Ye shall know them by their fruits
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. -->
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
People eat grapes and figs. They are very healthy and good. But they do not eat the thorns and thistles. Even though fruit may grow beside a thorn or thistle, it is very different. People can not live by choosing the wrong things. They must distinguish and choose right things and avoid or reject the wrong things. As we grow, so does our analytical power, and as we grow as Christians, so does our theological insight.
When a person becomes saved, he becomes a new creature. He becomes a vessel that God can fellowship with and teach. The saved person that learns from God will make changes for the better. He will learn to pick a faithful and chaste wife if he decides to marry, not a whore, not a divorced woman, not an unchaste woman.
Is it possible for him to pick the wrong the kind of woman to marry? Yes. But if a believer makes a mistake, God will convict him of it, and he will want to correct the wrong and do what is right. So, taking it a bit further, if a Christian man or woman commits adultery, can he remain living like that? Not with God's approval. He or she would have to have the illicit marriage annulled.
Christ taught his disciples and the disciples taught the followers (called Christians today). We should beware of accepting teachers at face value: we can always examine what they say with what the apostles and prophets taught. You can examine a teacher's life whether it is bringing fruit of the right things or the wrong things. People's life example tell about their giving good fruit or not.
Finance
When it comes to gospel teachers, you can also tell whether it is a life of suffering poverty or living in extravagance and hedonism in the name of evangelism (2 Cor. 11:5-15). Do they try to sell you books and evangelical material? No such record of the disciples of Jesus.
Regardless of how much money an ungodly person has, he or she does not have the joy and peace that God gives to those who obey Him. An unhappy cheater with a hundred million dollars does not have the happiness a sincere Christian with a few dollars in his pocket has. Money doesn't satisfy in itself. The enjoy life “now” moment is very great for Christians who crucify the lust of the flesh!
Sheep-like Presentation
Notice how Joyce Meyer makes herself look so victimized and innocent (like a sheep) in the video below. But she says nothing of grieving or repenting her life of fornication (disregarding clean living and aggressive like a wolf); she merely overlooks it and encourages others to follow her example.
|
Passivity, Ignorance of
Illicit Marriage, Self-justification, Self Righteousness Rant and
Hypocritical Distortion |
Two of the manifestations of the flesh mentioned in Gal. 5 are fornication and adultery. To avoid these sins, it requires living chaste or abstinent from evil sex. Study this page. It takes a look at a person's present life style, record and history, not just a first glance.
Does she (Joyce Meyer) bring forth fruit of righteousness by living in fornication and sexual uncleanness? Of course not. Is overlooking unchastity in marriage, divorcing and remarrying bringing forth fruit to God? Of course not. Her works are works of thorns of fornication and thistles of uncleanness, not works that bring forth good fruit. Approved teachers can't continue in immorality. They must produce fruits worthy of repentance (Mt. 3.8). Christians are expected to do better and take of good fruit: a man must take a clean wife (virgin or chaste widow) and marry in chastity.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 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. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (KJV)
Continuing this brief exposure and reminder of Scripture, I will begin with the first two works of the flesh (Gal. 5): adultery and fornication. This is a big problem among our world today. We have many erring teachers and heretics that promote these sins in the churches.
Next, let's look at uncleanness. I will give some links relating to the following subjects. Lasciviousness. Idolatry. Witchcraft. Hatred. Variance. Emulations. Wrath. Strife. Seditions. Heresies. Envyings. Murders. Drunkenness. Revellings.
Audience
How many people follow the teacher you are putting under scrutiny? Great numbers do not follow the righteous. Look at the example of Noah, Elijah, the disciples of Jesus, and others. The people who consistently adhered to God's teachings were restrictive. They did not allow themselves to indulge in things of the flesh as those who did not serve the Lord. They kept their lives clean and free of guilt; they did not deny their sin, nor bear false witness through covering up or self-justifying their sins. How many elders or board members overlook the sins of their teachers and members in the heresy churches! A person disregarding the blessed rule not to fornicate cannot have a clean conscience toward God and men (Acts 24:16).
Psychology
Great pretenders: modern heretics. Questions: Are they wise in their own conceit? Do they laugh at their followers or are they so deceived that they think their sin is alright and that they are doing a service for those who celebrate them?
Links:
Joyce Meyer Distortion: Stache Interview
Joyce Meyer Fornication (Marrying Without Chastity)
Joyce Meyer Discrimination on Divorce
1 Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1 Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.