(The Church in the Last Days) 02 - Tree of Life or Tree of Death — Milton Green

Revelation from God's Word Versus Human Tradition

When anyone receives revelation in the Word of God, it sometimes conflicts with what he has previously been taught. This causes you to have to deal with old traditions or wrong teaching. These tapes may contain some new light from God's Word, and it may be opposed to some traditions you have previously learned.

Therefore, follow through these messages in your Bible, in sequence, in order that you may be able to make a choice for the Word of God rather than the traditions of men. This is tape number two in a series.

We urge you to listen to all the tapes in this series in numerical order, so that the whole teaching can be received and understood. Listening to a part of the series or to the tapes out of sequence can lead to a misunderstanding of the nature, the intent, and the importance of this series.

You know what? You're going to hear their mouth speaking. Can you see me right here? You're going to hear the mouth speaking what's in their heart. But you know what you're hearing? Fruit. And see, this person is not happy, and they have problems because their heart is not lined up with the Word of God.

And so what your counsel is, and what your ministry is right now, now I'm going to tell you, when your heart is not lined up to the Word of God, can I go ahead and tell you? Now, I hope you're ready for this.

Sin, Repentance, and Deliverance from Darkness

You've got a problem with the powers of darkness. Now, don't try to hook it up some other way because it didn't work the other way. I'm going to tell you that's where the torment is there. Don't act like it.

Now, this is how serious God is about sin, because when you're in rebellion in your heart, you let the hedge down on you right then in a particular area of your life, and you're not going to be free from it until you repent from it.

Do you hear me, front? Back, pew, platform. Because it's not supposed to be there. You're supposed to deal with it. And you're supposed to come to life. Now, listen to me very closely. A lot of people like to say, well, he just got a deliverance ministry.

Listen, the body of Christ is a deliverance ministry. I'm just a part, and there's no part where it's my part or your part, and you hear me say this, and I like to continue saying it. It's just Jesus, if Jesus is doing it, you see what I mean?

Now, listen very closely. Any person you can see, get freedom. Now, this is discernment, to listen to them talk. And you can hear selfishness come down. You can hear rebellion. You can hear criticism.

You can hear slander. You can hear gossip. You can hear jealousy. Can't you hear this coming out of somebody? You can hear when someone's not showing mercy. You can hear these things, and when you do it, you write them down.

And then when you get through the list there and say, young lady, if we don't see anything else that's really troubling you right now, and think about it. Well, you know, a lot of times I ask, well, what's bothering your body?

You know, and everything. Folks, it's such a simple thing to get people free. You, if you don't get, or you think it's your ministry instead of the ministry of Jesus, it's such a simple thing to have a, you know.

Personal Testimony and the Power of Prayer

I had more to happen to me. A little old woman down there in Houston prayed for me some time back. And I'm telling you what, I never seen so much happen. And me, and I wanted, you know, I always had a woman.

I thought, man, oh, you know, just kind of, you know. But this little old woman had such a pure heart. And she said over there and everything, and I kind of wondered what I was doing there at first. And she just prayed for me.

And all kinds of things. I'm going back. But see, here's the thing about it. It's dealing with your own heart. And then, if you're having your own heart, see, it's Jesus through you. And see, look here, folks.

We live in such a time where we've been, and I'm not saying this with any hostility. I just despise things that draw from that. But see, we're bound to intellect, you know, Mr. Academic. And see, people are being kings over us because of intellect and academic.

They're coming between us and Jesus. And so, then you come along, and you can't really think you can hear anything in your Bible because, you know, you don't know a foreign language or whatever you know that seems to be required to hear from God.

See? And see, this is contrary to the Word of God. You know that. And so, see, I'm saying this to encourage you. We've got to call it like it is. Because men are being kings. Jesus, when men are kings, you're a trusting flesh.

You can't hear from God unless you hear through men. And so, see, you go to the Bible, and you're reading this Bible, and you just make it some kind of little exercise to salvage your conscience there and everything.

Instead, you come to this Bible to look in the mirror. Don't be like in James 1, looking there and then forget what manner of man you are. See? A natural man don't walk away. You come in here, and God's going to talk to you.

I mean to tell you, and it's all grace. Revelation is not man. Natural man understands not the things of God. So just when you come to the Word of God, you're hearing something for you. Amen? Okay. Now let me just go ahead and share with you.

When you hear these things coming out of their mouth, you've got your list. And then they'll be amazed they don't see it. And you can tell them, say, Honey, here's what you've got your problem is. You have been...

You've really been... got some hate built up in your heart and anger and unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, all these kind of things that you can think of toward a person. You're unforgiving in your heart.

I hear this right now. Isn't that true? And they'll admit it. See, we need to repent for that. And I've got it right here. And also, honey, I'll tell you what. You're not humbling yourself before God.

I hear this pride. And in the midst of all this thing, you're not really humbling yourself before the Lord. And just go right on down the list and tell them what it is. Now you say, you know what you need to do.

Why don't you just take this list? And why don't you go in there in that bedroom right in there or go in this other office or whatever right there and you get before God and instruct them about unforgiveness.

Like they need to go to someone if they have all the... and you know what will happen? They'll go in there and impress them how serious that they change their heart. They don't just say it up here. They change their heart.

And when they come back in there, you just go down the list and it's just right right here. So now, Lord, just lead them into prayer or let them just pray. How do you feel led? Don't get locked into me.

I won't get boxed into you and you don't get boxed into me until you see how the Lord leads me to do something. You hear? You just do how the Lord leads you but make it serious. Don't just run through your words.

Do you understand what I mean? And get them to repent of it and just tell them like I did. You know, I like to get people to lift up their hands. I just find out they're lifting up their hand to Jesus and just remind them who's getting that thing off of them so they won't think it's some man that come to town.

You see what I mean? And just lift it up. And see, this is another thing to it. It destroys a lot of pride. And when you see somebody got it up there, reach over and just kind of help them up. Say, let's just beat that.

Let's just... See, it's all right to praise God and let's just get rid of that old demon of pride, too, while we're at it. Just lift your hands up there, you know, and everything. And just praise him and let that thing...

And you know what's going to happen? Jesus is going to be ministering to you to come and set the captives free. I mean... And see, you know how you learn... You know how you learn to witness and share people doing it.

But you'll see things. You run into things that you don't really know the answers to. And we often do that, which makes us realize that we've got so much to learn. But, folks, since I have gotten my heart right and on the way of getting it more right, can I just tell you something?

Just about everybody I pray with right now, I'm seeing them set free. Are you hearing me? But, see, this wasn't happening before. That's the reason I got Bob to pray with most of the people. Because...

One of the things I did... See, let me just... I'm not trying to talk about me. I'm just trying to relate to you. You understand what I mean? Because, see, we talk about a lot of things. You're supposed to minister.

And I believe we don't take time to talk about these things before. And I think we need to talk about them. Just confess our faults to one another and be healed. See, I went there with so many people and there wasn't people around to help me pray.

And I began dreading people because I teach all day long and I've gone with my knees just knocking together. And I've held on the wall. I've had people attack me, saying, won't you pray for me? Somebody hold me up just about then.

See, I've had it several times. So I began to dread people, praying for people. Because I was so weary in my heart and I was so attacked and everything. And I went through a period of time and I'm going to be honest with you folks about it.

To where I've been being so attacked and everything for months I couldn't even stand up and take a shower. I had to start taking... take a bath in the bathtub. That's where I've been living. And so much torment and things.

I didn't know how to get there. I didn't know. You know, it's just too much for me to handle. And you know, I'm not... I take showers now. I like them. As a matter of fact, that's about outrun just about anybody in here.

But see, I just received a lot of grace. And see, I want to relate it to you. I don't want to have to box up some of these and stuff where I have to have any reputation. See, this is what happens. We cover up these things about ourself and that's the reason we don't know anything about the powers of darkness because we won't expose these things ourself.

Do you hear what I'm saying? Alright, now these things right here. Are y 'all following me what I'm saying? So when this dread comes and this is something tomorrow night at some time I'm going to take authority over with you.

When you begin dreading something, I don't care how good I felt at the time when I'd start to pray for someone, I'd come apart and I didn't understand and I didn't know anyone else had understood and I had to go through this and go through this and go through this until finally one day I found out that I was being attacked because I had dreaded praying for people at one time.

Now what you dread, can I just share some things with you? You're dreading things in your life right now. You're having a hassle. The powers of darkness, if they can ever talk you into dread, you've not been in a war.

If they can talk you into dread, the very thing you dread when you get near it, are you hearing what I'm saying? How did we ever get off on all this? You know, we just read the Bible and now we just talk about these things.

Well anyway, you're going to get off for free this week. Amen? Why don't you stand up while I read a few verses right here to you and we're just going to let you go in a few minutes right here. You can read and stand up can't you?

In just a few minutes we're going to let you leave. Well I tell you what, I see a lot of people here and I know a lot of Jesus. Okay. Now turn with me to Ephesians 2. Just a minute please. Ephesians 2.

Adam's Sin, Spiritual Death, and Life in Christ

Now, does everyone know in Romans 5 verse 12 that through Adam, now whenever you get ready to sit down, you can sit down or you can keep standing, whatever you want to do. I told you in liberty and freedom didn't I?

Now let me just read Romans 5 verse 12 and we see this curse that came through Adam. Verse 12. Therefore just as through one man, that's Adam, sin entered into the world and death spread through sin and so death spread to all men because all sin because all are walking by that cursed satanic nature.

And there's only way you can get rid of it and that's through the cross, the blood of Jesus, or the spirit of God leads you to put it to death. So, we see that we were dead before we met Jesus Christ Lord and in Ephesians 2 verse 1 and you were dead.

That means you're not dead but you were dead. Why? In your trespasses in which you look at that you formerly walked. Which means you don't walk there anymore. You formerly walked according to the course of the world.

You formerly walked according to the prince and power of the air, that's Satan. That's where you used to walk, which means you don't walk and talk like the world and Satan anymore. And of the demon spirits that now are working in, in, in.

Not on the shoulder, they're working in the sons of disobedience and the sons of disobedience are those who walk after the flesh. And among them, we too all formerly lived. Now, how did you formerly live?

You formerly lived, you were living after the lust of the flesh, which means you don't live there anymore. Now how many are aware that there are carnal doctrines today that tell you it's alright to walk after the lust of the flesh?

That's a direct contradiction to what you're reading right there in the word of God, see. You formerly lived there, which means you don't live there anymore. See, when you have a carnal doctrine, usually you're not dealing with the powers of darkness, and if you're not dealing with the powers of darkness, you're not dealing with the flesh, because that's their ministry, rebellion, lust of flesh.

Okay? You were, so it's the son of disobedience, I don't care where anybody, they're a son of disobedience who if you walk, if you live after the lust of the flesh. But these, we were dead when we were living there, we formerly lived in the lust of the flesh, we were indulging the desires of the flesh, which means you're not indulging.

Man of the mind, and we were by our nature, was the nature of Satan, children of wrath, because the wrath of God is on us, even as the rest. Amen? Now that's what a son of disobedience is. Now don't go by some kind of experience or something if that's, this is why the word says, look to me in Matthew 7 you will know them by what?

They're fruit. Now hold your place right there, and turn with me back to Matthew 7, I just want to just briefly show you this. Matthew 7 we see verse 13 or 14 for the gate is a small and the narrow that leads to life and few of those are going to find it.

Now folks, I want you to understand something. This is a very narrow way into heaven, and a small gate. Are you hearing me? Okay. Now beware, you're told of these false teachers, preachers, prophets, they're going to come to you with credentials and sheep slowly, but their problem is going to be their heart inwardly.

Do you see the word inwardly? That's their heart. They're ravenous wolves. Now you're going to know them by their fruit, verse 17, so even every good tree bears good fruit but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

False Prophets, False Signs, and the Test of Fruit

Now let me tell you something folks, that is in your Bible, right? Right now, listen to me, listen to me. Now look at me. Your Bible, and a lot of people wish that verse wasn't in there, but it says if you're a good tree, you're going to bear good fruit.

And if you're a bad tree, you're going to bear bad fruit. Where's it going to come out of? Now see we're going to deal with a few things, but let me tell you something. Let me ask you something. If I was your teacher or there's only one leader, not one teacher.

Is that correct? There's only one. Now his name is supposed to be Jesus. Is that right? Now you're not listening. Your heart is not falling after me. Your heart is falling. You've got to hear the voice of Jesus.

Is that right? Let's just say I was one of these prophets and so forth. Let's just say I had spiritual pride. What would you wind up with? Alright, well you'd wind up with spiritual pride too, wouldn't you?

Because I'd be mixing that with the word of God. Is that right? Okay. Let me ask you something. Let's see if I can obey in the power of the word of God, where would I lead you to be? See, so you you better examine what the words say, you better examine all things carefully.

Is that right? Now let me just share something to you. See we're folks, we're coming out of a pretty dark place. You understand? And the fact that we have to deal with the powers of darkness at the very beginning of the meeting right here shows that we're not in any place to boast, does it?

We can't be too proud, can we? Well, let's just be honest about it and just realize where we are. So that means we've got a bunch to learn and we're going to learn from one another. Is that right? Alright, now what do you think this false prophet and false teacher is going to lead you to do?

It's very obvious right there. He's got the wrong fruit. He's going to lead you to be a tree that does not bear good fruit. Amen? Shake your head, is that right? I'll show you what happens to you if you don't bear good fruit right there.

In verse 21, not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord is going to enter the kingdom of heaven but the one. Does that mean that you're talking about two different kind of trees right there? There are people who think, who don't do the will of God, they don't bear the right fruit.

They're not going to heaven, folks. And it's pretty plain in the rest of the word there, and you kind of see who they are. Because they've got their trust in something. They've put their trust in this man.

Maybe it's doctrines or whatever it is right there. Doctrines of men, which we've looked at. And he's not going to heaven. But the one who does the will of God. Now I want to, this is important to mention this in 22.

Many are going to say to me Lord, I prophesy in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus I cast out demons. In the name of Jesus I perform many miracles. And is that where a lot of people's hearts are today?

In miracles? See, I'm going to tell you something, folks. Miracles are healing, deliverance. The rest of you want to sit down, please? You stand too long and you get tired. And you're not going to get tired.

Why, now look here, folks. Listen. What is a disciple? A disciple is someone that Jesus has all their heart. Amen? Now listen, folks. In a day and time, the signs and wonders follow the word of God. As a matter of fact, we're going to see them here.

But let's just see. There's your Bible clearly, and 2 Thessalonians 2 tell you about the false signs and wonders in the last days. What do you think these false signs and wonders are going to lead you to?

They'll lead you to a what? A man. Or a doctor is going to lead you. If your heart goes after signs and wonders, what are you going to be doing about fruit? What if you're prophesying or something like that?

There's a gift right there, and you've already received your thing. You're not concerned about your gift. Fruit, you've made the gift as a badge, hadn't you? It's a badge right there. See, that's not what the Bible says.

Now, that's not speaking against gifts. We better know gifts. We better receive all the Bible. But see, here's the man that's going to do these in the last days. Watch verse 23. And Jesus will declare to them, I never knew you.

Depart from me, because you practice what? Look at me, folks. Can I just go ahead and tell you? The people that practice sin and don't turn from it, God's not working with them. Is that plain? Now, the powers of darkness can't cooperate with something like that.

And you can walk away, and you can be quoting a man or an actor man or whatever. And this day and time, where there are real signs of one, there are also going to be false ones. And you're warned in Matthew 24 about the false signs and wonders, and because of the false prophets, the love will wax cold.

And the love will wax cold because they lead people that they can walk in sin and they're in love with their self. Now, just quickly in Ephesians 5, or before, I'm going to read in 4 .22, that in reference 4 .22, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old man, that's that old cursed nature, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of the sea, and now you're being renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Holiness, the Fear of God, and Separation from Sin

And then we see over in chapter 5, God has something to say right here. I want you to read and listen to this character. You can know with certainty that, or immoral people, that no impure people, now what's the opposite of a pure heart?

It's an impure heart. Is that correct? See, when you learn these things, you know about the fear of God, folks. We haven't known the fear of God because we haven't walked in these things. Are you hearing me?

Your Bible says do it. The fear of God is beginning knowledge and Proverbs 1 says, and my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. So that's pretty but this you can know with certainty that no immoral, impure person, or covetous man who is an idolater, he doesn't have an inheritance.

Deceive you with empty words, which means naturally that someone's going to be around to try to deceive you with empty words. And because of these things, the wrath of God is going to come upon the sons of disobedience.

Therefore, do not be partakers with them, and I'm telling you, you're not supposed to be a part of it if you can't mix the two of them together. And then quickly in Colossians, just hold your place in Colossians right there.

Colossians 3, verse 5,. Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body, you're going to be dead to these things that we just read over. You're going to be dead to immorality, you're going to be dead to impurity, you're going to be dead to passion, you're going to be dead to evil desire, you're going to be dead to greed, because all of these things amount to idolatry.

Is that right? Well, that's not good. That means if your heart is packed in something, you won't give it up. See, you're chastised, when you're chastised, you say, you're going to turn from it, amen? But if you love it, if you love that greed, you're not going to give it up.

You'll make an idol out of it, which proves you love the greed more than you do the Lord. Amen? And so that's an idol. When you won't give something up, any of these things up, it proves you love it. If you love immorality or sexual immorality, you won't give it up because you love it more than you do the Lord, which proves that He doesn't have all your heart, you've got idol there.

You've got something you want to be in there in the same, that you love it more than you do the Lord. So, this is all idolatry, and look at verse 6, where it's on account of these things that the wrath of God hath come.

Is that exactly what we saw over in Ephesians 5? The wrath of God's going to come because of them, and in them you also once walked, which means you're not walking there, when you were living in them.

Now, is that a direct contradiction of a lot of doctrines today, folks? Can we just go ahead and say that the first day? This is a direct contradiction, which means, folks, if this part of the gospel is misinterpreted over there, and many of you have heard Bob share about 1 Corinthians 3, where these doctrines are formed from.

See what I mean? It is a direct contradiction, which you once walked there, which you you're not walking there anymore, and if you do walk in them, you've got idolatry in your heart. So, verse 8, Now you put them all aside, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech, did it say to put it from your mouth?

Putting Off the Old Nature and Walking in Love

Is this what we took authority over a while ago? Alright, now, I want you to, how many, when we took authority a while ago, and prayed a while ago, I want you to lift up your hands across this building right here of all of you that felt a release of things that come off of you there, just be very honest, lift your hands up high here.

See, now, everybody keep them up, and everybody just look around. Just practically the whole bunch. Amen? So, see, when God puts these things in here, and our traditions and doctrines tell us, alright, obviously, I'd like to go along with this, wouldn't you?

Huh? Now, you go back out and run your mouth again and get into these things, folks, I'm going to tell you, you've got some more problems. I mean, this is serious, and you don't know the fear of God. And this is what we're learning.

You have to learn the fear of God. Okay? So, you lay aside the old man and see what practice is. Come back to Ephesians 5, and it said, verse 6 again, well, at verse 5, you know for certainly that people that practice these things and the doctrine, he doesn't have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.

Now, folks, does that sound pretty serious? It is in your Bible, isn't it? Now, it says there in verse 6 that people are going to come along to try to deceive you with empty words, but it's because these things, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience because we've already seen the sons of disobedience like to continue to walk after the lust of flesh.

Is that right? Is that what we saw in Ephesians 2? Shake your head. Okay? Now, therefore, we are warned you better not be partakers with them. Amen? Now, that's the same thing if you want to write 2 Corinthians 6 and 2 Corinthians 7, verse 1.

2 Corinthians 6 and 7 said, come out from the midst of them and do not touch what is unclean, and then, if you'll do this, then I'll be a father to you, and you'll be sons and daughters to me. And it goes on in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 1.

Cleanse yourself from all defilement, for the flesh and defilement is a divided heart. Amen? So, do not participate in the unfruitful, in verses 11, do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead, even expose them.

Therefore, verse 15, therefore, you better be careful how you walk. You better be careful how you walk, not as unwise. Now, an unwise person is a foolish person, but now, I want you to back up there, verse, chapter 5, verse 1 right there.

Therefore, we're going to be imitators of what? God. Now, I want you to look at the church in verse 3. So, we're not going to even let the church doesn't let immorality, it doesn't let impurity, it doesn't let greed even be named among them as proper among who?

Thanks. And anybody that's agreeing with this, you understand? Anybody that's agreeing with that, you know what they're doing? Listen to me, folks. Who do you think's all the time bringing greed and impurity and immorality to your mind?

What do you think? How many here knows there's a demon of pride? Hold up your hand. What do you think a demon of pride is doing? He's coming around to try to svelte you right there and put pride in your heart.

Well, if you're not in a war, what do you think's going... If you're not resisting the devil, if you're not taking every thought captive to Jesus, what do you think pride's going to do? He'll get it in your heart and get you lifted up and he'll put pride in your heart and then it's going to come out your mouth, right?

What do you think a demon of hate or anger's going to come and do? He's going to talk to you up here. I don't... Stained glass does not keep a mouth. You understand what I'm saying? Now, I'm not saying it's cute or smart.

I'm telling you, folks, just forget about... I'm telling you you're in a war. You're absolutely in a war. And the war is to try... See, you're supposed to be purifying your heart and you forget your form of purification from sins when you continue in it.

It's like a dog returned to its vomit and... or a pig to its pig wallow. Now, that's what 2 Peter 2 warns us. Amen? And so, we are purifying our heart. Well, what do you think's happening? How do you purify your heart?

Now, listen to me, folks, what I'm fixing to say. You can not purify your heart if you're not blocking impurity from coming into your heart right there. You hear what I'm saying? What is impurity? Lust of flesh, lust of the eyes, and boast of proud life.

That are the words that exalt themselves against the Word of God that Satan comes to put in your mind. That's a way for you to take captive every thought that exalts itself or argues against the Word of God.

You take it captive to the obedience of Christ. Amen? Because they want to build... Look here. They want to rebuild this rebellion in your heart by talking to you up there. So, greed is not even named among you.

That's devil talk. That's world talk. See, now, folks, are you understanding? This is the thing that the book of Acts, that the church in the book of Acts understood. And see, this is where we're headed for.

And we've got some more to go. You know that? And then we start purifying. I'm going to tell you, God is going to be doing some tremendous things to you, but let me share something with you, folks. He's not going to do nothing through you.

I don't care how much you know or how much you quote or anything else until you purify your heart. I mean, until you start walking down windows, all your heart, you start walking these things, God is going to...

He's going to cause you to overcome. You're not going to overcome. I've already done this macho stuff, and it's got my brains beat out and put me in a bathtub. And so, it don't work. Are you hearing me?

It just don't work. The only thing that works is Jesus. You've got to do things His way. Don't worry out. Folks, we've got to love each other. There ain't no alternative. You better fear God. You better love one another.

We need to love one another. Forgive one another. Let's understand what's got one another anyway. Huh? Get free and love one another. Amen? Let's just love one another. When you don't have this thing going on, it doesn't leave anything but love.

Amen? They don't have to have any reputation, names, or follow after anything but Jesus. Somebody don't want to follow after Jesus, I can't walk with them. And I'll make no secret about it. 2 Timothy 2 says, the fellowship of those who come to the Lord with a pure heart.

Christ's Sanctifying Work in the Church

Now, let's just continue right there, just a couple more verses. Three. Verse 25. Husband, love your wife just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her that He might what? Sanctify her.

That means purify her heart. That having what? Cleanse her by the washing of the water of the word. Now, look at me, folks. I want everybody here to look at me right now. And I want to just share this because I'm going to share the next verse and then we're going to let John lead us in the song and we're going to go home.

Now, look at me, folks. You can absolutely not be cleansed by the Word of God if Jesus does not have your heart. Because I'm going to tell you what, when you start looking at this exercise, it can't cleanse your heart.

You come in here to look in the mirror to see what matters. See if your heart and see this is why you sit in these seminars and you get free because some freedom is going to come to you tremendously by the Word of God.