THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN
| Recognize In our continuing study of the Sermon on the Mount, we come to a teaching from Jesus Christ that challenges his people to take seriously his call to choose which path they truly want to walk in this life. Will we align ourselves with Jesus Christ and walk down that bumpy and challenging life of real faith in Christ, or will we choose the wide way, that offers no opposition, but leads us into the steaming jaws of destruction? While I hope that you have made the wise choice to place your loving trust in Jesus Christ, there are many around us in this life that are not willing to submit themselves fully to Christ. They want to remain in control of their own future (and shall), but they do not want to be seen as lovers of the world. So they hide their true nature, and become a snare and danger to others who are in the place of decision. In the following passage, Jesus addresses those who are Christian in name only, but who worship a very different god than the Heavenly Father. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”Matthew 7:15-20 NIV11 Wolves No one sets out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. No one starts off their life by dreaming of the day they can become a dangerous religious hypocrite that is used by the Accuser to lead others away from faith in Jesus Christ. No one plans on being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but it happens to more of us than we are comfortable admitting. The wolf is aware that he cannot let the sheep see his true nature. The sheep will recognize the danger and will stay away from the wolf. This is why the wolf must come disguised. Discernment We face these false believers daily. They are people who are on the wide way that leads to destruction, but they do not want to be honest about their allegiances to you, or even to themselves. So, they put on the name of a “Christ-follower.” They play the part, all the while they are worshipers of the world and all that comes with it. This is why Jesus Christ calls his people to see the true nature of the wolf by looking at the fruit, the product, the observable nature of the beast. As we honestly seek to discern the truth about the one wearing a mask of faith, we will be able to know them by their fruit. This call to discernment was given well by the Apostle Paul in the following: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”Philippians 1:9-11 NIV11 Prayer As you face the day ahead, consider the following prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me receive more and more of your truth and love as I draw close to you. Lord, I need your gift of discernment and depth of insight. Lord, help me see myself clearly, with your eyes. Where I am producing rotten spiritual fruit, prune me and help me be made whole. Help me see the fruit of others around me so that I might know the truth of their faith and commitment to you. Keep me from the wolves that seek to deceive. In Christ,Ryan Laden |
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