A Tree, A Fish, Some Bread And Water

People would have been inspired and challenged that Passover to believe in the impossible. They would have shared the story of how in the wrong season this fig tree was doing the impossible.

But it stood up against its Creator. It refused to meet Jesus’ needs.

And sadly as a result it was put under judgment and in a few hours was not only dead but withered down to its roots.

Now, it would serve as a sign but not the sign of New Life and Vitality but the sign of decay and death.

Sadly, all across our land we see Fig Tree churches. Churches that once had life. Churches that at one time were filled with life.

But some out of disobedience decided that they would no longer be

+Places of safe haven for those who needed a place to repent and be restored.

+Places that could be broken so that from their brokenness Jesus could use them to meet the needs of others.

+Places that dared to be more than what they could be so that they could bring joy, restoration and celebration to the lives of others.

And so, they never practiced restoration ministries, never allowed God to break them so that they could hold them and help them multiply and never dared to be more than what they thought they could be.

They decided to be like the Fig Tree – God we will do what we want to and in our right season we will listen to you, serve you and be what others expect of us. Just a normal church. Just a regular church.

Jesus today is looking for Fig Trees to join the ranks of Jonah fish, bread from a little boy’s lunch and water that was put in some stone water pots. He is looking for people to work with Him to do what looks like the impossible but to Jesus – its just the work of a carpenter – creating, repairing, restoring and making all things new.

As we close, let’s be determined to never go the way of the Fig Tree.

Remember:

In his young age Samuel walked with God.

In his youth David fought giants with God’s Help.

As young adults the Three Hebrew Children stood true and faithful.

Hannah, Sarah and Elizabeth all allowed God to do the impossible and all four brought mighty people of God into the world.

Full of white hair, more than likely dealing with arthritis, weakened eyes and with a face full of wrinkled character Daniel was still a man of great prayer, Anna was a woman serving God in the temple and Simeon was everyday getting up and coming to the Temple to meet the Messiah.

None of them Fig Tree Christians – but all men and women who allowed God to work with them, through them and experienced the goodness and greatness of God.

That is my hope for all of us this morning and it is my prayer that they finally write our story it will be one that looks more like the Great Fish, the small pieces of bread and the water in the waterpots that become wine than that of a fig tree in the presence of Jesus choose not to try to produce fruit. It didn’t even try.

Let us pray –

Closing Song/Open time for Prayer