Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church
NOTHING BUT LEAVES
Mark 11:12-25
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.
Jesus Clears the Temple
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Verse 13 - nothing but leaves
Verse 14 - even God gets angry sometimes
Huckleberry in the wild.
You don't look for the berry, you look for the leaves to identify the bush.
Majesty + Meekness
Power + Weakness
Have a heart for every tribe, every tongue, every nation.
In this passage it's Monday, and on Friday Jesus will be dead.
This is what Jesus is choosing to do.
Jesus is chasing fruit.
One commentator said, "this is a difficult passage."
The fig tree was synonymous with the nation of Israel.
Jesus is bringing a parable to life.
Luke 13:6-9
In Leviticus you were told you would get fruit on the 4th year.
The fourth year belongs to the Lord.
You plant a fig tree knowing you won't see fruit until the fourth year.
This is where the parable comes to life : Israel by and large rejected Jesus.
They brought palm leaves of honor but later there was no fruit under the leaves.
*Living well matters more than look good.*
Jesus approached it because it promised fruit.
The leaves always follow the fruit.
The fruit comes and then the leaves cover the fruit with shade.
Promise without performance is useless.
Quit showing your best and hiding the rest.
Do the hard yards of walking with Jesus.
Galatians 5:22
Under His control!
The blessing doesn't come from following His control, but from living under His control.
We want Lifeguard Jesus, or genie in a bottle Jesus.
We need a KING!
We need the fruit of the Spirit under our leaves.
Scatter back to the world to live this out.
6 Fruits We Want To Grow :
1. Credibility
2. Vitality
3. Spiritual Intensity
4. Magnanimity
5. Energy
6. Authenticity
A. Do you do what you say you'll do?
It's not just something God wants in your life, it's what will cause people to want to be around you.
Proverbs 25:15
Under promise and over perform!
B. Life
Do you have words that speak life?
What effect do the words that you speak have on others?
Be the person to speak encouragement!
Your words matter!
Mans very first job was to speak a name over something and that was the name they were forever.
C. Faith
Is your faith robust?
Wrecking ball to it - a mountain moving.
A mountain being moved was an expression to say "that could never be done."
The expression would have to be changed now...take what's impossible to man and have faith, and with God find the impossible happen!
D. Magnanimous
Generous or forgiving, especially toward those who have wronged you.
Malcolm Forbes quote
Your faith will be held back when you don't forgive.
Lack of forgiveness relationally will drain your power spiritually.
Your love for God that you can't see.
E. Jesus went to eat before cleansing the temple.
Are you fueling well?
Are you taking careful steps to stay energized?
Are you fueling well with the bread of life?
Jesus was looking for the figs to prepare for the fight!
F. The opposite of playing a part.
The opposite of when you're hurting but acting like you have it all together.
No make faking fine!
The lack of the fruit isn't the issue, it's the lies about the fruit.
The cover up is worse than the crime.
He can't remove guilt from your life that you're not willing to admit.
Genesis 3:7 they covered up their nakedness with nothing but the leaves.
Lie of the enemy that you have to hide from Jesus, RUN to Jesus!!
Genesis 3:21
Galatians 3:13
Jesus was so angry at this tree because it was hanging onto a curse that he had come to overcome!
