30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 21 5-9 WATCH AND PRAY I 06 Luke 21 8 Fully matured in Christ
📖 Luke 21:5-9
06May2021 - *Fully matured in Christ* - _Luke 21:5-9_ - WATCH AND PRAY I (6) – Bible reading: _Matthew 7:15-20_
We are at the end of this age and we are full of hope. This is because whether we remain or whether we sleep in Jesus, it does not matter, for we are alive in Him.
We are here to reach out to those around us, who are still in darkness and have not repented, turned and given their life to Jesus. They are in a precarious state, for what awaits them as soon as they cross the threshold of this life here on earth, is the wrath of God, the eternal fire of hell, the second death, where all those who have not believed in Jesus will be cast.
_Luke 21:8 And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them._
In _Matthew 24_, we find that Jesus spoke about false christs and false prophets, repeatedly. We see the emphasis and warning that Jesus is giving that one of the clear signs of the end of the age will be the appearance of large numbers of false christs and false prophets. The Lord is cautioning us not to go after these false christs.
_Matthew 24: 4-5/ 11/ Mat 24:23-26 “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. (24) For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (25) See, I have told you beforehand. (26) "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it._
Apostle Paul gives the same warning regarding false christs and false prophets.
_II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. II Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived._
How do we identify these false christs and false prophets?
_Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (16) *You will know them by their fruits*. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (17) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. (19) *Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire*. (20) Therefore *by their fruits you will know them*._
The fundamental criteria to identify false christs and false prophets is by their fruits.
*What do we understand by fruit-bearing*? There is much that the word of God tells us about bearing fruit for God but is there a primary understanding of fruit-bearing that we can base our lives and build our lives?
Before we determine what is fruit-bearing, let us be clear that fruit-bearing for a disciple of Christ is not an optional matter, it is mandatory. We are here to bear fruit.
If we do not bear fruit, we will be cut down and thrown into the fire. _(19) *Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire*._
_Luke 8:14-15 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no *fruit to maturity*. (15) But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and *bear fruit with patience*._
Bringing fruit to maturity is the expectation of us. There is no option in Christian life to stagnate and plateau. *We are constantly moving forward to maturity in the enablement of the Holy Spirit*.
*Bearing fruit to maturity is to fully develop into the character and nature of Christ*. _James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures._
We are representing Christ. We are the first fruits of His creatures. *Fruit to maturity is growing and developing into the fullness of Christ*.
This was Apostle Paul’s deep burden for the church and so that was the focus of his ministry. _Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until *Christ is formed in you*,_ Paul is labouring to see that Christ is formed in the believers. This is bringing fruit to maturity.
_Colossians 1:28-29 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may *present every man perfect in Christ Jesus*. (29) To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily._
Paul’s task was to *present every man perfect in Christ Jesus*.
_Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, *to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ*;_
*Maturity in Christ is the central understanding of fruit-bearing*. Fruit-bearing is the distinguishing criteria of false christs and false prophets.
False christs and false prophets are those who do not emphasise the importance of every person to be fully matured in Christ but give stress to other matters such as spiritual gifts, certain theological minor issues, success, happiness and wellbeing in life.
*Thought to ponder*
```Each of us must introspect to see if we have become a wolf in sheep’s clothing.```