But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
You can’t tell what someone is like on the inside by looking at their outside
While we can’t look on the heart like God can,
we can know others by their fruits
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit;
neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Luke 6:43
Watch out for rotten fruit of all kinds
We see those who are well-versed in the word,
those who say they hear from God,
those who may even perform healing and do signs and wonders
I saw a man on video who told people their addresses,
what their names were, and other details to lure them in
He said he had a special angel that worked with him
He even called this angel by name
He mentioned Jesus from time to time, but not often,
mainly, his ministry was about the angel and the information
Then he would tell the people what is wrong with them and heal them
If Jesus is not the center, the one who is glorified,
then the result is not good fruit
There are those with bad fruit in the church that lead others astray
There are also those with bad fruit, as in lacking the fruits of the spirit
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32
There are some who walk in anger and hatred and unforgiveness
Make no friendship with an angry man;
and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. Proverbs 22:24-25
The Lord may call you to help such a person
Bad fruit is to be recognized
and wisdom sought from the Lord when we encounter suspected bad fruit
Anger and a bad attitude is something I have dealt with all of my life
I am not sure where I would be without the many saints
the Lord has put in my life
God has had to do a great deal of work on me
I hate to say there is still much more to do
I thought we might be done by now, but, alas, not the case
People can be your mirror,
they can also reflect you inaccurately if their own perception is off
Or if our perception is off,
we might be judging instead of discerning with the Lord’s wisdom
Seek the Lord about how to handle those who have bad fruit,
those who seem to be stuck in your life
It could be Jesus is wanting you to extend grace to them
The Lord can direct you how to honor Him in such a relationship
and exactly what He would have you to give
of yourself to any person that may be in your life
Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:16-20
There are all sorts of bad fruits out there
Be careful, be aware
Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you into all truth
Since we cannot see inside of the hearts of humans,
we have to walk by faith and not by sight
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and what He is doing in your relationships
Forgiving as He has forgiven you
If you’re in a church
and Jesus is revealing truths to you and is teaching you things
If they refuse to hear,
there may come a time when
He directs you to shake the dust off your feet
This is not to expect perfection, just like any difficulties we encounter,
it is about seeking the Lord and His wisdom for the answer
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Scriptural References:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13
For we walk by faith, not by sight:
2 Corinthians 5:7
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another,
if any man have a quarrel against any:
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:13