Out of Season Fruit

Out of Season Fruit

June 1, 2020

Mark 11:13 "Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit."

Both in the books of Matthew and Mark, there is an account of the story where Jesus curses the fig tree. In the accounts, Jesus walked up to the fig tree, desiring some fruit from it. When He noticed that it did not have any fruit, He cursed the fig tree and it quickly withered up and died. The accounts detail there were leaves on the tree, which meant summer was present, but Mark notes that it was not fully fruit season yet. Mark declares that no one expected figs yet, since it was not season, and yet Jesus walked up to the tree anyway because He was hungry and wanted some fruit. Why would Jesus have walked up to the tree expecting some fruit? Jesus knew it was not fruit season yet. Why would Jesus expect something from the tree inappropriately and then punish the tree when it was not producing fruit out of season? The story goes on to impress the power of the spoken word that the Disciples would have in their lives, creating an analogy to the actions of Jesus at the fig tree, but is there something more to the fig tree?

Recall that Jesus was present and an active participation in the original creation during Genesis. The Bible says that by the power of the spoken word, the world, and all that is in it, was created.  Life was spoken into that fig tree from the very beginning and it was given instructions to bear fruit. Back then, in the Garden of Eden, there was no rain or seasons, and no curse of winter. Back then, the fig tree was instructed to bear fruit at all times, and it was able to bear fruit constantly. If a fruit tree had leaves on it, at the original creation, it had fruit on it. There was no such thing as in-season fruit; it was always in season. Jesus and the fig tree that He cursed, had a prior relationship, one where Jesus walked up to any tree in the Garden of Eden and it was always bearing fruit. Since the fall of man, fig trees came under the same curse, the curse of winter and only bearing fruit in-season. Jesus knew this particular fig tree would not have fruit on it, since it was subject to the rules of times. But Jesus remembered that fig tree when it wasn't under a curse, when life was spoken into it and when it was commanded to bear fruit at all times, and when there was always sweet fruit to satisfy hunger.

Jesus used the cursing of the fig tree to communicate to the Disciples the power they would have in their ministries, but was that the reason Jesus walked up to that fig tree that day, looking for fruit? No one knows if Jesus used it as a set-up to teach the Disciples, but there is more to the story than communicating the power the Disciples would be able to display. It was a reminder of what spoke that fig tree into life at the beginning, that life was created by the power of the word, but also that bearing fruit was a requirement. The Lord's original intent for that fig tree was to bear fruit at all times, without consideration for a season.

Like that original fig tree, you and I were intended to serve the Lord at all times, without regard for seasons. There is more to the analogy of the fig tree than just communicating the power the Disciples would have; Jesus wanted to communicate that if we do not bear fruit then we will be cut off from the Lord permanently. He does not require that we bear fruit only when we feel we are ready; we were created to bear fruit at all times. The Lord's intent for you life is for fruit, even today when you do not feel you are coming into your season yet. The Lord expects you to bear fruit and if you do not, then you will reap the rewards of that fig tree, you will join the fig tree in its curse. Its time to bear fruit, even if you think it is out of season for fruit.

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Gen 1:1-13, Jer 17:8, Matt 7:15-20, Matt 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-26, John 15:1-8

Will You Respond

Will You Respond

May 18, 2020

Philippians 3:16 "But we must hold on to the progress we have already made."

Jesus appeared to John, one of the original 12 disciples, when John was in his 80s, exiled on the isle of Patmos, where John penned the book of Revelation. Jesus told him to write down all that he saw, both for the present and the future.  There was revelation for the present churches that Jesus wanted to get out, and Jesus called out seven churches specifically, with a brief word from the Lord for them. It was a prophetic word detailed for the specifics of the respective church at that time. The churches, however, represent churches today, too, as the issues addressed were not unique to anything that isn't going on in churches today.

Without going into detail on the seven specific churches, the issues were: forsaking their first love, false doctrine and false prophets inside the church, asleep Christians who still have work to do, and lukewarm Christians needing discipline. While each church clearly had their specific problem the Lord wanted to call out, these issues represent problems that go on inside the walls of our churches today. In fact, we are all likely guilty of one, or more, of the items on the list (at some point). The Lord wanted each church to finish well and admonished them to repent and correct the error.

Your church is not perfect, since is full of imperfect people, but the Lord gives each of us opportunity to repent and correct, both collectively and individually. His message to the churches was clear and John delivered them to the letter. What we don't know, however, is how they responded when they read the letter from John as a prophetic word from Jesus. Did they crumple up the letter and discard it as fake? Did they hear the word but disregard the call to action? If you had received that letter this week in your church, one detailing an error in practices and a call to repent, would you believe the letter and respond? John was pretty credible, so it is not likely they did not believe the message was from Jesus, but how did they react and how far did they get in repenting and correcting the errors in the church?

Churches get it wrong daily, so do Christians. When Jesus had John pen the letters to the churches, He did not wish to destroy the whole church or close their doors, simply adjust what was wrong.  He commended each of them for something because they were getting some things right and perfect, but He wanted them to be blameless in everything. How would you have responded? Jesus wrote you a letter, too, its the whole Bible that you've likely read before. When you read it, do you readily see the error in your ways and repent and correct? How do you respond? Will you respond? You are not likely to get an unique letter from Jesus, rather His Holy Spirit will bring to light your failings, if you're willing to give Him the opportunity. How often do you give Him the opportunity? When He points out the things you need adjusting, are you going to close your ears and refuse to change? This is our biggest tactic when confronted with our imperfections; we deny its truth or discount its validity. What if its true? What if you've forsaken your first love or what if you've fallen asleep and there are still things you need to do for Him?  The Lord is speaking to you even now, about your shortcomings. Will you respond?

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Rev 2-3

Offend Your Mind

Offend Your Mind

January 6, 2020

John 6:54  "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

Jesus was often offending the religious elite of His day. He challenged all of them, in their lifestyle, in their practices, and in their belief systems. His teachings were controversial for the day, healing on the sabbath and forgiving sins.  While Jesus appeared as an unassuming man, there was nothing ordinary about what He had to say or about how He challenged everyone to the core. He had mercy on the woman caught in adultery; He completely turned their world's upside down. Jesus was quite offensive, but in a good way.

On one offensive occasion, Jesus was telling the disciples that they needed to eat his flesh. He was teaching His disciples about the bread of life, with Jesus being the bread of life. He said that Christians need to eat of the bread of life if they are to partake in the work of Jesus. The disciples discussed the fact that they would have to literally eat the flesh of Jesus.  They gasped at the idea, thinking how could this be possible. Other pagan religions they were familiar with actually did eat human flesh or drink human blood and this goes against the original instructions from God, given to the Jews through Moses, as documented in Deuteronomy. The disciples were torn and disgusted at the notion of Jesus asking them to drink His blood. 

There is no scenario where Jesus actually made anyone drink His blood or eat His flesh at the time. Jesus died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, all without anyone drinking His blood. But Jesus made the strong analogy to get the disciples attention, to reveal what was in their hearts. Jesus often offends the mind to reveal what is in the heart. Jesus was trying to get the heart attention of His disciples, teaching them a concept about their faith that would have to be akin to eating flesh and drinking blood. The disciples did not get it, though, at first. He was revealing to them that they were still thinking in such concrete terms, not understanding fully that Jesus only came to reign in their hearts, not physically on the earth with a human government. They were constantly getting it wrong and He needed to slap them in the face with it. He offended every part of their being, thinking that they would have to drink His blood. It went against their natural understanding of the order of things, still not fully grasping the Kingdom of Heaven.

Their earthly hearts were revealed when they thought Jesus was talking about drinking His earthly blood. Their focus was so in the natural, that He had to offend them to get their minds into the correct realm, the Heavenly realm. Christian, your mind has the chance, in the lazy church today, to grow callused and clouded. The Lord says were are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Often, the Lord is going to go against the teaching of the day, the accepted patterns of the world, to get your attention. Challenging what you know is not always about getting you to doubt what you believe, but to affirm the correct beliefs. If you are not offended on a random basis, by the world and its practices or by the church and its correct teachings, then you are slowly becoming a fixture of the earth.  When you are offended, does your earthly heart reveal a poor character or is the Heavenly Kingdom declared among men? Have you been offended yet about Christianity being about a living sacrifice, your own personal living sacrifice?  

 

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  John 6:41-66, Romans 12:1-2