Fruitless trees!
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· 438 viewsBeliever must bear fruit for Jesus or face the risk of being unrooted.
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The event of the barren tree has puzzled many critics. They see in it, an impulsive and irate man who cursed the tree because he did not find what he wanted.
Jesus, who converted the water in wine and fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish, and quiet the storm with just one word, could have also just said a word and the tree would have grown fruit. Why did He not do it? Probably, He saw the opportunity to teach his disciples a lesson.
There are two lessons on this event: One has to do with giving fruit and the other one has to do with exercising our faith.
The fig tree might represent God’s people. The day before, after entering Jerusalem, Jesus had gone to the Temple and cleansed it from those that, instead of praying and worshipping God, were using it as a place of business. Jesus was disappointed by the behavior of the people.
In the Old Testament, God used the vine that produced sour grapes to describe His people (). Here, in the N.T., He uses the barren tree to represent them. Why? Because...
Jesus expects fruit from the trees.
Jesus expects fruit from the trees.
He seeks for fruit.
He seeks for fruit.
It was early in the morning, He left Bethany without breaking the fast. He had friends there: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (brothers) and Simon, the leper. He had probably stayed at one of their friends’ house.
The journey between Bethany and Jerusalem would take about 55 minutes walking.
Somewhere along the way, He became hungry. He saw the fig tree and thought that could supply His need. Figs are a great source of energy. So went to look for figs! But could not find any!
You are a fig tree. Would Jesus find fruit in your life?
Some fig trees have only leaves.
Some fig trees have only leaves.
“...and found nothing except leaves only;” 19
The tree looked attractive from afar: green, beautiful, and shady, but fruitless!
It is obvious that this happened on the season when the fig trees are full of leaves, when they are supposed to have fruit, either early or late fruit.
The barren tree may symbolize the life of many believers, that externally are green and attractive, but there is no fruit in them. Those are the ones described by Jude:
These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;
No matter how beautiful the tree looked, it was not fulfilling its main purpose. The main purpose was not giving shade, wood, or decoration; it was figs, fruit!
No matter how beautiful the tree looked, it was not fulfilling its main purpose. The main purpose was not giving shade, wood, or decoration; it was figs, fruit!
It was not fulfilling its purpose.
Jesus patiently waits for fruit.
Jesus patiently waits for fruit.
Although this event does not mention it, the parable of the fig tree in shows His patience.
Read Luke 13:6-9
When they have reached maturity, fig trees produce fruit twice a year and can continue bearing fruit for decades.
If the owner expected fruit implies that the tree was old enough to bear fruit.
The owner patiently waited for three years, but nothing!
How long does the Lord has to wait on you for fruit? Five, ten, fifteen years?
The owner of tree gave it another another year! He was patient, just as the Lord is patient with us!
The purpose of His patience is giving us another chance:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
He cuts the unfruitful trees.
He cuts the unfruitful trees.
The Lord is the owner of our life, we are the fig trees of His vineyard.
He gives us many opportunities and chances to produce fruit for Him, but if, despite the chances and the fertilizer of His Word, we do not bear fruit for Him, He will cut us. We would be using up the ground, but not producing figs.
Let’s no waste the chances the owner of the vineyard gives us! Let’s make all effort to produce for Him.
The second lesson is related to producing fruit:
You must exercise your faith.
You must exercise your faith.
When they asked Jesus how the fig tree had withered all at once, Jesus answer gave them the second lesson: your must exercise your faith!
If you have a hammer, but you never set a nail, you will never produce a piece of furniture, you’ll never build anything with it.
Faith is like that! If you do not use it, it will never produce anything. Maybe that’s why there is no fruit in your life. You are not acting upon what you say you believe.
Regarding exercising your faith, you must believe without doubting.
Believe without doubting.
Believe without doubting.
“if you have faith and do not doubt...” (21)
… you will do greater things than withering trees, you will move mountains!
When you make plan A and plan B, you’re not having faith that plan A will work; on the contrary, you doubt.
When you do not do what is right in your job because you are afraid that you may lose it; you doubt if God will give you something better o He will provide for your needs according to His riches.
“I believe, but...” When you believe, it should not be a “but”; because that is doubting.
You doubt when you put your eyes on man and circumstances rather than in God!
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1496 Faith and Doubt
Doubt sees the obstacles.
Faith sees the way!
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day!
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”
Faith answers, “I!”
Pray believing.
Pray believing.
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 22
What a great promise! Is the problem in Him or in us? Us!
He cannot fail to His promise! It is us who do not pray for fruit or pray without believing that He will put opportunities before us to get fruit for Him.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
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Do you pray for souls for Jesus from your branches?
“You do not have because you do not ask.”
“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
John 16:23-24
Do not be a conformist! Believe! Pray! Seek fruit for Jesus! Be a fruitful tree!