A real Christian must be sure, sure that their “fruits” are good (Fruits of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23).
I have been speaking on this subject at Living Word Tabernacle for some time. It started as a single sermon, however, the more I prayed about this and looked into the scriptures, the more I realized the lack in my own life and the serious responsibility I have to this seemingly simple subject.
How often is God overlooked in the little things we feel are not important enough to preach about, “everyone knows it already” – or does everyone? Don’t over look the things that are really important, especially in God’s mind.
It would be a serious fault to call ourselves real and fail to bear real Christian fruits of the Spirit. There are real fruits that must be automatically lived out by the Holy Spirit, but when a person claims to be a believer and does not manifest love, joy, peace, there is something lacking inside. Or, if they manifest a certain portion of love, joy, peace, but absolutely deny the Word (Bible) there is something terrible wrong also.
How do we know it is real Fruits coming from a Real Believer? Give it the Word test, and then see if the Fruits are there;
1) What is the motive behind your love or other graces you seem to have?
2) Is it manufactured, forced because you feel like you have too or is it automatically coming from the life of Christ within you.
3) Or is it just a portion of these fruits, while denying the full Word of God’s influence in your life?
Questions that need to be answered!
These things come by an inward work of the Holy Ghost. It is a life. We as believers must have love, joy and peace in us personally, before they can be seen by others as evidence that we can be known by the fruit we bear.
Matt 12:33 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.
Pastor Bill Ivy – Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA
To receive the ENCOURAGING THOUGHT by email please request it at – billivy@livingwordtabernacle.com – church website – www.livingwordtabernacle.com