Opening Video Illustration: Time to Go from Bluefish Tv (3 min)
Theme: Time Management
“God created me—and you—to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion—namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.”
― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life
Last week I asked the Question: How many here want to change the world for the “Good?” Most of you raised your hand and said you did. Did you have a chance to do that this week? Did you reach out to someone and help them? Do a random act of kindness for someone not expecting it?
Thesis: The world we live in knows the importance of Time Management but where they miss the mark is on what they prioritize - which usually is some of following: personal gain, financial success, fame and power. The Bible also speaks about Time Management but God through His Word prioritizes things differently than our world. His big four in regards to Time Management are faith in Him, fellowship with Him, relationship with others and sharing your story with others.
God wants us to use our precious time wisely and not foolishly. You may be thinking how do we do this? We do this by using our time wisely by investing it in eternal things rather than temporal things – those temporary things will rot a way, fade away and in the end have no eternal value. The goal of time management according to Jesus and His parables is to use your time wisely and not waste it on the wrong thing. We need to be focused on the Kingdom of Heaven/The Kingdom of God in our Christian lives. We need to build things that have eternal value and reward - not waste our precious time on things that have no real value.
So what is effective time management according to Jesus?
Paul answers that question for us in Colossians 3: 23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
T.S. - Our current series is based on Jesus Parables and learning how to effectively use our time for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sermon: The Fig Tree
Opening Scripture Text on the Fig Tree:
The Parable of the Fig Tree, the Vineyard owner and Gardner: Luke 13:6-9:
3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Introduction:
The Symbolism of the Fig tree in the OT helps us to get a framework for our parables on the fig tree:
The Bible Story of God is linked with trees (Genesis 2) – in the Garden of Eden we have a reference that Adam and Eve could eat of any tree except one. We also know there were two special trees in the Garden one called the Tree of Life and the other the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (They could not touch or eat of this one) and we all know they could not resist the later one after being tempted by the Devil so they ate the forbidden fruit and ended up banished from the Garden of Eden. This is how Genesis starts out – in involves a tree – We hear the story of how we got separated from God but by the time you get to the end of the Bible (Revelation 22) we have the reference to the Tree of Life again it is in Heaven by the River of Life. We are told at this point in history all Christians will be allowed literally back into the Paradise Of God that was once lost and we will get to eat of this Tree of life!
Trees seem to be an active part of the Story of the Lord both figuratively, symbollically and practically throughout the Bible.
By the time we get to the book of Jeremiah we have the nation of Israel being referred to as 2 trees: For more information see http://www.hope-of-israel.org/symbolfigtree.html - The Symbolism of the Fig Tree by Patricia Bagwell she notes the following about the symbolism of the two trees to Israel:
As Biblical history unfolds we find that the patriarch Jacob-Israel had twelve sons from whom descended the twelve-tribed nation of Israel. Following their exodus from Egypt they settled in the land of Canaan, their Promised Land, where they prospered into a great kingdom. However, after the reign of King Solomon, the nation was split into two kingdoms -- the northern ten-tribed House of Israel, and the southern two-tribed House of Judah. The House of Israel was symbolized by the olive tree, for speaking of Israel, the prophet Jeremiah recorded, "The Lord called thy name, a green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit" (Jeremiah 11:16). In a similar fashion, the House of Judah -- some of whose people later became known as Jews -- was symbolized by the fig tree. Both kingdoms repeatedly transgressed the laws that YEHOVAH God had given them for their welfare, and worshipped other pagan gods of the surrounding nations. YEHOVAH condemned these practices through His prophets, and Jeremiah was given an especially vivid picture of the iniquity of Judah. In Jeremiah 24, the prophet was shown two baskets of figs. "One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty [or wicked, evil] figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad" (verse 2). In this parable, the bad figs were those people of Judah who rebelled against YEHOVAH God and refused to go into captivity in Babylon, which the LORD had ordained for that time; while the good figs complied with the direction of the LORD and were saved. But there is another secret held in this parable of the figs in Jeremiah 24. To repeat, one basket had very good figs, and the other had very evil figs that could not be eaten, they were so evil.
Important point: By the time we get to Jesus ministry everyone in that day would have known the association of the fig tree to the nation of Israel.
In Jesus ministry we have these parables and references to the fig tree. We also have the association with figs (fruits of a fig tree) and other associations with significant spiritual meaning.
One side note on trees in the Bible: It’s also important to note that the tree played a role in Jesus death as Paul and Peter refer to the Messiah (Jesus) being hanged on a tree (Acts 5:30, 10:39, I Peter 2:24, Galatians 3:13 and these all reference back to Deut. 21:23). We are reminded by these great men of faith that Jesus (The Messiah) was made sin for us on the cross (The tree) so that we could attain salvation and a restoration of our relationship with God the Father if we believed.
The fig tree was used by Jesus a few times in His Short Stories-Giant Idea parables and even in a situation where he cursed one and later it died for not producing fruit. Jesus used this symbolism to communicate the urgency of producing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven and for being ready for His return in the last days. The fig tree became one of His symbolism to communicate these spiritual truths!
T.S. – Let’s look a little deeper into the parables of the fig trees and the see what we can learn and how we should be acting as part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
I. The Parable of the Fig Tree, the Vineyard and the Gardner (Luke 13:6-9):
a. "What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree?" Answer: Jesus told the Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 13:6-9—immediately after reminding His listeners of a tower over the pool of Siloam (John 9:7) which unexpectedly fell and killed eighteen people. The moral of that story is found in Luke 13:3: “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.” To reiterate this moral, Jesus tells the story of the fig tree, the vineyard owner, and the gardener who took care of the vineyard. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-fig-tree.html#ixzz3Itcnosgb
i. Fig trees are to have fruit on them – that is there job that is what they were designed to do and be!
1. In comparison so is the Christian to produce fruit – it is expected of them to do so because of the Spirit within them.
ii. A Vineyard owner went to his vineyard filled with a specific fruit tree in mind one which for 3 years in a row did not bear or produce any fruit! So he told the Gardner to cut it down because it was worthless but the Gardner asked for another year in nurturing the tree with fertilizer so it would produce fruit if not then he would cut it down.
1. The fig tree represented here is the nation of Israel – God’s people! The owner of the Vineyard is God the Father – who always expects his trees to produce good fruit – but time and time again none is found so the Father wants the tree removed because it is worthless and using up valuable nutrients in the soil but the Gardner asks for another year before the tree is cut down so he can fertilize it and try to get it to produce fruit.
2. The symbolic significance of the 3 years in this parable is the three years of Jesus ministry which ends with the nation of Israel condemning him to death instead of producing fruit and repenting of their sin.
3. But the Gardner is associated with Jesus asking for another year for the nation – for grace – He was commissioning, discipling and training his disciples to go forth and do works so as to bring the Good News to Israel. But the sad truth is most still rejected their own Messiah. So in 70 AD the Lord sent the Romans into Jerusalem to destroy the Temple – the place of worship of God for Israel. God wanted this building cut down because it did not worship him or honor Him. Why? Because all they were doing was going through religious motions and producing no spiritual fruit. They were doing works but there was no spiritual fruit only fleshly sinful bad stuff. Therefore their false religious system was destroyed by the Lord for producing no spiritual fruit and to stop it from doing more harm to the people.
4. Thoughts from Ty Tamasaka sermoncentral.com on our Gardeners work:
a. Jesus tells a parable of the fig tree and its inability to produce fruit. Apparently, the owner of the vineyard came back again and again to see if fruit was growing on the tree. Unfortunately, there was none. Obviously, this story is symbolic of God coming to look for fruit to receive from His people. Jesus probably says this story in reference to God’s own people Israel whom He had given special attention to, but was not producing the fruit that He sought.
What kind of fruit does God look for from me? I assume He looks for the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). It is both encouraging and troublesome to note that although the gardener in the story sought fruit from the tree, he did also give it, "special attention and plenty of fertilizer." I like receiving special attention from Jesus. That sounds, well, special. To hear that the master Himself will give me special attention in helping me produce the fruit of the Spirit that He wants from me is very comforting and encouraging.
The troublesome part is what else He gives the tree in order to produce fruit. He gave it, "plenty of fertilizer." I often feel that I have plenty of fertilizer in my life, and I don’t find that all too encouraging. After all, what did they use as fertilizer in Jesus’ day? The same thing they use today. Manure. Poop.
I guess it just goes to show that God literally uses poop to bring out the fruit. Maybe I need to redefine those times when I feel like I am surrounded by poop. Perhaps I need to recognize that it is specifically in those times that I am actually receiving special attention from God Himself. Could it be that God is actually using that poop to refine me and draw out fruit from my life? I have a tendency to reject the poop in my life. I don’t like the smell of it. I don’t like the situation. I don’t like being surrounded by poop! It doesn’t matter if it is yours, mine, or anyone else’s! But what if the poop around me is actually God’s means of giving me special attention and producing lasting fruit from me? Maybe God recognizes that in order to develop lasting fruit, one needs to be exposed to plenty of fertilizer.
Verse 9 gives a sobering warning. "If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down." That is downright scary. Yes, God does give special attention. Yes, He does seek my growth and the fruit that I am to bear. Yes, He is merciful. He does offer grace. Still, there will come a time, when the talking ceases and the judgment comes. Have I experienced lots of poop in my life? Then I ought to be producing great fruit. Too many times I have heard God’s grace emphasized without placing an emphasis on His coming judgment. While it is by Jesus’ grace alone that I am saved, God does not expect that saving faith to come alone.
b. The key concept of this parable of the fig tree is to make sure we have spiritual life and fruit:
i. Paul challenges us in Galatians 5:19-25 to be bearing the fruits of the Spirit in our lives and not to be producing the bad stuff of the sinful nature:
1. 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.
ii. Illustration on the benefits of fruit (have fruit basket on table) adapted from sermoncentral.com staff:
1. I personally, really enjoy eating fruit. And the older I get, the more I learn about the advantages of including a healthy portion of fruit in my diet. For example, did you know that one cup of strawberries gives you 140% of your daily recommended vitamin C - yes strawberries. That beats broccoli and spinach. (Eat a strawberry). And tastes a whole lot better. Not to mention strawberries are a huge source of fiber. Yes, I have reached the age where I have to actually worry about such things as fiber. How about an apple? An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? (Take a bite of an apple) A medium apple is about 70 calories, and contains no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol. All the while giving you 20% of your daily recommended fiber intake. (Take another bite) Sure beats Metamucil. Right?
2. Or how about one of my favorites. The banana. (Begin eating a banana, and eat throughout section on bananas) You know, research has shown that two bananas provide enough energy for a 90 minute strenuous workout session. Just two bananas. When you compare the banana to the apple. The banana has four times the protein, and five times the vitamin A and iron. But did you know that a banana does not grow on a tree. In fact, it is an herb. Rather than growing on trees, it is actually a fruit-bearing flower stalk that is tightly wrapped in leaves. In fact, you can eat the bloom, the flower, but then you would obviously not get any bananas. The banana is actually a cousin to the spice, ginger. Listen to some of these things the banana helps with:
a. Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. Just think about it. Have you ever seen a depressed monkey? Of course not.
i. Oh by the way one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy – interesting! Yes the fruit of Spirit is joy which is the opposite of depression!
b. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. Speaking of strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40% question: Anybody want one now?
i. Did you know the fruit of the Spirit is good for your heart because it saturates it with Love! This too helps prevent spiritual heart attacks and stroke!
c. Constipation: Including bananas in the diet can help. . . oh never mind.
d. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over- chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
i. I am told from Galatians that the fruit of Spirit is also Peace which gets rid of spiritual heartburn and spiritual irritation of upset stomachs.
e. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
i. There is that fruit of the Spirit again Peace!
f. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
i. I read that another fruit of the Spirit is Patience so the fruit of the Spirit calms down the nerves so you can relax and remain calm!
g. Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
i. I kind of apply this effect of the Banana to an the spiritual fruit of kindness which gives us the ability to be free from the impact and effects of spiritual bondage. I also think the spiritual fruit of self-control enters into play here in the spiritual realm were God’s spirit helps us say no to the bondages and addictions of this world.
h. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
i. I read that another one of the Fruits of the Spirit is goodness – faithfulness and gentleness – the Spirit helps us with these fruits to take away the pain of life-the irritations of this fallen world – and trust me mosquitoes are one of them!
i. And if that doesn’t do it for you, how about this. Want a quick shine on our shoes? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe. Then polish with a dry cloth.
i. I think this applies to the fruit of the Spirit faithfulness which tells me if I place my faith in Jesus – I will be the light of the world and shine for Jesus!
j. Bananas, what an amazing fruit. . .or herb. Now, I can bet that you know more about bananas than you did before, ( I hope you understand the importance of producing spiritual fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven too it benefits others and you too personally) or at the very least more than you thought you would learn during a service. Right? So let me ask you, are you ready to go raise some bananas? Are you ready to produce some good spiritual fruit of the Spirit in your life?
i. Because, and stay with me, this is where it all gets tied back together, this is how I think we have traditionally studied the fruit of the Spirit. Sermon series. Bible studies. Sunday School lessons on the fruit of the Spirit do what? We examine the fruit. So one week we will look at love. The next week joy. The following week peace. The fruit of the spirit. Good because these are spiritually healthy great qualities to have in your life. So we study the qualities. We pick up the fruit, and we examine it. We look at its appearance. We explore the meat of it. We taste it – wow is it good and healthy. We note its color beautiful. We really begin to understand what the fruit is and what the fruit of the Spirit is too. Just like we can really not know the benefits of a banana, or an apple, or a strawberry is. But studying the fruit, does not tell you how to produce (it because it comes from a connection to the vine - Jesus and His Holy Spirit.)
ii. From: The following illustration was adapted and modified from sermoncentral.com.
c. I love how Paul sets the tone for talking about the stuff of the flesh – which is sin and of the fruits of the Spirit – Listen to what he says from verse 1::
i. He says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
1. Do you see these works of the sinful nature and how they bring bondage and death --but the fruit of the Spirit bring health and spiritual wholeness to your life?
ii. As Christians who are a part of The Kingdom of Heaven and we need to be free – this happens by the Spirit – we are not in slavery to sin which is described by Paul in verses 19-21 but free in the Spirit!
iii. Paul tells us that there is a raging battle going on inside of each of us because the sinful nature and the way of the Spirit are at war against each other.
1. There is a major conflict going on and it occurs every day and in all of our lives.
2. But what needs to happen in the Body of Christ is for many of us to get some wins in this department. We lose far too often and the result is we become dispensers of pain, misery, hurt and Jesus cries.
a. Hands illustration. Which is your dominant hand? The Spirit? Or the Sinful nature?
i. Who is winning the war in your heart and mind?
1. The Spirit?
2. The sinful nature? The flesh?
3. Remember they do not like each other and they will not live at peace within your heart because these two do not go together one will dominate the other which one is it!
a. They are like Sonny and Cher
b. They are like Jihad and forgiveness
c. They are like fire and water
d. They are like pretty and ugly
e. They are like sharks and dolphins
f. They are like liver and onions
g. They are like Jumbo and shrimp
h. They are like cheap gas
i. They are like Democrat and Republican
j. They are like Ford and Chevy
k. They are like MTV and TBN
l. They are like cops and robbers
m. They are like light and darkness
n. They are like an airplane with no wings
o. They are like David and Saul
p. They are like Dolly Pardon and Mick Jager
q. They are like Mother Theresa and Saddam Hussein
r. They are like good and evil
4. Christians are fruit producers! That is what draws people to them and to the Lord! When we produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives we will shine!
a. Love:
i. Definitions from Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries:
1. Unselfish, benevolent concern for another; brotherly concern; the object of brotherly concern or affection.
2. The self-denying, self-sacrificing, Christ-like love which is the foundation of all other graces
3. Unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the well being of another.
4. The high esteem which God has for His human children and the high regard which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people.
5. To love, to have affection for someone; to like; to be a friend; the love of brothers for each other.
ii. Notice it’s number one on the list! It shows the great importance of this fruit because if loves is not their then you will not ever have the other fruits of the spirit. It’s the core fruit we must have!
b. Joy
i. DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?
Billy Graham said in his message “Saved or Lost” in Texas in 1965. “..one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. You might not be able to work up joy yourself, but God the Holy Spirit living inside of you can produce this joy supernaturally, and a Christian is to have joy.
He went on to say, “But a Christian is to have joy. That’s one of the great characteristics of the Christian is the joy that we have, and if you don’t have this joy and if you don’t have this peace that Christ gives, you had better search your heart and find out if you really know Christ. SOURCE: Billy Graham, “Saved or Lost” in Texas in 1965.
c. Peace
i. Text Illustration: Peace
This question was once asked, "If you could choose what you want most in life, what would you ask for?" The most common answer was "Peace." People want peace in their marriages, families, workplaces, country and world. Our country has some of the best medical and psychological treatment centers, highest educational institutions and worldwide communication abilities. Yet with all of these things, most people are yet without true inner peach. The results are devastating... broken marriages, split families, hatred, rebellion, financial anxiety, a country unsettled. The world will offer you peace through many forms of escapism... drugs, alcohol, immoral relationships, and constant entertainment. It is sought through all forms of pleasure, self-satisfaction and positive thinking. Many believe that peace is defined as the absence of trouble. They refuse to face the problems in their lives believing that this is finding peace. The world, however, has never held the answer to true peace. You can choose to have true peace. True peace comes not from man but from God. This peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Galatians 5:22. This peace means to be in harmony with God, to be bound, joined and woven together with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It also means to be assured of, confident of and secure in the love and care of God. There is a consciousness and a sure trust God will provide, guide, strengthen, sustain, encourage, deliver and save completely those who seek Him with all their hearts. This supernatural peace must come first and foremost from receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Second, it comes from a knowledge of and a love for God's Word. The Apostle Paul knew this peace. He suffered greatly because of his love for the Lord, love for God's truth and because of his commitment to the commission given to him by Jesus Christ. Yet in all this, his heart was kept in perfect peace. He had been imprisoned, stoned, left for dead and scourged by the Romans, and yet he said in Romans 8: 28, "And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Note the conditions of knowing God's peace: 1.) You must love God, and 2.) You must be called according to His purpose, which means fitting into His plan and into His perfect will for you so you can be "... conformed to the likeness of His Son." (Romans 8: 29) Most reject God's peace because they surrender to their own selfishness and their lust for the pleasures of this world. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you." A legacy of inner peace is offered to all who know Jesus Christ, regardless of their circumstances. In these days of uncertainty and distress, will you receive Jesus Christ into your life? He is the Giver of eternal life and the Prince of Peace!
1. Source Sermoncentral.com Terry Laughlin contributor.
d. Patience
e. Kindness
f. Goodness
g. Faithfulness
h. Gentleness
i. Self-Control
i. Your fruit from your life matters because it determined if your life is leaving a legacy for eternity or not!
d. This parable was given about in the middle of Jesus ministry time and communicates a significant spiritual truth.
T.S. – But as Jesus ministers for another One and half years later we come to another situation with Jesus and a fig tree.
II. The cursing of the fig tree by Jesus Mark 11:12-14; 20-25:
a. 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!” 22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
b. In our time frame of Jesus ministry we find ourselves about a year and ½ later coming to Jerusalem for the Passover.
i. We have the great entrance of Jesus coming in on a donkey on Palm Sunday with fan fare and applause.
ii. The city is buzzing with their Messiah Jesus the miracle worker arriving – many are expecting Him to throughout the Romans and King Herod.
iii. He immediately goes to the Temple – the place the people worship God to once again discover the spiritual atrocities of this nation and to God.
1. This is his second time to the temple he cleaned it out once before but they had once again went back to using the worship of God for personal gain and justification of sin.
2. His house – God’s house is a place for thieves-robbers and crooks – not godly people but godless people with a manmade religion in opposition to God’s truth.
a. The result of Jesus actions in the Temple the religious leader look for a way to murder their own Messiah!
3. Jesus leaves the temple and sees a fig tree with leaves on it so he goes to it to get a fig – to get fruit from the tree but once again it has no fruit – no life producing nourishing fruit.
a. The tree is worthless to anyone – because it does not bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
b. This time Jesus curses the tree and it dies!
c. Remember the Fig tree represent the Jewish nation – God’s people and the time for grace has come to and end and it’s time for the worthless –fruitless tree to be cut down. They have not repented instead they now want to kill their Messiah.
i. Jesus has no choice but to set in motion the destruction of this godless religious system of the Jews and destroy it because it produces no fruit only death and destruction!
c. The tree dies and the Disciples are amazed at the power and authority of Jesus to cause something to die.
i. Jesus tells them that they too have the power of life and death with the faith they place in Him.
ii. They in tune and in alignment with Jesus =can bring life or death to living things with their words.
iii. Their words of faith have the power to change the word and they need to believe this!
d. Swindoll and Logos notes: As to the significance of this passage and what it means, the answer to that is again found in the chronological setting and in understanding how a fig tree is often used symbolically to represent Israel in the Scriptures. First of all, chronologically, Jesus had just arrived at Jerusalem amid great fanfare and great expectations, but then proceeds to cleanse the Temple and curse the barren fig tree. Both had significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel. With His cleansing of the Temple and His criticism of the worship that was going on there (Matthew 21:13;Mark 11:17), Jesus was effectively denouncing Israel’s worship of God. With the cursing of the fig tree, He was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and, in a sense, even denouncing unfruitful “Christians” (that is, people who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a relationship with Christ)…The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree would symbolize judgment and rejection. Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, were spiritually barren because of their sins. By cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree, causing it to whither and die, Jesus was pronouncing His coming judgment of Israel and demonstrating His power to carry it out. It also teaches the principle that religious profession and observance are not enough to guarantee salvation, unless there is the fruit of genuine salvation evidenced in the life of the person. James would later echo this truth when he wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of religiosity. God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).
1. Recommended Resources: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll and Logos Bible Software. Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/curse-fig-tree.html#ixzz3IthT0Ks5
T.S. – We have the first parable of the fig tree telling us to produce fruit – it’s what living things do and now Jesus curses the fig tree and it dies and then we move into the other parable Jesus shares about a fig tree.
III. The Parable of the Fig Tree - Matthew 24:32-35:
a. 32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
i. Parallel Passage: Mark 13:28-29: 28“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
ii. Parallel Passage: Luke 21:29-31: 29He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
b. The fig tree in this parable is a reminder to Jesus followers that when it sprouts leaves then the end is near – so we need to make sure we are ready because Jesus will come back totally unexpectedly in His glory to judge the world and those found in Him will be saved but those found outside of Him will perish.
i. The key of this parable is the concept of being ready – right now and keep an eye on Israel!
ii. Once again the fig tree is representative of Israel – Israel was destroyed by The Babylonians and ceased to be a nation until May 14, 1948 a total of 2,521 years.
1. Israel’s inception was a complete miracle if you read their history!
iii. So when they birthed into a nation again Bible prophecy was fulfilled and it signifies that we are toward the end times as spoken of in the Bible. SO we need to be ready and alert because His coming is imminent!
c. The key point in this parable is the “Watch” - “Be Alert” – “Be in a right relationship with Jesus!”
i. Be cautious is the warning in the parallel passage of Luke 21 – why do we need to be cautious?
1. The reason is because of great deception and false teachers -- Paul told young Timothy that in the last days the people of the world will be doing all kinds of godless things – and they will seek to pull you into their web of deception and imminent destruction and say that good is evil and evil is good:
a. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
b. 2 Corinthians 11:3-15: 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough… 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
c. God has placed us the church here to be a light in the midst of darkness and we need to make sure that we shine in those God ordained moments!
d. We need to ready to share His story at a moment’s notice to a lost and deceived world: Story of being ready at a moment’s notice and helping others be ready to go too:
i. Story from Sermoncentral.com: A LIGHT NAMED AL
On the morning of September 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the television to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th floor of Tower One. Al had survived the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and had even helped a woman with asthma escape from the building. Jeannie knew that Al would do the same thing this time, “I knew he would stop to help and minister to people,” she said, “but I never thought for a minute that he wouldn’t be coming home!” A week later, like so many others who were in that building, Al’s body was found in the rubble. Al’s wife, Jeannie, and his son Christopher were devastated! Then the reports began to trickle in from friends and acquaintances. Some people on the 105th floor had made a last call or sent a final e-mail to loved ones saying that a man was leading people in prayer. A few referred to Al by name. Al’s family learned that Al had indeed been ministering to people during the attack! When Al realized that they were all trapped in the building and would not be able to escape, Al shared the gospel with a group of 50 co-workers and led them in prayer. This news came as no surprise to Al’s wife, Jeannie. For years, she and Al had been praying for the salvation of these men and women. According to Jeannie, Al hated his job and couldn’t stand the environment. It was a world so out of touch with his Christian values, but he wouldn’t quit. Al was convinced that God wanted him to stay there, to be a light in the darkness, and although Al would not have put it this way, to be a hero!
Al was not ashamed of Christ and Christ’s words…and he paid the price of taking up his cross daily. Al shared his faith with his co-workers….many of whom sarcastically nicknamed him “The Rev.” And on that fateful day…on September 11, in the midst of the chaos, Al’s co-workers looked to him—-and Al delivered! At the same time, Al too tried to get a phone call through to his family. He asked an MCI operator to contact his family. “Tell them that I love them,” he said.
It took the operator more than a month to reach the Bracas, but the message brought them much-needed comfort. “The last thing my dad did involved the two things most important to him—God and his family,” his son Christopher told a writer for Focus on The Family.
“He loved to lead people to Christ. That takes away a lot of the hurt and the pain.”
SOURCE: compiled by Kenneth Sauer from "A Light in the Darkness" by Christin Ditchfield. Focus on the Family Magazine, September 2002.
Conclusion:
What do we need to learn from the parables of the fig tree?
We as a part of God’s Kingdom are responsible for producing spiritual fruit through our lives. Christians – genuine Christian’s will produce the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Why because the Spiritnof God naturally produces fruit.
Why do we need to know this spiritual truth from Jesus and the fig tree parables?
Jesus makes it clear from his cursing of the fig tree that anyone who is said to be a part of God’s Kingdom but does not produce spiritual fruit will in the end be cursed and cut down. This idea of producing spiritual fruit is not optional it is what Christian or members of the Kingdom of Heaven do. No fruit – No Spirit – No Life – No salvation – why because they all go together!
What do we need to do upon hearing the truth of these parables of the fig tree?
We all need to go out and produce fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven as we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us!
Why do we need to do this – that is - produce spiritual fruit?
Because this is why we were saved and why Jesus died on the cross for us! We are to go out into this world and let the fruit of the Holy Spirit be given out to others so they too come to Jesus. If the church of Jesus and everyone here determined to produce spiritual fruit I believe this church and the Kingdom of Heaven would retake what the Devil has been stealing from the Christians. Our nation could be reformed and restored back to what she once was. Our church would be busting at the seams as we see lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The world would also be nourished with the fruit of the Spirit that gives life and it would change for the good!
Idea: Hand out fig bars as people leave to remind them to produce spiritual fruit this week which will nourish spiritual life in others and also make them spiritually healthy.
