By Your Fruits

Matthew 7

15 “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.

...

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not ... done many wonders in Your name?’

...

23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

So, "many wonderful works" in Jesus' name are not the fruits Jesus is talking about.  Then what could they be?

We get more than a good clue from Galatians 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

These elements of this fruit come to us when we welcome in the Holy Spirit, when we invite Jesus into our inner-most being, to save us and to shepherd us.

Note: Don't compare yourself to anyone else, whether you see fruit or not.  This is just between you and the Lord God.  Discernment comes later.

Larry Carroll