“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
King James Version (KJV)
GiGi's comment on 2022-03-03 11:43:17:
Hello Henry,
Looks like my original comment was removed for some reason.
What I aimed to say in that post was that, although we are to look for the fruit that comes from true faith in others, we should more so look for this fruit in us. Galatians chapter 3 speaks of the fruit of the Spirit and that of the flesh. In ourselves and others who claim to be in Christ, the fruits of the Spirit should be evident and/or increasing as we grow in Christ.
Matthew 7:3-5 tells us to remove the plank from our own eye before attempting to remove the speck out of the eye of another brethren. So this tells me that we do need to examine ourselves before God to see what needs to be removed from our life before we attempt to call another believer out on their obvious sin. And when we do need to approach another believer about a sin, we are to reprove them gently and hope to restore them to fellowship if this has been broken.
So, yes we are to be fruit inspectors, but our "magnifying glass" should be used on our own life and heart first and not on others. But what our eyes can see plainly in others the is sinful fruit we should address humbly in love.
S Spencer's comment on 2022-03-01 20:55:40:
Amen Bob.
That is in the context of what that verse is saying, It's not a verse that we use to examine a fault or to bring condemnation, It's used to verify.
Here's it in its context;
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? Matthew 7:15-16.
This is not an outward showing of the flesh, This is caused by the husbandman "God!" This is spirit indwelling!! Not the works of the flesh where man have an outward appearance but dead on the inside.
Matthew 23:27.
You can't work this up.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:18.
Here's another reference to your comment. Matthew 23:25-26.
I believe this is what Henry was getting at also.
This is wonderful scripture and important to keep it in its context.
This is the ministry of the Holyspirit.
This is not examining a fault in another such as a mote in ones eye or pulling a beam out of our eyes.
those verses is speaking of judging/condemning.
Fruit is something you don't produce, it's something you bare. You're the branch connected to the vine!
Now we can examine ourselves and according to John, We can know whether we're in the faith or not.
1 John 4:13-21.
God bless.
GiGi's comment on 2022-03-01 14:41:04:
Dear Henry,
Yes, we should be fruit inspectors, but I think we should begin by inspecting our own selves first before we go around inspecting others. Jesus also said to take the plank our of our own eye before attempting to take the speck out of another's eye. He also said that we are to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. This verse is speaking of innocent as being guileless, which means having right motives. We should accept one another and be hospitable to believers. If we see "bad" fruit in another, we are to attempt to reprove them gently and try to teach them from the Word, and, of course praying for them and with them is always in order.
S Spencer's comment on 2022-03-01 09:49:31:
Amen Henry.
if we're connected to the vine there will be some sign of life!! "You shall know them by their fruit". This fruit is "CAUSED" by the vine.
God bless.
Henry's comment on 2022-03-01 09:23:44:
Jesus said that you will know them by their fruits so I guess that we can also be "fruit inspectors".
Ronald Brady's comment on 2020-03-30 07:42:49:
Did Jesus select his disciples prior to his all night pray with God on the mountainside or had He chosen them and was praying for God's devine blessing? Does the bible describe anywhere any of Jesus' requests of God or only that He was seeking His blessing and loved communicating with his Father?