A Call of Faith

(Matthew 21:18-22)

Introduction:

God has given us everything we need to please Him.

God has given us everything we need to be saved.

However, there are times when you give a person what they need and they will reject it, or misuse it.

And at times when people misuse our help, we become angry.

Statement: You shouldn’t get angry over things like that

Read: Ephesians 4:26 (Be angry, and yet do not sin; don’t let the sun go down on your anger)

Body:

The curtain goes up in verse #1

Where Jesus is in His final days, final teachings, and on His way to Jerusalem.

He tells His disciples, “Go into the village and find a donkey and colt.”

Untie them and bring them to me.

Now, this was done so the scriptures might be fulfilled.

Read: Zechariah 9:9 (…Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Jesus mounted the donkey and headed toward Jerusalem.

As Jesus rode, the multitude spread their garments and branches on the ground to honor their king.

Example: Red Carpet (King)

As they approached Jerusalem the city heard the multitude shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

This just stirred up the whole community.

They asked, “Who is this?” This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth.

Now, as Jesus entered the temple, He observed the people buying and selling in the temple.

Jesus became angry and overturned the tables of the moneychangers.

And shouted, “My House shall be called a House of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

Explain: Deeper meaning of House of Prayer / Robbers Den (Bad living)

Example: Jesus (John 2:19 / Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Our bodies (I Corinthians 6:19 / Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?)

So, after Jesus disturbs the community, He leaves the city to go to Bethany for some peace.

Point: Everybody needs peace sometimes.

When we go through our trials (Lord if I could just have some peace)

But when your faith is in God, He won’t disturb your life (Peace be still)

That’s the kind of God I serve.

In Jerusalem, Jesus had caused the people to become so angry that they sought to kill Him.

So, He left Jerusalem to go to Bethany.

It was in Bethany where Jesus found love, fellowship, and peace.

Yet, the next day, Jesus returns to Jerusalem.

But, on the way, Jesus cursed and destroyed a fig tree.

Point: The destruction of the fig tree was the only miracle of judgment, which was against a barren tree.

Question: Swine in Gadara (Not judgment, but deliverance of demon possessed man)

But, there is great significance behind the destruction of the tree

Some people have become puzzled behind Jesus’ destruction of the tree.

Some have said that the Lord’s action was injustice and uncalled for.

Since it was not time for figs.

Why should He expect fruit when it was not the season?

Statement: Many times we try to justify why we are where we are

Why we are having such hard times

Why we are not growing spiritually

Statement: After all, we are doing all we can. We are doing our very best

You know it takes time.

After all, it’s only been five years since they have obeyed the gospel

Read: Hebrews 5:12 (For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.)

Point:

Jesus had all rights to expect fruit from this fig tree.

The same way He expects to see fruit on our tree.

Fig trees have an interesting cycle. Three crops of figs: June, August, and December

The figs in December would normally last through spring.

It was April when the tree is cursed.

Yet, there was a kind of first ripe fig that would happen before a full harvest of figs would appear.

This knowledge was common among those who were with Jesus.

Jesus knew that this tree should produce figs before leaves.

But when He got to the tree, there were no figs, but leaves.

When there shouldn’t have been any leaves at all.

Point: Leaves suggest fruitfulness

But there was no fruit to be found.

The tree had failed in its’ purpose and thus it was destroyed. (Got Doctrine / No evidence)

Point: Furthermore, Jesus did not destroy the fig tree out of anger.

Statement: Hungry man is an angry man.

It was not out of anger.

But, because the tree was faulty, a failure, its’ judgment was swift.

A speed which surprised the disciples.

Question: What does all this mean?

Jesus’ physical hunger was a symbol of a deeper hunger.

Israel is pictured as a fig tree.

Jesus came to the nation, His nation, expecting fruit.

Leaves of religious formalism were everywhere.

But, fruit of holiness was no where to be found.

Jesus was hungry for the salvation of His people.

They were the first group to whom Jesus extends salvation.

These are the people who should have known and should have been looking for the Christ.

Yet, they rejected and ridiculed the Master.

So, Jesus takes action and He rejected the tree (rejected Israel)

By cursing the fig tree, Jesus was giving a glimpse of what judgment is going to be brought to the whole world that rejects Jesus as Christ and Lord.

Conclusion:

The disciples are in awe about what the Lord has done.

But, when they question Jesus, they do not question Him about “why” He did it, but “how?”

So, then Jesus gives them a sermonette on the power of faith.

Jesus shows the connection between His destruction and believing prayer.

The tree was a symbol of that which was not true.

Why had the nation it symbolized (Israel) failed?

Because it lacked faith in God.

It did not possess a fruit-bearing faith.

In spite of the outward appearance of life, Israel was spiritually dead.

The fruit was being professed but not possessed.

Question: You want to know why America is failing today

Because America does not have faith in God.

I know on our money we have “In God We Trust.”

But our actions say, “Who is God, that I should obey Him.”

Point:

Many of us setting here right now feel that very way. “Who is God, that I should obey Him.”

We give the appearance that we are full of faith. But, our actions show doubt.

And all you are doing is going through the motions.

But sooner or later, that which is done in the dark will come to the light

Read: Galatians 6:7 (Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.)

You think you have gotten away with now. You just wait until the afterwhile.

For you shall know the tree by the fruit that it bears.

Statement: (I don’t agree with that) – Give opinion / Give me a biblical principle why you don’t agree.

Point:

If you don’t have faith, you won’t grow spiritually.

If you don’t have faith, you won’t see the need to come and worship.

If you don’t have faith, you won’t see the need of giving of yourself to others.

If you don’t have faith, you are without God in the world.

But, when you are full of faith:

You will hurt when your brothers/sisters hurt

You will take time for others

You will not be in such a hurry that you are running over people

Read: Matthew 21:21-22