Beware the Wolf Part Two- Evil Fruits

In this article we will delve into the evil fruits that identify a false prophet.

Let me begin with Matthew 7:15-17

Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Before we look at evil fruits, let’s consider what a good tree is.

Jeremiah 17:7&8

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and who’s hope the Lord is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh but her leaf shall be green and shall not be careful in the year of drought neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

This tree was faced with the scorching heat of the sun, yet it’s leaf remained green.

Why? because it was planted by the waters and its roots spread out by the river.

It never ceased to yield fruit because it never ceased to abide IN and drink from the river.

What does the river represent or what is water symbolic of in the bible?

If we look at the gospel of John we see chapter after chapter makes reference to water.

The first reference is water baptism. John the baptist was baptising people unto repentance.

Now water baptism is a physical illustration to help us understand salvation, how it works and what one must do to be saved.

Rom 6:3-6 says we must be… baptised into Jesus Christ through repentance. Repentance is being crucified with Christ. Once crucified with him, we can be resurrected with him, that is, born of the Spirit.

If we go back to the gospel of John we find another reference to water in chapter four where Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman and offered her living water. He said that whosoever drinks of living water will never thirst (John 4:14).

This ties in with Rev. 22:1

And he showed me a pure river of of water of life, clear as crystal…on either side of the river was there the tree of life which…yeilded her fruit every month.

vs 17…let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.

The tree in Jeremiah 17:8 who’s roots continually abide IN the river, represents a person who has been baptised in Christs death through repentance and is therefore drinking of his Spirit.

1 Cor. 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body….and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 

Now, the Spirit is love.

Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

A person who is rooted and grounded in love will manifest what? LOVE.

Even when faced with the scorching heat of the sun.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The fruit that one produces when under pressure, reveals wether one is a good tree or a corrupt tree.

A false prophet can put on a loving facade for a time. He can imitate the fruit of the Spirit for a time but when the heat is on, when the pressure is on, he WILL manifest the works of the flesh.

These are listed in Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

A false prophet may not manifest the obvious sins of adultery, fornication, murder or drunkeness, rather the subtle sins of strife, envy, hatred and wrath.

This is more likely what one will see in the behaviour and attitudes of a wolf. 

We find the perfect example of this in 3 John.

3 John is a very short letter written by the elder unto Gaius.

The elder commends Gaius for his hospitality towards brethren who were traveling about ministering truth.

In vs 8 he says

we ought to receive such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.

Then he continues in vs 9

I wrote unto the church but Diotrephus who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Preeminene means a desire to be first.

This is STRIFE an evil fruit.

Strife eritheia er-ith-i-ah means a desire to put oneself forward or self-promotion.

Self-promotion is one of the hallmarks of a wolf.

He may say something as blatant as “i am the lamb of God” or something a little more subtle like

“where would you be without me?” “if it wasn’t for me you’d still believe false doctrine” “You need to respect the office of pastor” in order to keep his followers in passive submission to him.

Why? Because a wolf HAS to have the preeminence.

Any thing that looks or sounds remotely like self-promotion should be a red flag to us.

Lets continue to verse 10

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren and forbidden them that would and casteth them out of the church.

When a person is busy promoting self they WILL be envious of anyone more successful or capable than themselves. 

ENVY is evil fruit.

There are many verses which show how strife and envy go together. Here are just a few…

1 Cor. 3:3

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife…

James 4:14

But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against the truth.

James 3:16

For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work.

The envious wolf has to cut down or drive out anyone he finds threatening. This means he WILL make us stories, spread rumours and straight out abuse people from the pulpit.

This is where WRATH comes in, more evil fruit.

Wrath thymos thoo-mos is anger that boils up. 

Wolves often use the pulpit as a means of safely expressing their rage. 

Who was it that Diotrephus spoke malicious words against?

Vs 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men and of the truth itself…

How could Diotrephus speak malicious words against a man who had a good report of all men and of the truth itself?

Because wolves are full of HATRED, another evil fruit.

Hatred mis-eh-o miseo means to detest, especially persecute.

Wolves actually persecute Christians.

What piece of advise did “the elder” give to Gaius in regards to Diotrephus?

Vs 11

Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Doesn’t this sound similar to Matthew 7:17

A good tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Strife, envy, malice, hatred and wrath are all the characteristics of a wolf and prove that he is not a Christian for the bible says one must “lay aside” these things before one can be born-again.

1 Peter 2:1&2

Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:

When the wolf pokes his head out from his sheep’s clothing and we see the works of the flesh in his attitudes and behaviours should we look the other way? Ignore the evidence? Forgive and forget? Just keep praying for him to change? Put up with evil fruit because after all, he’s a good preacher…he has amazing bible knowledge…he does missionary work…he feeds the poor? 

Jesus said beware of false prophets meaning seperate yourself from them, flee them.

I was personally under a pastor like Diotrephus for many years and it was a situation very similar to that described in 3 John that caused me to finally come out from under his influence.

I didn’t make that decision lightly, it was a huge thing for me to leave that group but evil fruit was so clearly evident that I had to make a choice. I couldn’t go along with something I deeply disagreed with. To do so would make me a dishonest person and just a guilty as the wolf.

In conclusion…

A good tree is rooted and grounded in love and therefore manifests love, even in the heat of the sun.

Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance are the fruit of the Spirit.

A false prophet, has not died to self or received the Spirit.

Therefore he can put on a loving facade for a time but when the heat is on he WILL manifest the works of the flesh such as hatred, wrath, malice, envy and strife. 

The fruit one produces when under pressure reveals ones true character. Wether one is a good tree or a corrupt tree.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. 

God bless.

Beware the Wolf Part One- Sheep's Clothing

In this article I will explore Matthew 7:15-17

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns. Or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

So in verse 15 we’re warned against false prophets and told that they can be 

extremely deceptive why? because they’re in sheep’s clothing.

In verse 16 Jesus says that in order to identify a false prophet one must look beyond his sheep’s clothing and examine his fruits.

Ye shall know them by their fruits

The word fruits in this verse is karpos in the Greek and means work act or deed.

Just as a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit, a false prophet brings forth evil deeds.

Evil deeds is what identifies a false prophet as being a false prophet.

In Matthew 7:5 we are told …first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brothers eye. 

If we are producing evil fruit and think, well doesn’t everyone? How will we see clearly to identify a false prophet since he is known by his fruits?

Unless we remove the beam from our own eye, we will be fooled by his sheep’s clothing.

What comprises sheeps clothing?

Matthew 7:22 gives us some clues…

Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.

These people sound very religious, they prophesied in Gods name meaning they were preachers and did many wonderful works. However, Jesus said to them depart from me ye that work iniquity, or ye that bring forth evil fruit, “i never knew you”. 

Let’s consider for a moment the word knew.

In Genesis Adam knew his wife Eve, meaning they became ONE flesh.

Gen. 2:23&24…this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh…therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.

In Ephesians, this same concept is used to explain the relationship between Christ and the church.

Ephes. 5:30&32

For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones.

therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

When Jesus said to those in Matthew 7 i never knew you he meant we were never ONE.

How do we become spiritually ONE with Christ? 

Romans 6:3,4&6

Know ye not that so many of us as were baptised INTO Jesus Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin.

When we forsake sin and fully submit our will to Gods will, we are crucified WITH christ.

Once crucified with him we can be resurrected WITH him to walk in newness of life, which is being born-again.

That is becoming ONE with Christ.

The false prophet has never done this. His old man is still very much alive and that is the crux of his problem. That is what makes him a corrupt tree bringing forth evil fruit.

Lets continue to look at what comprises sheep’s clothing and how incredibly deceptive this clothing can be

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge…and have not charity I am nothing.

This proves that a person can be a gifted preacher, have amazing bible knowledge and understanding yet not have Gods love in their heart. 

God is love. When a person is filled with the Spirit they are filled with LOVE.

Rom. 5:5 says…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy ghost…

Therefore, if a person does not have God’s love in their heart, they are not in relationship with him.

False prophets don’t have God within, rather they wear religion on the outside as a cloak to conceal that which is within.

So what lies beneath the sheeps clothing? Let’s take a peek.

Oh no, it’s a ravening wolf.

The word ravening in the Cambridge dictionary means 

Violently hunting for prey

Collins dictionary says

Voracious or predatory behaviour

Greedily searching for prey

There are certain people who are attracted to church leadership roles for impure reasons. 

They are not motivated by a pure desire to feed God’s sheep, rather a desire to feed themselves upon the sheep.

This means they use God’s people to fulfil their own dreams and ambitions, to satisfy their hunger to be heard, respected and obeyed and even for financial gain.

Ezekiel 34:2

… woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

Notice how these bad shepherds not only kill and eat the flock but clothe themselves with their wool.

The sheep’s clothing worn by a false prophet is actually those whom he has sacrificed.

In fact if he can find someone who is particularly blameless, he will attach that person to himself because they make him look good, they cover up his true character.

Such a person becomes his prey and he won’t let them go without a fight.

Consider this description of Christ in Rev 1:14

…his head and hairs were white like wool…

Also Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

White wool represents purity and righteousness.

If a false prophet is trying to clothe himself in your righteousness, you need to escape him now, for the sake of your own soul! For in allowing him to use you, you enable him to continue as a false prophet and therefore become just as guilty as he is.

Beware of false prophets meaning seperate yourself from them, flee them for the sake of your own soul!

In conclusion,

False prophets can be extremely deceptive.

They are gifted preachers, have incredible bible knowledge and do wonderful works. 

All these things constitute sheeps clothing. 

Beneath this clothing is a wolf motivated by selfish desires.

The wolf uses God’s people both to fulfill his selfish desires and to cloak his true character.

He hides behind their righteousness so he may continue as a wolf.

In my Beware the Wolf Part Two, I delve into the evil fruits that identify a false prophet. 

God bless.

The Seed Among Thorns Part 2- Endurance vs Falling Away

In this article I want to continue explaining the seed that fell among thorns in the Parable of the Sower but this time, approach it from another angle.

You see, after the fallow ground of one's heart has been broken up and the seed, which is the Word of God, has taken root and begun to bear fruit, it is possible at that point, for for thorns of pride or lust to enter in, choke the Word and stop the production of good fruit.

Thats why the bible says in Proverbs 4:23 

Keep thy heart with all diligence…

Keep natsar naw-tsar means watch or guard 

We are to guard our heart like a prison officer might guard a prison or like a customs officer screens everything before it passes through the airport.

A similar scripture to this is 1 Peter 5:8&9

Be sober be vigilant for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Vigilant gregoreuo gray-gor-yoo-o means to watch or give strict attention to

In contrast to these scriptures “thorns” in the bible are associated with slothfulness.

Proverbs 24:30

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof…

The slothful man does not dig or prune his vineyard, rather he allows it to be “grown over” with thorns.

So too the spiritually slothful person does not “cast down imaginations…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor.10:5), rather he allows those thought and imaginations to grow over his heart.

Why is it important to continually dig and prune and diligently keep one's heart?

Because wilful sin doesn’t just happen, there is a process leading up to it.

James 1:14&15

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.

Everyone experiences temptation. Temptation… is common to man (1Cor 10:13). Temptation is not sin but it can lead to sin. 

When one allows lust to be conceived, that is, to take hold or take root in ones heart it WILL produce sin. 

It is only a matter of time before it does, for that which is in the heart manifests itself outwardly in ones behaviour.

1 John 3:7&8

He that doth righteousness is righteous…

He that committeth sin is of the devil…

committeth is poieo poy-eh-o and means produce, bear, shoot forth

This gives us the image of a tree or plant bearing fruit.

The word Fruit in the Parable of the Sower is karpophoreo and means to bear or bring forth deeds. 

Ones deeds are the outward manifestation of that which is in ones heart. 

He that doeth righteousness IS righteous, he that committeth sin IS of the devil.

Good fruit is righteous deeds.

Phil. 1:11 Fruits of righteousness…

Thorns however, do not produce good fruit.

Matthew 7:16&17

Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A heart in which lust or pride have taken root, is a corrupt heart.

This is further confirmed in Hoseah 9:6&9

…nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

They have deeply corrupted themselves…

Notice also how in Genesis chapter 3 after Adam and Eve had wilfully disobeyed God’s commandment and were cast out of the garden, the ground was cursed with thorns.

Vs 17&18 Because thou hast…eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying, thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake…thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…

Therefore the thorny ground in Luke 8:7&14 represents a cursed and corrupt heart as apposed to the honest and good heart mentioned in verse 15.

The honest and good heart in Luke 8:15 brings forth fruit with patience. 

Patience means endurance.

This is a person who endures till the end and does not fall away into sin.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation…

The seed that fell among thorns however brings no fruit to perfection.

Perfection is telesphoreo tel-es-for-eh-o and means completion. This person does NOT steadfastly endure till the end. Does NOT complete the course, rather falls away.

If there’s one thing I want you to glean from this article is the ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that as Christians we ENDURE TILL THE END.

There is NO sin confess cycle in genuine Christianity only steadfast endurance.

Let me show you that clearly in Hebrews 6

Vs 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (completion) not laying again the foundation of repentance…

Repentance is part of the “first works” one does in order to become a Christian. Once having laid that foundation one doesn’t lay it again.

Vs 4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.

What did the Roman soldiers put on Christ’s head before he went to the cross? Thats right, a crown of thorns, which probably looked similar to the ‘laurel wreath’ awarded to victors in those times, therefore the crown of thorns was specifically designed to mock and humiliate Jesus or put him to an open shame.

A person who repents and is forgiven by God, then falls back into sin before seeking God’s forgiveness again, is mocking Jesus just like those Roman soldiers.  

Lets continue in Hebrews 6

Vs 7&8

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; who’s end is to be burned.

These verses allude to Genesis 3 that I read earlier, in which, after Adam and Eve sinned, the ground was cursed with thorns.

A heart that was once broken up by way of Godly sorrow and repentance and is then over-taken by “thorns” such as pride and lust to the point where it manifests wilful sin, is a cursed, corrupt heart, rejected by God and fit for destruction.

Rejected is adokimos ad-ok-ee-mos in the Greek and is translated castaway and reprobate in other parts of the bible.

The word reprobate is used in Romans 1:28

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…  

In my article about the seed that fell on a rock, I mentioned how when in a sin-confess cycle I was in danger of becoming reprobate. I want to explain briefly what I meant by that.

The meaning of reprobate

We are all born with natural instincts and appetites that make us human.

The word Flesh in the bible is sarx in the Greek and means the earthly or animal nature of man apart from divine influence

However, we are not just sarx for God has also given us a moral conscience.

John 1:9

That was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

God is light in that he reveals truth and exposes error and he put some of this light into every man, which is why, even without hearing the ten commandments, we all know that murder is wrong.

However through hearing the Word, God further awakens our moral conscience.

Romans 7:7 …I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law said, thou shalt not covet. 

This is Grace charis which means the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ...the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life...

Grace brings about Godly sorrow, a deep sense of conviction that motivates one to repent from sin and turn to God.

Resisting Grace, or pushing aside truth and the conviction it brings, ignoring ones conscience so that one may continue to sin, results in condemnation.

John 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…

Which ties in with perfectly with Romans 1:21 

Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God…and their foolish heart was darkened.

In wilfully resisting light, their hearts were darkened or in other words the light God had placed within them, their moral conscience, was darkened.

At the same time God gave them over to a reprobate mind meaning he withdraw his divine influence and gave them up to what they truly wanted.

Vs 24 He gave them up to uncleanness thought the lusts of their own hearts 

With God’s influence removed, sarx or the animal nature of man is all that remains and the result is lasciviousness meaning shameless, unbridled lust.

This may give you an idea why in Hebrews 6:4-6 it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened… if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.

In order to repent one must first experience Godly sorrow and how can one experience this when one's moral conscience has been darkened and Gods divine influence removed?

This is why being in a sin-confess cycle is DEADLY DANGEROUS to ones soul and why genuine Christians MUST ENDURE TILL THE END.

If you are now worried that it may be impossible for you to get right with God, i’d like to balance Hebrew 6:4 with Mark 10:26&27 

And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible

If your conscience has been “pricked” while reading this article there is still hope, however you will need to strive, struggle, fight and endeavour with strenuous zeal to enter in that straight gate. That's what I’ve had to do.

May we each be the good ground described in Luke 8:15, experience genuine salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, produce and abundance of good fruit and ENDURE till the end. 

So concludes my series on the Parable of the Sower, I hope it was enlightening for you all.

Let us each work out your own salvation with her and trembling. God bless.

The Seed Among Thorns Part 1- Repentance and Heart Purity

In this article I explore the seed that fell among thorns in the parable of the sower and what it teaches us about repentance and heart purity.

Lets begin by reading Luke 8

Vs 5 a sower went out to sow his seed…

Vs 7 and some fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

Vs 11 Now the parable is this the seed is the word of God.

Vs 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection.

Lets now read verse 15 which is in total contrast to verse 14

But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience

Finally lets read Jeremiah 4:3 which ties in perfectly with the parable of the sower

Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thorns

“Good ground” is that which has been broken up thus prepared to receive seed.

In Luke 8:15 “good ground” represents an “honest and good heart”. This is a heart that has been spiritually broken up through Godly sorrow and repentance thus prepared to receive the Word of God and ultimately salvation.

2 Cor. 7:10

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation… 

Godly Sorrow and Repentance prepare the heart for salvation.

Thorny ground on the other hand, has not been prepared and is not suitable ground in which to receive seed, hence Jeremiah’s warning “sow not among thorns”. 

It makes sense to me therefore that repentance, that is, braking up the fallow ground of one’s heart, includes the removal of “thorns”.

What are thorns?

Thorns are ugly, prickly weeds that were prevalent in ancient Palestine. 

Thorns tend to crowd out and overgrow other plants, stealing their nutrients, water and sunlight which of course stifles their growth.

In Luke 8:14 “thorns” represent “the cares, riches and pleasures of this life” which when allowed to remain in one’s heart, “choke” the Word thus inhibit any spiritual growth or fruitfulness.

What are the Cares, riches and pleasures of this life?

CARES

Cares is merimna in the Greek and means anxiety through the idea of distraction.

I think distraction is the key here.

It says in Matthew 6:31&33

Take NO thought saying what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed?…But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…

Seek FIRST the kingdom as opposed to seeking FIRST the temporal things of this life.

Notice how those in Luke 8:14 when they have heard, go forth, this means that upon hearing the Word they go straight back to ordering their lives.

If the cares of this life are of higher priority to you than the kingdom of God then you WON’T make it as a Christian. 

Matthew 7:14 

…straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and FEW there be that find it.

Few find it because few truly seek it out.

Luke 13:24

STRIVE to enter in the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.

Strive agonizomai ag-o-nid-zom-ahee means to struggle, fight, endeavour with strenuous zeal.

This takes a single mindedness. 

Matthew 6:22 mentions having a single eye. The eye represents the mind and single means clear or sound, therefore being single-minded means having a clear, sound mind. 

This is the opposite to being double-minded which is trying to serve two masters, an impossible task.

Matthew 6:24 …For either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other…

Therefore one cannot enter the straight gate and narrow way while distracted by the cares of this life.

RICHES

Riches ploutos ploo-tos means wealth or abundance of external possessions.

Matthew 13:22 when describing the parable of the sower says the deceitfulness of riches.

Riches can be deceitful in that they offer a false sense of security.

Like with the Laodecians in Revelations 3:17 who said

“i am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing…”

They had an “I need nothing” attitude in their hearts which is the “pride of life” mentioned in 

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world.

Pride alazoneia al-ad-zon-i-a means trusting in ones own power or resources or trusting in the stability of earthly things

This was the case with the rich young ruler in Luke 18

Vs 18 and a certain ruler asked him, saying, good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Vs 20 thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother.

Vs 21 and he said all these have I kept from my youth up.

Vs 22 …yet lackest thou one thing…sell all that thou hast….come, follow me.

Vs 23 and when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Jesus was not concerned so much by the fact he was wealthy, rather the fact he was not willing to give up his wealth to follow him.

Some of you may be like the rich young man. You’ve spent many years in the church system and are able to say “all these things have I kept from my youth up”.

However, what’s in your heart? A love for money and possessions? The pride of life?

Luke 18: 24&25

How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.

for it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye…

One can only squeeze through the straight gate and narrow way if one lets go of ALL that is in the world, including the pride of life.

PLEASURES

Pleasures is hedone hay-don-ay and means desires for pleasure or lust.

The word Lust epithymia ep-ee-thoo-mee-ah means desire, craving, longing. Desire for that which is forbidden.

Mark 4:19 when describing the parable of the sower says the lusts of other things entering in… 

While CARES distract people from God and RICHES deceive them into thinking they don’t really need him, PLEASURES is the desire for things other than God, or things outside his kingdom.

Again, like the rich young ruler you might say “I don’t commit adultery” but Jesus said whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matt. 5:28)

We’re not talking about actions or behaviours here, rather the thoughts and intents of one’s heart.

James 4:8 says

Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purify your hearts ye double minded.

A purified heart is no longer double-minded meaning it’s not trying to love God whilst loving the world or the things of the world.

1 John 2:15&15

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world.

The thorns of pride, lust and a love for the world need to be completely uprooted and removed from ones heart, however, they can’t be removed until the fallow ground has been thoroughly broken up.

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart oh God thou wilt not despise.

Jesus used the Word “broken” when speaking with his disciples during the last supper.

This is my body broken for you (1 Cor. 11:4)

Christ was “broken” for us but not in our place or instead of us, rather he was “broken” as an example for us to follow.

Matthew 16:24

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me…

Jesus carried his cross to the place where he was crucified, therefore “following” him means being crucified WITH him.

Paul said in Galatians 2:20

I am crucified WITH Christ…

Furthermore he said in Galatians 5:24 

And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Jesus said in John 14:6

I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father except by me.

Therefore in being crucified WITH Christ we enter the strait gate and narrow way that leadeth unto life (Matt. 7:14)

For whosoever will loose his life…shall find it (Matt. 16:24)

Repentance is total, broken submission to God.

This is how the thorns of pride, lust and a love for the world are completely uprooted and removed from ones heart, resulting in an honest and good heart.

Only in an honest and good heart can the Word of God take root and bear fruit.

Let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God bless.