A familiar passage of scripture will be shared today. It concerns a simple, yet forgotten principle which needs to be reiterated at this time. How quickly it has been forgotten.
It has to do with false messages. A vast array early on have appeared as a meekly sheep—yet, when under close inspection, are found to be ravenous as the wolf, seeking whom they can devour. These messages have brought about plagues of depression, malice, incest, and disease, filling the land with bitter famine and desolation.
This inspection is performed by witnessing their fruits. Yahshua speaks of this essential act in the gospel of Matthew:
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit—yet a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. For this reason, by their fruits you will know them.”
This knowing has helped this person to avoid many broad, popular paths which lead to destruction. Patient observance is vital towards witnessing the roots of false direction—even though the outward branches may appear genuine, the corrupted seeds within eventually show themselves in due season.
When noting these paths, one begins to discover various fruits of instability, pride, and greed, as well as the rebellious, rivalrous-types of foul spirits. Some of these unclean, disorderly spirits are flaunted in a way they can be clearly viewed from the outside—even though, from the inside, they present themselves with auras of cleanliness and order.
Given the hyperactive disorders which run rampant in our culture, merely a momentary abstinence can present an accurate interpretation.
As declared in Yahshua’s message, not only does the evil tree suffer in the hewing and judgment of fire, yet also the unproductive tree for not bearing fruit in its season. There are many trees which lay barren and infertile upon the path of truth, especially during this season in history. Nothing fresh and insightful comes out of the observed camps anymore—they remain in a shallow world. It is signs as these which should warn faithful practitioners to avoid them altogether.
The reason why we find so many weak Ahabs and haughty Jezebels in leadership is simple—we find a community which has compromised their morality, tolerating behaviors of vice over virtue and worshiping false, defiled spirits. Those who eat of the fruit of their leading will be brought to their examples of weakness and haughtiness.
Yet when will a group of people come who will stand faithful, unafraid to name the animals according to their kinds? This is not the time for these chosen to act as the haughty scribes do in their temples! Seek the authority of the Father—for it is he who gives wisdom to those who seek his face. He disables the plans of the proud and rises up servants over kings.
“Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Even so, by their fruits you will know them.