TREE BY WATER

          Text: Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

          16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

          17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

          18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

          19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

          20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

          In this setting, Jesus is talking about false prophets.

Let's use this in a different way. Let's apply this to our own lives.

          Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is;

Fruit                                                                            Opposite

                                                     

 Love= affection                                                         Hate

 Joy= gladness                                                            Depression

Peace= exemption from the rage and havoc              Turmoil                                                

 Longsuffering= does not hastily retaliate                 Anxious

 Gentleness= moral goodness, integrity                    Brutal or rough

 Goodness= uprightness of heart and life                  Evil

 Faith= belief with the predominate idea of trust      Skeptical                                       

23 Meekness= mildness                                            Forward

Temperance= self control                                         Permissive

Against such there is no law.

Definition of fruit;

That which originates or comes from something, an effect, result.

          What does a tree need to produce fruit?

          Must be watered. Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

          Must be fed. 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

          2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

          3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

          Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

          14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

          Must be pruned. John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth (pruned) it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

          Must be protected from insects. Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.