Deception and Fruit
Notes
Transcript
A World of Deception
A World of Deception
Examples of Deception
Purchasing something that seems good but in reality its junk
Why would someone design something so poorly
Relationships
Seem good at the beginning but overtime the personality of the individuals come out and its a bust
Cults and social movements
These are fast moving ideas that sweep people up but drop them suddenly
Business that falsify their records
Servant/mentor
sold you good words and seemingly good advice but you witness morally compromising behavior that made you question the authenticity of their spiritual life
The essence of deception
Outside does not reflect the inside
There is no congruence between the external product/fruit and the internal motivation
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
Deceivers want
your money
affections
loyalty
use you as a cover up
Deception is always uncovered and dealt with with by God
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
Uncovering Deception: Time and Experience
Uncovering Deception: Time and Experience
One of the ways we uncover deception is through time and experience. Eventually what is inside the heart of the deceiver will be revealed.
Someone can only check their statements, responses and reactions for so long before you have the one situation that can clue into what is not right.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Tasting the fruit
Tasting the fruit
When we give situations appropriate time to unfold, eventually we will be able to taste the fruit of the individual.
In the Gospel of today, Jesus was called by the pharisees to be the ruler of the demons. He was wooing people through signs and wonders all the while he was the leader of the demons. They were saying the deeds he did were fine but the power by which he did them was evil
Jesus highlighted the error of their logic through out the passage. It’s captured very succinctly in this verse.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
New Testament Ia: Matthew 1–13 12:33 Trees Are Known by Their Fruit
But what if it is argued that the tree is incongruous with the fruit? Nonetheless the fruit is what makes the tree known. His implication: It would be more consistent if you either found fault with my deeds or praised them, so that I could meet these charges openly. But having no fault to find with my works, the fruit, you pass the opposite judgment upon the tree, me. You call me a demoniac, which, as anyone can see, is self-evidently reckless. For a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 42.1.3
Likewise for us, its our deeds that are indicative of our personhood.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”