Your Efforts Show Your Intentions

Your Efforts Show Your Intentions

Luke 6:43-49

Introduction: This morning we are going to take a look at a continuation of last week’s parable. We begin with two examples describing what we talked about last week.

Attention: Jesus used parables in many instances. Today he will show stark examples from common events and circumstances to show how obedience is essential; anything else does not make sense and shows a lack of total surrender to God.

Let’s read: Luke 6:43-49

Need: Every believer needs to be able to recognize that good and bad can come from the same person in our manner of thinking but in the sense being described it is not possible. This is not good and slightly missing the mark it is good and decidedly and systematically bad cannot come from the same source.

Textual / Sermon Idea: In our passage, Luke points out that Jesus is telling us its common sense that good and bad cannot have the same origin. The mouth will be the point of detection. Listen to what people say and you can see their heart. Additionally it is one’s own foundation with the Lord which will point out that one is founded on him or not.

Interrogative: So let me ask this morning’s question: Why does Jesus take the time to point this out to us? Is he talking about a good person making one mistake or is he looking to a systematic wrong?

Transition: Our text this morning suggests five things that will enhance your ability to see through the fog screen that people put out and recognize good from evil. So let’s begin with:

1. Can good come from bad or bad come from good?

Explanation: This is clearly a rhetorical sentence, demanding a “no” answer. Jesus is using an illustration but the wording is really talking about bad fruit. The word for bad – refers to spoiled, rotten or poor quality fruit. The word does not in any manner mean evil.

Illustration: In the actual words being used in the Greek, the verse does not refer to what you might necessarily feel is good or bad based on your person value judgment. Rather, it refers to that which is fit for use or not fit for use in God’s kingdom.

Argumentation: Remember Abraham committed adultery with his daughter-in-law and Moses murdered a man but both are still used and blessed by God. King David committed adultery and had Uriah the Hittite killed in battle. Yet all of these men were still considered prophets after their sin. The issue comes down to whether or not there was a repentant heart after the commission of the sin.

Application: Each of us from time to time think, do and say things that make us terrible hypocrites, the real issue of worth to God is that of repentance and willingness to forge ahead with his kingdom not our own. Of course in this day in time when people really do not try to apply the Biblical principals of forgiveness all of those great prophets and leaders would be in jail or publicly ridiculed.

Transition: So not only can good and bad not come from the same source, but:

2. Can fruit come from anything other than a tree of its own kind?

Explanation: Again the words are referring to a real fruit not illustrative language. Most often real life illustrations lead to real life understanding and application of God’s word.

Illustration: It is silly to think that grapes can come from a banana tree; an orange from a bean plant or have a dog give birth to a human.

Argumentation: The laws of nature will keep things in order unless something messes it up, radiation or other issues.

Application: However, in scripture the word fruit means fruit the same as it does to us but the euphemistic meaning is “that which give increase.” Fruit is that which results from some type of effort or activity. Godly lives and activity will produce Godly fruit; as ungodly lives will produce ungodly results as well.

Transition: So good and bad do not come from the same source, and things and activity come from the same type of thing or activity; next:

3. Can a man offer anything other than that which is in his heart?

Explanation: People do not have the ability to do just anything. Preparation is required, I cannot teach a physics class, speak Chinese, or build a space ship. I can teach a person about topics which I have studied and among them is the love of God.

Illustration: The verse speaks to the very issue of foundation. That which comes out of your mouth is the direct result of that which is in your heart. If you fill your heart with good treasure then you will produce good fruit and likewise with all sorts of evil treasure you will produce all sorts of evil fruit.