1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,200 The Apostle Peter provided a summary of the miraculous 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:16,200 ministry of Jesus in one simple verse, and that verse really is 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,320 helpful as a synopsis of the substance of Christ, 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,800 unparalleled power touching the lives of needy, sin bound 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,200 people. It's found in Acts 1038, when 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,800 Peter stood before Cornelius and his household to proclaim the 7 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:39,000 gospel, and in that proclamation he included this description, 8 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:44,840 this report of the person of Jesus Christ, how God anointed 9 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:51,360 Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 10 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,120 He went about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by 11 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:00,640 the devil, for God was with him. Now this would have been fresh 12 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:06,240 to the ears of these Gentiles, who were eager to know how it 13 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,960 was that they could be saved. But these words are a reminder 14 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:17,760 to us who know Christ, that the ministry of Jesus Christ, 15 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,880 particularly in his miraculous power and deliverance, whatever 16 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,920 he did with that Spirit anointed authority, was always, always, 17 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:34,680 always for the good to heal, to set free, to rescue, to make 18 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:39,760 whole, to revive. This is what Peter is indicating 19 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,960 and declaring. And the reason why I bring this 20 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:47,800 up to you is because we are about to read of a miracle that 21 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,680 does not fit Peter's description. 22 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,240 This particular act of God is easily one of the most 23 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:01,240 perplexing manifestations of divine power in all of Christ's 24 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,480 ministry, and there are a variety of reasons for its 25 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,000 perplexity, including this important feature. 26 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:14,680 This is the only miracle that Christ performs with the intent 27 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:22,400 to destroy. This unique act of God in the 28 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,040 Son of God, as we're about to discover, is not going to be to 29 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,840 restore, but to ruin. It's not going to be to bring 30 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,480 life, but death. It's not going to be a miracle 31 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,440 of mercy, but instead of miracle of judgement. 32 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:47,080 And if the outcome of the miracle is not bewildering 33 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,720 enough, the reasons for it are equally a challenge for many 34 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,120 students of the Bible. Why did Jesus do this? 35 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:02,400 How could Jesus do this? And so our time together will be 36 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:10,120 spent answering this question. Why did Jesus Christ curse a fig 37 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,760 tree? And that may not seem 38 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:19,960 immediately relevant to you, but shouldn't you be intrigued to 39 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:25,120 know the lesson behind this miracle that is in a category of 40 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:30,520 its own? What does God want to say If the 41 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,960 only time with his power he brought judgement in his first 42 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,200 admin advent? What is he trying to convey? 43 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,080 Why only that time? What does that say about his 44 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,280 character, his heart? And that's what we're going to 45 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,440 discover by the grace of God. And the way that's going to 46 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,360 unfold before us is very simple. We're going to look at three 47 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,360 things. The first thing is the timing of 48 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,040 this miracle. The second thing will be the 49 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:02,000 predicament of this miracle. And lastly, the message of this 50 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,960 miracle. So meet me in Mark, Chapter 11. 51 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,480 Beginning in verse 12, we only have two verses for our time 52 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:20,240 together, but very important ones nonetheless, Mark 11, verse 53 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,160 12 reads. On the following day, when they 54 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,720 came from Bethany, he was hungry, and seeing in the 55 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,400 distance a fig, tree and leaf, he went to see if he could find 56 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,080 anything on it. When he came to it, he found 57 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,560 nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 58 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:46,640 And he said to it, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. 59 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:53,840 And his disciples heard it. Verse 12, the timing of this 60 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:55,920 miracle. This is only mentioned in one 61 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,480 other place in the four gospels, and it's in Matthew's account 62 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,840 and in Matthew 21, verse 18 we learned that this was in the 63 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,120 morning, and this was in the morning while Jesus was making 64 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,320 his way toward the city of Jerusalem. 65 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,680 Now according to Mark 11, we read verse 12, but look at verse 66 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,600 1111, eleven. We learned that after Jesus 67 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:18,240 entered with jubilance into the holy city around him, the 68 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,320 excitement and the thrill, he had come into the temple. 69 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,960 And then we read here in the second part, when he had looked 70 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,640 around at everything as it was already late, he went out to 71 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,680 Bethany with the 12. Now, it's very likely that Jesus 72 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,880 went to Bethany because that was the village of a special family 73 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,120 to him, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. 74 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,360 Not explicitly stated, but it could very well be that they 75 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,920 hosted Jesus and the disciples that evening. 76 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,640 But here's the opening verse for us. 77 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:53,720 The Lord Jesus Christ early in the day, with holy ambition, 78 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:59,320 making his way to fulfill the Father's will for that day. 79 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,520 A simple and yet profound picture of Christ on the move 80 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,280 yet again, but not just on the move. 81 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:09,080 He is perfectly In Sync and in step with the Father's schedule 82 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,400 for his life. And there's another simple yet 83 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,080 profound detail that Mark includes here in verse 12. 84 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,440 Not only was it Jesus making his way towards the city of 85 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:23,000 Jerusalem to fulfill a very important thing, 3 words. 86 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,800 Words that you're familiar with, maybe. 87 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,720 Words that you're actually experiencing while I'm 88 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,000 preaching. He was hungry. 89 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,280 That may not seem mysterious to you, that may not seem profound 90 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:39,160 to you, but it is when you contemplate who it's connected 91 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,760 to. He was hungry. 92 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,720 Who was hungry? The creator of everything. 93 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:55,120 The Sustainer and the supervisor of every molecule in the 94 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,520 universe. The one who in the beginning 95 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,000 created a world that would sprout vegetation and raise up 96 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,920 plants, yielding seeds and providing different bushes and 97 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,520 landscapes that would give out food for us. 98 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:16,840 Such is the one we are told was hungry, such as the one in this 99 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:24,520 historical portrait who is walking and enduring A grumbling 100 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:31,840 belly, a growling stomach. The more you think about it, the 101 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,600 more profound it really is, the more you actually meditate. 102 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:43,320 You realize this is incredible. He's sustaining himself, Christ 103 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:49,520 and entering into this world tasted much suffering in order 104 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,000 to secure our salvation, and that suffering includes the 105 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,800 pains of hunger and understanding Jesus. 106 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,000 Being hungry here is not just helpful for us to set up what's 107 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,480 about to take place. It is helpful for us to prepare 108 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:10,800 and to know how to experience him today saying what do you, 109 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:16,520 what do you mean he tasted what it's like to be hungry, he 110 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:22,720 shared in so many levels of pain and affliction. 111 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,280 And the reason why that should not just inform you but 112 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,960 encourage you is because the one that you serve, the one that you 113 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:35,240 call upon, the one that you depend on every single day, 114 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,280 listens not just with his ears, but with his heart. 115 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:47,160 He gets it. He understands, he shared in our 116 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,680 experiences. He knows what it's like to go 117 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:55,000 about life day by day, week after week, month after month, 118 00:08:55,320 --> 00:09:00,160 year after year, and to experience the challenges or the 119 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,000 demands that each moment asks for. 120 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:10,560 And so when I come to this Christ and I describe to him my 121 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:16,040 weak condition or my deficiencies, I'm not coming to 122 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:22,480 one who lacks sympathy, but who can with a heart filled with 123 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,800 compassion. Listen. 124 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,600 He gets it. He understands. 125 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,320 Here's what I'm trying to tell you. 126 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,400 Under this category, this heading of this message, you 127 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,720 don't serve an insensitive savior. 128 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,080 It's not like we're coming to this cosmic being who's so full 129 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,400 of power. We acknowledge that, and we try 130 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,920 to convince him with our begging if he's willing to just hand out 131 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,760 something to give us a little bit more fuel for life. 132 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,520 His heart is swollen with compassion. 133 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:01,840 He knows he can empathize and relate to what it is that we are 134 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,360 enduring, truly human, yet without sin. 135 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,320 This is the one that shepherds me. 136 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:14,000 This is the one who guides you. This is the one who invites you 137 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,520 to lock your door, Go into that room by yourself, sit at his 138 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,720 feet and commune with. And he is sitting at the other 139 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:26,640 side of that table with eyes and ears and a heart that is 140 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:33,080 connected to your experience. And so I see something about the 141 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,800 timing of this miracle that says something about the character of 142 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:37,400 my God. But that's not the main heading, 143 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,760 because we have to get to what this is really about, the 144 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,000 predicament of the miracle. That's verse 13. 145 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,960 Let's read again. And seeing in the distance of 146 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,760 fig tree and leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on 147 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,840 it. When he came to it, he found 148 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,640 nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 149 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,720 So here's Christ now in his true humanity, seeing a fig tree on 150 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,280 his journey and making his way to it to find what? 151 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,760 Breakfast. Breakfast. 152 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,680 The King of heaven needs breakfast. 153 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,080 And you know what he doesn't do? He doesn't, in his grand palace, 154 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,520 summon his servants to prepare something that he's never had 155 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,920 before. He does not even make his 156 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:24,320 disciples come up with a menu because he's a little bit picky 157 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,680 with his appetite to put something together before he 158 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:30,600 goes into the temple to deal with the false religious system 159 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,040 of his time. You know what this king does 160 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,840 with contentment and humility? I'll tell you what he does. 161 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,360 He is glad to pick a few fruits and eat it in the shade of a 162 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,800 tree. What am I trying to paint for 163 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,840 you? The absolute humility and just 164 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:54,280 how attractive Jesus Christ is. The maker of heaven and earth is 165 00:11:54,280 --> 00:12:00,680 happy to stand in the shade and nibble on some fruit to calm his 166 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:03,400 stomach so that he can serve his father. 167 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,880 I'm sorry, I can't help but move from that scene, but we have to. 168 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,800 He comes to this tree and the Holy Spirit makes very 169 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:19,280 descriptive comments about this one verse and we have to 170 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,800 consider them first. It says here that he saw in the 171 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:27,200 distance a fig tree in leaf. That's important. 172 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,200 He wasn't close. He was far. 173 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:31,920 That says something about this tree. 174 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,600 It was advertising itself in a certain way. 175 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:41,400 Hey, there's a life here. There's vitality here. 176 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,720 And so even from a distance, you can tell this isn't a tree 177 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,080 suffering in life, suffering to exist. 178 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,920 This is a tree that seems to be promising something promising, 179 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,160 sustenance, promising, some content. 180 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,000 And that's not the only thing, though it appeared strong, 181 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,920 though it appeared promising. The second thing here is how the 182 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:06,800 Lord, on approaching this tree, looks through it and discovers 183 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:13,800 that it was nothing but leaves. That's very important. 184 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,080 That's very important when you understand what a fig tree does. 185 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:26,200 A fig tree often will produce fruit at one stage before it 186 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:31,920 presents its leaves. And so this was not a tree that 187 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:36,560 presents its leaves, indicating to you, hey, fruit is coming. 188 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,840 No, those leaves are there declaring, hey, there's some 189 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:45,320 stuff still here and there will be fruit to come. 190 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,640 So these leaves are saying, hey, someone's home. 191 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,880 There are some things here that you can take advantage of and 192 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,840 the scriptures are very clear, especially in the Hebrew 193 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,360 scriptures about this development. 194 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:08,800 How before the natural normal crops arrive you can have edible 195 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,600 but immature figs present even before the leaves show up. 196 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,160 So let's go to a couple because listen, people have great 197 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:16,720 challenge in understanding this text. 198 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,080 They they think it's out of character of Christ. 199 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,200 They think it's he was in a bad mood. 200 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,600 There are people who find trouble with this particular 201 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,360 miracle. So we need to we need to wire 202 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:32,600 ourselves. Well, look here in Isaiah 28 203 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:46,610 verse 4, we can believe we can begin actually in verse three of 204 00:14:46,730 --> 00:14:51,050 Isaiah 24. Here's one example for us. 205 00:14:54,170 --> 00:14:59,840 Isaiah 28, verse three reads. The proud crown of the drunkards 206 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:04,200 of Ephraim will be trodden under foot, and the fading flower of 207 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,960 its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley, 208 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:14,600 will be like a first ripe fig before the summer. 209 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,600 When someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in 210 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,280 his hand. Do you see that the first ripe 211 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:27,280 fig before the summer? There are stages here to how 212 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:31,440 this fruit develops. And obviously this first ripe 213 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,920 fig could be eaten even before the summer time. 214 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,200 When is the time where the the normal crops, the harvest 215 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,240 arrives? We'll go to Hosea, another 216 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:46,800 prophet. Hosea Chapter 9 and verse 10. 217 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:59,000 Hosea 910. Like grapes in the wilderness, I 218 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,640 found Israel like the first fruit on the fig tree. 219 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:10,440 In its first season I saw your father's, but they came to bell 220 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:14,480 peor and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame and became 221 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:15,920 detestable like the thing they loved. 222 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:20,120 Notice again the first fruit on the fig tree, again indicating 223 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,000 that there are stages to how this fruit produces. 224 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,640 And if you have any doubt, I spoke to one of our elders who's 225 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,800 an expert with figs. He has fig trees, so this is how 226 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,520 it works, this is how it functions. 227 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,320 And understanding that simple truth, the truth that even the 228 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:43,560 Bible sheds light on, helps us clarify what many are confused 229 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:47,000 about with this Texan mark. Because again, Jesus comes to 230 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,560 this tree. He looks to the leaves, but then 231 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,680 Mark says. But he found nothing since it 232 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:56,040 was not the season for figs, right? 233 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:01,640 It was not the summertime when again the expected normal crops 234 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,840 and its maturity would present itself. 235 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,760 But that does not negate the reality of the first ripe figs 236 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,319 that are there even at times before the leaves appear. 237 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,480 When did this miracle occur? The last week of Jesus life on 238 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,480 earth? What feast was about to be 239 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,000 celebrated? Passover. 240 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,480 When is Passover celebrated? Spring. 241 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,200 So everything fits the chronology, what scripture says, 242 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:31,320 even what science has to say. But even if you did not get that 243 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:35,280 extensive explanation and you read these verses at face value, 244 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,800 it still makes sense. Think about it. 245 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,960 It was not the season for figs. OK, but what's happening here? 246 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,520 You have a tree that has leaves and seems to present itself in a 247 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,920 way as though it does have figs. In other words, hey, I have 248 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,160 fruit here. So in reality, if you just 249 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,000 again, you just dismiss all that was just said and you take it at 250 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,800 face value. What you have here is a tree 251 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,520 making an unusual proclamation about itself. 252 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,600 It's not the season of figs, but here's a tree was saying I got 253 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,640 some figs. So what do we say about this 254 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,360 tree? It's lying. 255 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,960 What do you say about this tree? It's making claims, but the 256 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:25,120 profession is not met with substance. 257 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:33,440 This is what Jesus perceives and understands and helps us 258 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,000 understand the message of the miracle. 259 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,960 So Christ here and realizing that there is nothing but 260 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:44,040 leaves. And in verse 14 he said to it, 261 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,480 may no one ever eat fruit from you again. 262 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:55,640 Jesus was not upset because he was hungry and this tree didn't 263 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,600 meet his needs. Jesus, primarily in righteous 264 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:05,400 indignation, was upset because this tree was deceptive. 265 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:11,000 That's the idea. And this pronouncement, this 266 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,200 judgement, seems severe. But let us never forget, the 267 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,320 Creator of all things has every right to exercise judgement 268 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,880 against His creation. And there's nothing here of 269 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,200 cursing right? Where do we get the idea of 270 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,000 cursing? Well, it's when you read verse 271 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,040 21 and Peter remembered and said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig 272 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,360 tree that you cursed has withered. 273 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:36,440 And when you read verse 20, you notice how significant this 274 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,760 judgment was. As they passed by in the 275 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,160 morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 276 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:47,840 This was permanent judgment. This would cancel its potential 277 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,160 in the days to come. This is serious. 278 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,440 And that is precisely what this miracle is about. 279 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,280 It's not about Jesus on the morning wanting food and didn't 280 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,720 get it, so he exercised his power to express his 281 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,400 frustration. This is a parabolic lesson. 282 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,080 This is Jesus using and performing a miracle to teach 283 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,840 something to his disciples. So what do you mean, What does 284 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,800 disciples have to do with it? Look back at Mark 11 verse 14. 285 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,480 And he said to it, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. 286 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:26,120 And his disciples heard it. His disciples were to listen, 287 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:34,920 perceive and register what this is all about and in reality. 288 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,800 When you consider Mark's authorship inspired by the Holy 289 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:44,080 Spirit and you look at where he places the story, you will not 290 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,960 only see the brilliance of the mind of God, you also will have 291 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:52,400 clarity on what this message behind this miracle is all 292 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,560 about. Let me ask you this question You 293 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,360 don't have to answer out loud. In fact, please don't. 294 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,760 What happened right before Jesus did this and what happens right 295 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:07,480 after he does it? Let's read again verse 13, mark 296 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,240 11/13 and seeing in the distance of fig, tree and leaf, he went 297 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,560 to see if he could find anything on it. 298 00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:20,520 When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was 299 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:24,520 not the season for figs. Here's the question now, is this 300 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,160 the only instance in this context where Jesus examined 301 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,000 something? And is this the only instance in 302 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,760 this context where Jesus realizes that there is a veneer 303 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:41,520 of fruitfulness, but when the veil was removed, in reality 304 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:47,760 there was a decorative deception instead of true substance? 305 00:21:49,120 --> 00:21:52,400 You don't have to guess. Look at the last verse we read 306 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:57,200 last in last week's sermon, verse 11 once more, and he 307 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,200 entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. 308 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:05,160 And when he had looked around at everything as it was already 309 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,640 late, he went out to Bethany with the 12. 310 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,760 And then now we have the story of Jesus going to Bethany and he 311 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,680 goes to Jerusalem again. He sees this fig tree and it 312 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:22,400 seems to have fruit, but looking into it only leaves cutscene 313 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,360 verse 15. And they came to Jerusalem, and 314 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:32,240 he entered the temple, and began to drive out those who sold and 315 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,720 those who bought in the temple. And he overturned the tables of 316 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,520 the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 317 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:41,280 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the 318 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,200 temple. And he was teaching them, and 319 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,560 saying to them, it is it not written. 320 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:50,200 My house shall be called a House of prayer for all the nations, 321 00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:54,080 But you have made it into a den of robbers. 322 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,640 Do we see where Mark places the story? 323 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:08,920 It is in between Jesus's examination and his disciplinary 324 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:14,080 verdict against the temple and the spiritual condition of the 325 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,840 nation of Israel. Like the fig tree, the nation of 326 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:23,360 Israel boasted of having what others did not have, a covenant, 327 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:27,560 a roster of prophets, a special connection to the true God, 328 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,480 which included a temple with a history of God's glory in it. 329 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,840 And within that system, in that temple, you had this eloquent 330 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:40,120 and elaborate array of priests and robes and sacrifices and 331 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:43,720 ceremonies and readings and confessions. 332 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:50,520 But in reality it was nothing but leaves. 333 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,760 And like the fig tree, the temple and the religion of the 334 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:59,360 nation was all show, and it lacks substance. 335 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,600 There was no true worship. There was no true repentance. 336 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:07,120 There was no true righteousness. There was no true devotion. 337 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:14,640 There was no fruit from a distance, a beautiful structure 338 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,720 unlike anything they've ever seen. 339 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,960 Herod really contributed to the beautifying of this place. 340 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:27,560 But when you went in, it was empty and bare. 341 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,440 So you see the fate of this fig tree. 342 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:38,440 It is meant to prepare you and I and point us to the fate of the 343 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:43,760 temple destruction down to its roots. 344 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,320 And that judgment begins here with Jesus cleansing the temple, 345 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,520 Though he did it before, but it would know its ultimate 346 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,720 fulfillment in about four decades when the Romans would 347 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,200 come surrounded and destroyed in 70 AD. 348 00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:59,880 Do you see the message of the miracle now? 349 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,960 This fig tree speaks of the fruitlessness and the false 350 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:11,480 presentation of a bankrupt nation who claimed to have true 351 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,520 religion. And this is not the first time 352 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,280 Jesus uses a fig tree as a parable and as a metaphor for 353 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,920 the people of Israel. I want you to see this just so 354 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,440 we can confirm this point and have no shadow of a doubt that 355 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,880 this is what this means. It's another gospel. 356 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:33,680 In Luke 13 and verse 5. Jesus looks to a Jewish crowd 357 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:36,560 and he says something that you don't hear often these days. 358 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:42,640 Repent, he says in Luke 13 verse five. 359 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:49,240 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you all will likewise 360 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,480 perish. And he told this parable, a man 361 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,920 had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking 362 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,920 fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine dresser, 363 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,720 look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig 364 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,280 tree, and I found none. Cut it down. 365 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,040 Why should it use up the ground? And he answered them, Sir, let 366 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,880 it alone this year also until I dig around it and put on manure. 367 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,400 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good. 368 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,320 But if not, you can cut it down. What's the connection? 369 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,720 He's looking at this generation of Israelites and he says, you 370 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:27,000 repent you, you think you're not sinners. 371 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,280 We're a devastating thing can happen to you. 372 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,440 No, you need to be ready for whatever comes your way. 373 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,960 And then He provides this parable to depict, yes, the 374 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:41,920 nation of Israel, who were not bearing fruit, and even during 375 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,200 Jesus three years, who did not acknowledge him as the Messiah, 376 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,320 who did not submit themselves, who do not see him as the 377 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,280 fulfillment of what they claim to believe in for centuries. 378 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,440 And in this parable we see the patience of God, do we not? 379 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,520 It's using up the ground. It's soaking up all the other 380 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,960 nutrients. Let other trees benefit from 381 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,960 what is taking place on this field, and there's a delay, 382 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,680 which is a picture of God's patience for us when we have not 383 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,520 yet repented. Maybe you are here in this place 384 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,200 today, and you're like that tree. 385 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,200 You have heard enough of Jesus to make 1000 people come and get 386 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:23,800 saved, and you still have not allowed Him to change your 387 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,640 nature so that you can be the one who bears the fruit that 388 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,880 would bring him glory. And here you are, still with 389 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:35,680 service 2567 and you still haven't repented. 390 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,920 God is patient, but guess what? His patience is not permanent. 391 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:45,120 One more year, one more year, and then I'm going to cut down 392 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:48,040 this tree. Which again reminds us, yes, God 393 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,160 is gloriously slow to judge. We heard it from the opening 394 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:56,960 verses of the service, but there is an expiration date on it. 395 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,000 Fig tree depicting the nation of Israel. 396 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,120 The Old Testament also uses much imagery to describe the people 397 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:11,920 of God, including that of figs. Both positively. 398 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,560 You heard it from Isaiah. You heard it in Hosea, but also 399 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:16,760 with Jeremiah. You don't have to turn there. 400 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:20,520 But listen to this reference and this quotation in Jeremiah 2917. 401 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:23,360 Thus says the Lord of Hosts. Behold, I'm sending on them 402 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:28,000 sword, famine, and pestilence. And I will make them like vile 403 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,720 figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 404 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:37,240 I will make them like such figs. Another correlation, another 405 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,600 connection to what Jesus is doing with this tree in Mark 406 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,760 Chapter 11. OK, let's not be mistaken here, 407 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:44,960 right? This is a clear illustration 408 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,320 about the condition of Israel then and what would come about? 409 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,760 The nation of Israel. But let us not be fooled. 410 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,960 This is something to say to those in the Church and 411 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:59,440 Christendom in 2024, verse 14. Remember, what do we hear? 412 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:01,560 The disciples heard it. I wonder what crossed through 413 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,600 their minds when they saw Jesus cursing this fig tree that had 414 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:10,400 no fruit. What past parables, what past 415 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:15,400 teachings rush through their minds as I saw now a physical 416 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:21,320 picture of fruitlessness and Jesus desire for fruit. 417 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,480 Now think about this, right? I mean, I'm going to go back to 418 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:28,880 what I said in the beginning for God to provide us this as the 419 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,120 only miracle where he and the person of Christ pronounces 420 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:34,760 judgment. He doesn't do that with his 421 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,720 power while on earth in any other in any other moment except 422 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,360 this one. What does that say about his 423 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:41,920 character? That's what I was thinking 424 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:45,680 about. Like for this to be the only 425 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:49,000 miracle of its kind. A miracle of judgement, a 426 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,120 miracle of destruction. What does that say about his 427 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:57,200 heart? I think it's clear the only 428 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,880 destructive miracle that Christ performed was against one thing. 429 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:06,440 One thing. Not prostitution, Not murder. 430 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,280 Not fraud, so to speak. The only destructive miracle 431 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,360 that Christ performed was against empty religion. 432 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:23,200 Says much, doesn't it? Here's I want to ask because 433 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,400 there's so many ways to apply this, and I believe with my 434 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:35,400 heart that this local church is a fragrant spiritual garden. 435 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,800 There is fruit here. I'm not talking about here. 436 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,080 I'm talking about there. Here, there's fruit. 437 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,880 But I don't know all of you and I have a duty. 438 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,320 I'm bound to this text to ask this question. 439 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:56,760 If the Lord Jesus on an individual basis, were to come 440 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:04,680 to you and comb through the leaves and examine through the 441 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:10,480 weekly church attendance and the brief Christian conversations 442 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:18,320 and the singing, when you're in the mood and even some level of 443 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:31,600 service, would he find fruit? If he were to just peel away the 444 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:37,760 surface and reach into the depths of that tree, the heart 445 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:42,040 of it, your heart? Would he find what He's looking 446 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:46,880 for in that heart? This is what Jesus is conveying. 447 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:54,720 This is what he is illustrating. Or, like the fig tree, is there 448 00:31:54,720 --> 00:32:04,280 false advertisement going on? We see here that Jesus, you want 449 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:06,360 to know the message of this miracle. 450 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:12,360 Jesus is hungry for fruit, spiritual fruit. 451 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,760 Let's put the Lord aside, if I may say the soul respectfully. 452 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:25,200 If a person who like Jesus on this road to Jerusalem, who 453 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,880 knows you at a distance, right? Who doesn't really know you, but 454 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,560 knows you at a distance, and at a distance is convinced this is 455 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,680 a fruit bearing tree. I can see it. 456 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,520 Just a person. Not the all knowing one, not the 457 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:40,000 one who searches the hearts of all mankind. 458 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:44,560 Just a person. What would he discover if he got 459 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:50,440 closer and spent time with you beyond the two hours on a 460 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,880 Sunday? Followed you around throughout 461 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,000 the week. Sat with you long enough where 462 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,240 eventually you would, out of the abundance of your heart, speak. 463 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,360 What would he discover as he would follow? 464 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:04,840 What would he discover as he fellowship? 465 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,760 What would he discover in that time? 466 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:13,160 Would he find fruit or just leaves? 467 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:22,400 I remember the story a long time ago, early in ministry, nowhere 468 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:24,120 near here, so you don't have to figure it out. 469 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:31,120 A very, very, at that time at least ambitious zealous youth 470 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:35,960 group. And I was told at that time by 471 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:39,280 the leaders of that youth group. That youth group was very gifted 472 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:44,000 musically and they were very fond of some of these big names 473 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:45,520 and contemporary Christian music. 474 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:51,040 And they were able to get big names come to their retreat one 475 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,920 year and they were just stoked. They were so excited. 476 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:55,920 I can't believe we have these guys coming to our local church. 477 00:33:55,920 --> 00:34:00,000 This is what the leaders are telling me and after the 478 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,680 professionalism and after the songs that they heard on the on 479 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:08,120 the radio or online that they downloaded and all the excited 480 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:10,679 they were able to. Specifically, the worship team 481 00:34:10,679 --> 00:34:15,920 of that church spent time with these big names, and it didn't 482 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:19,679 take very long that during those times of fellowship, limited 483 00:34:19,679 --> 00:34:25,520 fellowship from these big names came out questionable comments. 484 00:34:27,159 --> 00:34:29,040 The leaders were saying, you know, these guys were telling 485 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:34,239 our youth kids about the parties that they go to, the vulgarity 486 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:35,639 that was coming out of their mouth. 487 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:40,000 It was like we were shocked to see that these people that we 488 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:46,639 looked up to, they looked and sounded so different because on 489 00:34:46,639 --> 00:34:55,080 the stage there were leaves, but when you got closer, no fruit, 490 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:01,760 no fruit. One of my favorite examples of 491 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:08,200 this is found in Second Kings chapter four of a man named 492 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:12,320 Elijah, and I brought this as an example before, but repetition 493 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:16,880 doesn't hurt. And in Second Kings Chapter 4, 494 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,280 verse eight, we read of Elijah, who also was on his own journey. 495 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:28,160 We're told here one day Elijah went to Shunham where a wealthy 496 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:31,440 woman lived who urged him to eat some food. 497 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:38,560 It's very Middle Eastern of her, so whenever he passed that way, 498 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,920 he would turn in there to eat food. 499 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:44,200 So you have this wealthy woman who knew of Elijah and he would 500 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,600 travel by her village and she would not let him go. 501 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,720 You have to try my food. I have the best I'm going to 502 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:52,840 start. I'm not going to start naming 503 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:54,720 dishes here. I have the best. 504 00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:56,160 This I have the best. Who knows how she did? 505 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:57,680 I'm so sure it was a lovely invitation. 506 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,440 Lovely persuasion. Elijah, you have to eat with me. 507 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,600 Come spend time whenever you come by, know that there's an 508 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,720 open house for you, wonderful servant of God. 509 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,720 But it's verse nine that stands out to me. 510 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,560 After a few of these trips where Elijah would come by and spend 511 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,680 time with her and her husband, verse 9 says. 512 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:22,480 And she said to her husband, Behold, now I know that this is 513 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:28,280 a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 514 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:31,960 I heard about Elijah, maybe heard some of his sermons, heard 515 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:36,480 about his miracles. But now after I sat with him and 516 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,840 he was here, apart from the stage, in my dining room, eating 517 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:45,440 with me, talking with me, Now I know in this context, in the 518 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:50,440 home, he's a man of God. Now I know Not only was she 519 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:54,200 hospitable, she was discerning. And here's the thing about 520 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:57,360 Elijah. The closer people got to him, 521 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:00,600 the more they were convinced he's the real deal. 522 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,480 Not leaves without fruit with this man leaves. 523 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,720 Oh yes, a public minister, a powerful man of God. 524 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,240 But when you got close, you can smell the fakes. 525 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:24,200 This is the real deal. Jesus was hungry and his 526 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:32,400 humanity. Jesus today longs for fruit. 527 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:38,320 He desires true spirituality, passion for conformity to 528 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:42,840 Christ's character, authentic worship, intimacy and prayer 529 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:47,920 service that is stimulated from a place of gratitude for the 530 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:51,440 grace of God. This is what he is looking for. 531 00:37:54,480 --> 00:38:00,960 And this kind of a message may irk and disturb those who prize 532 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:06,280 the gospel of grace, who have surrendered their efforts, who 533 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:09,600 have abandoned their self righteousness, who have realized 534 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:11,280 that there is nothing they can do. 535 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,720 There's no amount of fruit, there's no amount of baskets, 536 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:17,840 there's no amount of fields of obedience that whatever satisfy 537 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:21,520 God's righteous demands, it's all by grace. 538 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:23,280 Yes. Amen. 539 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:27,200 Hallelujah. Can I ask you a question though? 540 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:34,080 Why did Jesus save you? Why did he shed his blood for 541 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:36,960 you? Why did he leave heaven come to 542 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:41,320 earth to redeem you? Let me borrow the words of Titus 543 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:45,160 214, and I encourage you to turn there with me as we are prepared 544 00:38:45,160 --> 00:39:02,560 to close. Who gave himself for us to 545 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:09,920 redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify, to purify for 546 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:13,360 himself a people for his own possession? 547 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:16,240 He could have stopped there. He doesn't, right? 548 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:23,000 Who are zealous for good works? We're talking about grace here. 549 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:24,800 We're talking about redemption here. 550 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:28,320 We're talking about mercy here. We're talking about gospel here. 551 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,440 And on this thought, Paul ends by saying, yeah, he did. 552 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:36,040 He did come and rescue and redeem and deliver. 553 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:43,920 For something that is people. Purified would be zealous. 554 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:49,640 You know what the word zealous is Burning for good works, Not 555 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:53,240 for salvation as a result of it. Not for grace. 556 00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:55,960 Because you tasted grace. Maybe you're not convinced that 557 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,240 this is about grace. So let's rewind it verse 11. 558 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:02,280 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for 559 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:04,640 all people. Now what does this grace do? 560 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:08,400 Verse 12, It trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly 561 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:11,200 passions. That's what true grace does. 562 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:15,880 So anybody who's operating under a grace that quiets their 563 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:19,160 conscience and legitimizes their rebellion and disobedience and 564 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:23,840 worldliness hasn't drank from true grace, because this grace 565 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:26,320 trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions 566 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:28,840 and to the self controlled, upright and godly lives in the 567 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:30,160 present age. Now look at this. 568 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,920 Look what else this grace does. It causes us to wait for our 569 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:36,280 blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and 570 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:39,800 Savior Jesus Christ. And here it is who gave himself 571 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:43,080 for us to redeem us from all lawliness, some lawlessness. 572 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:47,920 The woman who was caught in adultery in Jesus, the only one 573 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:50,560 in that story who had the right to stone her, He was without 574 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:53,280 sin, cast the first stone. Who had the right to do that? 575 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,560 Christ. Everybody else was sinful. 576 00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:59,040 The only one who had the right to cast the first stone was the 577 00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:00,520 Son of God. And he didn't do it. 578 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,280 Instead, he puts his hand underneath that chin, lifts up 579 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:07,200 that face, and assures her that she's been forgiven. 580 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:09,920 Does the story end there, or does he Commission her with 581 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:11,280 this? Go now. 582 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:16,640 And what? Sin less, Sin no more. 583 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:20,520 And here's an infusion of my Holy Spirit. 584 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:23,960 And here is the library of my truth that has supernatural 585 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:32,000 power to do so, to live a life that says I renounce it, a 586 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:36,000 grace, that great hymn says grace that has taught my heart 587 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,640 to fear and the fears that it is also relieved. 588 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:46,720 And so we see here that this grace should produce in us 589 00:41:46,720 --> 00:41:49,360 something new in terms of desire and pursuit. 590 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:53,920 I want to be adorned the way my Savior wants me to be adorned. 591 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,880 In other words, what Jesus is not looking for here is sinless 592 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:01,760 perfectionism. What Jesus is looking for here 593 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:06,480 is a nature that produces something as a result of its 594 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:11,280 nature. If we're still not convinced of 595 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:15,920 this, look at Titus 3 verse 8. The saying is trustworthy. 596 00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:18,920 And I want you to insist on these things so that those who 597 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,040 have believed in God. Do we believe in God? 598 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:22,320 Yes. Is it by faith? 599 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:23,800 Yes. Is it by trusting in his 600 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:24,400 promise? Yes. 601 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:28,600 For those who have believed in God may be careful to devote 602 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:32,720 themselves to good works. These things are excellent and 603 00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:39,800 profitable for all people. Here's how I'm ending. 604 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:42,200 Very simple. Strong. 605 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:44,600 Well, it's a it's a strong miracle. 606 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,240 It is not arrogant to answer this positively. 607 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:54,920 It is not arrogant for me to ask this question, for you to be 608 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:59,520 able to say Amen. Brother, keep preaching for me 609 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:02,760 to ask you. If Jesus the vine dresser, were 610 00:43:02,760 --> 00:43:10,280 to come and look through and find fruit, would he be able to? 611 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:16,480 You know, it's not proud to say I believe he would, because I 612 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:20,240 know who I was and I know who I am today. 613 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:24,080 And that's not for me to boast, except in Christ. 614 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:28,000 I do not fear him. Not because I had a good few 615 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:33,360 months as a Christian, because down deep inside I know that 616 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:37,600 I've been changed. When you look at an apple tree, 617 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:41,600 an orange tree, whatever tree do you hear grunting while you walk 618 00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:44,840 by those trees, it would be very strange. 619 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,680 You might have to go see a doctor if that was the case. 620 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:51,040 You don't hear trees screaming and pounding and exerting 621 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:56,200 strength to produce. No, no, no, They just do by 622 00:43:56,200 --> 00:44:00,840 nature. And yes, how do you correlate 623 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:02,240 that with the commands to do good? 624 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:07,000 It's possible we can't take that analogy too far to disobey God, 625 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:10,440 even as a person who has known God and experienced his grace. 626 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:15,560 But oh, there's an ease and oh, there's a new change of 627 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:17,240 thinking. There's there's something that 628 00:44:17,240 --> 00:44:18,520 happens. There's a shift. 629 00:44:19,400 --> 00:44:21,960 Your appetite is different. Your longings, your desires, 630 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:24,640 your goals, your dreams have been altered. 631 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:31,320 Can you say yes to that? Or if Jesus were to examine, 632 00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:37,240 would he find hollowness? Would he find barrenness? 633 00:44:37,720 --> 00:44:40,040 Would he find spiritual nakedness? 634 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:49,000 And all that's there are leaves. Presentation show you convince 635 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:52,480 people at a distance, but when they get close, they go, Wait a 636 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:57,280 minute. If that's you today, God wants 637 00:44:57,280 --> 00:44:59,000 to do a different miracle in you. 638 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:03,720 God doesn't want to curse you. God doesn't want to judge you. 639 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:08,360 God wants to deliver you and God wants to save you. 640 00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:13,600 And God wants to renew you so that you can be the miracle of 641 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:19,240 grace and add it to his trophy case of marvelous mercy. 642 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:21,400 That's why I present this to you. 643 00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:25,680 I want to ask the guy here today in the ServiceNow who can 644 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:28,640 confess. Look, I've been show. 645 00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:30,400 I've been. I've been a show. 646 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:34,800 I fooled people long enough, but now I sense God pressing my 647 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:41,120 heart. Why don't you give up and know 648 00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:46,120 the joys of what the gospel can do in your life and so renew you 649 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,480 that you wouldn't be able to recognize yourself leaving this 650 00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:54,240 place and growing in him? And for the people who are a 651 00:45:54,240 --> 00:45:59,760 tree that does bear fruit, rejoice in that miracle today. 652 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:05,960 Give God glory that he did do that in you and listen, He wants 653 00:46:05,960 --> 00:46:08,440 to produce more fruit. Now this is how I was 654 00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:09,960 challenged. I let me put it this way. 655 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:12,240 I did not read this and study this this week and feel 656 00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:19,480 condemned. But I was challenged on the 657 00:46:19,480 --> 00:46:24,360 bedrock of knowing that I've been saved by his love my Jesus. 658 00:46:24,360 --> 00:46:28,520 I see my Jesus in these scriptures who has a desire. 659 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:30,240 You know what he desires? Fruit. 660 00:46:33,240 --> 00:46:34,760 Fruit. To convince him that I'm worthy 661 00:46:34,760 --> 00:46:36,240 to be his. No, I'm his. 662 00:46:37,160 --> 00:46:38,040 That's it. It's done. 663 00:46:38,040 --> 00:46:41,200 It's secure. I go to bed every night 664 00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:44,520 rehearsing that truth that if I don't wake up for whatever 665 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:48,480 reason, I'm going to be in the presence of my Savior. 666 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:54,640 But, oh, he, He still longs for fruit as a new tree. 667 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:59,320 So, Lord, do more miracles than me and let me be what you want 668 00:46:59,320 --> 00:47:02,960 me to be. Let that be the goal of my life. 669 00:47:04,040 --> 00:47:07,600 That whether people from a distance or up close can testify 670 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:11,840 something happened to that guy and the only explanation is the 671 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:15,440 truth that he claims to believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth 672 00:47:15,480 --> 00:47:20,320 resides within him. That's how you should be moved 673 00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:25,680 by this message today. If my Savior is hungry, then may 674 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:30,560 he be fed by the work that he does in me and he'll do it. 675 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:36,480 So my invitation is 2 part here. Listen, I know what it's like to 676 00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:40,000 have the leaves. I know what it's like. 677 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:45,280 I know what it's like, OK? It's such a terrible way to 678 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:52,000 live. It's such a misery to try to 679 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:54,480 convince people of something that you yourself know is not 680 00:47:54,480 --> 00:47:58,280 true. Just so you can satisfy mommy 681 00:47:58,280 --> 00:48:01,320 and Daddy and don't get in trouble with your relatives, the 682 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:03,080 people in your family that serve God. 683 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:05,320 Just so you can avoid those awkward conversations. 684 00:48:05,600 --> 00:48:08,040 Just so you have enough of Jesus that when things get bad, you 685 00:48:08,040 --> 00:48:10,680 can call upon him because you're somewhat still connected to him. 686 00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:13,640 Like Peter in the final moments of Jesus following him at a 687 00:48:13,640 --> 00:48:16,360 distance, not too close so that you get arrested with Jesus, but 688 00:48:16,360 --> 00:48:21,160 not too far so that you cannot lose sight of Jesus leaves. 689 00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:26,040 Aren't you tired of it? Like, aren't you tired of a life 690 00:48:26,200 --> 00:48:29,600 where you don't know God's spirit, working in you in a way, 691 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:32,000 where you step beside yourself saying what's going on here? 692 00:48:32,520 --> 00:48:35,040 Why am I convicted about the way I speak now? 693 00:48:36,840 --> 00:48:39,680 Why am I now all of a sudden disturbed by how I've been 694 00:48:39,680 --> 00:48:41,920 treating my spouse? Where is this coming from? 695 00:48:42,840 --> 00:48:45,160 Why am I now all of a sudden hungry for this? 696 00:48:45,160 --> 00:48:48,040 I want to eat this word. I want to spend time with the 697 00:48:48,040 --> 00:48:49,720 Lord. I want to be around people who 698 00:48:49,720 --> 00:48:52,040 also been changed. Don't you want that? 699 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:57,880 Ultimately, don't you want the Saviour, the Savior that I just 700 00:48:57,880 --> 00:49:01,440 proclaimed to you to now write your name in the Lamb's book of 701 00:49:01,440 --> 00:49:03,080 life? And not just for that future 702 00:49:03,080 --> 00:49:05,600 appointment, but for for him to walk with you and every 703 00:49:05,600 --> 00:49:08,560 appointment in life? Will that be the terrifying 704 00:49:08,560 --> 00:49:11,200 doctor's report where you're sitting on that cold table and 705 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:16,280 he diagnosis you and you can be rushed with comfort knowing my 706 00:49:16,280 --> 00:49:20,840 Savior's with me, with all the trials with your children, with 707 00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:22,160 all the trials with your finances. 708 00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:25,320 To know my Savior is with me. People don't like this stuff. 709 00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:27,480 Don't tell people Jesus does something for your life. 710 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:29,480 But why not? He says. 711 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:32,720 I've come to name I have life and life more abundantly. 712 00:49:35,040 --> 00:49:37,160 This is the Savior that I proclaimed to you, and I want 713 00:49:37,160 --> 00:49:40,520 you to know him. I'm going to choose to stop now. 714 00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:43,040 I think I said enough for the time being. 715 00:49:43,600 --> 00:49:48,520 And now I invite you, whether you're a tree only with leaves, 716 00:49:49,240 --> 00:49:53,600 to ask God to uproot that and to replace it with new life, or you 717 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:58,240 are a tree that's bearing fruit, and you are Glee to know that 718 00:49:58,240 --> 00:50:01,680 your master longs for greater fruit and for you to say, Lord, 719 00:50:01,680 --> 00:50:04,240 do it in me. I have No Fear of condemnation. 720 00:50:04,240 --> 00:50:06,480 I know I'm new. But, oh God, in order to please 721 00:50:06,480 --> 00:50:10,440 you out of great delight, do a miracle in me again and he'll do 722 00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:13,240 it. Father, we thank you for this 723 00:50:13,240 --> 00:50:15,440 time. We thank you for giving us 724 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:19,520 clarity with this miracle. Not merely do you have deeper 725 00:50:19,520 --> 00:50:22,480 understanding of the word, but to know what it is that you 726 00:50:22,480 --> 00:50:25,320 desire of us today. Thank you, Lord, that the 727 00:50:25,320 --> 00:50:29,680 miracle of the gospel is that you change our nature, that with 728 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:35,080 faith you do something remarkable. 729 00:50:36,280 --> 00:50:39,640 And many of us in here are confident that that happened to 730 00:50:39,640 --> 00:50:42,480 them. And for those who are 731 00:50:42,480 --> 00:50:46,440 questioning, not that this message, Lord, you know the 732 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:50,720 heart behind this message, to try to cause people to doubt. 733 00:50:51,080 --> 00:50:55,080 But for those who genuinely only have leaves to see the 734 00:50:55,080 --> 00:50:59,800 terrifying condition that is, and to look to the master who 735 00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:02,800 provided this miracle to provide another one. 736 00:51:03,800 --> 00:51:07,440 That they would know salvation. They would know forgiveness. 737 00:51:07,440 --> 00:51:09,080 They would know the love of God for them. 738 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:12,680 Lord, you love the one even now who does not have fruit but only 739 00:51:12,680 --> 00:51:15,720 leaves. And just like in Luke 13, you 740 00:51:15,720 --> 00:51:19,720 wait and you wait and you wait until they would call upon you 741 00:51:19,720 --> 00:51:23,480 so that they can know salvation. And so, Lord, let there be an 742 00:51:23,480 --> 00:51:26,800 urgency by your spirit. Men cannot produce that urgency. 743 00:51:26,800 --> 00:51:29,880 Lord, only you can do that. And we pray that you would. 744 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:32,880 In these difficult trying times where we feel like the clock is 745 00:51:32,880 --> 00:51:36,000 ticking closer to midnight, may we not waste time to say, oh 746 00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:39,400 God, we need you. We worship you today. 747 00:51:39,400 --> 00:51:41,520 Thank you for this message. Thank you for the insight. 748 00:51:41,520 --> 00:51:43,640 Thank you for showing us who you are. 749 00:51:43,920 --> 00:51:46,000 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 750 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:48,600 Amen. Well, let's worship the King of 751 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:49,080 Glory.