2006-03-26 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church
Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
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.
It is so easy to pass over Scriptures like these, not for one second considering that we might be the wolves, the thorns, or the thistles ourselves.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
To “shew” means to proclaim, to preach, so even this simple act of receiving communion is a form of preaching, or prophecy. I would take this a step further by saying that you are all in a way, preachers and prophets because of your willingness to get out of bed and go to church on a beautiful day. You may never know it, but someone may be partaking of your fruit when they see you deny your comfortable bed, and deny the morning sunshine, choosing instead to come here and worship the Lord.
We should be examining ourselves at this time, and that includes the reasons, the motivations we have for coming here today. We should all be fruit-bearing trees. Being a part of this fellowship makes me feel good, but if my motivation to come here is based solely on “feeling good”, then I might as well be a sticker-bush, because I’m not helping anyone else.
Next, I do need to examine the fruit of the pastor, as the Bereans did of the Apostle Paul, receiving the Word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily to see if these things are true (Acts 17:11), but we also need to examine our own fruit. If the tree is good, there will be fruit, and it will be good. That is the rule of judging fruit, as Jesus explained in verse 18. Good trees do not produce rotten fruit. How have my actions and words affected other people, and how well do my words and actions line up with the Scriptures? Do I open up my Bible daily and search these things out? If not, I will not recognize the wolves in disguise; neither will I recognize that ravening, that greediness in myself.
By their fruits they shall be known and so shall we. If you are breathing today, you are the Lord’s planting. It’s not your job to figure out what flavor of fruit to produce, but it is your job is to produce good fruit. It’s not your job to figure out what season it is, but it is your job to be a conduit for the sap that produces fruit (that sap being the Holy Spirit – see John 15:1-8). It’s not your job to be the most statuesque tree in the garden, but it is your job to glorify the Gardener.