The Faithful Will Be Ready

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Intro

Today is Palm Sunday and it represents the day that Jesus entered into Jerusalem, Now Ron covered the Triumphal Entry and the Second coming last week. and how Jesus humbly comes on a donkey and then he comes in power on a steed. so I don’t want to take much time discussing that.
However, I love the story of the triumphal entry because it shows how the people gathered to recognize that Jesus is the Christ. and they start shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” now Hosanna or as it’s pronounced in Hebrew, [הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא, hoshi'ah na] is literally translated “save, we pray” and so they recognized that Jesus was sent from God to save them. However the triumphal entry for those of you hopefully all of you who have read the gospels you know that this is what will eventually lead to the crucifixion of Christ.
So you may think of this as the beginning of the end, but it certainly is not the beginning of the end it is more like the beginning of the beginning, these are the events that lead to the coming of the kingdom of Heaven.
and so following this story of the beginning of the beginning the triumphal entry we see Jesus go into Jerusalem stirring up all kinds of people. He’s driving people out of the temple with a whip, he’s shutting down the pharisees, scribes, and Sadducee’s left and right, They ask him a question and he answers so well that they can’t ask him anything else, and then he goes on teaching these deep and powerful messages to all the people, things about the greatest commandment, the coming end times and so on.
I couldn’t possibly discuss everything that happens in one sermon maybe in the future we’ll do a series on this leading up to Easter, but today I want to focus on the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree. So go ahead and open your bibles to Mark 11:12-14
Mark 11:12–14 ESV
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
Now most people read this and some of you may read this and ask, why would Jesus curse the fig tree. I mean this just doesn’t seem like something that Jesus would do, especially since it wasn’t even the time of year for figs. I know I’ve asked that question plenty of times, however this is one of those things that you need to know a bit about how fig trees produce fruit in order to understand.
You see fig trees come into season in June, at least in Israel. Which is why mark says it’s out of season, however before they come into season 2 things happen they grow their green leafs and when that happens they also produce these little bulbs called taqsh, which many people will pick and eat because they fall of the tree before the figs grow. But if a fig tree doesn’t have these bulbs growing on it, that means that it’s not going to produce any figs in their season.
And so Jesus sees the leafs of the tree but when he gets to it their are no taqsh to pick, and so this tree which was green and looked as though it should bear fruit was not bearing fruit nor would it in it’s season.
Jesus curses the fig tree because even though it look good and it’s not bearing fruit and so it is useless. Church we’re all fig trees and there are some people out there who look like they should be bearing fruit they got nice bright green leaves but they aren’t even producing little taqsh. We see scholars who can tell you whatever you want to know about scripture and maybe even how to apply it to your life, and yet they don’t apply it to their own lives.
And there are some who preach the word of God but they only preach for their own gain, and their are some people who come to church and raise their hands as they worship and can belt out fantastic sounding prayers but as soon as they walk out those doors they return to their fruitless sinful lives.
Those Fig trees church are cursed and destroyed and this is what the disciples discovered the next morning as they walked past that same fig tree. Let’s read Mark 11:20-25
Mark 11:20–25 ESV
20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Take notice that Peter points out the withered fig tree and Jesus immediately responds commanding his disciples to have faith in God. “don’t be like that fig tree, instead have faith in God” You see if our faith produces no fruit what use are we to God, this what James says in James 2:14-18
James 2:14–18 ESV
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
If our faith doesn’t produce fruit what good are we to the kingdom of Heaven? A fig tree that doesn’t produce figs is only good for one thing, fire wood. Jesus tells to have faith in God, that’s not a command to come to church and sing, that’s a call to have trust in the lord and his promises to pray to God knowing that he is our father. that he truly answers our prayers, live out your faith so that all who may come by see your taqsh and know that you are a fig tree that will bear fruit.
and I want us to read verse 25 again…
Mark 11:25 ESV
25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
It is not always easy to forgive someone, but I’m telling you right now that if you can’t bring yourself to forgive someone else the father will not forgive you. that’s not an easy pill to swallow, and I get it some of you may have been really hurt by someone, but we are called to be like Christ and Christ offered forgiveness to all even those who put him on the cross. and It just so happens that your sin put Jesus on that cross.
I want you to think of the worst thing you’ve ever done something that may haunt you. Christ wiped that away, it’s gone, in his eyes you are as white as snow. This isn’t like a chalkboard where you write something down and then erase it but there is still a white residue left over, Jesus forgives us in a way that it’s as if nothing has ever been written on the chalkboard at all.
and let me tell you I don’t know about any of you, but I certainly need that kind of forgiveness in my life, I can’t afford not to forgive those who have wronged me, regardless of what they’ve done. When I was in Middle School there was a kid who bullied me to the point of depression, I didn’t even know what depression was at the time, he made me feel awful.
Today that man is my best friend. Forgiveness can do amazing things in your life, let alone the forgiveness we receive from the father. I could spend all day talking about just this because of how amazing it is and how important it is in our lives.
and we better figure it out soon because the end is coming, flip over to Mark 13:3-13
Mark 13:3–13 ESV
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Now read Mark 13:24-27
Mark 13:24–27 ESV
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
When we read of the prophecy of the end times whether it’s from Jesus or from John in Revelation it seems both confusing and scary. and most of it you’re not going to understand until it happens, that’s how most prophecy works, people don’t understand what’s being said until it happens and then they know, throughout the gospel Jesus would do something and then the disciples would realize that that was and event that the prophets spoke of.
and that’s how it will be in the last days. Jesus compares this also to the fig tree, Mark 13:28-31
Mark 13:28–31 ESV
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
when these things happen we’ll know that the time is coming, Right now the Lord may be standing at the gate preparing for the end. This is why it’s so important that we reflect on our lives and consider whether we are a fruitless tree or a faithful follower of Christ, who provides nourishment to those who come to us. Now is the time to ask yourself is there anyone that I have yet to forgive, because you can’t afford not to receive the fathers forgiveness.
We don’t know the time that Christ will return, it’s possible that the fig tree is showing it’s leaves, you have been offered eternity, you have been offered total forgiveness, don’t turn it away out of pride, let go of your sin, let go of your resentment and hatred and love others the way that God has loved you. No fig tree turns away it’s branch to some and offers it to others. a fig tree offers it’s fruit to all who pass by, Be a fig tree of faith.
Let’s pray
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