Presents
Matthew #2514
In other words, if what you have plucked are nothing but the traditions of men, like stories about snakes and apples, and rapture theories, and Easter bunnies, etc., then you are barking up the wrong tree!
Presents
Matthew #2514
In other words, if what you have plucked are nothing but the traditions of men, like stories about snakes and apples, and rapture theories, and Easter bunnies, etc., then you are barking up the wrong tree!
In our last study Jesus Christ explained to us that the gate is wide and the path is broad which leads to destruction and there are many which go in there (Mat. 7:13). You see, there is only one true Shepherd and one gate into His sheepfold and that way, that door, is Jesus Christ, the Word of God (Jn. 10:9). In other words, you cannot get there simply by going to church or participating in religious ceremonies or worship services or by following any other path such as the broad gamut of the traditions of men. Therefore, the very fact that we are a nation of Biblical illiterates documents that Christ words are true, for "the many" are led astray from the true, lush, green pastures of His word to be taken prey by the wolves, the false prophets, who rob and steal for self gain while causing the spiritual death of our people.
And so it is that as Jesus Christ concludes His "Teaching on the Mount", He gives a stern warning to His disciples concerning fake preachers and then closes with a few words of great wisdom about how to be one of the "wise" in this final generation who shall be able to withstand the onslaught of the great spiritual tribulation of Satan as the false-christ!John 10:9-10
I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Here is that most important warning:
Did you know that the very first sign and warning Christ gave to His disciples when they asked Him on Mount Olivet what signs to look for and how to determine the "when" of the final generation just before His return, was to beware of false prophets (Mat. 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6, Luke 21: 8)?Matthew 7:15-29
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
So "Take Heed" and stay away from "pseudopreachers" who are would-be teachers of God's Word! They have the appearance of being Christian ministers and preachers, etc., but they have another agenda which is usually to devour the flock for profit or self-glorification. You can usually tell their intent after listening to them for a little while because it seems they always get around to talking about what is foremost on their minds.Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
So do NOT let appearances, one's outer garment, deceive you.G5578 pseudoprophetes psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace
From G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor:—false prophet.
A true teacher of God's Word will always tell you to stay in the Word of God and document and test the things that you hear taught by man, because unfortunately there are many more false teachers than there are true in this final generation. 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." A teacher of God's Word will also explain to you the difference between the holy and the profane and how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
Even in the Millennium God's elect will teach these differences and cause people to exercise spiritual discernment: Ezekiel 44:23 "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
If after you have done your due diligence and found that what you heard was written in God's Word, then you know with certitude that He has spoken it and only then can you "go with it"! Otherwise, be very wary of those who tell you God told them this or that![27] Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.[28] And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
So how do you tell a true "shepherd" from a look-alike "wolf". How do you tell one who is sent from God and one who isn't? John 3:34 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." So take heed, for if you are one of His disciples you not only need to know how to tell the difference for yourself but also how to teach others to "beware of false prophets". To that end, Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher of all time, makes it very simple for us as He begins with an analogy of nature itself. Fruit! Hey, you simply test the "fruit" and then you will know what kind of tree it came from!
The point is, the fruit that you "pluck" from a tree tells you what kind of tree it is and you know what else? If you can discern the fruit you don't even have to see the tree itself to know what kind it is, do you?Matthew 7:16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
One of the very first lessons we learn in the Word of God is that there are two different trees from which one can obtain "fruit" to eat. However, one of them you need to beware of and stay away from.G2590 karpos kar-pos'[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Probably from the base of G726; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively:— fruit.
Both the Tree of Life, who is Jesus Christ, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, who is Satan, were in the midst of the garden. Yes, the story from the beginning, which is a matter of life and death, is to make sure you do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unless you want to lose your spiritual virginity in like manner as Eve lost her physical virginity to the old serpent, who is Satan, the devil (Rev. 12:9), the false messiah, the fake (other) Jesus, the corrupt tree that shall be hewn down and cast into the lake of fire. To wit, false prophets stem from that false tree and the Jesus they preach is not our Jesus but "another one" (see below), the false one, the false messiah. Paul warned us about this same thing:Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life (Jesus) also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Satan).Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Paul was concerned that some might put up with those who preach "another Jesus". Don't receive spirits (doctrines) without first testing the fruit... which is what Christ is explaining to us.2 Cor. 11:2-4
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is that good tree, the Tree of Life. Satan, the other Jesus who is preached, is the corrupt tree and no good fruit can come from him. And Satan's ministers who only appear as messengers of righteousness, even as Satan appeared to Eve as a knowledgeable one who could explain what God really meant when He said "Thou shalt surely die!", also often misquote the Word of God or twist it to conform to the traditions of men. What shall their end be?Matthew 7:18
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Remember, in the Bible Trees are symbolic of and represent people!
Their end is this:2 Cor. 11:14-15
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Such is the fate that awaits the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which deceives the whole world. Rev. 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone...". Again, how do you tell the difference between the holy tree and the profane tree? Test the fruit of the tree with the fruit detector, the Word of God.After awhile, you'll notice there really are a lot of fruitcakes running around.Matthew 7:19
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Isn't that a very simple thing? When you listen to a tree and you pluck the fruit from it, squeeze the fruit by checking it out in God's Word before you eat it. Then you will know if it comes from the Tree of Life or the poisonous Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In other words, if what you
have plucked are nothing but the traditions of men, like stories about
snakes and apples, and rapture theories, and Easter bunnies, etc., then
you are barking up the wrong tree!
They come in his name and do everything but His will! They use His name (Christian) to teach, but they do not teach His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse, but rather teach the traditions of men. They do all sorts of good deeds but they do not do the work which their Father has ordained for the sons and daughters of this final generation, and that is to seek and understand the visions, i.e. His Word, and prophesy (teach) His Word to the true House of Israel. They claim to cast out devils and some even go so far as to knock people down on stage in the name of Jesus and yet the people who have followed them for years and years, who by now ought to be teachers themselves (Heb. 5:12), are still as Biblically illiterate as ever.[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
"In that day" is the day of Christ's return! "Woe to the foolish prophets... (Ezek. 13:3)!"[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
"Iniquity" is anomia in Greek (Strong's #458) which means transgression of the law, the Word of God. They lead our people astray by substituting church and a form of worship instead of teaching the Word of God chapter by chapter and verse by verse.Christ never knew these Christians because they never knew Him. They never came to Him, to the Word of God, and got to know Him.[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You see, one who says he or she knows Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, and yet is ignorant of the Written Word of God, is a foolish person indeed!
So we have been WARNED by Jesus Christ Himself that we must beware of the many false prophets in this generation and INFORMED that not all who call themselves Christian are going to make it into the kingdom of heaven.
Now it is decision time! Do you have "ears to hear" what Christ has taught on the mount, from on high? Which path, the broad or the narrow, are you going to follow in building up the house of God?
Therefore in conclusion... whosoever hears (with understanding) these sayings of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and DOETH them, is a WISE MAN![24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the Rock upon which the wise stand and that Rock is unmovable (Psalm 62:6).James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Christ is referring to the period of the great tribulation the false-christ in the final generation of the fig tree when the flood of his lies spew forth as a flood and the four winds blow upon the earth.Matthew 7:25
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat* upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Again, that "Rock" is Jesus Christ Himself and our people are becoming less and less mindful of Him, i.e. of the Word of God. Deut. 32:18 "Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee."Rev. 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.water = G5204 hudor hudatos hoo'-dor,hoo'-dat-os,etc.
From the base of G5205; water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively:—water.
* Note: It is interesting that the Greek word for "beat" in Mat. 7:25 (# 4363, prospipto) is a much stronger word than the Greek word for "beat" in Mat. 7:27 (#4350, proskopto).The "wise" who are firmly founded upon the Rock can withstand a much greater pounding than the "foolish" who have no foundation upon which to stand. You see, it doesn't take much for the Big Bad Wolf to huff and puff and blow their houses down.
Matthew 7:26
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
The great fall is called the "apostasy" by the apostle Paul in 2 Thes. 2:3. When Satan, that old serpent the dragon, is cast out of heaven to this earth at the sound of the 6th Trump, the spiritual onslaught will hit from all directions.[27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Notice that the rain comes from above, the floods from the foundation and winds from all four sides.
Paul also tells us in that 2nd chapter of 2nd Thes. why the majority of Christians will fall in the great apostasy:winds = #G417 anemos an'-em-os
From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth):—wind.
They liked listening to superpreachers and hearing them tell them fairy tales about flying away in some Rapturemobile when the spurious messiah comes, instead of taking the time to test the fruit by studying their Father's Word and becoming "sealed" with the knowledge of His truth in their foreheads.2 Thes. 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
People today are also often amazed when they hear a true teacher of God's Word teach boldly after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written". If you noticed, not once did Christ go around the group of disciples and ask them what this verse or that verse meant to them. It doesn't matter what man thinks it means, but rather what the Word of God actually has to say!Matthew 7:28
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
The Divine authority that Christ continually taught with were the words His Father gave Him, i.e. the Word of God (John 14:10). Christ often said "It is written" or "Haven't you read?" How do the scribes teach? They teach the writings of the rabbis, the words of men, which is called the Talmud.[29] For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
In Christian circles you could call them "quarterlies".
In conclusion to today's study, let us all ask ourselves just how "wise" are we and let us take heed to our Father's words in the last two verses of the book titled "Salvation", which is "Hosea" in Hebrew, as He likens Himself to a green fir tree:
All one has to do is understand the symbology and this verse and what our Father is saying becomes very clear. "Ephraim" was the largest of the 10 ten tribes of the House of Israel and is put forth here in a figure of speech to represent the whole. "Idols" are just that... the iniquitous teaching and whoring after the traditions of men. And a "green fir tree" is an evergreen tree which is symbolic of everlasting life. Are you one of the wise who knows what tree from which to obtain fruit and what "substance" to build the foundation of your house upon? Or will you be among the multitudes who follow the transgressors, the workers and teachers of the iniquitous doctrines of men (Mat. 7:23)? The choice is yours, so become a fruit tester and choose only the Tree of Life from which to obtain fruit. Your salvation depends upon it!Hosea 14:8-9
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise?[9]Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
In our next study Christ will begin the second period of His ministry.
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