The TV preachers and traveling prophets and church minstrels of today who travel from church to church and solicit funds for various causes are no new phenomena. They date back to at least the early 1800's when itinerant preachers roamed the country telling how they would bring the gospel to the pirates if only they had the money. It is possible that there were more preachers looking to save pirates than there were pirates, or maybe there were two groups of pirates, one preying on the ships at sea and the others preying on the flock of God. There is nothing I can find recorded that indicates there was ever a significant ministry to the pirates.
Over the years I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly in the church. I have seen even more than a few more in the last few years. And in recent weeks God has shown me these in a different light. I knew it before. I just didn't recognize it. I was looking too hard. I missed the fruits or better the lack of them in their ministry. Jesus told us not to judge, but he did commission us to be fruit inspectors.
Matt 7:20
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(KJV)
What are the fruits we should look for? Dynamic preaching? Great music? Prophecies? Intense end time study? I think not. And more important than what I think is the question, “What does the scripture say?” The scripture defines for us the fruit of the spirit. And I will show scripture that defines it well. And bear with me. The chapter and verse references are not inspired so I will ignore them at times. But I want you to read this passage in context first.
Gal 5:22-6:6
- 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
- 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
- 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
- 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
CHAPTER 6
- 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
- 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
(KJV)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Why is there no law against this? Because one who exhibits these fulfills the law of love. If someone does not exhibit these they are not exhibiting the fruit of the spirit. I must then ask what fruit they are exhibiting. And if they are exhibiting some other fruit then what right do we have to give money to support them? Let me just be blunt and ask what they are presenting.
"Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
If they are being exalted by their ministry are they exhibiting this fruit? If they are demanding honor are they exhibiting this fruit? If they are contending with one another are they exhibiting this fruit? The ones that exhibit that fruit will show love. Without that love we are nothing more than a bunch of ridiculous noise.
1 Cor 13:1-3
- 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(KJV)
And what are we to preach? What message are we to bring? What message should we look for? I can give that to you in many scriptures. I will cite only a few of them here.
Acts 5:42
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
(KJV)
