What fruits do you bear?
Matthew 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
When the scriptures speak of “fruit”….it is talking about what is produced in the life….and from a life.
We bring forth after our kind. If we are lukewarm Christians…we can not influence others to be zealous….until we become zealous. (Rev. 3:19-20)
If we love the Lord, it will produce “fruit” that pleases the Lord. (John 14:15)
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone 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.”
Plainly, Jesus Christ is saying, it is not calling Him “Lord” that means anything….but it is making Him our Lord in our lives that makes a difference.
Jesus said, “…but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.”
Here, Jesus stresses the necessity for Obedience in those that follow Him.
But we might say….isn’t prophesying in His name….and casting out devils…
…….and what about those wonderful works I did? All in Your Name, Jesus. Isn’t that obedience?
It is sad but true, that many will use the name of Jesus to do many things….will talk about Jesus for many reasons….
God will honor His Word….and God will honor the name of Jesus.
But He will not honor those workers of iniquity….which simply use Jesus for their own gain. (Jude 11-13)
To them the most terrible words will come: I never knew you…. Depart from Me.
This “knew” here…is absolutely know….to have His eye upon for good.
The Lord knows His own….His eye is upon them for good always.
But the wicked He does not know in this way….but only as Judge.
I want to talk of the example Jesus Christ uses here of two homeowners.
(Speaking of our heart-homes ….”For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21)
Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a Rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a Rock.”
Matthew 7:26-27 “And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Notice that the same rain and storm comes to both.
Notice that both hear His sayings.
What then is the difference between these men?
The wise man (cautious and thoughtful)…..does the sayings of Christ…and builds his heart-house on the Rock of Christ Jesus, Himself.
The foolish man (heedless)…does not do what he has heard….and builds his heart-house on the sinking sand of this world.
Both heard, but how they heard was the determining factor.
One heard,…. to learn and do what Jesus said.
The other heard…..but refused the Rock of Salvation, Jesus Christ.
Could the fact of personal obedience to what Christ says be more clearly stated?
To each person He speaks….using the Holy Spirit to convict….for personal belief in HImself for Salvation and…..for a personal call to sanctification.
But it is doing the will of the Father that shows that we are founded upon the Rock of Christ.
We all know the children’s song about this illustration….(how important for children to know Jesus Christ!)
….but are we aware, that the whole stress of this last of His message here….is “fruits”….by their fruits ye shall know them.
The Lord goes on to show that many will seem to know and do things for Christ….calling: Lord, Lord!
But words are not fruit.
They are like the leaves on a tree….they look good….they fill out the tree, or vine. But they are not fruit.
And that is what counts in the court of heaven….fruit unto God. (John 15:8 “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”)
Fruit is the “expected end” of a tree or vine. It is the joy of the Husbandman.
If we wish to bring joy to the Lord, let us do His sayings….let us be wise, thoughtful and cautious about our hearts….and lay our lives on Jesus Christ, our Rock….our Savior and Lord.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 