You have your Bibles this morning, why don't you turn to Matthew chapter 7. As you're turning to Matthew 7, I will tell you we had called off Sunday school yesterday because no power Friday and Saturday. As far as in the church building, 30 minutes after I called off Sunday school, power comes on. Isn't that the way it works sometimes? That's all right. We are so glad we're able to meet and worship this morning. And we don't have to go by candlelight. Some of y'all like to go back to the good old days, but we're not doing it today as far as going to the candlelight. But we are going back to the good old days as far as how the Word of God's been proclaimed down through the centuries. We're not gonna veer to the right or to the left. We're coming straight from the Word of God. So nothing can be better than to hear God's Word. So thankful for each and everyone here this morning. And if you look in chapter seven, you remember what the Word of God has been telling us. Our Lord has told us back in verse 15 that we need to be aware, beware of false prophets. And you remember as Jesus is talking this, in the context of the scripture we're looking at, in chapter seven he had said in verse one, judge not that you be not judged. Now, this sounds almost like a contradiction. The word of God is telling us that we're not to judge others in a censorious way as far as putting people down, but we are to judge righteous judgment. And if we judge in a condemning way, The Word of God tells us what judgment we judge others with, we're gonna be judged by the same judgment. So when our Lord tells us, beware of false prophets, there is an element of discernment here that we must use. I want you to notice what verse 16 says in chapter seven. You shall know them by their fruits. Then he says, ask the question, do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Well, we know that's not where grapes and figs come from. And he says very simply, you shall know them by their fruits. But I want you to notice down in verse 20, he says, wherefore, by their fruits, you shall know them. Our Lord repeats this twice, and it's encapsulated in the passage of scripture we're looking at. Therefore, the emphasis is upon knowing false teachers by their fruits. As we observed the prophets, the false prophets last week in verse 15, we saw they said all the right things, but they did not say the most important things. that would omit certain things such as sin, of the wrath of God, of the judgment of God that's to come, of the righteousness which God demanded of each and every person upon the face of this earth, which can only be found in our Lord Jesus Christ. For it's not by works of righteousness which we have done, but as according to his mercy, he has saved us. It's not because of our goodness and our good deeds and our good works that God has saved us. We're saved unto good works. In other words, the good works do follow those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 17, the word of God says, even so every good tree brings forth good fruit. but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits you shall know them." Here we have a contrast between two trees. You got a good tree and you got a corrupt tree. Now as our Lord has given us this illustration, what is He speaking of? What He is very simply saying, there are two trees and they look the same. Yet one is a corrupt tree. And a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. It doesn't mean a tree that's decayed. It doesn't mean a tree that's rottening. It's talking about a tree that looks like a good tree. There's a good tree, but this other tree is a corrupt tree, but you cannot tell it by its looking at it. If you look at them, they look alike. One may bring good fruit forth and one may bring bad fruit or not so good fruit. It's kind of like I was eating dinner the other night. We had strawberries and I had some sweet strawberries. Somebody else didn't have a sweet strawberry. They both looked like good strawberries, but one was rather, you know how they can taste kind of tart? You know how they can taste kind of sweet? I got the sweet one. But you couldn't tell by looking at it. Even so, here is the illustration which our Lord is using. Here we observe the life and the conduct of a false prophet. Where previously we're looking at how they were speaking or how they were not speaking. But it's not just about what they say or don't say. He's talking about the outward appearance. He has given us an illustration. in this same passage of scripture, in verse 15, how these false prophets, how they come in sheep's clothing. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves. Now, you can get the best makeup artist there is, and you know what? A good makeup artist can make a wolf look like a sheep. But inwardly, It's still a wolf. Matters no matter not how well you make it up, but what comes down to the question is what kind of fruit is being produced? You see, the appearance can deceive. Listen to what it says over in the book of 2 Corinthians. Over in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, In 2 Corinthians 11 and down in verse 13, in the word of God we read, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers. They transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. In other words, on the outward appearance, they look just like the apostles. And the apostle Paul, as he's writing, he says, no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Even the devils transform himself into the appearance of an angel. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works. Some may have outward appearance only. One may speak in a right way. may go by a certain set of rules of do's and don'ts, they may walk and have the morals that looks like a Christian, yet they could be a false Christian. I have been reading a lot of history lately and reading the history, it's very fascinating. One thing I want everyone here to know, Jesus said in Matthew 16, 18, and we'll get to that, he said, you are Peter, but upon this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. When the Lord built his church, he says it's not going into the unseen state, which is the gates of hell, Hades. In other words, he built his church and it's not going out of existence. All through time, as you go through history, The Lord's Church has always been here. There have been false teachers, false professions within the Lord's Churches. There have been false churches come up down through history. And boy, if you look at what is called Christianity from a worldly viewpoint, there are a lot of different types of churches. And they teach a lot of different types of doctrines, and that's why we've got so many different types of different churches. Some man comes up and he realizes, well, you know, the Bible says that baptism washes your sins away. And so he builds him a church based upon baptism washing your sins away. Well, let me tell you something, that's not what the Word of God says, but that's a worldwide church in our day and time. history there has been these false teachers within the Lord's churches. In early Christianity, we're talking about 200, 300 AD, 400 AD, when persecution was hot and heavy against Christians, they would martyr them, torture them, You have certain ones during that persecution that would renounce their faith to save their life. And when the persecution died down, they would want to come back to church. And that gave those within the churches a dilemma. Should we accept these back within the church when they're not willing to take a stand for Christ? Or is their profession of faith genuine? You understand the dilemma that comes down through history. False churches, false teachers, false professions. Here is the importance of the new birth. Here is the importance that the Word of God teaches us that it's not by joining a church you're going to heaven. It's not by baptism you're going to heaven. It's only by faith in Jesus Christ can you go to heaven. Notice what the Word of God says if you back up to verse 13, enter ye in at the straight gate. There is a straight gate, a very narrow entrance in getting into heaven. And that is because there's only one way to heaven and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. If anyone comes up any other way, the same as a thief and a robber is what our Lord said. So here we have the straight gate And it's also a narrow way. And few there be that find it is what the word of God says. In other words, it's not just by saying I believe in Jesus, one's going to heaven. There must be a change of nature. There must be a change of heart. I'm telling you there must be a conviction of sin. You must realize that you deserve the wrath of God. Because you're estranged from God, you're in enmity with God. And because of that enmity toward God and the desire to live for self, you must be born again. How is one born again? Can I birth myself again? You didn't give birth to yourself the first time, don't think you can do it the second time. You must be born of the Spirit from God above. It is he by his Spirit that convicts you of your sinfulness. And when you realize your need of a Savior, you cry out and ask God to be merciful to you, a sinner. And you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. You cannot be born again any other way. Here's the importance of the new birth, the nature being changed. It's a newness of life. Old things are passed away and behold, all things have become new. There are many people who do good works. After they say they believe in Jesus, But let me tell you something, just because you do good works don't get you to heaven. Notice what it says, if you go down to just a few other verses of scripture, which we'll get to probably next week. Notice what it says down in verse 21 and 22. Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? We've spoken in your name. And in your name, we've cast out demons. And in your name, we've done wonderful works, a lot of many good things. Lord, Lord, haven't we done this? Let me tell you, it's not your doing to get you into heaven. There must be a heart change. What's the condition of your heart? This morning is a very serious question. What is the condition of your heart? The Word of God tells us you've got to enter in through the straight gate. Look over in Matthew chapter 12. In Matthew chapter 12, look down in verse 33. Matthew chapter 12 and verse 33, Jesus says the same principle as we're talking about in Matthew chapter seven. Either make the tree good, in verse 33, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt. for a tree is known by its fruit. And Jesus says, O generation of vipers, you poisonous serpents, how can you be an evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things. An evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. And then Jesus says this, but I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. In other words, what's in your heart's gonna come out your mouth. You might be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool people all the time. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak. That which is in will come out. You may carry on like you're a child of God and a Christian and you're a saint. But let me tell you something, there's been no heart change. You're still bound for hell. The Word of God says in Proverbs 23 in verse seven, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. As one thinks in their heart, So is he, Proverbs 21 verse two says, that every way of man is right in his own eyes, but it's the Lord that ponders the heart. God sees and knows our hearts. There are many people who make a profession of faith. And they may even change a little bit. And you probably can tell me people that you know personally. who say they have believed in Jesus and there's been some change in life, maybe come to church for a while, and then they fall away. Anybody know anybody like that? Boy, in years of ministry, I can name a few people. Do you remember what it says over in 2 Peter? Look in 2 Peter chapter two. In 2 Peter chapter two, The Word of God tells us, and down in verse 22, but it happened unto them according to the true Proverbs, the dog is turned to his own vomit again. And the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. In other words, those who have turned back have just gone according to the nature that is inward. Just like you can dress the pig up, you can perfume the pig up, just like Arnold the pig on Green Acres. I've often used him as a escape pig. But the true nature of that pig will always go back to wallow in the mud, just like a dog will return to his own vomit. It's a temporary faith. It's not a saving faith. Look what the Word of God says over in 2 Peter 1. And down in verse four, in 2 Peter chapter one and down in verse four, it says, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these, by these great and precious promises, you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Corruption is something that happens inwardly. We've escaped that corruption that comes through lust. by the great and precious promises of God. Now keep that thought in mind. Here is that inward change. Look back in chapter two and look down in verse 20. Here it says, for if after they, not us, notice Peter's pointing to those that are without. Previously he was inclusive as far as Christians. Now he's talking about if they, after they have escaped the pollutions of this world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they're again entangled therein and overcome. The latter end is worse to them than the first or than the beginning. In other words, the pollutions is things that come from the outside. They've escaped the, it's an outward thing. There's not been the escape from the corruption that's within. There's only the escape, and it's temporary, from the pollutions of this world that is without. You see, that's a temporal faith. It comes down to, has there been a heart change? Has your heart been changed to where you desire the things of God? Has there been an inner change, a new nature? Has there been a new creation? There are false teachers. They teach false doctrine. And their living has done more damage to Christianity than the world and all its persecution could have done. When we see someone proclaiming the word of God and then living like the world, what effect that has upon those around. People are watching, and it causes many to fall away. We see this not just in our day and time, it's been true down through the centuries. False teachers may be right in doctrine, but they're off in their lifestyle. They might be right or off in their doctrine, and yet living an outwardly moral good life. What our Lord is teaching us is that we need to strive to enter into the straight gate, the narrow way, that we've got to walk the narrow way. What does this mean? that you gotta focus on your heart. Have you entered this great gate? Are you walking the narrow way? Are you pursuing holiness and peace without which no man shall see the Lord? I can't answer for your heart, only you can. And everybody's heart in here is different? I can't answer for you. Let us go through some questions to ponder your heart. Why do you live the way you do? Why do you live the way you do? Is it because you were raised that way? Is it because maybe your parents taught you that you're to have good manners and good morals? Is it because they taught you how to respect others and how to be nice to others? Is that why you live the way you do? I'm telling you, if it's based upon that which is temporal, when the storms of life hit, you're not gonna stand. It's like Jesus says at the end of this sermon, how the wise man built his house upon the rock and the foolish man built his house upon the sand. There are many people who are building their house upon sand. Those floods, I'm gonna digress for a moment. I saw a picture down in Florida of how these cars had been just underwater, just the hurricane waters just flooded over the cars. And when the waters recessed, there's all these cars that are in sand. Anybody see that picture? I thought, wow, that's pretty fascinating. If you build your life upon sand, you don't have a sure foundation. Why do you live the way you do? Is it because of your faith in Christ? Is your life guided by the principles of the Word of God? Are you mindful of the holiness of God? God is perfectly holy. In all of his attributes, everything is holy about God. When you think about the holiness of God and you ponder it, you cannot help but think about your own sinfulness. And how so far we are from God in our own sinfulness. It is sin that separates us from God. But it's only through Christ that we can be reconciled unto God. It's not by your works, trying to run on shifting sand. You've got to see your life as being vile and wicked. at enmity with God. It's what the Word of God tells us and describes our lives before we come to a saving knowledge of Christ. I asked you another question. Are you generally worldly minded? Are you spiritually minded? Do you have the fruit of the beatitudes? Back up there to chapter five. Notice what it says in chapter five in verse three. Blessed are the poor in spirit. In other words, those that are spiritually impoverished, they realize they have nothing they can give to God. The word of God says when you realize your spiritual poverty, Yours is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those that mourn. They mourn over their sins because of their spiritual poverty. They shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. These are the qualities or characteristics that are in the child of God. Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Are you pure in heart? Then you shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers. We can see the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter five. In the fifth chapter of Galatians, I want you to notice down in verse 22, there is the fruit of the Spirit. Is this displayed in your life? The fruit of the Spirit is what? Love. Here's the guiding principle in your life, love, joy, peace, gentleness, long-suffering gentleness, and goodness and faith, meekness, temperance, or self-control. Against such there is no law. Is this displayed in your life? Do you have this fruit in your life? If you're a child of God, you do. If you're not a child of God, you don't. Are you concerned about your relationship with God? You know what, if you love the Lord, you're concerned about your relationship with God, your fellowship with God. You think about your walk with the Lord. Do you have humility? Is there a humbleness about you? I believe this is one of the leading characteristics of a child of God. Showing the spirituality that there is a humbleness about you because you realize without Him you are nothing. You realize without Him you stand condemned. Therefore you're in no position to be putting other people down and condemning them. For if not for the grace of God, there goes you. Do you have a humbleness before God? Listen to what the Apostle Paul said over in 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians chapter two, Here's how Paul was. I find it very interesting. You think of Paul, Paul was probably somebody who was very boisterous and in your face about your sins and telling about the holiness and righteousness of God, the grace of God, and preaching hard and heavy. Listen to what Paul said about himself. In 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 1, he says, and I, brethren, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, in Him crucified. And Paul says, and I was with you in weakness and in fear. The apostle Paul feared. He was weak, he's describing himself, and in much trembling. Here's the humility of the Apostle Paul. In my speech, my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. I want you to notice back in the context of our scripture. As our Lord is giving the warning, there's a good tree, there's a corrupt tree. How can you know the corrupt tree? By the fruit that comes off the tree. How can you know a good tree? By the fruit that comes off the tree. God is not calling us to be fruit inspectors of everybody. We're to be looking around and picking fruit. Oh, but you're lacking. No, this is directed toward me. And you need to think the same way. This is directed toward me. What type of fruit do you have? Our Lord Jesus said in verse 19, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Now what is this referring to? Let me share with you that during the Inquisition time, during the Dark Ages, roughly between 1200 and 1600 AD, Those that questioned our forefathers who were Anabaptists and Waldensians, those of like faith that we have, those who didn't believe, they believed they were heretics. They would believe you and I are heretics today. What they did, they tortured them to get them to recant. Read a story just this past week, they actually, if you did not christen your baby when it was born, in certain areas, they would put the parents to death. Now think about that. Even Martin Luther went along with that. This is amazing, some doctrine that's coming out. But they use this passage of scripture, what we're reading right now, to enforce that. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. That's why they burned our forefathers at the stake. Because they looked at them as heretics and they didn't go along with what was called the Catholics and with those that were trying to reform the Catholic Church. Let it be clear. Ultimately this is talking about when one stands before God. Either you have eternal life and you're going to live with the Lord forever and ever, or you're gonna be cast into hell and be tormented forever and ever. Verse 20 tells us, wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Is that your wool that you're wearing? Are you hiding under some wool that you put on? Do you get what I'm saying? Trees, I'm gonna call you a tree this morning. Trees, is that your fruit that you're producing? Are you producing fake fruit? There's a story I read about Chuck Swindoll, and for those of y'all who may not have read it or heard any news about him recently, he is retiring from the pastoring. I think he's 90 years old, and I think Alistair Begg's retiring soon also. There's quite a few pastors retiring. Chuck Swintall told the story that he had some friends that went to this real elaborate mansion for a meal, and the lady was dressed out and decked out, and boy, she had the hors d'oeuvres. And she had them on silver platters on little bitty crackers and little bitty chips, you know. And what she had put on the chips and crackers was actually dog food. Chuck Swindoll's friend did not know it was dog food. Boy, there was this one person lapped it up, literally lapped it up. And later, the host revealed that they were eating dog food. They didn't know they were eating dog food until they were told they were eating dog food. You see, the outward appearance can be deceptive. Here, our Lord cuts to the heart of the matter. And it's your heart that is the heart of the matter. Have you experienced a new birth? Have you been born again? Has there been a change in your life? Whereas you used to think like the world thinks, and the worldly thinking and mindset governed your life, and now it's the word of God and Christ who governs your life. That's being born again. There's been a radical change. Anybody can say, I believe in Jesus Christ. Even the demons believe and tremble. I'm saying, have you turned from sin and put faith in Christ? Totally leaning upon him. The Lord knows your heart. If you've never publicly professed Christ as your Lord and Savior, we're gonna give a hymn of invitation. But I don't want you to come forward and just say, I believe in Jesus Christ, unless there's a conviction of sin, a turning from evil ways, and my faith leaning upon Jesus Christ and his finished work upon that cross. This invitation is for those who may not have a church home. Maybe you've never followed the Lord in baptism. This invitation is a call. You see, the call goes out. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. That's a general call. It goes out to everybody. Everybody's heard that. You just heard it, unless you were dozing. But it's also a particular call. In other words, It has an effect upon some people. The Lord is calling you to himself. I pray you turn from your sinfulness and trust in Christ. And whoever comes to him, he will in no wise cast out. We're gonna stand and sing a hymn of invitation after we have a word of prayer. And I pray that you simply respond as the Lord leads. Let's stand and go to the Lord in prayer. Father, we come before your throne of grace once again. And Lord, the seriousness and weightiness of the word that you have preserved down to us. It's a very serious matter. Lord, we pray that you'd help us to humble ourselves under your mighty hand. For those who have not confessed or agreed with you they've sinned and turned from sin, we ask you, convict them and make them miserable and draw them with your cords of love to believe upon your Son, the only hope of anyone in this world. Lord, we pray that you would teach us to be obedient unto you to desire you above all the desires of this world, that we would be faithful in serving you for Christ's sake. Amen. We're gonna sing, Without Him I Could Do Nothing. We say you simply respond as the Lord so leads. Brother Spencer.