Getting Figgy With It

ME

§ We are looking at several Miracles of Jesus. § I am the kind of guy who likes to pick out less than obvious things to look at. § Most miracles are about Healing someone, casting out demons or helping out somebody. § When I come across a miracle where Jesus Gets Mad and destroys a tree, I want to take another look at that passage.

WE

| * Do you sometimes find yourself wondering a certain points in scripture why something is there.

* Here we have out of the blue, Jesus getting Angry.

* He curses a tree,

* Goes to the temple

* throws some tables around

* then comes back by the tree.

* The disciples noticed that the tree is a goner

* I want to know why?

* Turn with me to Mark

Mark 11:12-14 (NIV)
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. Mark 11:20-25 (NIV)
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." |

| !! GOD

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| * Not only does God want us to see the human side of Jesus.

* Jesus can get angry. He did.

* But Anger is another sermon for another day.

* What can we learn from the tree?

* The main thing is that we also need to get figgy with it.

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| !! 1. Understand that Jesus created us to bear fruit.

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| · Should there have been figs on the tree. · Looking at verse 13, we might think that there should be no figs “because it was not the season for figs.” · Scholars have debated these things for centuries · But Jesus Created this tree and he expected to find fruit · Bottom line is that there had better be fruit when the boss expects it. · And just like that fig tree, we need to bear fruit. · John 15:16 (NIV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. * We are not the ones who decide to bear fruit, Jesus created us with a purpose and demands that we bear fruit. It is only after we are obedient to him that we can ask for what we want.

· Colossians 1:10 (NIV)
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, * As we bear fruit we grow in knowledge of God and become more familiar with Him.

* The kind of fruit that we need to bear is the spiritual kind.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. This spiritual fruit is born out of our living out what God says in His instruction manual for our lives. |

So not only where we created to bear fruit,

| !! 2. Jesus expects fruit.

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12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. · Jesus created that fig tree to do one thing. Bear fruit. · You are created for one thing, Bringing Glory to God. · You do that when you bear fruit. · When you become a Christian and make Jesus the lord of your life, then Jesus expects to bear fruit. · If you aren’t bearing fruit get ready to have something get you back into shape. John the Baptist warned the people of Israel… Matthew 3:10 (NIV)
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Then John discusses how if we don’t bear fruit that we get cut off from the vine. John 15:1-2 (NIV)
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. This doesn’t mean that you are no longer a Christian or that you have lost your salvation. This simply means you are not going to be in a close relationship with God, you will not benefit from his nourishment. You will be left to be on your own.

So how can we bear fruit? Understand that fulfilling your purpose requires Faith.

3. Faith is our Fruit Fertilizer

So if we are to produce fruit, how is it to be done? Are you ready to go out and start up a small group? Are you ready to teach a bible study? Are you ready to lead someone to Christ? Are you ready to talk to someone who just lost a loved one? The problem with all of these things is that it is never easy. I can’t do some of these things without fear or doubt. It isn’t natural for me to get up here and to deliver a sermon. I don’t know what to say to someone who just had a loved one pass away. But, when I have faith that God will be with me, then I can be a little more confident in the end result. Remember Moses. He was a shepherd, getting ready to cash in his 401(k) and retire. Then God talks through a burning bush, and tells him to go to the most powerful man on the planet at the time to deliver bad news. No way God. If I am Moses I am saying that I can’t do it. And that is exactly what Moses said. But God said you are not going to do it, God said that He would do it through Moses. Paul the Apostle did the same thing 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV)
1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

The church as well needs to live out their purpose through faith. Acts 16:5 (NIV)
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Ultimately when we bear fruit this will be a sign or an enticement for those that aren’t a part of the church to come and enjoy the fruit. Romans 1:5 (NIV)
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. If you are here and are not a follower of Christ, you should be wanting to find out more. My life and outlook on living should be so radically different from the person who hasn’t made Jesus the boss that they want nothing more.

YOU

So what do you do? Get figgy with It! Begin today. What does Get Figgy with It mean? It means that you as a believer in Christ take action.. Serve in Ministry Maybe you are serving, but are you doing a God-sized job? Getting Figgy with it requires that you fertilize your fruit with faith. Make sure that you step out of your comfort zone…

If you ministry is in small groups… If your ministry is hospital visitation… If your ministry is not working with Kids… If you don’t have a ministry Get one. If you don’t have a relationship with Christ or understand what that means. We are going to say a short prayer and have a time where we are going to sing a song, You can come forward here and speak with me about that relationshipYou can come forward and kneel to pray. Ask God to forgive you for not bearing fruit. Ask God to show you what ministry you need to be involved in.