Who Speaks Into My Life?

Beware of false prophets who come in sheep clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You'll recognise them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So you'll recognise them by their fruit.

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, "Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name?" Then I will announce to them, "I never knew you! depart from Me, you lawbreakers!" Matthew 7:15-23

In verse 13 Jesus was telling us that we have to seek the narrow way, for it leads to life and the broad way to destruction. Now He specifies what a good prophet should be like. Human nature is easily taken in by appearances. We need to look at the fruit of that person's life. What does that tell me?

Growing up I was drawn, much like any young person into worship of hearoic characters, be it in music or film. What they said was important to me. It wasn't until years later I started to see their lives and the fruit of what they had been saying.

Just because someone is a good sportsman and on the field does everything right, does not necessarily translate into knowing how to live life. In Australia football, rugby league and Australian rules football are very prevalent. Each of us has a team, so to speak. The team we adopt does not know us but we each hold them dear. Young people know all they members of the team and some they love more than others. The mistake is when they allow that person to speak into their lives. They are not God and few are godly, in fact they are downright heathen. Yet we tend to listen to those we are emotionally attached to. This can be our downfall.

In church this can be a problem but more likely the hero will be someone they see on Utube rather than their pastor. The opposite attitude then tends to filter into church: why should I listen to you? This attitude is a worldy attitude and probably one carried by the hero, or idol that that person has in their lives.

What does all this mean? I need to have clean ears so that I may hear correctly the voice of God coming thought the preaching of the word, a word of prophesy from my pastor rather than outside the camp. Yes, granted, even in church there are fakes but you have more chance of finding the fakes outside a good church than in.

My eye must be clear so that I see what God sees. I must trust Him with authority over my life and seek His voice and His ways. Amen!