Where's Your Fruit?

Intro

Text -

Matthew 21:18–19 NKJV

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

Title - Where Is Your Fruit?

Mark 11.12-1

Mark 11:12–14 NKJV

12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

Background

Jesus only a few days to His crucifixion

On the way to Jerusalem from Bethany, Jesus was hungry

He saw a fig tree on the road with many leaves, but not a fruit

figs usually have fruit and leaves at the same

although not yet the season for figs, the fig tree looked promising because of the leaves

Jesus cursed the tree

Sermon Point

If Jesus expected the fig tree to have fruit, should He not much more expect our lives to have fruit?

When Jesus comes looking for fruit, He expects you to have fruit.

When Jesus comes looking for fruit, you must have fruit.

Sermon Points

Why would Jesus look for fruit in my life?

Two reasons why Jesus expects fruit in our life:

He is hungry

He has ordained us to fruitfulness

He has given you the resources to become fruitful

Jesus expects fruit in my life because He is hungry.

Human hunger is for survival. God’s hunger is for satisfaction.

When God is hungry, it means God is longing, desiring, to see His purpose accomplished

- Paul shows us God’s purpose and intentions

- God’s will, finished work

Jesus expects fruit in my life because He has ordained me to become fruitful.

John 15:16 NKJV

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

I chose you

I appointed you - to appoint as a duty

You are chosen out of God’s many alternatives to bear the fruit!

By God’s design it is your duty to bear the fruit that God wants, for the glory of God!

Jesus expects fruit in my life because He has given me the resource to become fruitful - His Word!

Jesus expects fruit in my life because He is hungry.

Leviticus 26:3–9 NKJV

3 ‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. 9 ‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.

Human hunger is for survival. God’s hunger is for satisfaction.

God’s hunger is for satisfaction.

When God is hungry, it means God is longing, desiring, to see His purpose accomplished

- Paul shows us God’s purpose and intentions

- God’s will, finished work

according to His good pleasure

to the praise of the glory of His grace

according to the riches of His grace

if you will walk in my statutes, keep my commandments, and perform them

i will give you rain in its season

the land shall yield its produce

I will make you fruitful

Matthew 13:23 NKJV

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Matthew 13.23

Luke 8:15 NKJV

15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

God’s word is all we need to become fruitful.

Therefore, it matters that we hear and understand God’s Word

Jesus expects me to bear fruit in every season of life

Psalm 1:3 NKJV

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:2–3 NKJV

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1.3

We are ordained to bear fruit in every season of life.

fruit of the spirit -

fruit of righteousness -

fruit of gratitude -

fruit with patience -

fruit without leaves

Adam and Eve hid behind fig leaves

self righteousness, human idea of what is right

noise without substance

Conclusion

NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BEAR FRUIT!

THE FRUIT THAT WE BEAR IS THE EVIDENCE THAT GOD HAS BEEN WORKING IN OUR LIVES!

Do you have the fruit that God desires, without your “leaves”?

we should produce more than just “leaves”

Can we satisfy God’s hunger in times like these?

There is fruit of the Spirit for every season of life.

NOW is the TIME to manifest the FRUIT

Joseph was fruit in the land of his affliction -