Produce

Many of you are still praying is a God who is that person.

It is awesome to see that because it's important to show mercy.

This is important but put some money behind just like the Samaritan what did he do it and say hello, to the best I can but I got a go because I got a makeable. He used his own money. What Jesus was saying to the people was use your own money. When we gave you those hundred dollar bills attached to the crosses you know what were really doing is priming the pump for helping you realize this is what you should be doing on a regular basis. You start a portion of the upcoming message titled produce Pastor Avedon shot at Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina Clearview. Our goal is simple. Make Christ visible in everything we love you to come worship with us, 34, 85 talks for Greg Henderson.

Visit us online@clearviewbc.org join us for the rest of this week's message. This was very busy week for me it was weak that I had to give an oral defense for my PhD dissertation. Many of y'all who been in my life for the past 19, 20 years you know exactly what up I'm talking about, but I was very nervous about this exam. In fact, I asked David Williamson was playing the drums.

A moment ago that I need you to drive me to use to the seminary because I'm afraid I will either have a wreck or on the speed and neither of those things are good right before a big exam and so by the way, the best things that happened to me was that morning, Wednesday morning as I'm getting ready have books open and I'm going through notes and cramming last year by the newest means to cram last-minute stuff I'm doing all this in the cold comes in and says there's some somebody here to see you said not right now. I can see anybody you have to wait as I know these people here to see you better come and and see them like oh my goodness I walk in the kitchen.

The entire staff is there with families and kids. They were there to pray for me and that also I'm blessed to have a team like that not to spend those 20 minutes cramming but I think those prayers did a whole lot more for me than those 20 minutes of cramming into you that anyways after two hours of sitting in the hot seat and answering all the questions I was told that I pass the exam and I was very, very relieved to say the least.

Tie-in is that the Christian life doesn't and and I'm saved. And when I die, I'm going to heaven. That's great, but there's an exam that you have to take the exam is not just on the other side the exam is taking place right now.

It is in this life.

Because if you're saved, you're facing an exam where God is the examiner and he is coming around each of you claim that you are saved, that you are a Christian that you are a believer. He's coming around each of you and he's examining the fruits in your life. The fruits which are worthy of repentance. So what we think is I'm saved him go to heaven. It's all true now.

Not true.

There's an exam just like I had to take this exam same. Also with us, you play. I prayed the prayer and I have done all those things but are you producing roots worthy of repentance.

Fruit bearing is the natural outflow of salvation and by the way these fruits are not what you might think you may think fruits means man I don't hang out at bars anymore. I don't dream and God alone. Do those bad stuff I'd don't cuss like I used to on bearing fruits not what you think the fruits that Jesus is talking about our fruits that are acts of mercy that you demonstrate towards others and one more thing. As John was emphasizing your clock is ticking. You don't have much time you have your Bibles with you, turn to Luke chapter 13 starting in verse six were in our series on the parables of Jesus and this morning we come to the parable of the barren fig tree. Luke chapter 13 starting in verse six let's all stand once again for the reading of God's word. He meeting Jesus also spoke this parable, a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

Many sent to the keeper of his vineyard to the gardener, he said, look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down. Why does it use up the ground is wasting space but the gardener answered and said to him, sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it and if it bears fruit, well. But if it not after that you can cut it down. Parables are like mirrors when you read that story.

The question is who are you and that parable are you the fig tree that is bearing fruit or are you the barren fig tree. Are there fruits worthy of repentance in your life. As I mentioned to you a few moments ago. Your clock is ticking.

You don't know the time I'm in. You may have 30 years left of Christ doesn't return sooner. You may have three years left. You may have three days or could it be that you are living your last three out in the fruit inspector is walking behind. That's not me that's Jesus Christ he's examining your life. Are there fruits worthy of repentance in your life do you demonstrate acts of mercy towards others or is it all about you. Today's parable of the barren fig tree is not very popular.

Many of you probably heard it for the first time as I read that story but it's a very important parable. It's a continuation in the way of last week's message on the parable of the good Samaritan. If you remember last week and sermon in Luke 951. It tells us that when Jesus knew that the time had come for him to be ascended that he set his face toward Jerusalem because this is the place where he was going to die when Jesus knew the time had come. He started heading towards Jerusalem and on the way. He said many things and one thing that he did. If you remember from last weekend's message is that he sent his disciples into the world. He send them into the fields to remember the fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few. You go out there. I'm sending you out as lambs among wolves people to be mean to you. But don't be mean back to them just shake the dust off your feet move on, you preach the gospel, you share the good news you show mercy to people and the disciples went and did that and then the return would join remember that in the said Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name and what did Jesus do he praise God and he blessed his disciples and he told them that now you are seeing things and hearing things that David, the king and Isaiah the prophet only wish they could see you are seeing the kingdom of God.

The moment you receive Jesus as your Savior. Listen, that's the moment eternal life begins.

So all this is happening on that journey towards Jerusalem and so he tells his disciples. You will see greater things coming in as this is happening. There is a certain lawyer who wants to get in on the action and this lawyer says Jesus. How do I get to see things in here are things that others can't. I mean what what do listen to inherit eternal life.

What I gotta do what he Jesus say to him what's in the law or a simple love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength was a second thing. Love your neighbor as yourself will go do it, go do it and then he trying to justify himself asked the question which is who is my neighbor you know what this man was saying oh I got that covered the boundaries well yeah, no problem. I take care of people in my neighborhood.

I take care of my neighbors and Jesus says how you got it wrong.

Let me explain to you what a neighbor is and then he gave the parable of the good Samaritan.

Remember that in the question is who is the neighbor out of those three the priest to Levi or the good Samaritan who was a neighbor Samaritan. The question is not who is my neighbor. The question should be, who needs a neighbor who needs a neighbor if you remember from last week. It's true neighbor is someone who shows us the work mercy. A true neighbor is someone who shows mercy and mercy is a distinguishing mark of eternal life again. Eternal life is not just when I die, I'm going to heaven eternal life begins now you participate in the building of God's kingdom. You see things you hear things that even the prophets in the king's only wish they could have mercy as a distinguishing mark of a Torah life and if you say you have internal life. The question comes what kind of a neighbor. Are you are you good neighbor. Whatever neighbor Ari is important to show mercy. This is important but put some money behind it. Just like the Samaritan, what did you do and say hello, do the best I can but I gotta go because I gotta make a book.

He used his own money.

What Jesus was saying to the people was use your own money. And when we gave you those hundred dollar bills attached to the cross. As you know, what were really doing was priming the pump were helping you realize this is what you should be doing on a regular basis digging in your own pocket and meeting need now. I'll say this, and I want to I want you to hear me very carefully. Unfortunately, not a bicycle to get thought about $100 bill, but unfortunately not advising together because you have the self-proclaimed critics they would always find something wrong with it. And if that's you have that happen to you.

Just know the devil infected you. If you just found something wrong with what happened last week and just know that you are standing in a crowd to get to the crowd how we get to the crowd in in in Luke chapter 11 in verse 53 here's this crowd that your standing with is when Jesus was saying what he was saying and teaching what he was saying about the mercy with money behind it.

Not everybody accepted. Listen to this and as he said these things to them.

This is all in the same journey as he is headed to Jerusalem as he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to what's the word assail him, how can you assail somebody for challenging you to show mercy to someone in need. I don't get it, but it happens again to examine him about many things.

Verse 54 lying in wait for him and seeking to catch him in something he might say that they might accuse him. Guess where the worst critics. You'll find in the charge, not outsiders. This will now serve as a what is amazing it were a church like that Jesuit worrywart think about this you hope someone is getting getting this message. In other words, they missed his message of mercy completely and they were trying to cross-examine Jesus but listen to what Jesus death is a powerful Luke chapter 12 verse 40. He says be ready boys be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect to keep in mind they are trying to examine him and he says I think you got that backwards. I am the examiner is like if I were going to my PhD oral defense, and as we sit down and delight you want a cup coffee, thereby good and I below yes is great okay sounds good.

And then instead of them asking me a question. What if I had started with some lights. Okay, the first question I have for you. Dr. Robinson is waiting there was say to me, we ask you questions, not the other way around. When you begin to question Christ and what he has said innocent. He is the examiner not you and that's what they were doing to him. The Jesus says be ready boys for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect verse 42 and the Lord said, who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season which means this I'm coming to check and see. Are you being a good steward is what most churches think about stewardship get the money locked up in a bank account and sit on it for a rainy day it was stewardship really is. God has blessed you snuggled less of the people are telling you not to plan out your life or save money or use it wisely. None of that. But you should be the one being a blessing to others. Listen to what Jesus says in verse 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his master will find so doing when he comes and by the way, this is not necessarily the second coming in what we think, often, is that Jesus is gone and he is coming again right I may or may not be here if I'm here. I hope he will overlook me, but if I'm not here guess why Matt I'm in heaven so guess what I skip the test now. The test had already been gone for you this morning. The testers on Jesus.

If you claim him his walking by checking to see each of you. Are you bearing fruits worthy of repentance. Blessed is that servant, whom his master will find so doing when he comes verse 44 truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has so if you're being faithful now Jesus says I'll give you more that servant says in his heart. My master is delaying his coming me and I will see Jesus. No one is checking my fruits and of the servant says my master is delaying his coming and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk. What is that mean you're using your wealth for your own benefit. You don't care about anybody else but you may not physically go beat somebody, but when you know someone's in need and you don't do anything you walk right past him is just as bad as beating the person up citizen orgies assess in verse 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him. How or when he is not aware and what do what can you see on screen. What would he do to you, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the this is in the Bible. The examiner is walking by your life right this minute and he's checking to see how are you using the gifts the materials that she has given you. And if you don't use it wisely. He will cut you up in two and three with the unbelievers. All that was meant for the people at the time because dispensation. Hey listen, be very careful about that because if you start talking everything for someone else. What part of the Bible. Do you want actually obey because everything is for someone else write the Old Testament was for the people of Israel are the people of Judah of the New Testament for the first century Jewish people. I mean who is what is left for us. The concordance dictionary and the Bab.

The maps really is left. No folks, this applies to you. This applies to me when I don't do something to show mercy based on what God has blessed me, cut into appoint him as portion with the unbeliever, but it's not over listen to verse 47 and that servant who knew his masters will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will shall be what beaten with many stripes.

Verse 48 but he who did not know yet committed things deserving all strive shall be beaten with few which means this you're here this morning as alien a pressure we do know about how important mercy is what you might get a little bit of a woman, not a what that looks like, but you're getting something God understands, but now you cannot say you don't know that mercy is a distinguishing mark of eternal life, but keep reading verse 48 it says for everyone to whom much is given from him much will be required and to whom much has been committed of him they will ask the more.

In verse 56 Jesus that tells the Pharisees and scribes. You are hypocrites you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth. But how is it that you do not discern this time. You can tell how the weather is going to change, but you cannot tell that right this moment.

Listen right this moment Jesus is walking by your life and he's examining your fruits, they realize what Jesus was talking about in judgment who also talk about judgment who also talk about bearing fruits and so they decide to change the subject. Listen Luke chapter 13 verse one there were present at that season.

Some who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices now we don't have any historical record of this incident, but based on what we know about Pilate, he would do things like this. In fact many times he was called back to Rome to give an account for some of the. The atrocities that he he he did, but here's my question.

Jesus is talking about showing mercy. He's talking about helping those in need in their statement Jesus did you hear the other day. Some people got killed in a pilot killed them in the temple.

What's the point. The point was they were changing the subject by Jesus being God. Of course he knew their hearts. What is Jesus do I love this. I love it looks like is a good teacher. He says to them, do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things I tell you now, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish means get back on subject were we talking about or talk about repentance and bearing fruits worthy of repentance stay on subject and just in case you want to you want to deflect again and change the subject again. Listen to verse four or those 18 but I'm sure there was someone about to say. Ottawa did your mother's 18, on whom the tower fell is called small talk and guess what Jesus says or those 18, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Do you thing that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem until you know but guess what, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Means stop trying to distract me is not working do you do that, do you like to deflect when the Holy Spirit begins to put his finger in your chest and you feel that pressure it on preaching to you and you can feel the Holy Spirit singing a you're the one you're the one and you like to deflect you look here you look there. You pull out your phone or or you know on the way out to make light of the sermon or you find something else to joke about. Guess what you are doing it in the same thing they did.

And guess what Jesus stay on on target and at this point he I'm doing the context at this point. He gives the parable of the fig tree. Listen again to the parable.

In closing, he says certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the keeper of his vineyard look three years up-and-coming is no fruit.

Cut it down. Why does it use up the ground. By the way fig tree was a symbol of national Israel, but keep in mind this is not just meant for Israel is also meant for all of us the fruit inspector is coming by three years.

He has come by, but he has found no fruit. Cut it down it's wasting space.

But here's where people make a big mistake.

They think that fruits worthy of repentance.

Oh fruits in your life are you note the bad things used to do you don't do many more. So you don't break the 10 Commandments anymore.

You keep the Sabbath day on Sunday man out of work and believe that's sacred day. I don't cuss like I used to go to bars like the old adage, I don't drink I don't.

You and I don't go with girls who you're never heard that and I'm not even from here. How's that were is that what Jesus had in mind. He talks about bearing fruits will to get his true meaning you have to backup listen to this. Luke chapter 3 and verse seven.

Then he said to the multitudes. This time Jesus John the Baptist. He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him. He said brood of vipers.

Talk about a friendly church you walk in the church you bunch of snakes brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Now can you read this one with me. Verse eight therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance and do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father for I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from the stone's keep reading verse nine and even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into. That's the exact same imagery Jesus used in this parable.

So what are the fruits we have the answer to that, because they asked John the Baptist.

Listen to this in verse 10, so the people asked him, saying, what shall we do them.

He answered and said to them, he who has two tunics attune against like a role coat.

He who has 210 X let him give to him who has none. And he who has food let him do likewise. You know what the fruits worthy of repentance are showing mercy.

You got two coats somebody over there has none. Go give it to them. You know, through our church. Last month we gave away hundred and 40 winter clothes to kids in this neighborhood just not very far from here.

Do you know than about two months or a month now were going to give 200 pairs of shoes to children in the underprivileged community. Many of y'all are doing that. I wish it was 500 you're getting this the fruits worthy of repentance is not is not. I don't chew it. I don't drink and I don't cuss and I'm a good father and provider of the fruit is you got to coats, give one away. You have food given to those who don't, but is not over than tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, teacher, what shall we do listen to what he says collect no more than what is appointed for you, which means this when he comes to mercy. It involves dollar bills that you can collect more from them again will break is not over listen to this.

Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, what shall we do so he said to them, do not intimidate anyone, or accuse falsely which means this don't take bribes.

People don't have any money anyways. Don't don't don't do that to them, be content with your wages. You see, fruits worthy of repentance are acts of mercy. This this week this month this year. How merciful. Have you been how merciful. Have you been who have you helped go back to the parable is in closing so verse seven.

Then the owner of the vineyard said to the keeper of his vineyard. Look for three years I've been coming seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why does it use up the ground but he answered and said to them, sir, let alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

You know what I'm doing here preaching. I'm just aerating the soul I'm digging around, you know what Ryan is doing when you send your use. He is digging around aerating the soil.

You might be buying time for someone else because you have people in your life who are not living for the Lord, you have people you have uncles and aunts and friends and family who are not bearing fruits and sometimes get upset with you and invite them to church is doing in Rachel helping you out.

Verse nine if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down. Your clock is ticking. This is in the Bible and come up with your clock is ticking.

Thank you so much for joining us for this message. As believers we often think of the fruit of repentance is simply being a good person trying to be better than we were before we Christian so much more than that the fruit of repentance, showing mercy to others. Being a good neighbor to those around us. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org and for the sermons, notes, check out Dr. Shaw's blog but I'm shocked.com