A Tree and its Fruit

 

You Will Know a Tree by Its Fruit

Jesus tells us plainly that a tree is known by its fruit — not by its claims, appearance, or sincerity.

“You will know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16

Fruit reveals essence. It exposes what is truly at work beneath the surface. In the same way, when we speak of God, discern His voice, or test what claims to be “from Him,” we must begin with this unshakable truth: the essence of God is inseparably tied to His Word.

God does not act outside of His Word, contradict His Word, or evolve beyond it.

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” — Numbers 23:19

Scripture is not merely a record of who God was; it is the revelation of who He is. To separate God from His Word is to create a god shaped by emotion, culture, or personal experience rather than by truth. When God speaks, He sounds like Scripture. When He leads, He leads in line with what He has already revealed.

This is why discernment begins and ends with the Word of God — not impressions, trends, or inner conviction.

“Your word is truth.” — John 17:17

Any voice, insight, or direction that produces fruit contrary to Scripture does not come from Him, no matter how convincing it may seem.

Sincerity Is Not Proof of Truth

Sincerity is often mistaken for spiritual credibility. If someone speaks passionately or appears convinced, we assume truth is present. Yet Scripture never uses sincerity as a measure of truth.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” — Proverbs 14:12

Sincerity answers the question, “Do I believe this?”
Scripture answers a far more important one: “Is this from God?”

The heart, when detached from God’s Word, is not a reliable guide.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus warned that deception would not come in a false appearance. It would sound convincing, appear righteous, and even bear what looks like fruit.

“Beware of false prophets… you will recognize them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:15–16

God does not sanctify error merely because it is heartfelt. Where sincerity replaces Scripture as the final authority, discernment weakens, obedience becomes negotiable, and faith quietly reshapes itself around preference rather than truth.

Obedience and Fruit Cannot Be Separated

Obedience is not an optional expression of faith; it is its evidence.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

Where God’s Word is truly believed, obedience follows — not perfectly, but genuinely. Obedience is the root response to truth; fruit is the visible result. A life submitted to Scripture will, over time, bear fruit that reflects God’s character: humility, repentance, clarity, and love.

When obedience is delayed, selective, or conditional, the fruit may still appear — but it will be inconsistent, compromised, or short-lived.

Scripture teaches that obedience trains discernment.

“…their powers of discernment trained by constant practice.” — Hebrews 5:14

When obedience is ignored or redefined, discernment dulls. What once convicted us begins to feel acceptable, and the shift often goes unnoticed until the fruit of our actions has already ripened.

“…whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” — Galatians 6:7

Fruit is not only what we produce — it is also what we permit. A good tree does not strive to appear fruitful. It simply is.

Pruning for Greater Fruit

Just as God examines our obedience, He also prunes us — removing what hinders growth so that more fruit can flourish. Pruning can feel uncomfortable, even painful, yet it is always a purposeful process. God may remove habits, relationships, or patterns that subtly compromise our alignment with His Word.

“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” — John 15:2

Pruning is not punishment; it is preparation. A tree cannot produce abundant, healthy fruit if it carries dead or obstructive branches. In the same way, God’s pruning shapes our character, sharpens our discernment, and strengthens our obedience. What is cut away may feel like loss, but it makes room for growth, clarity, and the fruit that will glorify Him.

Carrying Mistakes and the Weight of the Past

Our mistakes can feel like heavy burdens, lingering long after the moment has passed. They can weigh on our conscience, shake our confidence, and make obedience feel impossible. Yet Scripture reminds us that God’s pruning and refining are not about punishment — they’re about preparation. He does not leave us bound to our past failures; He reshapes us so we can bear more fruit.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

Mistakes, when surrendered to God, become tools for growth rather than chains of shame. The pruning process often touches the areas where we’ve stumbled — removing pride, impatience, or reliance on our own understanding. The weight of our past is real, yet it does not define our fruitfulness.

Being a vessel of honour does not mean never failing; it means yielding fully to God’s shaping hand and trusting Him to transform even our failures into lessons in obedience, humility, and discernment.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” — Romans 5:3–4

A Vessel of Honour

Paul reminds us that in a great house, not every vessel serves the same purpose.

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honourable use, some for dishonourable.”
— 2 Timothy 2:20

God is sovereign over the house. He determines the setting, the calling, and the authority. That is not ours to decide. Yet Paul does not stop there.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honour, set apart as holy, useful to the Master, ready for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 2:21

Here is where the weight falls on us. Honour is connected to cleansing. Usefulness is connected to obedience. This is not about perfection, gifting, or position — it is about submission to God’s Word. A vessel of honour is not defined by how visible it is, but by how yielded it is.

Our mistakes do not disqualify us. What we refuse to surrender will limit how we are used. When we allow God to remove what dishonours Him, even through pruning, He reshapes us for a greater purpose. He decides where we fit — but obedience determines how usable we are.

Becoming a Vessel of Honour

Are good intentions enough? Does not God desire vessels prepared to carry His glory? A vessel of honour is not born perfected — it is trained, purified, and yielded through obedience, discipline, and pruning.

“Now flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. … Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” — 2 Timothy 2:22–21

God’s Sovereignty in Our Placement

Ultimately, it is God who decides where we fit, how we grow, and what purpose we fulfil. He is sovereign, and His plans for us are perfect, even when pruning, mistakes, or trials feel heavy. Our role is not to demand our position or timing, but to yield fully to His Word and guidance, trusting that His hand shapes our fruitfulness and usefulness in His kingdom.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11

This reminds us that being a vessel of honour, bearing fruit, and enduring pruning are all God’s work in us. Our obedience and surrender cooperate with His sovereignty; our responsibility is to remain yielded and faithful, whatever the process entails.

A Personal Call to Examination

Before we examine the fruit in others, Scripture calls us to examine our own tree.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5

The question is not whether we sound right, speak confidently, or appear sincere — but whether our lives align with God’s Word.

It is possible to know Scripture and yet resist obedience in quiet ways. It is possible to speak truth publicly while negotiating submission privately. Fruit exposes these tensions, not to condemn us but to call us back into alignment.

God does not ask how strongly we feel; He asks whether we are willing to yield.

“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” — Luke 6:46

So, the question remains simple and urgent: What fruit is my life producing right now?
Not in theory.
Not in the past.
But in this present season.

Jesus’ words have not changed:

“Every healthy tree bears good fruit.” — Matthew 7:17

And the good news is this — when our lives are rooted again in His Word and yielded in obedience, the fruit will follow.

Signing off

Tyrone