Welcome And Theme Of True Fruit

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You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor and teacher Ken Davis. Pastor Ken is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro in Burleson, Texas. Please join us as we study the Gospel of Luke verse by verse.

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You know, we may be a big beautiful tree with lots of leaves and branches. But if there's no fruit in our lives, then it doesn't matter how beautiful we appear to be. Doesn't matter how faithful we are in attending church every Sunday or in any of the things that we do, if there's no real fruit, then it's all in vain.

Fig Tree Lesson Begins

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The Gospel of Luke is the third account in the Gospels of the life and teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As believers, there are few studies that will benefit us more spiritually than studying the life and teachings of the Master. We all like to look nice, to spruce up our earthly tents so that we have a good appearance, but as believers in Jesus, we need to be careful not to get caught up in the outward. Our concern, our main focus should be the inward man. Beauty is fleeting. But the fruits of the Spirit come from God, and they are truly beautiful qualities to possess. Don't forget to stay with us after today's message to hear more information about He the Word, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. But for now, please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 11, verse 12, as we join Pastor Ken.

From Leaves To Temple Corruption

Withered Fig Tree And Israel’s Warning

What God Calls Fruit: Praise And Giving

Righteous Work And Harvest For Souls

Works Of The Flesh Versus Fruit Of The Spirit

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So let's read beginning in verse 12. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. 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. In response, Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit from you ever again. And his disciples heard it. Now, does it seem like Jesus maybe got angry at the fig tree and kind of lost his temper? This is the only destructive miracle we see in all of Scripture. That's not the case, of course. Everything that is was created for him and by him. And so the highest purpose that this fig tree could have would be to provide fruit for the one that had created it. And so, in not doing that, in not fulfilling that highest purpose that it had in providing fruit for him, how could it then provide fruit for any other? There's a lesson in that for us. If we don't provide fruit unto God, then how can anyone else find nourishment in us? How can we provide anything for anyone that is any good if we are not first fruitful and pleasing to Jesus? Israel is represented quite clearly by this fig tree. Scripture tells us, I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first fruits on the fig tree in its first season. You know, it was completely reasonable for Jesus to expect that there would be fruit upon this tree. For one thing, fig trees spread out their leaves and produce figs at roughly the same time. In fact, the figs typically precede the leaves. So to see the fig tree from afar and to see the leaves on it is a sign that, hey, there's supposed to be fruit here. It looks as though there ought to be fruit here. There is activity, there is appearance, and yet upon closer inspection there's no fruit. And Jesus would find the same thing as he entered the temple. A whole lot of activity, a whole lot of work, a whole lot of things going on. But there was no true fruit of praise or worship that was taking place there, but rather there was extortion. Let's read on in Mark eleven, starting in verse fifteen. So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves, and he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and the chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him because of all the people who were astonished at his teaching. When evening had come, he went out of the city. Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you cursed has withered away. So we see that Jesus comes to the tree and expects to find fruit. Finding none, he says, Let no man eat fruit from you again. That's it, you're done. He comes to the temple, a place where he had every right to expect fruit, and finds none. And so he drives them out and he rebukes them. Now, as this week would progress, we'll see Jesus teaching and performing miracles here in the temple. And it's an awesome and a wonderful thing, for the king has come. He's entered into the temple, and he should have received at that time the praise of his people. And yet, as we see, as time goes on, they would reject him. And so as he goes out of the next day, they see again this fig tree. And Peter looks at it and he says, Wow, look, the tree that you cursed, it's withered. The nation Israel would be the same way. Some forty years later, as we studied, Israel would be destroyed. Jerusalem would be laid waste. Jesus came to that tree, that fig tree, expecting there to be fruit on it. Jesus came to the nation of Israel and to the temple there, expecting there to be fruit. Now, when I say expecting, I'm not saying that he really thought that there was going to be any, because he knows all things and he knew that there wouldn't be. But when I say expecting, I'm saying that he came to it with the right to receive from it. In the same way, Jesus comes to our lives. He comes to us and he looks upon us. And, you know, we may be a big beautiful tree with lots of leaves and branches. But if there's no fruit in our lives, then it doesn't matter how beautiful we appear to be. It doesn't matter how faithful we are in attending church every Sunday or in any of the things that we do, if there's no real fruit, then it's all in vain. What is the fruit that we're talking about? The Bible talks a lot about fruit. One kind of fruit is the fruit of praise. We see that in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 8 through 16, where we're told, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned outside the camp, therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore, by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. So one kind of fruit that God expects to find on our tree is the fruit of praise. Praise to God is the fruit of our lips, and we should be living lives that bring praise and glory and honor to his name. And we should be ready and willing to speak out those things. It's an awesome privilege to be called to worship God. The writer of Hebrews here is talking about the fact that we no longer worship under the old system. We no longer go to a temple and we no longer offer a sacrifice of an animal, but just as we go outside of the camp, we are outside of that old system and we've entered into a new covenant through Jesus and through his blood. And it is because of that that we can offer up the fruit of our lips, which is praise to God. A second type of fruit is the fruit of giving. In Romans 15, 25 through 28, Paul writes, But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achae to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. So he's writing to the believers in Rome, and he's saying, Listen, right now I'm on my way to Jerusalem, because some of the believers where I was gave money to give to the poor who were in Jerusalem, and it's reasonable that they should do so, because the Gentiles who've received the gospel benefited from the Jewish people and the Jewish church, in that it was through them that the message of the Messiah came. And so it was reasonable that because they had benefited spiritually, that they should then give back physically to those who are in Jerusalem. And so that's what was going on. And Paul said, as soon as I seal to them this fruit, or in other words, as soon as I deliver this blessing on their behalf, then I'll be going to you. So we see that giving is fruit unto God. The next type of fruit we see is the fruit of righteous works. Philippians 1, 21 through 26 tells us this: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. Yet what I shall choose I cannot tell, for I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. So we see from what Paul was writing to them that the labor of our work for the Lord, the fruit that comes from that, is pleasing unto God. So that's the fruit of righteous works. Another fruit that's related to that in our lives is the fruit of leading others to Christ. Jesus spoke of this himself in John chapter 4, verses 35 through 38. As we saw, he was out in Samaria, and he was there by the well, and he was having that conversation with the woman at the well. And the disciples come up and they see him talking to her, and they're like, dude, what's he doing talking to her, right? And they offer him something to eat, and he tells them, Hey, I've got bread that you don't know anything about. You know, my bread's to do the will of my Father. And uh in John 4, verses 35 through 38, he tells them this Do you not say there are still four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest, and he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true one sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labors. And so we see that being active in leading other people to Christ, whether it's a sowing or a reaping ministry, there's fruit that comes from that, and that fruit is pleasing to God. Now we do differ from the fig tree in one way in particular more than any other. The fig tree bore no fruit, none whatsoever, neither good nor bad, but we will bear fruit. We will, of one kind or another. To explain what I mean here, turn to Galatians chapter five. Starting in verse sixteen, Paul writes, I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do you remember what we talked about back in Jeremiah as we read through those verses earlier on? How God had said to them, Look, you go out and you do all of these things, and then you come and you stand in my temple and you think I'm gonna receive you? He says, No. My temple's not a den of thieves. It's not a place for you to go do everything you want to do in the world and then come into my temple and say, Oh, but I'm justified because I'm here in the temple. By the same token, he's saying here, listen, those who practice these things, they'll not inherit the kingdom of God. Now you might say, well, wait a second, Ken, does that mean that we're saved by our works or by being good by not doing these things? No, that's not what that tells us at all. Because I'll tell you what, you can spend all of your energies, all of your resources, put forth all of your efforts to not do these things, and in your flesh you're gonna fail because you cannot keep the law. And even if you were able to not do these things, you're still not keeping the law because sin isn't just the things that we do do that we weren't supposed to do. Sin is also the things that we were supposed to do that we didn't do. The Bible says, for him who knows to do good and does not do it to him, it is sin. And so we all fall short. So, what does that mean then? Those who practice such things won't inherit the kingdom of God. What it's saying is this if the Holy Spirit of God lives in you, then you will not be able to live a lifestyle that reflects these things. You won't be able to. Because when you try, when you go out there and you try to live in sin the way that the scripture is talking about, one of a couple things is gonna happen. You're either gonna fail at it, you just won't be able to do it, or you're going to hate it with a passion. You're going to find that the fruit that you reap in your life is so bitter that you detest the things that you've done and you're miserable, or you're going to get caught. One of the three. You as a believer who says, Oh, I've got Jesus in my life, you can go out and you can try to live this way and think you're going to get away with it, you're not going to get away with it. You're going to get caught. And the sin of your heart will be revealed. And you'll be brought to a place where you basically have to repent. Because I'll tell you what, if you're out there and you're living like this and it isn't grieving your heart, then I really have to question whether or not you really know the Lord. I'm not saying that you cannot, as a Christian, go out and do these things, but I'm telling you, you'll find no joy in them. But misery. Verse 21, right there in the middle. Just as I also told you in times past that those who practice such things, that means it's their lifestyle to do this. They will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love. And you know, I really think that's in the singular. He goes on to list all of these things, and he says that the fruit of the spirit is all of this. You know what? The fruit of the spirit is love. All of these things that come after it just describe what that fruit is. We've got these little songs that, you know, God's apple is grace and all that other stuff. You've heard the little children's songs like that. There's nothing wrong with those. Helps them memorize the verse. I think that's great. But the fact of the matter is the fruit of the spirit is love. And all of these that come after it talk about what that love looks like. Joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another or envying one another. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Now, what are the keys to walking in the spirit? First of all, we have to believe, don't we? We have to believe. And as we go back to Mark chapter 11, Jesus is going to tell us two vital elements to walking in the spirit, to conducting our lives in such a way that we're walking in the spirit and that we're bearing the kind of fruit that he expects to receive from us. Verse 20, Mark 11. Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots, and Peter, remembering, said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree which you cursed has withered away. So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. Now I love the fact that Jesus doesn't just say, Have faith. I also love the fact that Jesus doesn't say, Have faith in your faith. Because that's what so many people preach today, don't they? That we should have faith in our faith. That, you know, if if we're not seeing the results that we expect to see, that it's because we don't have enough faith. Well, what we need to understand, guys, is that the one in whom we have faith is the source of the power, not the faith itself. Jesus said, Have faith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Now I think it's interesting to note that there are no commas really in the original text here. And so I think as we read this, that we could read it this way. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them. When we pray, God works in our hearts and he changes the desires of our hearts to reflect his desires. And in prayer, if we believe in prayer, then the Bible tells us we'll have those things for which we're praying. Now, when he talks about moving mountains, is he talking about going out there and seeing, you know, Mount Rainier moved from where it is there on the west coast right out into the middle of the Pacific? I don't know that he's saying that. I don't know that he's not. But what I do know is this each of us in our life, we face mountains, we face obstacles, we face things that are insurmountable in our flesh. And it's when we take those things to God in prayer, believing that he will move on our behalf, that we see miracles take place. But what is an obstacle to the operation of that kind of faith and the fruit that it produces? Verse 25. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. That your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your father in heaven forgive you your trespasses. So what are the factors that are necessary for the production of this fruit in our lives? They are faith and forgiveness. If we do not believe what the word of God tells us about God and about Jesus and about how we come to know him, if we don't believe his word, if we don't have faith in him, then we're not going to produce fruit. And if even though we do believe in him, we refuse to extend the forgiveness that he has given to us to others, we short circuit the growth of that fruit in our lives. And so as I close today, I want to ask you two questions. One and a subset of two. My first question to you is this Do you want to be fruitful? Do you want to bear fruit that will be pleasing to God? Or do you just want to be a tree that looks good to those who see you? Do you want to have a lot of leaves and be nice and green and bushy? Or do you want to actually be productive and to be pleasing to God? Well, I think that's a rhetorical question, the answer to which is yes, of course, we want to be fruitful. So assuming that you want to be fruitful, do you have faith? And what I mean by that simply is do you believe what you have been told from God's Word? Are you prepared to put your faith and your hope and your trust in Jesus Christ? And then secondly, are you willing to forgive those who have sinned against you? I didn't say, are you able? Only God is able. But are you willing? You see, if you will just be willing to forgive, God will make you able. God will accomplish the work, and in faithfulness and in forgiveness, and in following his spirit as he leads you, you will bear fruit, and you will be pleasing to him.

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For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. That's chapter 11, verse 10 of the book we are currently studying here on Heed the Word, Luke. Luke's gospel account of the life of Jesus is an invaluable study that we know God will use in your life. We do thank you for joining us today. This has been another edition of Heed the Word with our pastor and teacher, Ken Davis. As you likely heard at the beginning of today's program, this message is available free of charge on the website. Simply log on to www.heedtheword.org. That's heedtheword.org. Once you're there, select the Listen Online page. There you'll find the Heed the Word Media Player. For your convenience, today's message is available in MP3 podcast and mobile formats. By far, the best way to stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Ken is to subscribe to the Heatheword Podcast. So log on to Heatheword.org and continue studying with us today. If today's message has ministered to you and you live in the Burleson, Texas area, or will be passing through, we'd like to invite you to join us for worship. We meet each Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. You can log on to HeatheWord.org for driving directions and more information. So please stop by and visit us. Well, that's all the time we have for today. We encourage you to join us next time as Pastor Ken continues teaching through the Gospel of Luke on the next edition of Heathe Word.