The Final Exam

Matthew 7:15-20 ... Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Even though some will try to deceive you…  You can find CONFIDENCE, in the midst of CONFUSION

1.  Jesus gives a WARNING  

• Watch out for FALSE prophets

Matthew 24:10-12 ... And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

2.  Jesus makes a CONTRAST

• Good trees bear GOOD fruit and bad trees bear BAD fruit

Galatians 5:19-21 ... Now the works of the flesh are evident:  sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  

Galatians 5:22-25 ... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

3.  Jesus gives a CHALLENGE

• Be a fruit inspector and draw a CONCLUSION

John 15:8 ... By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.

CHALLENE:  Inspect your own fruit of faithfulness

• BELIEVE
• TRUST
• OBEDIENCE

Matthew 7:21-23 ... Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.  On that day many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?”  And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.”