Your Efforts Show Your Intentions
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.
Luke 6:43-49
43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
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.
Argumentation: How many of you would want to go and take your family to hear an atheist talk about their views of Christ. Now if a great preacher came to town many of us would want to go.
Application: Go to a doctor, builder, electrician and a farmer for their advice on their areas of expertise. You want to learn right about what God has to say to you. Don’t get the little books on Angels, Theology, Jesus and Prophecy out of the checkout line at the supermarket. Otherwise, your life’s foundation and connection to God will be not worth growing. The result will lead to a life not worthy of remembering and a future not worth looking forward to.
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; and you can gauge a man by what comes out of his mouth next:
4. Can a man truly love the Lord and fail to obey him?
Explanation: Well what does Scripture tell us? Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, and many others loved the Lord yet they did wrong, some did terribly wrong. So where does that leave us? The way I see it is this: You can say that you love the Lord. You can serve the Lord in some aspects of your life. But you can’t truly love the Lord in the strongest sense of the word and not live in obedience to his will and his word. If you try, it will only cause you conflict and inner turmoil until you surrender completely.
Illustration: I like to illustrate it like this. You are you, the Holy Spirit is God’s sanding block. The Holy Spirit’s job description is to make us and mold us into the image of the Son. So He will rub and remove from us all aspects of our lives which do not emulate Jesus. The question we must contend with is how bad do you want to bleed?
Argumentation: If you are a born again Christian, then the growth process to maturity in Christ is ongoing and will take place. You will grow and benefit the Kingdom or you will knowingly and wittingly ignore the God that you should willingly serve. This will cause conflict.
Application: I try my best not to hurt myself, but you have all seen the stitches on my eye, the gash in my forehead and the back brace from my fall. The pains from my recent surgery are different. Those are physical matters. What about spiritual matters? Well when a believer continues in sin it shows a lack or maturity in at least that one area of their life.
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; and you can gauge a man by what comes out of his mouth. Last we saw that although one can say they love the Lord but to not fully obey him is to as Jesus said, Kick against the goads.
5. Can a man build a life that honors God without a foundation?
Explanation: If you want to build a house by just start with putting wood on dirt, go ahead. I would not recommend it. If you want to live your life and grab many principals, go ahead, I would not recommend that either. If you wish to build a life that honors God and is of benefit to you and his kingdom; systematically read Scripture, pray, learn, love and grow in your love and service for the Lord.
Illustration: All of us went to school, some longer than others but we all did. In the first grade we learned certain things and so on until we graduated. Some went on beyond that, some did not. It is not one’s level of academic education that makes one of value to the kingdom of God. However, the discipline one learns is.
Argumentation: Do you live a life that is consistently disciplined, available and ready for service to the kingdom or are you leading a life that occasionally comes in contact with Lord.
Application: You want to serve God, lead a disciplined life. A life which screams out, here I am Lord, send me.
6. Conclusion:
Visualization: Every believer I know waits to here, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Live with that in mind.
Reiteration:
1. Can good come from bad or bad come from good?
2. Can fruit come from anything other than a tree of its own kind?
3. Can a man offer anything other than that which is in his heart?
4. Can a man truly love the Lord and fail to obey him?
5. Can a man build a life that honors God without a foundation?
Action: It is essential for us to acknowledge we all have triumphs and failures. Abraham Lincoln said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” (Taken from http://en.thinkexist.com) Do you want to serve God? Live like it.
Appeal:
• Do you rely on God for your smallest of problems or do you try to hide them?
• Why not trust Him today?