The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart
The Virtue of Fruitfulness
Mark 11 12-14; 20-21
Sermon Objective: God gives us all the resources we need to grow and bear fruit; He therefore anticipates that we will do just that!
Supporting Scripture: John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:22-25
Series Intro:
We are looking at Mark chapter 11 for the next few weeks. We have chosen to look at it from specific vantage points … to look at some of the Kingdom virtues God has imparted to the believer. The chapter shows our sovereign King making His way into his Holy City and temple for an official inspection. In doing so, He declares His reign.
“The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart” is an appropriate title for such an event.
We have already looked at verses 1-11 and saw the power and importance of living a lifestyle of worship.
Last week we looked at 11:15-17. We praised God for the great gift of prayer. There are so few parameters with prayer and so many blessings! We dare not neglect such a privilege.
In coming weeks we will look at forgiveness (11:20-25) and submission (11:1-6 & 27-33).
But today we will look at Mark 11:12-14 & 20-21.
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
That is an interesting and peculiar story isn’t it? There is none other like it in the Gospels. At first glance it appears that Jesus is pouting and taking his frustration out on a fig tree that wasn’t even supposed to have fruit on it yet. But we know this is out of character for Jesus. He isn’t that petty. Besides … he has already proven the he trusts God to provide all his needs and, if push comes to shove, he can create food out of nothing!
So what is going on here? Well, it goes right back to the King and his official inspection of the Holy City and its temple. It goes right back to Jesus’ search for evidence that God’s reign has come to his people.
What you have here is a sermon in object-lesson form. Sometimes you can grasp a truth better by seeing it than you can by hearing it.
Mark uses an interesting literary device in his Gospel. You can find it in 3:20-35; 5:21-43; 6:7-30; 14:1-11 and here in 11:15-21. Mark likes to insert one incident (in this case the cleansing of the temple) into another (the cursing of the fig tree). This device is called “intercalation” or “bracketing” and it is used to show the relationship between two incidents that might not otherwise be readily seen as related.
In other words, the cursing of the fig tree tells us something about the cleansing of the temple and the cleansing of the temple informs the cursing of the fig tree.
Interesting enough, the tree was doing exactly what it was supposed to do at this time of year! It was NOT supposed to be bearing figs yet. However, it served a bigger purpose … a living (and dying) parable of the Jewish faith as evidenced by their refusal to recognize Christ’s reign.
Israel, like the fig tree, was barren when Jesus came to her.
So, what can we learn from this story? What do we discover about God’s reign in our hearts and lives?
We discover that God ANTICIPATES “spiritual fruit.” God expects us to grow, mature, reproduce, and become like Jesus.
This is a parable of condemnation for
PROMISE WITHOUT FULFILLMENT
The people of Israel never fulfilled their potential. Their whole religion was designed around a people anticipating and ready to receive their Messiah. They failed at this basic purpose when He came.
God has expectations for your life too. When Christ’s reign comes to a heart it becomes filled with Divine potential. God inspects and expects that potential to turn into tangible fruit … evidence of His reign.
Earlier in the Gospel Jesus spoke about this. In Mark 4 Jesus tells this story:
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.
Then Jesus said to them … “The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Jesus gives another sobering story in Matthew 25:
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37"Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41"Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44"They also will answer, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45"He will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
The point is obvious. God expects more than mere potential or promise. God gives you everything you need to “BECOME.” God EQUIPS, EXPECTS, and PLANS for your spiritual development and fruitfulness.
When He inspects the temple he has every right to see a people who are spiritually fruitful … who are becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When that within the temple reveals values and behaviors not in keeping with repentance it is a sign that life has not come. That one is spiritually dead.
This is a parable of condemnation for PROMISE WITHOUT FULFILLMENT
This is a parable of condemnation for
PROFESSION WITHOUT PRACTICE
The Bible says a man will be known by his fruits. (Matthew 7:16, 21; Luke 3:8).
Jesus said: Matthew 7:16 “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus said: Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
The Bible says in Galatians 5: 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The Bible says: in James 1:22 (KJV)
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
The Bible says in Revelation 4:13 (KJV)
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
Whenever God comes into the human heart there is a real and noticeable difference to be found. You cannot be truly born again and remain filled with dead works.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV):
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
In Galatians 6:15 the Bible says:
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
Wrap-Up
† This is a parable of condemnation for PROMISE WITHOUT FULFILLMENT
† This is a parable of condemnation for PROFESSION WITHOUT PRACTICE
This is a parable of condemnation because
USELESSNESS INVITES DISASTER
The leaves of the tree were full. It looked promising but it was fruitless. So was Israel.
The Jews had a surface piety … tithes, prayers, fasts, etc. (c.f. 5-7). But inwardly there was no transformation … they were dead from the roots out just like the fig tree. They were not God’s people … in fact; they were rejected because there was no spiritual life.
Hey folks … this is not a mere history lesson … don’t take this lightly. God is appalled by fruitlessness! He did not tolerate it Israel and he will not tolerate in us either. You are fooling yourself if you think you are right with God and yet you are spiritually barren.
The Bible says in Romans 11:13-24:
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
The King comes and inspects the heart.
† Where he finds hypocrisy and falsehood the heart becomes ripe for the judgment of God. A people which honor God with their lips but whose heart is far from him (Mark 7:6) are like a tree with an abundance of leaves but no fruit.
† Where he finds spiritual life there is blessing beyond measure.
So how do I know if I have spiritual life? Your fruit is one indication. Jesus tells his contemporaries over and over to look at the dead works and take what they see seriously.
He offers us life in Him.
I mentioned in the beginning of the sermon that Jesus can create life (food or fruit) from nothing. That is at the core of the “Good News” … He can create life where it does not exist … even in a dry, barren and spiritually dead soul.
He offers to give you life today. His Holy Spirit will make you new.
† come to Him in repentance
† confess our sin
† accept His pardon
† and live for Him
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam (New York) Church of the Nazarene
www.potsdam-naz.org
Children’s Sermon
Spiritual Fruit
I have something in my treasure chest that you will recognize today.
This small limb is from a very specific tree in my back yard. Do you know what kind of tree it is? Try and guess.
This limb is from an apple tree.
Every year this APPLE tree gives Vickie and me a lot of ORANGES. Yummy! Big, juicy ORANGES!!!!
No!? You don’t think my APPLE tree gives me ORANGES every year?
Why?
That’s right! Apple trees only give apples!!!!
Okay … every year this apple tree gives Vickie and me a lot of APPLES!
What do you think we do with these apples? Let me show you.
Do you see this jar of apple butter? I L*O*V*E apple butter! Vickie makes enough apple butter every year so I can have it until the next year – she also makes enough to give away.
Do you see this jar of apple sauce? Vickie does L*O*V*E apple sauce! Vickie makes enough apple sauce every year so we can have it until the next year – she also makes enough to give away.
If this apple tree did not make apples it would not be a very good apple tree would it? Nope … I expect it to give apples and we even prune it and tend it so that it will continue to give apples.
Did you know that your relationship with Jesus is a lot like this apple tree’s relationship with Vickie and me? It is. God expects us to grow spiritually and as we do the Bible says we will show signs of “spiritual fruit.”
Listen to what the Bible says:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
The Bible teaches us that growing Christians give off fruit that helps us act and “look” like Jesus. Just as my apple tree does not give me oranges but only apples so spiritual growth means we will show evidence by being people who act like our Savior.
I am going to give you each an apple today. Don’t eat it during church but maybe after lunch your parents will let you eat it. When you do you can also take the opportunity to thank God for helping you grow and act like Jesus!
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam (New York) Church of the Nazarene
www.potsdam-naz.org
