Sunday, March 4, 2012
Led by Joel Fields
Mark 11:13-26
- vs. 13-14 - Jesus was looking for fruit on the fig tree but all He found was fig leaves. The season was not yet come.
- Hosea 14:8 - Our fruit is found only in the Father... we can only bear fruit because of Him and for His glory.
- John 15:8 - The sign of a true disciple is one who bears much fruit. Herein is the Father glorified.
- When Adam and Eve sinned, they covered themselves in fig leaves... God didn't find any righteous fruit in them.
- We all go through seasons of drought and God has to bring the refreshing rain so that we will produce fruit again.
- vs. 15-19 - Jesus cast out the men who had made His Father's house a den of thieves and perverted the temple of God.
- When Jesus came to this temple all He saw was fig leaves... there was no fruit there so He cast them out... they were useless to Him.
- Everything on the outside looked good and holy, but inwardly they were fruitless. Just as the Pharisees looked holy on the outside but they were hypocrites.
- When Jesus sees dead religion He get's irate and angry. He loves righteousness and life, but He hates wickedness and death.
- A den is a hiding place. These men were in a place where they felt safe to practice sin. They've found a place where they are made to "feel good" about their sinful state.
- The people wanted to destroy Jesus for speaking the truth. Satan always wants to destroy life and that is why whenever truth is spoken you will face trials and tribulations.
- vs. 20-21 - Spiritual drought should make our roots go deeper to find His living water.
- vs. 22 - Jesus said to "have faith in God". He didn't say to have faith in the works of God, but to simply have faith in who He is!
- vs. 23
- A mountain is unbelief and offense. Jesus says if we have faith, we can cast all this sin and unbelief into the sea.
- *** Many times in scripture we can see where sin, wickedness, evil, etc. is cast into the sea. Read Exodus 10:19, 15:4, Jonah 1:12,15, 2:3, Micah 7:19, Mark 9:42, Revelation 18:21
- vs. 24
- Jesus didn't say that we will get whatever we lust for if we pray and ask for it.
- John 14:12-14 - We will receive whatever we ask for if we ask according to what glorify God.
- James 4:3 - When we ask and receive not, it is because we have asked amiss in our own lust.
- vs. 25-26
- Prayer is choked out when we allow a root of bitterness and unforgiveness to grow in our heart.
- We are told to forgive, but this does not mean that the wrong doer is exempt from judgement and punishment for their sin.
Del M. sister, Virginia - husband recently pass away... planning funeral; just had gallbladder removed and recoving; salvation
Family of Sailored Chambers
Chase - newly born again in Christ
Soilder returning home from serving in Afganistan
Thank you Lord for the birth of Caleb and friends for their prayers
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