Authentic Fruitfulness: Living Beyond Appearances
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme "Be Fruitful Now," drawing from Mark 11, where Jesus encounters a fig tree that appears fruitful but is barren upon closer inspection. This narrative serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives, urging us to examine whether we are truly bearing fruit or merely giving the appearance of fruitfulness. Jesus' expectation of the fig tree to bear fruit, despite it not being the season, highlights God's call for us to live fruitful lives regardless of our circumstances. Our faith should be evident in our actions, not just in our appearances.
We delved into the importance of producing spiritual fruit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, which lists the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the markers of a life rooted in Christ. The fig tree's withering after Jesus' curse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of fruitlessness. It underscores that a lack of spiritual fruit indicates a disconnect from the life-giving source, which is God.
The sermon also emphasized the necessity of remaining connected to God, the true vine, as described in John 15. Our ability to bear fruit is contingent upon our relationship with Him. Without this connection, our efforts are in vain. We are encouraged to engage in self-examination, allowing God to prune areas of our lives that hinder fruitfulness. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness in our mission to spread the gospel.
Ultimately, the call is to move beyond mere appearances and to cultivate a deep, authentic relationship with Christ that results in tangible spiritual fruit. This is not just for our benefit but for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Appearance vs. Reality of Fruitfulness: It's easy to appear spiritually active, but God looks beyond appearances to see if we are truly bearing fruit. This calls for self-examination to ensure our actions are backed by genuine faith. [49:58]
2. God's Expectation of Fruitfulness: Regardless of our life's season, God expects us to bear fruit. Our purpose as believers is to make disciples and spread the gospel, reflecting the life of Christ in us. [53:40]
3. Consequences of Fruitlessness: The withering of the fig tree illustrates that fruitlessness is unacceptable in God's kingdom. A lack of spiritual fruit indicates a stagnant faith that fails to fulfill God's purpose for us. [59:15]
4. The Source of Fruitfulness: True fruitfulness comes from staying connected to God, the vine. Our strength and ability to bear fruit are rooted in our relationship with Him, not in our own efforts. [01:05:59]
5. The Necessity of Pruning: To bear fruit, we must allow God to prune areas of our lives that hinder growth. This process requires surrender and a willingness to let God remove what is not beneficial. [01:02:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [40:18] - Introduction to "Be Fruitful Now"
- [46:38] - The Appearance of Fruitfulness
- [49:58] - Self-Examination: Are We Truly Fruitful?
- [53:40] - God's Expectation of Fruitfulness
- [56:22] - The Fruits of the Spirit
- [59:15] - Consequences of Fruitlessness
- [01:02:12] - The Necessity of Pruning
- [01:05:59] - The Source of Fruitfulness
- [01:08:40] - Staying Connected to the Vine
- [01:11:56] - Moving from Appearance to True Fruitfulness
- [01:16:00] - Call to Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Be Fruitful Now"
Bible Reading:
- Mark 11:12-17, 20-25
- Galatians 5:22-23
- John 15:1-9
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Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 11:12-14, what was Jesus' reaction to the fig tree, and what does this reveal about His expectations? [46:38]
2. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit, and how are they described as markers of a life rooted in Christ? [56:22]
3. How does John 15:1-9 describe the relationship between the vine and the branches, and what is the significance of this metaphor for believers? [01:05:59]
4. What actions did Jesus take in the temple courts, and how do these actions relate to the theme of true fruitfulness? [46:38]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have expected the fig tree to bear fruit even though it was not the season for figs, and what does this imply about God's expectations for our spiritual lives? [53:40]
2. How do the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 serve as evidence of a genuine relationship with Christ, and why are they essential for spiritual growth? [56:22]
3. In John 15:1-9, what does it mean to remain in the vine, and how does this connection impact a believer's ability to bear fruit? [01:05:59]
4. What are the consequences of fruitlessness as illustrated by the withering of the fig tree, and how does this serve as a warning for believers? [59:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual life. Are there areas where you might be giving the appearance of fruitfulness without genuine growth? How can you address this? [49:58]
2. Consider the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Which one do you find most challenging to cultivate, and what steps can you take to develop it further in your daily life? [56:22]
3. How can you ensure that your actions are backed by genuine faith rather than just outward appearances? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Christ? [49:58]
4. Identify an area in your life that may need pruning. What specific changes can you make to allow God to remove what is not beneficial for your spiritual growth? [01:02:12]
5. Think of a time when you relied on your own efforts rather than staying connected to God. How did that impact your ability to bear fruit, and what can you do differently in the future? [01:05:59]
6. How can you actively participate in making disciples and spreading the gospel in your community? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [53:40]
7. Reflect on the metaphor of the vine and branches in John 15. How can you remain connected to Christ daily, and what practices can help you stay rooted in Him? [01:08:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Genuine Faith Over Superficial Appearances
In our spiritual journey, it is easy to fall into the trap of appearing fruitful without truly bearing spiritual fruit. The story of the fig tree in Mark 11 serves as a poignant reminder that God looks beyond our outward appearances to the true state of our hearts. Just as Jesus expected the fig tree to bear fruit, He expects us to live lives that reflect genuine faith through our actions. This calls for a deep self-examination to ensure that our faith is not just a facade but is backed by authentic spiritual fruit. [49:58]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you might be projecting an image of fruitfulness without genuine spiritual growth. How can you invite God to transform this area into one of true fruitfulness today?
Day 2: Bearing Fruit in Every Season
God's expectation for us to bear fruit is not limited by the seasons of our lives. Just as Jesus expected the fig tree to produce fruit out of season, we are called to be fruitful regardless of our circumstances. Our purpose as believers is to make disciples and spread the gospel, reflecting the life of Christ within us. This requires us to remain steadfast in our faith and committed to our mission, even when it feels inconvenient or challenging. [53:40]
2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
Reflection: Identify a challenging circumstance in your life where you feel it is difficult to bear fruit. How can you rely on God's strength to be fruitful in this situation today?
Day 3: The Cost of Fruitlessness
The withering of the fig tree is a stark illustration of the consequences of fruitlessness in God's kingdom. A lack of spiritual fruit signifies a stagnant faith that fails to fulfill God's purpose for us. This narrative urges us to remain vigilant in our spiritual walk, ensuring that we are not merely going through the motions but are actively cultivating a life that bears fruit for God's glory. [59:15]
Matthew 7:19-20 (ESV): "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel spiritually stagnant. What steps can you take today to reconnect with God and begin bearing fruit in this area?
Day 4: Staying Connected to the True Vine
True fruitfulness is rooted in our connection to God, the true vine. Our strength and ability to bear fruit come from our relationship with Him, not from our own efforts. Without this connection, our efforts are in vain. We are encouraged to remain in Him, allowing His life-giving presence to flow through us and produce the fruits of the Spirit. [01:05:59]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can deepen your connection with God today to ensure you are abiding in the true vine?
Day 5: Embracing the Pruning Process
To bear fruit, we must allow God to prune areas of our lives that hinder growth. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness in our mission to spread the gospel. Surrendering to God's pruning allows Him to remove what is not beneficial, making room for new growth and greater fruitfulness. [01:02:12]
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV): "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you sense God is calling you to undergo pruning. How can you embrace this process and trust God to bring about growth and fruitfulness through it?
Quotes
And that leads us to an important question, something to ask ourselves, a self-examination, if you will. And I just want to throw out this warning because, you know, sometimes the word of God can get pretty serious. It can get up in our business. Anybody ever had the word of God? Get up. Get up in your business. Sometimes it hits hard. And so just so you know, I love you. The church loves you. Jesus loves you. We're all in this thing together. And if we allow it, the word can challenge us and it can encourage us and it can direct us and guide us in the things that we need to be guided and directed in. And so don't take offense to this, but let God encourage you through this. So here it is. This is a question that we need to ask. Are we giving? Are we giving the impression of being fruitful, but upon closer inspection, there's no fruit? [00:48:57] (54 seconds)
Even though it wasn't the season for figs, Jesus expected fruit because it had leaves. It looked fruitful. He wanted that fruit now. And in the same way, Today, God has placed expectations on us to live fruitful lives, regardless of the season that we're currently in. Why? Because a fruit tree has one purpose, to produce fruit. The fig tree had one purpose and one goal in life, to produce figs. [00:52:30] (32 seconds)
God expects those who have found this church to be a home away from home, to help others find that as well. We could go down the list, worshipers who worship and lead others in the ways to learn how to worship. That's bearing fruit. That's what we're talking about here. And if we're going to be world changers, then we need to change the world. [00:54:56] (25 seconds)
But what happens when we live fruitless lives? We lose our impact and fail to fulfill the purpose that God has given us. We get graded an F on the mission. I don't know about you guys, but I'm more of like a D plus C guy. I'm just joking. But listen, because fruitlessness leads to a stagnant faith. A faith that doesn't inspire or help others. [01:00:04] (38 seconds)
See, if a plant or a fruit tree isn't producing fruit, it means there's areas that, on that plant or tree that maybe are dead or they've been infected or there's something going on and they need to go in and be cut off or pruned so that it can continue to grow and eventually bear fruit. [01:02:48] (22 seconds)
Only God can prune things out of your life. Your family can't do it. Your parents can't do it. You can't do it on your own. Your teachers can't help you. Your friends can't help you. A shrink or a psychiatrist can help you maybe identify the problem. But when it comes to removing those things out of your life, only God can prune things out of your life that's not supposed to be there. [01:04:28] (25 seconds)
Fruitfulness isn't about striving in our own strength. It's about staying connected to God because he's the vine and we are the branches. We don't have the strength to do any of this on our own. But with him, all things are possible. So are you relying on your own effort to look good? Or are you rooted in a deep, authentic relationship with Christ? [01:07:20] (30 seconds)
It needs communication with God. Our faith needs worship. And if we don't make those things daily, I'm not talking about weekly. I'm not talking about every couple of weeks. I'm not talking about monthly. I'm not talking about weekly. I'm not talking about a few times throughout the year. If we don't make those things a daily practice in our lives, our fruit will start to wither, dry up, and disappear. [01:09:11] (25 seconds)
There's been a lot of times in my life that I had to humbly come to the throne of God in prayer, falling on my knees, crying, and say, God, I'm guilty of just looking the part. God, I'm guilty of just being full of leaves but not being truly fruitful for you. And over the last 23 years of serving God, there's been time after time that I've had to get real with myself and get real with God and do that self-examination where I've just been full of leaves, full of myself, full of doing my own thing, trying to do it all on my own. Remember, it's only through a relationship with the Father that you can bear fruit. We can't do it on our own. [01:10:19] (50 seconds)
Maybe you're here this morning and God's speaking to you that it's been a while since you've shown that fruit. It's been a while since you could say, hey, I have something to show for my faith. It's been a while since you've shared your faith. It's been a while. Maybe you're here this morning and you say, I don't, I'm guilty of not having any fruit. I just, I'm full of leaves. I look healthy, but when you get close enough, you don't see any fruit. [01:15:04] (25 seconds)
Help us be a resource for them, God. Help them. Help them start a relationship with you and just start praying and talking to you, God. I pray that they'd be brave enough to talk to somebody, to ask for prayer, to ask someone for a Bible, to come talk to us about the next steps that they need to take, God. We thank you and we praise you, God. And I pray for all those who are getting ready to respond to this message, God, that they would ask you to prune some areas of their life, God. They would ask you to help them be fruitful. They would ask you to just be the Lord of their life and to help them with whatever it is they're going through, God. We declare it. We speak it this morning. We believe it. [01:17:43] (38 seconds)
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