Leaves or Fruit?:

A righteous person is not known by their leaves, but by their fruit. Leaves would normally indicate the presence of fruit, but not always. Sometimes the fruit hasn't come in yet. Matthew 7:15 says to "beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing (leaves) but inwardly are ravenous wolves." 

On the outside, they look good: They say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?" They carry a Bible; they come to church; they are doing things right outwardly. They come to the table, but they don't eat. They get in church but God's influence doesn't get in them.

Much like Simon the magician mentioned in Acts 8: 9-25, they believe the good news about the Kingdom of God and are even baptized in the Name of The Lord Jesus, and follow the minister. (Acts 8:13)

But like the same, they also are amazed with wonder and awe at the miracles that those genuine in the faith do and try to use worldly means to get something that can only be given through God. Though Simon had "previously practiced magic," (vs 8:9), and was baptized, Peter highlighted the intent of is heart was still not right in verse 22 and 23: "I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

What sets apart a real and false believer? Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 and 20 that you will recognize a person by their fruit.

A person is recognized by their fruit; not by their leaves.

You see, in Matthew 7:15 it says that there are false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing. What is clothing? It's an outer garment. It may, at first glance, give the appearance of looking like a sheep. The leaves may yell the message, "Christian!" But that doesn't indicate someone is Christian anymore than biting into an apple is a healthy piece of fruit. Outwardly, it may look good, but inwardly, it may be full of worms. It's the "intent of the heart" (Acts 8:22) and the overflow of what the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34-35) that unveils what fruit truly lies within the pretty outward leaves.

Matthew 7:15 says that inwardly, false prophets can be ravenous wolves. Wolves are bent on destruction. Jesus said those who did things "in His Name" but were "workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23) would be commanded to depart from Him because He never knew them. 

The evidence is not in the leaves, but in the fruit that is borne. Jesus declares in John 15:2 that "every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He (The Father) takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit."

If you plant an apple tree, you won't pick oranges from it. Why?

Because the seed planted holds the potential for what is to grow from it.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 that we will reap what we sow. In Matthew 7:16-18 asks, "Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, 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."

Bearing Fruit:

What kind of fruit should you be looking for?

Galatians 5:22-23 shows the kind of fruit God wants your life should bear: "But the fruit of The Spirit is:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self control

Against such things there is no law."

How Fruit Grows:

How do you grow these fruits in your life? It is only possible through Jesus. John 15:4 says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me."

In John 15:8-11 says: "By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in My love."

This is why Jesus said He "never knew" those in Matthew 7:23. They never abided in His love and they never kept His commandments.

They were "in His Name" but not "in HIM" and "in His love." They stepped away from The Vine and had leaves on the outside, but no fruit growing on the inside, out. 

The Greek word "know" is "ginosko" which implies to intimately know someone--to get to know them so well that you know them personally, not just about them. When you abide in Jesus' love, and He abides in you, you get to know one another. The fruits of The Holy Spirit grow in you when you "abide" in Jesus. He causes it to happen. As you get to know Him and His love starts to transform you from the inside, out, fruit starts to grow within you.

Is your life heavy with just leaves or will Jesus find the fruits of The Holy Spirit on your branches? If there is some fruit, He will prune you to make you more fruitful. If there is no fruit, you need to cry out and ask to be connected to Him and then you need to remain and abide in His love so that it starts to grow fruit in you.

Again, Jesus said apart from Him, you can do nothing. A lack of fruit is not a lack of His faithfulness. It just means you've taken your lifeline away from the source of life and need to connect to Him. His love is like oxygen!

Is Fruit Growing In Your Life?:

Not sure if you are growing fruit or not? If you stare at a tree, no matter how intent your gaze, you will not see it growing. However, if you take pictures of that tree and look back through time, you will see growth. Think of your own life--are you moving in the right direction? Is love growing in your life? How is the peace in your mind? Is joy growing?

If there is some fruit, but it's small, God will prune you to cause that fruit to grow in His love. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He comes that you may have life and have it abundantly. In God's economy, things come to life and they grow more alive, more abundantly. Love grows, not shrinks...and because God IS love (1 John 4:8), staying connected to His love, means His love grows inside of you, bigger and bigger. In a sense, we become "pregnant" with God's love--His love grows bigger and bigger inside of us and expands our capacity to contain His love until one day, it cannot help but come out and it starts to affect other's lives.

I encourage you to let His love transform you front the inside, out and as you do, you'll find yourself heavy with the fruits of The Holy Spirit...then, when Jesus comes looking for figs, (Mark 11:13), He will find more than promising leaves on the tree of your life. He will find a harvest of fruit to pick from because you have abided in Him and The Holy Spirit's fruit was given room to grow inside of you.

Because a person is recognized by their fruit; not by their leaves.