BEWARE OF POISONOUS FRUIT!

I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit. —Deuteronomy 29:18

False gods and false doctrine “bears bitter and poisonous fruit.” This type of fruit destroys many people. At the State Prison in New Hampshire those who come to the Lord Jesus Christ are targets for the Jehovah Witnesses and other groups. These JW’s are steeped in the “bitter and poisonous fruit” thinking they are doing the right thing, but they lead many to eternal destruction in Hell. Followers of Jesus need to be aware of any “bitter and poisonous fruit” that may be among them and purge it from them. Otherwise it will have negative impact among them.

I was out and about this week and ran into a man whom I asked this question: “Have you come to the place in your life where you understand who Jesus is and what He has done for you?” He replied, “Oh yes, I believe in Jesus.” In return I said, “Then you may enjoy this” as I extended toward him a Lamb pamphlet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw . “Oh, I am a Jehovah witness” was his reply and would not accept the pamphlet. “Well, we do not believe in the same Jesus,” I said and we briefly talked about the differences between Jesus described in the Bible and what the JW’s believe. He responded with rote answers without quoting anything to back up what he was saying. Sadly, he has been “poisoned.” May the Holy Spirit of God open his eyes.

In the sequel to Paul Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan writes about Pilgrim’s wife, Christiana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBPX4ava8bg. In it Mercy saw fruit that looked so good to eat, but when it fell to the ground it turned into a viper. That is want poisonous fruit is— the satanic serpent’s venom. Beware!

Dear Father, help me to be discerning and be readily able to identify false teaching and those who would lead Your children, followers of Jesus, astray. May this be done in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.