(11/04/2018) Known By His Fruit

Today, reply is on the fruit and lifestyle that makes developing believers knowable and known as followers of Jesus Christ. Those who are born again are to display Christ-likeness in addition to performing ministry, repentance, unselfish service, godly works, and worship. The fruit of their efforts should be seen within themselves and from those to whom they have ministered such as commitment, gratitude, growth, joy, praise, respect, and zeal. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” in the Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “Life Forevermore” (Level 5 with 8,975 points, a member since March 27, 2011) posted the following:

What is Jesus referring to in this verse; how would someone go about obeying this instruction; what's the concept here; your own experience?

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3: 14-16, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Relationship As Servant (06/03/2018); Ye Are The Branches (03/21/2018); I Am The Vine (03/20/2018); Recognizing True Christian Prophets (02/26/2018); The Spirit of Meekness (12/15/2017); ...And They Will Know (10/23/2017); Spirit Content From GOD? (09/26/2016)

“Life Forevermore”, Christian believers are cautioned to understand that coming into a stable relationship with divinity is a sacred process that requires commitment and discernment. There are many conditions, situations, and smooth operators that counterfeit, mimic, and undermine authentic godliness. Those who are the new creation from Jesus Christ are to be known, recognized, and responded to on the basis of their fresh endowment of invisible spirit substance from the makeup of divinity. Inseparable aspects of divine fullness (we say, the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) should be displayed. Included are faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, oneness without sameness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Consider again the warning to the church in Laodicea and the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.) Matthew 7: 15-19, King James Version (KJV): 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

(2.) Mark 10: 42-46, KJV: 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(3.) 1^st John 4: 1-3, KJV: 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(4.) James 2: 17-20, KJV: 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) James 3: 11-18, KJV: 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC