Identification by Actions
Matthew 7:15-20(NLT)“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all. It is another week at His feet.
🙏 His words will not be a Parable unto us in Jesus name
There is a warning from the Master pertaining to false prophets. False prophets give incorrect information from God to His people.
False prophets have been in existence from the beginning when God chose people who will be under His rulership. Therefore, no child of God that falls into the hands of false prophets is excusable because God has written about them.
In my early days of starting new parish as a pastor, many people came to fellowship once or twice and left, claiming that there was no prophecy concerning them. They preferred to worship where they can hear prophesy pertaining to their future.
In the days of Jeremiah, just as it is now, there were many false prophets and people loved it like that because they wanted to know the future anyway.
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
There are false prophets in the Church today with lies to deceive Christians. The word of God is very clear concerning false prophets so we are inexcusable.
Jeremiah 14:14(NLT) Then the lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts.
There are several Believers today that run after vanity of life with futile hopes given by false prophets thereby they become victims of vain prophecy as it were in the days of old.
Jeremiah 23:16(NLT) This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord!
🛑 Just as Jesus Christ warned His Disciples during sermon on the Mount about false prophets, He also reiterated it on Mount Olives when His Disciples asked about the end times.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
We are witnessing falsehood in ministry now as Jesus said, and it will increase before His coming. This is why we must get more closer to God because even the elect can be deceived.
Mark 13:22(NLT) For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.
In this our time, we have heard many men of God that prophesied one way or the other in the name of the Lord concerning the Nation or individual and did not come to pass. Do you wonder?
Hear the Scriptures speak in;
Deuteronomy 18:21-22(NLT) “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s ’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.
🛑 We have come to the dispensation where pastors and men of God teach what people want to hear for more clientele in the Church since churches and ministry have become business venture with competitions to acquire souls for their ministries and NOT for the Kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 4:3-4(NLT) For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. Finally brethren, from our text, Jesus said; Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. False prophets can be identified by how they live and if their actions measured up to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto the fulness of Christ.
🛑 No man can identify fake currency if he is not accustomed to original currency.
❓How close are you in faith and knowledge of God? The more we know God, the more we live righteously to identify manifestation of Satan.
1 John 3:7,10(NLT) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
✋ Maranatha
