MAKE BELIEVER
I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you”. Away from me, you evildoers. - Matthew 7:23
I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you”. Away from me, you evildoers. - Matthew 7:23
First
Word
·
I was born in the late
1930’s
in Georgia in the “Bible Belt”;
that would automatically make me a Democrat and a Christian. – It’s just something
that we all said we were. – Everybody in the neighborhood went to the Big Baptist
Church on the hill and every time the doors opened we would be there.
·
By the time of high school
in the 1950’s,
things were different, I met new people who said they were Christians, but spoke
crudely and were mean spirited, bullying and acted like they belonged to some
kind of teenage gang. – I asked a new girl for a date to go to church and when
we arrived she said, “You really did mean Church didn’t You”, and asked to sit
in the balcony because of how she was dressed.
·
I can remember a deacon cursing violently at our
church and another in his business using political underhanded tricks; to beat
out his competition; he said, “well that just business”.
BELIEVERS & NON-BELIEVER
all begin to look the same to me.
·
Dad put molding on cars
and trucks
for the Atlanta Gas Light Company. – Over time he learned how to do it faster
and lowered his prices. – I asked why he would do such a thing, he was
losing money; he said, it was the right thing to do and “it was just GOOD business”.
·
When new regulations on
Paint Booths
caused 90% of the body shops to close;
Dad did not complain, he went to the bank and borrowed money to build a bigger
and better booth. – The results caused him to run three shifts; 24 hours
a day to handle all the additional business.
·
When I complained about my
food,
dad told me that my complaint was against God who provides everything we have;
sure makes me think twice about complaining about anything.
·
The Book says that all things will
work together for good, for those that love the Lord and are called
according to His purpose. – My dad stayed so busy, but found time to teach
Sunday School to a bunch of boys who needed their life formed. – My dad was a
sermon.
Romans 8:28 – All things work for Good for those
that love God
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)
The
Phony
·
Federal Agents are trained
in detail
how to recognize genuine legal tender, that’s how they can spot a PHONEY in
seconds. - Instead of me telling you how to spot a phony Make-Believer, I will
just report here what the Book says is a description of the Genuine
Believe,
then you can look at your own fruits and judge if you are the REAL THING or a PHONY; a Believer or a
Make-Believer.
·
The Book
says we are not to judge, but to be “Fruit Inspectors”;
you will know a Believer or Make-Believer by the fruits that fall on the ground
around their life tree.
·
The Fruit of
the Spirit is
just ONE
FRUIT, but is made up of NINE characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The Believer will exhibit ALL of these
characteristics; the Make-Believer with just two or three
·
Jesus is sitting on a
plateau
on the Mount of Olives and begins to teach those around Him SEVEN more observable FAITH IN MOTION FRUITS that are also CHARACTERISTS
of the True Believer; this was so they could tell the genuine from the phony. – It’s in the Book -
Matthew 7:1 – Don’t judge others – Be a Fruit
Inspector
1 Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
1 Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
(MSG)
Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit
of the Holy Spirit within you
22 But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
23 against such things there is no law.
22 But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
23 against such things there is no law.
(ESV)
Matthew 7:16-20 – Spot a
phony Make-Believer by their fruit
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus
you will recognize them by their fruits.
(ESV)
1st
Fruit
·
1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
·
The
term poor in “Spirit” is to emphasize that the Believer realizes that
they are in spiritual bankruptcy - They know that they can offer God nothing,
and don’t try. – The Believer cast themselves upon God and are totally
dependent upon His mercy
·
Poor
in spirit is the opposite of proud in spirit. The philosophers did not
recognize humility as a moral virtue; but Christ puts humility first.
·
Question; Does your fruit cause
you to consider yourself as spiritually bankrupt knowing you can’t offer
God anything? – Does your fruit reflect humility and dependence on God?
Ephesians 3:8-9 - Paul considers himself the least of all
8 Although I am less than the least
of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ,
NIV
2nd
Fruit
·
2) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be
comforted.
- This mourning is
acknowledging their own sins with a broken heart before God. It is too deep to conceal. - They
weep over perishing souls. – They anguish over sin. – They want right to
prevail. - This is Godly sorrow with compassion for injustice, afflictions
and sins of others.
- Will
be; shall be comforted: future tense – requires a genuine true repentance in order for
the believer to receive comfort through the compassion of God.
- Question; Does your fruit
produce tears over your own sins? – Do you have compassion for others in
their afflictions and sins? – Do you anguish over those that are perishing
because they have rejected God? – When you hear a siren, does your fruit
move you to compassion and cause you to pray over the families and pets
that might be involved? – Do you pray for our President; our Nation and
those in authority that they will function with Godly wisdom?
Isa 6:5 – The Believer recognizes his need before God
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because
I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
KJV
Psalms 119:136 – The Believer mourns over sin
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for
your law is not obeyed. NIV
Luke 16:25 – The Believer will be comforted.
25 "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that
in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad
things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. NIV
Isa 61:3 – Mourning will be replaced with gladness.
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to
bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead
of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
3rd
Fruit
·
3) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit
the earth.
·
The
meek have an absence of pretense which suggests self-control and
humility, doing their daily work as unto the Lord with gentleness toward all
men.
·
Meekness
is mild and kind – Bearing patiently – Accepting the daily work without
complaint, murmur or resistance. - Accepting opposition, insults and
provocation. - Not seeking power -
·
It
is opposite of; a demeaning spirit, fierceness, anger and cruelty.
·
Meekness
is a true view of our self, which translates into our actions and attitude
towards others.
·
We inherit; we have the title deed;
the passport, the entrance into the kingdom of God. We are spiritual citizens and rightful heirs
of the Kingdom of Heaven right now.
·
Question: Is your fruit; kind,
gentle, compassionate and patient, accepting criticism without murmuring and
doing your work as if you were doing it for the Lord?
Psalm 37:11 – Jesus is just quoting the scripture in Psalms
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth;
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace KJV
Matt 11:29 – Jesus was meek and lowly in heart.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for
I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
KJV
Rev 21:7 – We will inherit all things
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
KJV
Isa 66:22 – Our inheritance is the title deed to Heaven
22 "As the new heavens and the new earth that
I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your
name and descendants endure. NIV
Rev 21:1-2 – A passport to a new earth prepared just for us.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… prepared
as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. NIV
4th
Fruit
·
4) Blessed are they which hunger and
thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- This
is an intense desire to be in right standing with God and from the
heart to wholly do God’s “will”. - All sin, evil and wrong doing to anyone
grieves you.
- Jesus
is appealing to our deepest senses of cravings; hunger and thirst. Appetites return often and need fresh
satisfaction; refilling.
- This is a continual action in the life of the
believer; Hunger, filling; Hunger, filling. This is their personal dissatisfaction
of their “spiritual attainment” and the desire for more of God, more of
being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- This
“desire” is the proof or by-product of spiritual regeneration of a
Believer. The un-regenerated man;
the Make-Believer does not hunger for God.
It’s not within man’s “normal ability” or desire to thirst for
spiritual things of God.
- The
Book gives us a simple prayer; “I BELIEVE LORD, HELP ME IN MY UN-BELIEF” - It is only God
that can fill a soul so that it is satisfied.
- Question: Does your fruit
exhibit an intense desire to wholly do God’s will; do you hunger, thirst
and crave to be filled with His Spirit again each day?
Romans 3:11 – The MAKE BELIEVER does not seek God.
11 there is no one who understands, no
one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become
worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." NIV
Psalm 42:2 – The Believer Thirsts for God
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God.
When can I go and meet with God? NIV
Amos 8:11 – The Believer Hungers for God’s
Word
11 "The days are coming," declares the
Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land-
not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing
the words of the LORD.
Psalm 17:15 – The Believer will be
satisfied
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in
righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
KJV
Mark 9:24 – The Believers Prayer – I BELIEVE; HELP
MY UNBELIEF
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (NLT)
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (NLT)
Sidebar
·
The first four fruits represented the Believers
conscious need for salvation.
·
The next three fruits represent the Believers
as having found salvation now conducting themselves accordingly by their
actions; THEIR WORKS. – We don’t do good works
to be saved; we do good works because we are saved. -- NYOBS 74.29 – LDS MORMANS CULT -- NYOBS 74.15 – JEHOVAH
WITNESS CULT -- NYOBS 75.02- JOSEPH SMITH FAKE LDS PROPHET Salvation by Works
·
The Book
says Faith without works is a dead faith.
James 2:26 – Faith without works is a dead faith
26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (NLT)
26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (NLT)
Ephesians
2:8-9 – Works do not save; Salvation a gift from God
8 For It (Salvation) is by grace you have been saved, through
faith -and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
9 not by works, so that no one can
boast. NIV
5th
Fruit
- 5) Blessed
are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- The merciful are
those that are kind; have pity and show mercy to others, whether it’s
convenient or not. Mercy and compassion is awakened
in them and becomes a function of life to all who follow Christ. Mercy
takes away misery.
- We are saved sinners;
therefore it’s easy to have compassion for other sinners.
- The believer shows
mercy because he “has obtained” mercy.
He doesn’t show mercy to get mercy. - Because of our mercy
we are increasingly the object of God’s mercy.
- When we stand in the
need of special favor and mercy, we will receive it, as we have
given it.
- Question: Does your fruit exercise mercy and
compassion whether it’s convenient or not? – Do you stop and reflect; thanking
God because you have obtained His Mercy?
Luke 23:34 – Jesus had mercy on his persecutors.
34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing." NIV
Mic 6:8 – The believer loves mercy and walks humbly
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what
does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God. NIV
Ps 41:1 – The Believer is concerned
about the poor
1 Blessed is he that considers the poor:
the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. KJV
Acts 20:35 – The Believer feels blessed when they can give
35 I have shown you all things, how that so
laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the
Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
KJV
2 Tim 4:2 – The Believer is merciful whether convenient or not
2 … be prepared IN
SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and
careful instruction.
KJV
Ps 18:25 – Because of God’s mercy, we are merciful
25 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself
merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;
KJV
Matt 25:34-40 – The Believer does everything as unto the Lord
34 "Then the King will say to those on his
right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I
was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I
was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
me.
40 ….I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers of mine, YOU
DID IT FOR ME.
NIV
Luke 6:37 – Forgiveness begets forgiveness
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be
forgiven. NIV
Matt 23:23 – The Believer does not neglect mercy & faithfulness
23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and
cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and
faithfulness.
You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. NIV
James 2:13 – The Make
Believer -
Garbage in – Garbage out
13 Judgment without mercy will be shown
to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over
judgment!
NIV
6th
Fruit
·
6) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
- A pure heart has
singleness of purpose; no hidden motives or self-interest, utterly
sincere. Church attendance is to praise and worship God with fellow
Believers, not to make contacts.
- In the OT, blood was
sprinkled on the Altar for cleansing and purity. We are to have our hearts purified by
the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb.
- Question; Does your fruit cause your heart to have a
singleness of purpose for God, with no hidden motive, purpose, or
self-interest?
Hebrews 10:22 – Heart sprinkled
22 let us
draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our
bodies washed with pure water.
NIV
Psalm 24:4-5 – A pure heart seeks the Lord
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
NIV
Ps 51:10 – The
Believer prays for a pure heart
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and
renew a steadfast spirit within me. NIV
1 Timothy 1:5 – Love comes from a pure heart
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes
from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
NIV
Psalm 17:15 – A righteousness heart
15 And I--in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness NIV
Revelation 22:3-4 – We will see His face
3 No longer will there be any curse.
4 They will see his face, and his name will
be on their foreheads.
NIV
1 John 3:2-3 – We shall see Him as He is
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and
what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,
we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies
himself, just as he is pure. NIV
7th
Fruit
·
7) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God. – Did you know that the number 7 means COMPLETENESS, you are complete in God;
He knows your name. On “the Last Day” when He sees the Make-Believer, He
will say, “I never knew you”.
- Peacemakers
are partaking in the nature of God; therefore we have peace with
God. Peacemakers not only keep the
peace, but bring men in harmony with each other.
- The
office of a Peacemaker requires a “peaceful disposition”, working to calm
the waters. They are not always welcomed, sometimes opposed and it is
usually a thankless job.
- Preserving
the Peace is a good and needed office and a blessing to all involved.
- There
is no more godlike work to be done in this world than peacemaking.
- Through
our faith, we are led by the Spirit and are called “sons of God”.
- Question; Does your Fruit
cause you to partake in the nature of God and become a peace maker even
when you know it’s not welcomed and is opposed and thankless.
Isiah 9:6 – He is the Prince of Peace
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father,
Prince of Peace. NIV
Hebrews 13:20-21 – The Believer has the Peace OF God
20 May the God of peace, who through the
blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with everything good for doing his
will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV
Romans 5:1 – The Believer has peace WITH God
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
NIV
Romans 8:14 – The Believer is led by the Spirit
14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God
are sons of God.
NIV
Galatians 3:26 – Through our Faith we become sons of God
26 You are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus,
NIV
Hosea 1:10 – You are sons of the living God
10 there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons
of the living God.
KJV
James 3:17 – Our fruit is Pure, peaceful,
gentle, full of mercy
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy
and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
KJV
Isiah 52:7 – God loves the feet of those who proclaim peace
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of
those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God
reigns!" NIV
Last
Thoughts
- I
interviewed a man with glowing reports about what his mother did in the
community, but he did not have a testimony of his own; I am sad to report
that God does not have any grandchildren or step-children; there is only
just “children” of God.
- Make-Believes
look at their watch often in Church. - My doctor told me his
father was a pastor and a missionary, but he himself would just walk out of
church if it went longer than an hour. – I must report that no one can
ride into heaven on the coattails of their parents.
- How do you know a genuine Believer? – You will know them by their fruits;
their works. – We do not do good works to be saved – We do good
works because we are saved. – Do you really want to know where your
heart is? – Go look in your checkbook. – It’s in
the Book -
- Sermon
on the Mount
is not about promises of blessings for the Believer, but shows the “The Real
Thing”; the observable characteristics of action FRUIT of a
genuine Believer. The Make-Believer’s life will not exhibit this.
- This
list is the observable action fruits of a Believer. Matthew 5:1-9
1 They are not proud in
spirit –
They know they are spiritually bankrupt and can offer God nothing.
2 They mourn over perishing souls –
They anguish over sin – They want righteousness to prevail. – They have
compassion for injustice, afflictions and sins of others.
3 They are meek, mild and kind – Bearing
patiently – They do not murmur nor seek power – They accept opposition, insults
and provocations; they have compassion for truth and justice
4 They Hunger and thirst to do God’s
will – To know Christ and make Christ known.
5 They are merciful; showing compassion and
mercy even when it not convenient, because they themselves have received mercy
and compassion – They do not show mercy to get mercy.
6 They are pure in heart with singleness of
purpose, no hidden motives or self-interest.
They are utterly sincere in their faith.
7 They are peacemakers, not only keeping the
peace, but bringing men into harmony with each other – Working to calm the
waters – knowing many will resent their efforts.
·
Even before
God made the world, He loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without
fault in his eyes. – As I read this, my eyes
begin to leak as I see where I am failing; God help me to help myself
·
God has appointed you to be a FRUIT INSPECTOR; to inspect
your own observable fruits.
BELIEVER or MAKE-BELIEVER
Matthew 7:21-23 – Some are Make-Believers that
praise God
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly,
23 ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV2011)
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly,
23 ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV2011)
Ephesians 1:4 – The Believer stands without fault
before God
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (NLT)
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (NLT)
Salvation is NOT an award for our achievements,
but is the gift of our sovereign God.
Purity of heart is both the end of our election
and the goal of our redemption.
In the
multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I am grateful to those that went before me
providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their
shoulders
and see further that I otherwise ever could
have.
A Commentary; Critical,
Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans
All the Women of the Bible – Edith
Deen
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius
Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha – Goodspeed
Baker Commentary on the
Bible – Elwell
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Bible Hub.com
Book of Mormon; The – Latter
Day Saints LDS
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament - Baker
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Lost Books of the Bible; The - World
Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press
Mormon
Mirage; The – Latayne Colvett Scott
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible (2011) – NIV
NOTE: The “new” NIV has
been corrupted & made gender neutral. AVOID IT.
Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J.
Schonfield
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon
McGee
Vincent’s Word Studies of
the New Testament – Mac Donald
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wycliffe Bible Commentary;
The – Pfeiffer & Harrison
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
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