“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 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. 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? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (NKJV)
Differing versions say:
-“…you who break God’s laws” (NLT)
-“…all you did was make yourself important.” (Message)
-“…you evil doers.” (NOA)
What is God’s will and are we doing it?
As followers of Jesus our job is to point people to Jesus. Plain and simple. Our actions, our words, our efforts should all be a part God’s plan to reconcile people to Him, as we shower them with the love of Jesus and truth of the Gospel.
Are we bringing people closer to Jesus, or are we pushing them away from Him?
Evaluate your relationships, your efforts, your church and its efforts. Is your church repelling unbelievers or bringing them in? Does you leadership understand its purpose, to grow the Kingdom? Do you know that’s the purpose you were created for? A relationship with Jesus and pointing others to Him?
The Pharisees, whom Jesus was addressing in this passage, were like a tree that was bearing bad fruit. You might want to pick something to eat, but their fruit was all rotten and stinking. Now who eats rotting fruit? No one, because it’s good for nothing.
Internet Photo
Their evil was stinking up to the heavens, they looked so good to all the people but in reality they pushed people away from God.
With all this in mind, what are you doing to help your friends grow closer to Christ? What are you doing to help your family see Jesus clearer? What are you doing to share Jesus with your community, your world? Let it be said of you one day when you stand before God, that your fruit was a fragrance He smelled sweetly. Let your life be poured out for His glory!
If there’s any subject matter I could say I know most about, the area I know enough to say I do not need to learn more, it would be the area of failure in one’s Christian walk. Yes, there have been great triumphs, great victories. However, to really understand grace, to really understand the nature of God you must first understand failure. Failure points us to our humanity. It points us to our weaknesses. It shows us our need for His grace – His unmerited favor, forgiveness and kindness.
When I am weak I see His strength. When I am strong I mistakenly think I have no need for God. It’s in my weakness that I run to His arms. Do you too have that happen, when things are going so well, do you talk to God? Joyce Meyer says, “Go to the throne not the phone.” I’m always so horizontal, I could be a lot more vertical in my life!! What would it look like if I ran to Him with all the good things? When things are going great?
My failures could fill a book. I’ve failed over and over again in my marriage, in my parenting, in my friendships, in church relationships, with family members. Do you see a pattern of people pursuing friendships with you or not? Do your family members invite you to stuff? Or are you always trying to push your way in somewhere and discovering later that you didn’t really fit? Maybe you’re like me and you can say, “When it comes to people I’m a total failure”.
I’m not saying all this for a pity party it’s just something I’ve observed. And the best part of knowing you don’t fit with people is that moment when you realize the only one you can truly count on accepting you is Jesus Christ. However, when we discover that every single person on the planet does not like us, love us, or want to be around us, it can be a wakeup call. You might begin to question what God thinks about you, if His church members do not really love you. This is a pivotal moment! Ask yourself, “Who does God say I am?”
Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
God says you are a son (or a daughter) of His because of your faith in Jesus! You are accepted because of that faith! You are chosen because of His mercy! You are His!
However, you are also caught in a struggle, you are still on this earth, in this body, in this flesh. You are still living where you will have to face temptation, persecution, and weakness. You are still in a place where you have many faults and perfection is unachievable.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Romans 7:15-20 NRSV
Paul says, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me”.
Now, you know you are not perfect, but what about the people you are failing in relationships with? Are they perfect? Are you expecting them to be, then upset with them because they are not? I think our relationships fail because of our unrealistic expectations. We are expecting more than a flawed human being can give. When we consider who we are in Christ and then who we are in this life, and our desperate need for His mercy we should remember those around us also need His strength in their weakness. If you’re failing miserably at relationships think about that, think about who He says you are, and who He says your friends, or family members are to Him.
Remember failure is not always a bad thing. It can put us onto the straight narrow path. It can show us the right way! Check out this article on some famous people who have failed and look where they ended up. Failure does not have to be the end, it can be the beginning of something even better!
Me with some of my favorite women at Women of Faith in Columbus, Ohio!
What kinds of contributions are okay for a woman to make in the Christian community? Can they be preachers? Can a woman work outside her home? Can she be a missionary? Can she… Can she…. Can she… These are questions that I as a woman want to know an answer for. So instead of listening to a televangelist, a pink wife book, or a well-meaning stay at home mom that wants me to also stay at home, or a mom that works outside the home, though their advice is appreciated and even helpful, I think I’ll go with what the Bible says. Here are a few examples…
Phoebe
Romans 16:1-2
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
“servant of the church in Cenchrea” – in greek diakonon (office of deacon)
1:1
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,… [slaves of Christ Jesus]
-Phoebe was a slave to Jesus, a bondservant…
1 Tim 3:8
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money…
-Phoebe would have fit this description if he used this word “diakonon”
1 Tim 3:12
Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
-The word “deacon” is used to refer to a male here but in Romans 16, we can see that Paul may have counted Phoebe as a deacon with his use of work “diakonon” (deacon).
Deborah
Judges 4
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
“God doesn’t explain Himself. Suddenly, in a time when Israel has become unfaithful to the Lord, the scripture proclaims the position of Deborah, the only female to rule Israel during the years of the judges – the era between Joshua’s death and Saul’s accession as king. Deborah was not just a minor judge; she was an authoritative woman who decided disputes between men and held the power common to all Israel’s judges… As a prophetess, Deborah would have heard and communicated God’s will to His people. Though she is not the only prophetess in the Bible, she alone ruled Israel. Not only that, she effectively led her country during wartime, when many people might have chosen a man for the job.” (The Top 100 Women of the Bible. Pamela McQuade. P. 36-37. 2007)
-As you read this chapter, also see the incredible contribution to the nation of Israel by the tent making wife Jael, who used her tent-setting skills to drive a stake through the enemy’s temple. No king, or prince can say he had the victory in this chapter, it was God’s faithful daughters who answered His call and captured back their nation’s freedom. God shows us that even women are put to work in mighty ways for His glory.
What Stops Women from Participating in Ministry?
1 Timothy 2:8-15
I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
-“Silence” -a woman will be in silence? Is that really what he is saying? That word in the Greek is “hesychia” and it means to be settled down, undisturbed, not unruly, restful..” It is not the word “sigao”, which means to actually be literally silent, saying nothing out loud. We are misinterpreting the scripture, missing the point if we think we are to be silent in church, silent in the Christian body!
Priscilla
Romans 16:3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
-Priscilla is not mentioned without her husband, however as is noted among commentators her name appears first – she was possibly the greater contribution to the work of the church.
100+ women are listed in the Bible, some good some evil, some great warriors, great leaders, great business women, mothers, wives, grandmothers, heroes of faith – all are listed to show us the intricacy of a woman, the uniqueness of God’s creation. He has a purpose for each woman, each vessel. Are we willing to be used in whatever way He chooses to accomplish His mission?
Remember these words as you consider your role in family, your contribution to the Christian body, and to your community:
Joel 2:28-29
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves; in those days, I will pour out My Spirit.
Commentators point out this passage being about all nations, an important observation. However don’t miss the part about it including both genders, male and female. This was written in a time when the female was often disregarded and here she is portrayed as equally important to the future work of God. Do some homework today, get out your commentaries and start looking at the women in your Bible. Pink wife books are terrific, but what does God’s book have to say about who you are as a woman?
Prepare Our Hearts 