Living a Fruitful Life
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Sermon
Pastor Gearl Spicer, October 27, 2024
Part of the Listen & Learn series, preached at a Sunday Online service
Matthew 7:15-23
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Sermon Notes
How would you describe the fruit of your life?
Bonhoeffer stated: Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is a grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
*Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.vs. 15
*So then, you will know them by their fruit.vs.20
*Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.vs.21
*that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.Romans 10:9-10
*And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2
Three key reminders
Danger of deception —vs.15-16
Discernment is key to direction
Bad fruit indicates true danger
II. Importance of bearing fruit—vs.17-20
We produce what’s inside us
Productive lives are indicators of personal relationship with Jesus
III. Religion must not rule over relationship—vs.21-23
Kingdom entrance is reserved for those who do His will.
Religion ultimately leads to rejection
Do you know Him? Are you bearing fruit?