100:00:00,640 –> 00:00:06,440The life of a church doesn’t lie in200:00:06,440 –> 00:00:09,840the leaves. The ability of its leaders.300:00:09,840 –> 00:00:11,560The giftedness of its members. The400:00:11,560 –> 00:00:13,540quality of its programs. These are the500:00:13,540 –> 00:00:15,480leaves. These are the leaves they’re600:00:15,480 –> 00:00:19,400necessary and they make the tree very700:00:19,400 –> 00:00:22,240attractive. But the fruit of people800:00:22,240 –> 00:00:26,920seeking and finding God among us is the900:00:26,920 –> 00:00:30,240work off the Holy Spirit. Welcome to1000:00:30,240 –> 00:00:32,419open the bible with pastor Colin Smith1100:00:32,419 –> 00:00:34,080I’m Davy Pick, I’m glad you could be with1200:00:34,080 –> 00:00:36,000us today and Colin, we’re continuing the1300:00:36,000 –> 00:00:38,580message from last time. In Mark chapter1400:00:38,580 –> 00:00:41,63911 Jesus sees this fig tree-plenty of1500:00:41,639 –> 00:00:43,660leaves but he goes over and looks for1600:00:43,660 –> 00:00:46,400fruit and he doesn’t find any. You1700:00:46,400 –> 00:00:48,279reminded us that this is a picture of1800:00:48,279 –> 00:00:50,200Jesus going to the temple there’s1900:00:50,200 –> 00:00:52,480plenty of business going on but not the2000:00:52,480 –> 00:00:54,880fruit of ministry that Jesus wanted to2100:00:55,480 –> 00:00:57,400what does that mean for us today?2200:00:57,400 –> 00:00:59,439Well I think the fruit that Jesus is2300:00:59,439 –> 00:01:02,040looking for is people who are seeking2400:01:02,040 –> 00:01:04,360and finding God. That’s what was2500:01:04,360 –> 00:01:06,199supposed to be going on in the temple2600:01:06,199 –> 00:01:08,300it’s a place of prayer, it’s for people2700:01:08,300 –> 00:01:10,160for all nations to come and to seek and2800:01:10,160 –> 00:01:12,180to find God. That wasn’t what was2900:01:12,180 –> 00:01:13,919happening he found that it had become a3000:01:13,919 –> 00:01:16,400sort of marketplace product and all the3100:01:16,400 –> 00:01:19,059rest of it and convenience and profit3200:01:19,059 –> 00:01:21,220had taken over. So this is the challenge3300:01:21,220 –> 00:01:24,459for us what God is looking for is that3400:01:24,540 –> 00:01:27,000church should be a place where people3500:01:27,000 –> 00:01:29,820seek him and a place where people find3600:01:29,820 –> 00:01:32,120him. Now It’s very easy to say now3700:01:32,120 –> 00:01:33,639okay so that means we’ve got to be3800:01:33,639 –> 00:01:35,580evangelistic. Well you’ve been a3900:01:35,580 –> 00:01:38,120Christian for 10 years, 20 years and you4000:01:38,120 –> 00:01:40,279come to worship God. Are you seeking God?4100:01:40,279 –> 00:01:42,519I turn up on a Sunday morning I come to4200:01:42,519 –> 00:01:45,040a prayer meeting, I engage in ministry is4300:01:45,040 –> 00:01:48,440my heart that I am seeking God or have I4400:01:48,440 –> 00:01:50,360defaulted to you know do I like this4500:01:50,360 –> 00:01:52,040particular program or the latest way4600:01:52,040 –> 00:01:54,120they’re doing things. We get caught up in4700:01:54,120 –> 00:01:57,199that sort of stuff so easily and I think4800:01:57,199 –> 00:01:59,959Christ cleansing the Temple speaks very4900:01:59,959 –> 00:02:02,300powerfully into all of our lives that5000:02:02,300 –> 00:02:05,239way I need to be cleansed by Christ so5100:02:05,239 –> 00:02:07,680that I’m a person who seeks and goes5200:02:07,680 –> 00:02:10,479after God, hungers and thirsts after him5300:02:10,479 –> 00:02:13,800and may God give that renewal in all of5400:02:13,800 –> 00:02:15,720our churches we desperately need it. A5500:02:15,720 –> 00:02:17,720lot of us would agree with that and we5600:02:17,720 –> 00:02:19,179want to know what does that look like?5700:02:19,179 –> 00:02:20,839That’s what we’ll find in today’s5800:02:20,839 –> 00:02:23,460message so if you can join us in mark5900:02:24,100 –> 00:02:25,860Chapter 11 as we continue the message6000:02:25,860 –> 00:02:28,580Jesus looks for fruit among his people6100:02:28,580 –> 00:02:30,740here’s Colin. Let’s jump into the6200:02:30,740 –> 00:02:32,320scriptures together and we’ll begin with6300:02:32,320 –> 00:02:36,100the tree in chapter 11 in verse 12. We’re6400:02:36,100 –> 00:02:39,339told that Jesus was hungry and as he’s6500:02:39,339 –> 00:02:40,880walking along the road, making his way6600:02:40,880 –> 00:02:43,860into Jerusalem Monday morning he sees a6700:02:43,860 –> 00:02:47,580fig tree and it’s bursting with leaves6800:02:47,580 –> 00:02:51,119and this tree looks magnificent and6900:02:51,119 –> 00:02:53,100abundant and well watered and healthy7000:02:53,419 –> 00:02:55,800and Jesus goes to the tree and he’s7100:02:55,800 –> 00:02:59,539looking for fruit but verse 13 when he7200:02:59,539 –> 00:03:04,300reached it he found nothing but leaves7300:03:04,300 –> 00:03:07,699Now mark says, you’ll notice there, that it7400:03:07,699 –> 00:03:10,740was not the season for figs so you7500:03:10,740 –> 00:03:13,179certainly wouldn’t expect to find figs7600:03:13,179 –> 00:03:14,919that were ripe and ready to eat7700:03:14,919 –> 00:03:18,020Dr William Hendrickson says it’s7800:03:18,020 –> 00:03:20,139important to point out that the earlier7900:03:20,360 –> 00:03:23,160figs appear at the same time as the8000:03:23,160 –> 00:03:25,960leaves so the problem with this tree8100:03:25,960 –> 00:03:27,899wasn’t simply that it didn’t have ripe8200:03:27,899 –> 00:03:29,559fruit which you wouldn’t really expect8300:03:29,559 –> 00:03:32,000at that time of year, but the problem was8400:03:32,000 –> 00:03:33,380it didn’t have any fruit. It didn’t have8500:03:33,380 –> 00:03:36,300any fruit even in the process of forming8600:03:36,300 –> 00:03:42,500It was a barren fig tree. Now Mark puts8700:03:42,500 –> 00:03:45,740the story of the tree alongside the8800:03:45,740 –> 00:03:50,100story of the temple, verse 11, when Jesus8900:03:50,199 –> 00:03:52,660entered Jerusalem he went to the temple9000:03:53,160 –> 00:03:54,860and he looked around at everything9100:03:54,860 –> 00:03:56,820you see the parallel there looking at9200:03:56,820 –> 00:04:00,220the tree looking at the temple, God’s Son9300:04:00,220 –> 00:04:03,160is coming to God’s temple and what’s he9400:04:03,160 –> 00:04:07,899doing he’s looking for fruit he’s coming9500:04:07,899 –> 00:04:10,139to the holy city and there’s been this9600:04:10,139 –> 00:04:12,779rapturous welcome all this cheering and9700:04:12,779 –> 00:04:15,860throwing palm branches on the ground but9800:04:15,860 –> 00:04:19,679now he looks behind the leaves and he9900:04:19,920 –> 00:04:24,019became a ruler he’s a ruler now so he10000:04:24,019 –> 00:04:24,920wants to see what fruit is10100:04:24,920 –> 00:04:29,160really there among his people and what10200:04:29,160 –> 00:04:32,559he finds on the fig tree leaves only no10300:04:32,559 –> 00:04:35,140fruit is really a kind of picture of10400:04:35,140 –> 00:04:37,399what he’s going to find in the temple10500:04:37,399 –> 00:04:42,440nothing but leaves so the temple was10600:04:42,440 –> 00:04:45,100very impressive it’s buzzing with10700:04:45,100 –> 00:04:48,059activity it looks as if its blooming10800:04:48,440 –> 00:04:51,100Now as Christ pulls back the leaves he does10900:04:51,100 –> 00:04:53,920not find the fruit that he is looking11000:04:53,920 –> 00:04:58,079for the temple comes out to be nothing11100:04:58,079 –> 00:05:01,119but leaves and so the tree is a sort of11200:05:01,119 –> 00:05:05,100parable of the temple. Now, what was the11300:05:05,100 –> 00:05:07,600fruit that Jesus Christ was looking for11400:05:07,600 –> 00:05:12,160in his temple let’s focus in on verse 1711500:05:12,160 –> 00:05:16,279My house will be called a house of11600:05:16,279 –> 00:05:24,619prayer for all nations my house this11700:05:24,619 –> 00:05:29,299temple Jesus is saying what is here for11800:05:29,299 –> 00:05:33,920is to be a place where folks from every11900:05:33,920 –> 00:05:38,279background all nations can come and seek12000:05:38,279 –> 00:05:43,040and find God that’s what it’s meant to12100:05:43,040 –> 00:05:48,820be now isn’t this a marvelous vision I12200:05:48,820 –> 00:05:51,880found my own soul lifted just by12300:05:51,880 –> 00:05:55,239reflecting on these words of Jesus a12400:05:55,239 –> 00:05:59,100place where folks from very different12500:05:59,100 –> 00:06:03,380backgrounds Jew gentile black white12600:06:03,380 –> 00:06:09,019young old rich poor come together to12700:06:09,019 –> 00:06:15,079seek and to find the living God’ now12800:06:15,079 –> 00:06:18,640that is what God intended his temple to12900:06:18,640 –> 00:06:22,480be but when Jesus came to the temple it13000:06:22,480 –> 00:06:24,660evidently wasn’t happening there13100:06:24,660 –> 00:06:27,019instead of being a place where folks13200:06:27,019 –> 00:06:28,799from every background were coming to13300:06:28,799 –> 00:06:30,839seek and to fight him it had become13400:06:30,839 –> 00:06:32,799increasingly a place of convenience and13500:06:32,799 –> 00:06:35,640it had become a place of making money13600:06:35,640 –> 00:06:38,899and Jesus when he pulls back the leaves13700:06:39,179 –> 00:06:40,640to see if there is the fruit he is13800:06:40,640 –> 00:06:43,119looking for finds that in the temple it13900:06:43,119 –> 00:06:49,519is nothing but leaves but Jesus is not14000:06:49,519 –> 00:06:52,600impressed with the leaves of ministry14100:06:53,600 –> 00:06:55,700he pulls back the leaves to see if there14200:06:55,700 –> 00:06:57,619is any fruit and what is the fruit he is14300:06:57,619 –> 00:07:01,820looking for is this a place where people14400:07:01,820 –> 00:07:06,100are seeking God and finding God14500:07:06,940 –> 00:07:09,619We see that really is the most important14600:07:09,619 –> 00:07:14,579question to ask of any ministry is this14700:07:14,579 –> 00:07:21,279a place where people are seeking God and14800:07:21,279 –> 00:07:28,200finding God that’s the fruit that Jesus14900:07:28,200 –> 00:07:32,579is looking for now15000:07:32,579 –> 00:07:34,279our Lord is something very important to15100:07:34,279 –> 00:07:37,899say to us in relation to how this fruit15200:07:37,899 –> 00:07:40,000is produced but I want us to see first15300:07:40,000 –> 00:07:42,959the illustration that he uses to warn us15400:07:42,959 –> 00:07:46,600about what happens to a fruitless tree15500:07:46,600 –> 00:07:52,160let’s look at verse 14 Jesus says to this15600:07:52,160 –> 00:07:55,540tree we go back to the tree again which15700:07:55,540 –> 00:07:57,739throws light as it were on the temple15800:07:57,739 –> 00:08:00,200under my God is saying to us and Jesus15900:08:00,200 –> 00:08:02,559says to the tree me no one ever eat16000:08:02,760 –> 00:08:08,500fruit from you again now in verse 2016100:08:08,500 –> 00:08:10,079when they come back on the Tuesday16200:08:10,079 –> 00:08:11,820morning we’re told that as they went16300:08:11,820 –> 00:08:13,420along they’re coming back on precisely16400:08:13,420 –> 00:08:15,420the same journey into the city of16500:08:15,420 –> 00:08:17,399Jerusalem for the third time coming in16600:08:17,399 –> 00:08:19,959on Tuesday they saw the fig tree and it16700:08:19,959 –> 00:08:21,660was withered from the roots there’s16800:08:21,660 –> 00:08:24,760obviously a miracle here because a tree16900:08:24,760 –> 00:08:28,679doesn’t wither in a day and what struck17000:08:28,679 –> 00:08:30,440the disciples was that it wasn’t just17100:08:30,440 –> 00:08:32,400that the leaves had begun to droop the17200:08:32,400 –> 00:08:35,200thing had withered Mark says from the17300:08:35,200 –> 00:08:37,900very roots17400:08:37,919 –> 00:08:43,580now the story of the tree is given to17500:08:43,580 –> 00:08:45,760help us understand the story of the17600:08:45,760 –> 00:08:48,419temple and you can see that if you turn17700:08:48,419 –> 00:08:50,299just a couple of pages forward to Mark17800:08:50,299 –> 00:08:53,559chapter 13 and verse 1 where at the17900:08:53,559 –> 00:08:55,219beginning of Mark chapter 13 Jesus18000:08:55,219 –> 00:09:00,559relieves the temple and as they’re18100:09:00,700 –> 00:09:02,520leaving the disciples say wow what18200:09:02,520 –> 00:09:04,700magnificent buildings these are and18300:09:04,700 –> 00:09:07,179Jesus says you see these buildings not18400:09:07,179 –> 00:09:09,479one stone here will be left on top of18500:09:09,479 –> 00:09:11,440another every one of them will be thrown18600:09:11,440 –> 00:09:14,960down in other words just as the fig18700:09:14,960 –> 00:09:17,539tree that looked so marvelous but was18800:09:17,539 –> 00:09:20,640without fruit withered in a day so this18900:09:20,640 –> 00:09:22,919temple that is so full of bustling19000:09:22,919 –> 00:09:24,799activity that turns out to be nothing19100:09:24,799 –> 00:09:27,000but leaves it’s going to be destroyed19200:09:27,000 –> 00:09:30,080it’s going to implode in exactly the19300:09:30,119 –> 00:09:32,960same way and of course that is exactly19400:09:32,960 –> 00:09:37,520what happened in the year AD 70 not one19500:09:37,520 –> 00:09:41,880stone of the temple was left on top of19600:09:41,880 –> 00:09:45,599another very sobering part of mark’s19700:09:45,599 –> 00:09:49,659gospel the withered tree is a picture of19800:09:49,659 –> 00:09:52,099what happens where God’s people ceased19900:09:52,099 –> 00:09:58,539to seek him that’s the fruit Jesus said20000:09:58,580 –> 00:10:00,419to his disciples I have appointed you20100:10:00,419 –> 00:10:03,099I’ve called you to bear fruit that will20200:10:03,099 –> 00:10:06,940last and you remember what Jesus says in20300:10:06,940 –> 00:10:09,340John’s gospel and chapter 15 he says I20400:10:09,340 –> 00:10:11,140am the vine and my father is the20500:10:11,140 –> 00:10:14,299gardener what does he do he cuts off20600:10:14,299 –> 00:10:20,020every branch in me that does not bear20700:10:20,020 –> 00:10:24,419fruit you know as we think about20800:10:24,419 –> 00:10:28,380ourselves the withered tree is a picture20900:10:28,619 –> 00:10:32,020of what can happen in the life of a21000:10:32,020 –> 00:10:35,260local church Christ speaks in the book21100:10:35,260 –> 00:10:37,539of revelation about an awful possibility21200:10:37,539 –> 00:10:42,940of the candlestick itself being removed21300:10:42,940 –> 00:10:46,000the life of a church doesn’t lie in the21400:10:46,000 –> 00:10:50,919leaves the ability of its leaders the21500:10:50,919 –> 00:10:53,640giftedness of its members the quality of21600:10:53,640 –> 00:10:55,780its programs these are the leaves these21700:10:55,780 –> 00:10:57,239are the leaves they’re necessary and21800:10:57,260 –> 00:11:02,559they make the tree very attractive but21900:11:02,559 –> 00:11:05,239the fruit of people seeking and finding22000:11:05,239 –> 00:11:08,880God among us is the work of the holy22100:11:08,880 –> 00:11:13,200Spirit and when the Spirit is grieved or22200:11:13,200 –> 00:11:17,179quenched or withdrawn from a church22300:11:17,179 –> 00:11:20,359spiritual life withers from the roots22400:11:20,359 –> 00:11:24,280now we’ve all seen that happen and it’s22500:11:24,280 –> 00:11:26,039important for us to hear this warning22600:11:26,039 –> 00:11:29,039unless we think that organizational22700:11:29,039 –> 00:11:31,280strength guarantees the life of the22800:11:31,280 –> 00:11:36,099church doesn’t. Jesus pulls back the22900:11:36,099 –> 00:11:41,580leaves and the real question in any area23000:11:41,580 –> 00:11:46,179of ministry is this a place where people23100:11:46,179 –> 00:11:53,460are seeking and finding God? Now just one23200:11:53,580 –> 00:11:56,000more word on this withering tree before23300:11:56,000 –> 00:11:59,039we move on to Jesus wonderful teaching23400:11:59,039 –> 00:12:00,900about how we can produce this fruit23500:12:00,900 –> 00:12:02,640which is really the most important23600:12:02,640 –> 00:12:05,039thing but I want just to come back for a23700:12:05,039 –> 00:12:07,140moment, to mark strange words in verse23800:12:07,140 –> 00:12:15,03913, it was not the season for figs and23900:12:15,039 –> 00:12:18,099that rather strange comment just raises24000:12:18,099 –> 00:12:19,840at least in my mind an interesting24100:12:20,479 –> 00:12:25,320question. Will there ever be a season for24200:12:25,320 –> 00:12:31,340figs in Israel? Will God’s Old Testament24300:12:31,340 –> 00:12:33,640people ever produce the fruit that24400:12:33,640 –> 00:12:36,080Jesus was seeking in the temple and that24500:12:36,080 –> 00:12:40,640on that day he did not find there? And I24600:12:40,640 –> 00:12:42,440am convinced that the answer to that24700:12:42,440 –> 00:12:46,599question is yes, it’s very interesting24800:12:46,599 –> 00:12:49,559that Paul in Romans Chapter 11 uses24900:12:49,820 –> 00:12:52,400the analogy of a tree, not a fig tree25000:12:52,400 –> 00:12:54,280but an olive tree, in Romans Chapter25100:12:54,280 –> 00:12:57,29911 to describe what has happened to25200:12:57,299 –> 00:13:00,200Israel in the great overarching25300:13:00,280 –> 00:13:03,479purposes of God. And he says in Romans25400:13:03,479 –> 00:13:06,479Chapter 11, in verse 17, some of the25500:13:06,479 –> 00:13:08,859branches referring to Israel have been25600:13:08,859 –> 00:13:12,260broken off, there’s been a withering.25700:13:13,039 –> 00:13:17,159But he says, Romans 11 Verse 23, God is25800:13:17,159 –> 00:13:22,080able to graft them on again. And then25900:13:22,080 –> 00:13:24,280Romans 11, Verse 26, he says this26000:13:24,280 –> 00:13:27,000wonderful statement, he speaks of a day26100:13:27,000 –> 00:13:30,479when all Israel will be saved.26200:13:31,880 –> 00:13:34,179I look for a day when the fruit Jesus26300:13:34,179 –> 00:13:38,159did not find will be found in abundance26400:13:39,000 –> 00:13:40,859among Jewish people. I think that’s the26500:13:40,859 –> 00:13:42,539promise of the new Testament.26600:13:42,539 –> 00:13:49,140The fruitless tree that withered is26700:13:49,140 –> 00:13:53,179not the end of the story. And let me26800:13:53,179 –> 00:13:55,260just apply that point then back to us.26900:13:55,260 –> 00:13:58,539You come here this morning and you say27000:13:58,539 –> 00:14:00,179you know here you’re talking about a27100:14:00,179 –> 00:14:02,059fruitless tree, a withered tree, is27200:14:02,059 –> 00:14:06,159exactly what I feel my life is like.27300:14:06,159 –> 00:14:08,119Feel that I’ve just not borne the fruit27400:14:08,239 –> 00:14:12,400that God has called me to bear? Listen,27500:14:12,400 –> 00:14:15,979that needn’t be the end of your life27600:14:15,979 –> 00:14:20,280story either. He is able to graft you27700:14:20,280 –> 00:14:24,080again into Christ, he is able to bring27800:14:24,080 –> 00:14:26,340new life into the deadness and27900:14:26,340 –> 00:14:29,900fruitlessness of your spiritual walk.28000:14:29,900 –> 00:14:34,900This is our God and he is wonderfully28100:14:34,900 –> 00:14:37,380wonderfully gracious.28200:14:37,619 –> 00:14:38,960You’re listening to Open the Bible with28300:14:38,960 –> 00:14:41,619Pastor Colin Smith on a message Jesus28400:14:41,619 –> 00:14:44,280looks for fruit among his people. It’s28500:14:44,280 –> 00:14:46,280part of our series, The Gospel According28600:14:46,280 –> 00:14:48,320to Jesus, and if you’ve missed any of28700:14:48,320 –> 00:14:50,419the series why not come to our website28800:14:50,419 –> 00:14:53,979openthebible.org.uk and listen there to28900:14:53,979 –> 00:14:56,419any of the previously broadcast messages.29000:14:57,020 –> 00:14:59,200Back to the message now. Here’s Colin.29100:14:59,200 –> 00:15:04,080So Jesus is looking for fruit. He gives29200:15:04,080 –> 00:15:06,299us this very serious warning about what29300:15:06,340 –> 00:15:08,239happens, the withering that comes when29400:15:08,239 –> 00:15:13,140people no longer seek him and no longer29500:15:13,140 –> 00:15:17,520find him. Now, let’s come to the last29600:15:17,520 –> 00:15:23,000thing, which is so important here. Jesus29700:15:23,000 –> 00:15:26,640teaches his disciples, and he teaches us29800:15:26,940 –> 00:15:29,799in this very passage, how it is that we29900:15:30,119 –> 00:15:33,260may bear this fruit that he is looking30000:15:33,320 –> 00:15:36,859for. What’s the fruit? Verse 17, my30100:15:37,299 –> 00:15:41,239house will be a house of prayer for all30200:15:41,239 –> 00:15:46,099nations. My house will be a place where30300:15:46,099 –> 00:15:49,099people from every background will seek me30400:15:50,299 –> 00:15:53,500and find me! Don’t you find something30500:15:53,500 –> 00:15:55,299within your own heart rising to that and30600:15:55,320 –> 00:15:57,940say, that’s the kind of church we want to30700:15:57,940 –> 00:16:02,640be! We want to be full of the fruit that30800:16:02,640 –> 00:16:05,359Jesus is looking for to be a place where30900:16:05,359 –> 00:16:08,099in every sphere of ministry people are31000:16:08,119 –> 00:16:10,739seeking God and people are finding God.31100:16:10,760 –> 00:16:14,359Now here’s the question, how are we to31200:16:14,359 –> 00:16:19,320produce that kind of fruit? Now if you31300:16:19,320 –> 00:16:21,679look at verse 24 you will see there that31400:16:21,679 –> 00:16:25,000Jesus is obviously speaking about this31500:16:25,000 –> 00:16:26,479very issue because he says presently,31600:16:26,500 –> 00:16:28,599I tell you whatever you ask for in31700:16:28,619 –> 00:16:31,840prayer, believe that you have received31800:16:31,840 –> 00:16:34,039and it will be yours, so by teaching us31900:16:34,059 –> 00:16:37,479disciples about how they are to pray he32000:16:37,479 –> 00:16:40,179quite clearly is teaching them about how32100:16:40,200 –> 00:16:42,320they will bear the fruit that he did not32200:16:42,320 –> 00:16:45,479find in the temple, which was not a32300:16:45,500 –> 00:16:47,979house of prayer for all nations, was not32400:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,260a place where people were seeking and32500:16:50,280 –> 00:16:53,000finding God. And Jesus is saying to the32600:16:53,020 –> 00:16:55,479disciples the fruits not there, the fruit32700:16:55,500 –> 00:16:59,859has to be born among you. Now how is this32800:17:00,000 –> 00:17:04,420fruit to be produced? Jesus identifies32900:17:04,420 –> 00:17:07,000two things and they’re both of great33000:17:07,020 –> 00:17:10,979significance. The first is that if we33100:17:11,000 –> 00:17:13,640want to be a community of believers33200:17:13,660 –> 00:17:16,680where people are seeking and finding him33300:17:16,699 –> 00:17:23,819we must seek to cultivate faith. Verse 2233400:17:24,380 –> 00:17:28,560In God? Jesus answered. Verse 2333500:17:41,339 –> 00:17:44,780Extraordinary promise. For Jesus was33600:17:44,800 –> 00:17:46,439standing on the Mount of Olives when he33700:17:46,459 –> 00:17:50,780said it. And you can see from the Mount33800:17:50,780 –> 00:17:52,459of Olives all the way to the Dead Sea.33900:17:52,540 –> 00:17:54,020So, when he says this mountain into the34000:17:54,020 –> 00:17:55,459sea, he is talking about the Mount of34100:17:55,479 –> 00:17:57,579Olives and the Dead Sea. Well, the Mount34200:17:57,579 –> 00:17:58,819of Olives is still there, if you go34300:17:58,819 –> 00:18:00,119visit in the Dead Sea, it’s still34400:18:00,140 –> 00:18:01,459there. So, no one’s actually done this34500:18:01,459 –> 00:18:04,859feat. Jesus is clearly using hyperbole34600:18:05,500 –> 00:18:06,979to describe a point of great34700:18:06,979 –> 00:18:09,900significance, which is this, that34800:18:09,900 –> 00:18:13,780extraordinary things happen when God’s34900:18:13,780 –> 00:18:17,859people seek him in prayer, with faith.35000:18:19,739 –> 00:18:21,579And how are we to increase our faith35100:18:22,520 –> 00:18:25,439and to build our faith? Faith comes35200:18:25,439 –> 00:18:29,060from hearing, and hearing comes from35300:18:29,060 –> 00:18:31,640the word of God. That’s why every35400:18:31,640 –> 00:18:32,979Sunday we come and we gather around35500:18:32,979 –> 00:18:35,040the word of God, to get our eyes on35600:18:35,040 –> 00:18:37,640Jesus Christ and on the greatness and35700:18:37,640 –> 00:18:39,760the glory of the Lord. Because the more35800:18:39,760 –> 00:18:42,300we see his greatness, the more we will35900:18:42,300 –> 00:18:44,939have confidence in him, and the more we36000:18:44,939 –> 00:18:47,579have confidence in him, the more we will36100:18:47,579 –> 00:18:49,140ask of him.36200:18:50,000 –> 00:18:51,800You see this very clearly, Jesus is36300:18:51,800 –> 00:18:54,500saying, the fruits not in the temple, I36400:18:54,500 –> 00:18:55,859pulled back the leaves and it’s not36500:18:55,859 –> 00:18:58,619there. It’s not a house of prayer, it’s36600:18:58,619 –> 00:19:01,260become a den of robbers. And Jesus,36700:19:01,260 –> 00:19:03,660chapter 13, has moved away from the36800:19:03,660 –> 00:19:09,339temple. Then it collapses, AD 70. And36900:19:09,339 –> 00:19:11,479he’s saying to his disciples you are37000:19:11,479 –> 00:19:13,699the ones who must produce this fruit.37100:19:13,699 –> 00:19:18,479You must now become community of people37200:19:18,939 –> 00:19:21,420seeking and finding God and others37300:19:21,420 –> 00:19:23,000being joined to you. This is what the37400:19:23,000 –> 00:19:25,099Christian Church is really all about, not37500:19:25,099 –> 00:19:30,099the leaves, the fruit. The fruit comes in37600:19:30,099 –> 00:19:34,459abundance as God’s people grow in faith37700:19:34,459 –> 00:19:39,739and learn to ask from him. Then Jesus37800:19:39,739 –> 00:19:43,380says a second thing, if we want to bear37900:19:43,380 –> 00:19:45,099the fruit of people from every38000:19:45,180 –> 00:19:48,520background coming and seeking and38100:19:48,520 –> 00:19:51,959finding Him, we must not only38200:19:51,959 –> 00:19:53,359cultivate faith, but we must38300:19:53,359 –> 00:19:55,459cultivate forgiveness, verse 25,38400:19:55,459 –> 00:19:58,199and when you stand praying, so he’s38500:19:58,199 –> 00:19:59,859talking about how this seeking and38600:19:59,859 –> 00:20:02,880finding will be effective. If you38700:20:02,880 –> 00:20:05,880hold anything against anyone,38800:20:06,979 –> 00:20:10,079forgive him so that your father in38900:20:10,079 –> 00:20:13,660Heaven may forgive you your sins.39000:20:14,219 –> 00:20:19,000That’s powerful. If you really39100:20:19,000 –> 00:20:21,560want to live a fruitful life for39200:20:21,560 –> 00:20:24,660Jesus Christ, if we, as a39300:20:24,660 –> 00:20:27,859community, want to be fruitful39400:20:27,859 –> 00:20:29,280in becoming a place where39500:20:29,280 –> 00:20:31,839people are seeking and finding39600:20:31,839 –> 00:20:33,699God, folks from every39700:20:33,699 –> 00:20:36,719background, then we must not39800:20:36,719 –> 00:20:38,760only grow in faith but we must39900:20:38,760 –> 00:20:42,540cultivate forgiveness. Who are40000:20:42,540 –> 00:20:45,479you angry with? Who has40100:20:45,479 –> 00:20:50,979offended you? Who has hurt you?40200:20:51,000 –> 00:20:54,540Who has wounded you? Gotta40300:20:54,540 –> 00:20:57,800forgive them. And you say well40400:20:57,800 –> 00:20:59,280how can I grow in that, I don’t40500:20:59,280 –> 00:21:00,760want to be bitter, I don’t want40600:21:00,760 –> 00:21:03,060to be uptight, I want to know40700:21:03,060 –> 00:21:04,660the peace of God my Father40800:21:04,660 –> 00:21:08,640ruling my life and everything.40900:21:08,640 –> 00:21:10,140What do I do? Do I come to God41000:21:10,140 –> 00:21:12,140and say Lord help me forgive,41100:21:12,140 –> 00:21:13,859no that probably just make you41200:21:13,859 –> 00:21:17,180more uptight. Here’s what Jesus41300:21:17,180 –> 00:21:21,819says you do. Love your enemies41400:21:21,819 –> 00:21:26,020and pray for those who persecute41500:21:26,020 –> 00:21:29,900you. Someone’s hurt you,41600:21:29,900 –> 00:21:33,219someone’s wounded you. It’s not41700:21:33,219 –> 00:21:34,599easy for you to forgive them,41800:21:35,020 –> 00:21:38,719here’s what you do, you ask for41900:21:38,719 –> 00:21:44,760God’s blessing upon them. And42000:21:44,760 –> 00:21:46,319it’s amazing the degree to which42100:21:46,319 –> 00:21:48,400that changes a person’s heart,42200:21:50,900 –> 00:21:52,420and it’s not a small issue42300:21:52,420 –> 00:21:53,880because Jesus is saying if we’re42400:21:53,880 –> 00:21:55,439going to be the kind of church42500:21:55,439 –> 00:21:57,300that bears fruit and isn’t just42600:21:57,300 –> 00:22:00,260leaves, here’s the two things42700:22:00,260 –> 00:22:01,640that really matter. Here’s what42800:22:01,640 –> 00:22:05,380makes prayer effective, there’ll42900:22:05,380 –> 00:22:08,520be real seeking and finding of43000:22:09,380 –> 00:22:13,420God as we grow in faith and as43100:22:13,420 –> 00:22:17,500we grow in forgiveness. Now43200:22:17,500 –> 00:22:19,619Jesus didn’t find that fruit in43300:22:19,619 –> 00:22:21,140the temple, in fact when he got43400:22:21,140 –> 00:22:24,660there it was nothing but leaves.43500:22:26,300 –> 00:22:28,260I think our prayer today is that43600:22:28,260 –> 00:22:29,839as he observes the life of this43700:22:29,839 –> 00:22:33,239church, he may find increasingly43800:22:33,239 –> 00:22:35,800the fruit that he is looking for43900:22:35,880 –> 00:22:38,839growing on our branches.44000:22:39,959 –> 00:22:44,020May it be so for his praise and44100:22:44,020 –> 00:22:45,520for his glory.44200:22:45,520 –> 00:22:46,719You’ve been listening to Open44300:22:46,719 –> 00:22:48,219the Bible with Pastor Colin44400:22:48,219 –> 00:22:49,699Smith and a message called44500:22:49,699 –> 00:22:51,239Jesus Looks for Fruit Among His44600:22:51,239 –> 00:22:53,579People, its part of our series44700:22:53,579 –> 00:22:55,439The Gospel According to Jesus44800:22:55,439 –> 00:22:57,540based on Mark’s gospel.44900:22:57,540 –> 00:22:58,699If you’ve missed any of the45000:22:58,699 –> 00:23:00,180series so far or if you45100:23:00,180 –> 00:23:01,079want to go back and listen45200:23:01,079 –> 00:23:02,079again, don’t forget you can45300:23:02,079 –> 00:23:03,640always do that by coming online45400:23:03,640 –> 00:23:05,640to our website, openthebible.co.uk45500:23:06,119 –> 00:23:09,500or find us as a podcast and45600:23:09,500 –> 00:23:10,479those are on all the major45700:23:10,479 –> 00:23:12,479podcasting sites search for45800:23:12,479 –> 00:23:13,739Open the Bible UK.45900:23:13,739 –> 00:23:15,839Open the Bible is able to46000:23:15,839 –> 00:23:17,459stay on this station and on46100:23:17,459 –> 00:23:19,180the Internet because of the46200:23:19,180 –> 00:23:20,479financial support of our46300:23:20,479 –> 00:23:22,040listeners so if you already46400:23:22,040 –> 00:23:23,359give thank you for your46500:23:23,359 –> 00:23:24,319support.46600:23:24,319 –> 00:23:25,839If you don’t already give but46700:23:25,839 –> 00:23:26,800that’s something you’re46800:23:26,800 –> 00:23:28,420thinking about doing, then46900:23:28,420 –> 00:23:29,819this month we have a special47000:23:29,819 –> 00:23:30,520offer for you.47100:23:30,520 –> 00:23:32,579If you’re able to set up a47200:23:32,579 –> 00:23:34,400direct debit in the amount of47300:23:34,420 –> 00:23:35,959five pounds per month or47400:23:35,959 –> 00:23:38,099more or make a one-off47500:23:38,099 –> 00:23:39,819donation of fifty pounds or47600:23:39,819 –> 00:23:41,599more to the work of Open the47700:23:41,599 –> 00:23:43,060Bible, this month we can47800:23:43,060 –> 00:23:45,339offer you a book by R.C.47900:23:45,339 –> 00:23:47,520Sproul called The Advent of48000:23:47,520 –> 00:23:48,300Glory.48100:23:51,180 –> 00:23:53,619Colin, what makes this book48200:23:53,619 –> 00:23:54,619so special?48300:23:54,619 –> 00:23:57,000First it is telling the48400:23:57,000 –> 00:23:58,160story of Christmas.48500:23:58,160 –> 00:23:59,439The son of God coming into48600:23:59,439 –> 00:24:00,319the world, what could be48700:24:00,319 –> 00:24:01,599more wonderful than that.48800:24:02,140 –> 00:24:03,300And second, it is by48900:24:03,300 –> 00:24:04,699R.C. Sproul.49000:24:04,699 –> 00:24:06,319The most important thing49100:24:06,319 –> 00:24:07,760about any book is who49200:24:07,760 –> 00:24:09,680wrote it and here is a49300:24:09,680 –> 00:24:11,680godly man with a49400:24:11,680 –> 00:24:13,420wonderful mind and49500:24:13,420 –> 00:24:15,079a warm heart and49600:24:15,079 –> 00:24:16,099great insight.49700:24:16,099 –> 00:24:17,180He is with the Lord now49800:24:17,180 –> 00:24:18,839but the writings that49900:24:18,839 –> 00:24:20,079R.C. Sproul have left50000:24:20,079 –> 00:24:21,680behind really are50100:24:21,680 –> 00:24:22,459a treasure.50200:24:22,459 –> 00:24:24,119And this one is just out50300:24:24,119 –> 00:24:26,280it is a new devotional50400:24:26,280 –> 00:24:28,680for Advent, twenty-four50500:24:28,680 –> 00:24:29,800words that are at the50600:24:29,800 –> 00:24:30,739heart of the Christmas50700:24:30,780 –> 00:24:31,160story.50800:24:31,160 –> 00:24:32,119It’s just about four50900:24:32,119 –> 00:24:33,660pages for each day,51000:24:33,660 –> 00:24:35,699very easy to read,51100:24:35,699 –> 00:24:36,880full of insight.51200:24:36,880 –> 00:24:38,500I’m very excited about51300:24:38,500 –> 00:24:38,819it.51400:24:38,819 –> 00:24:40,819The Advent of Glory,51500:24:40,819 –> 00:24:42,78024 Devotionals for51600:24:42,780 –> 00:24:44,260Christmas by R.C. Sproul.51700:24:44,260 –> 00:24:45,180Well, we’d love to51800:24:45,180 –> 00:24:46,140send you a copy of51900:24:46,140 –> 00:24:47,439R.C. Sproul’s book,52000:24:47,439 –> 00:24:48,880The Advent of Glory,52100:24:48,880 –> 00:24:50,11924 Devotions for52200:24:50,119 –> 00:24:51,380Christmas, as a way52300:24:51,380 –> 00:24:52,280of saying thank you52400:24:52,280 –> 00:24:53,900for setting up a new52500:24:53,900 –> 00:24:54,939direct debit to the52600:24:54,939 –> 00:24:55,660work of Open the52700:24:55,660 –> 00:24:56,920Bible in the amount52800:24:56,920 –> 00:24:58,280of £5 per month52900:24:58,280 –> 00:24:59,660or more or a one53000:24:59,839 –> 00:25:01,500off gift of £50.53100:25:01,500 –> 00:25:02,900Further information53200:25:02,900 –> 00:25:04,020and full terms and53300:25:04,020 –> 00:25:04,739conditions are53400:25:04,739 –> 00:25:05,699available on our53500:25:05,699 –> 00:25:06,900website, that’s at53600:25:06,900 –> 00:25:09,859openthebible.org.uk53700:25:09,859 –> 00:25:11,300For Open the Bible53800:25:11,300 –> 00:25:12,060and Pastor Colin53900:25:12,060 –> 00:25:13,719Smith, I’m David Pipp54000:25:13,719 –> 00:25:14,420and I hope you’ll54100:25:14,420 –> 00:25:17,459join us again next time.54200:25:22,459 –> 00:25:23,380We’re going to54300:25:23,380 –> 00:25:24,099have three question54400:25:24,099 –> 00:25:25,140and answer sessions54500:25:25,140 –> 00:25:25,819with Jesus.54600:25:25,819 –> 00:25:27,359That’s next time on54700:25:27,359 –> 00:25:29,479Open the Bible.