s Holy Word.
James 1:21-25 (KJB) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
In this world today, there are many false prophets, false apostles, and even false brethren, who truly are not sincere believers in Christ Jesus. But you will be able to identify them by their unfaithfulness to the will of God. When the evil fruits of rebellion, disobedience and religious pride begin to appear in their life, then you will know them for what they really are, just another bucket of,….
……..Hedge Apples
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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