Bible Verse of The Day – 9-21-20

Matthew 7:20 (NKJV) 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

As Jesus was nearing the end of the Sermon on The Mount, He began to draw distinctions between different kinds of things.

In this, He alluded to two different paths, two different kinds of builders and two different groups of people.

One path leads to destruction. The other leads to life.

One builder builds on the rock, the truth. While the other builder builds on sand, deception and lies.

One group of people spoke the name of Jesus, prophesied in His name and claimed to be His followers. But their words were tainted and deceitful, being spoken with impure motives of deception and greed.

The other group loved God and followed Him sincerely, giving Him their whole heart.

In verse 15, Jesus specifically discussed false prophets. He told the people that they would know these false prophets by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15 (NKJV) 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Most times when we hear verse 20, we think of it as knowing believers by their fruits. In reality, though, Jesus was speaking directly about false prophets and false teachers.

So, let’s talk about that for a few minutes.

How do we know false teachers and false prophets? By what they say and what they teach.

Do they share the word of God in its entirety, in all of its truth and power, including those things that might not be so comfortable?

Or do they tend to avoid the topics that might be tough or uncomfortable, and move onto the things that are easier to hear and might not cause any kind of discomfort or controversy?

Do the words they speak focus mostly on how to get wealthy? Does their “gospel” revolve around money and success?

Do they speak only about “positive” things, but never address or discuss sin and its consequences?

Do they proclaim freedom from sin and bondage by the blood of Jesus? Or do they proclaim wealth, social acceptance and happiness for all believers in His name?

This is something that we all need to understand. We all need to know the difference between the truth and the lies.

We need to learn to recognize it. Why? Because our eternal destiny depends on it.

As Jesus continued to speak, He drew a very clear line of distinction between the path that leads to life and the path that leads to destruction.

And He did so with no apologies, as He said these words:

Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Beware of false prophets and false teachers.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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