Luke 6:43-49 - FRUIT & FOUNDATIONS

This is our 30th sermon and the Book of Luke.

Might be 60 70 odd more to go but we're getting there. a sermon of entitled fruit and Foundations We are in this section of Luke to finish off the teaching of Jesus. That's known as the sermon on the plain the sermon on the plain. That's the title that people have given to this discourse the Jesus gives and Luke chapter 6 verses 20 through 49. The gospel of Matthew chapters 5 through 7 constitute what we now call The Sermon on the Mount which is definitely a more famous passage than the one we look at it Luke. However, the the substance in the situation for the sermon and Luke has striking similarities to Matthew's account. In fact many commentators see these passages as reporting the same event recording the same teaching of Jesus. No other commentators know that Jesus would preach on similar material at different times throughout his ministry and solve this in fact could be the same teaching or could be two different times that these gospels record. I in fact think that this is the same event in the same sermon. The difference in the name comes from the fact that in Matthew 5:1 we get this description of the setting in which Jesus taught Matthew rights seeing the crowds. He that is Jesus went up on the mountain and when he said down his disciples came to him. That's why it's called The Sermon on the Mount Jesus went up. On the mountain woman Luke, we get a little bit different picture. It's laid out for us differently. We if we look back to chapter 6 verses 17 18 we read and he came down with the remember his apostles who he is named he came down with them and stood on a level place with the sermon on the plane, but a little earlier Luke Luke 12, you know that they had gone up on the mountain that's where he called the 12 disciples to be Apostles and they came down a little bit too flat part where he did their teaching so I think it's I think it's the same teaching. It doesn't have to be I also think that is both gospels. The next thing that follows is the healing of the century in which will look at next week. So I think they're the same regardless that we're going to send out finish off this sermon on the plain today and will do that by looking at Luke chapter 6 verses 43 49 I would encourage you to read along in your Bible. You can also read along on the screens behind me or on the back of the insert in your bulletin Luke.

chapter 6 verse 43 through 49 For No, Good Tree Bears Bad fruit in Oregon does a bad tree bear good fruit for each tree is known by its own fruit for figs are not gathered from Thorn bushes nor are grapes picked from a Bramble Bush the good person out of the good Treasure of his heart produces good. And the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil. Front of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Why do you call me Lord Lord? And not do what I tell you. Everyone comes to me and hears my words and does them I will show you what he is like he is like a man building a house who dug deep and lay the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose in the Stream broke against that house and could not shake it because it has been well built but the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built the house on the ground without a foundation when the string broke against it immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great to join with me in prayer Lord. We thank you for your word. We pray father God that you would help us this morning in regards to the truth. You have given us and revealed to us in this Gospel of Luke and his recounting of Jesus's sermon on the plain. Would you buy your spirit help each one of us help me this morning to communicate your truth in a way that is faithful in a way that is accurate in a way. That's helpful. Would you buy your spirit help each one of us this morning? Help us to grasp with our mind and embrace with our heart your truth.

And we know what is your spirit helps us to do that that you're living word will accomplish what you sent it out to accomplish.

This morning. We want to be conformed to the image of Christ. We want to grow in godliness. And so we ask for your help by your spirit. And the name of the son amen.

As we look at this last section of the sermon on the plain. I think the main idea that Jesus is conveying here could be said like this a flourishing disciple gives evidence of their flourishing through their conduct and conversation which has as its standard the teaching of Jesus. Let me say that again a flourishing disciple gives evidence of their flourishing through their conduct and conversation which has as its standard the teaching of Jesus Jesus begins this section of the sermon. On the plain speaking about fruit. It specifically good and bad fruit. He says for No Good Tree Bears Bad fruit nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit for each tree is known by its own fruit for figs are not gathered from Thorn bushes nor are grapes picked from a Bramble Bush that is to say Jesus is communicating that our actions depict our character. The production of our life points to the pi to the piety of our life our own fruitfulness suggests faithfulness.

I want to take you back to something we talked about next week so we don't forget this. This teaching here is particularly helpful in terms of self-examination.

Remember we talked about last week. Just preceding this. The speck in your brother's eye the log of the beam in your own. Jesus admonishes take out the beam before you try and get this back. So don't forget that this is about self examination. No, I know we talked about this last week some of you when I read about good and bad fruit immediately thought about somebody else.

Well, if not you then remember you are susceptible to be one of those people who goes to grab the spec when you got a beam in your own. Let's not do that. Let's remove the beam from ourselves. Let's self-exam and 1st.

I think about that the fruit that are life produces is a reflection of who we are the very core of our being the fruit that he's talking about is the context of his disciples. In the fruit is a picture of the product of your life.

here at West London Alliance We Believe in expository preaching that's what we do here or we attempt to do anyways expository preaching. What is that? That is taking the text taking God's word taking scripture. And exposing it. For God's people to see and to hear and to learn that's what we try to do when we preach here Westland lions. Well the fruit of your life. Is the expository sermon of your heart? the fruit of your life is the expository sermon of your heart your actions what you do? Or your fruit as Jesus says here takes your heart and exposes it so that people can see and hear what you're really like and learn what kind of person you are.

Your fruit is an exposition of your heart. Answer my question for you this morning is what kind of sermon are you preaching with your life?

What kind of sermon do you present to your spouse? What kind of sermon do you present to your kids? What type of sermon do you present to your parents? Or your friends or your co-workers or your fellow students?

What does a produce of your life that comes from the core of who you are? What does it reveal about your inner life? Jesus's principle here is clear. The nature of the tree is revealed by its fruit. And again self-examination is essential here. I do think Jesus is talking here about evaluating other people as well. But don't forget what he already said. It's examine ourselves first and having done this.

For Desiring to do this. I think we need to understand this humble. Self-examination is a difficult thing. It's a hard thing to do. If you read the previous analogy about the speck and the log and that doesn't cause you some consternation. I don't know if you're writing reading right or your understanding yourself. Probably it's a difficult thing.

So I would encourage you in regards to this a very practical application. But what Jesus is saying is here is do you have someone in your life who can help you with this self-examination? So it's self-examination. But I want to have people in my life who can help me with that because it's difficult.

I need people who can help me see when I'm producing bad fruit.

Adventure in denial about the fruit we produce We don't recognize it or see it as bad as we deny that it's there. And we need people in our Lives who can do that. I've talked about my wife last week. She's a person who when I am harsh and critical. Shows me that I am. And it happens far too frequently when we're driving. I didn't get into details about that. But I have time this Sunday. I'll be driving and someone will do something. I don't like or I don't think so proprietary and I will say something harsh and critical. A my wife will show me that that's bad fruit. And when she Sons Time says to me, and she says Jude you're a pastor.

And I used to say that's not fair. You can't say that.

But that hasn't been studying this and then Jesus particularly links to sort of evaluation tool and a teacher's it is fair for her to say that she points out. That is not good fruit. But it's not just a negative things. We need help with we have difficulty seeing good fruit and our lives as well. And we need people in our Lives who can say look there are evidences of Grace in your life. And here's where I see them. I want to encourage you to find a person who can be that in your life.

She just goes on to talk about good and bad people. He said the good person out of the good Treasure of his heart produces good and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces Evil part of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. So she's Ascender K10. There's two types of people good and evil or is Matthew differentiates them in his Sermon on the Mount there's wise people and there's foolish people. And we combine that here in this area as you might say, there's people who will flourish his disciples and his people who are foolish.

In the heart the core of who you are as a person the deepest part of your existence. indicates What kind of person you are from the the Vols from the security deposit box of your heart? Comes treasure and I treasure is either good or bad.

And the words that you speak are a key indicator of what those are.

From a vile heart comes vile words from a good hard comes Godly words. What are the commentators said this the assumption is that the mouth? Is a spigot from which flows what is hidden away in the heart? What I read that line and maybe think about spigots and it made me think of something that's going to happen in about two months time. In about two months time winter is going to release its grip on Southwestern Ontario. Now, we have nothing to complain about this winter so far this weekend was the first time I shovel my driveway. Rachel hasn't been bad. But we know that winter will grab hold of Southwestern Ontario in about two months time and this area of Ontario in the woodlot out in the country. There are going to be men and women going out into those wood lots and putting spigots into maple trees. I'm going to put spigots in those maple trees so that the sap comes up and they can collect it. Now. I've had the opportunity to go out with a farmer who has a a maple syrup operation. It doesn't the old-fashioned way. None of those lines those tubes in the he's got pails and he's got spigots and I went around with him as he put in the spigots all through his woodlot. It occurred to me that I didn't know which trees were maple trees. Do you think that's silly but remember there's no leaves on them. What a maple leaf has its leaves. I know it's a maple tree. What is cardinal leaves? I don't know what a maple tree looks like if I'm honest, but of course this farmer because the bark and the branch structure. He always knew which were the maple trees but even not knowing that I could figure it out. I can figure it out by taking a spigot and putting it into that tree and collecting the sap and then boiling it down. And I boil down material that taste like maple syrup. That's a maple tree.

But the boil down whatever that came from, whatever tree that didn't taste like Maple. It's not a maple tree. The the maple tree genus of the tree was proven by what was inside of it that came out that spigot just like our Mouse work with us. What comes out of our mouths is an indication of what's inside of us of who we are the same commentator said Jesus is ethical priorities also indicate that we are what we produce especially when it comes to what we say. The mouth is a litmus test of who we are spiritually. If we evaluated a character and tone of our daily speech would it register like acid on litmus paper or yield the sweet presence of a person secure in God's care.

What we speak indicates what we are. I certainly this is helpful for self-examination. But I think what Jesus is also pointing to his that we can use this to examine those people. We are in a relationship with That we can Gauge by the words they speak what they're like on the inside and I think that's important and significant because it should help us decide who we pursue relationships with. If you're looking for one of those good friends who can help you with your self-examination who in a Godly way can point out when there's bad fruit and point out when there's good fruit. A good way to determine if they're going to be helpful is by the way they speak. You can gauge the kind of person they are by the words that come out of their mouth.

Important relationship in your life should be the relationship you have with a church and with the pastor. Well if you have a pastor. Speaks evilly or violating doesn't speak good things Vindication of who he is on the inside and I'm not someone you should pursue a relationship even in terms of a pastor and congregation.

Some of you young people are in a context in which you are looking for a spouse.

A great way to determine what kind of person that spouse is by how they speak.

And what do we do in regards to that? And we usually we usually push against that not often for ourselves more often for other people. What do we say? We say, you know, I know they said that I know they speak like that, but they they have a good heart. Jesus says it doesn't work that way.

That's no defense. If someone's speaking evil, it comes from evil.

And one of the things that occurred to me is I was considering this considering our heart considering my words considering my Deeds.

Is that if I'm honest with myself?

I'm not overly impressed with the good treasure in my heart. In fact, I see some bad treasure there and it makes its way out in the words I say and it makes its way out in the actions I take. And I think we all need to be honest about that.

But if you are a Believer and put put your faith in Christ, let me encourage you this morning. You have been given a new heart.

Let me see a similarly. If you are someone here this morning who has never put your faith in Christ has never entrusted yourself to Christ and his work on your behalf to be reconciled for God. Let me tell you this you need a new heart.

Genesis 6:5 we read about God talking about Mankind. It says the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That speaks to every human being. Jeremiah 17:9, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick who can understand.

Please understand that apart from the work of Christ. We have evil hearts. Unless those hearts are replaced. We can't even begin to think about doing what Jesus is talking about here. But fortunately one of the glories of the Gospel is that we get a new heart Ezekiel 1172 20 prophecies about that there for say thus says the Lord I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries. Were you have been scattered and I will give you the land of Israel and when they come there they will remove from it all a testable things and all its Abominations. That's our hearts before God doesn't work in Our Lives full of Abominations and full of detestable things. But then it says I will give them one heart and a new spirit. I will put within them. I will remove the Heart of Stone from their Flash and give them a heart of Flesh. That they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and Obey them and they shall be my people and I will be their God. What is a glories of the Gospel is a new heart?

Through faith and repentance. We can come to Christ. We can Avail ourselves of his work on the cross. We need to understand that it's the removal of our hard Stony heart. And the giving of a new Flash part that enables us to repent and believe.

If you've never come to faith in Christ, you need a new heart and I would encourage you to pray that God would give you a new heart. That you might repent and believe and then keep his rules and Obey them and walk in his statutes. If that's something that applies to you, I would love to talk to you about that. Encourage. You find me after the service or this week contact me to the church office. I'd love to talk to you about God's work of giving us a new heart.

Jesus doesn't just talk about fruit. He also talks about Foundation. Any starts that discussion with a question? Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I tell you. Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I tell you. This is an extra J or exhortation from Jesus. To do what he says to do. I love what J C. Ryle says about this question. He says it and when he says that he's talking about calling Jesus Lord Lord and not doing what he says. He says it is a disease which has never ceased to Prevail all over Christendom. It is a sore ruining plagg, which is continually sweeping away crowds of gospel. Here's down the Broadway to destruction open send in a voucher unbelief, no doubt slay their thousands but profession without practice slaves. It's tens of thousands. You know, I love the the Puritans if you read the Puritans, you'll see before too long that they have this derogatory term for people. They call them professors now. It's not talking about the guy who teaches you at University. Talking about people who profess Faith but don't practice Faith the professor's the people who speak it but don't practice it. I'll says that open sin and about unbelief notes later thousand but profession without practice lays its tens of thousands. See what Jesus is looking for his obedience. He says everyone who comes to me and here's my word and does them I will show you what he is like he is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock. I'm going to flood a rose the stream broke against that house and could not shake it because it had been well-built anyone who listens to Jesus and obeys. Jesus is in a solid position in life particularly in regards to difficult times when the stream rises in the Torrance come in the floods hit the home. if it's a home that has as its foundation teaching the teacher of Jesus and obedience that teaching that person will not will not fall. To listen in to obey Jesus is teaching his to bring stability to all of life. But it's not just obedient people who is disobedient people. He says but the one who hears and does not do them that is Jesus's words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation when the stream broke against it immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great. Jesus is saying the people who hear my words who hear my teaching. And don't obey it. Have no spiritual Roots. They have no spiritual base.

And when difficult times come they will be in trouble ignoring. Jesus makes one vulnerable especially spiritually ignoring. Jesus is to run the risk of collapse during difficult times.

This is precisely what James was talking about in James chapter 1 verses 19 through 27, the the well-known verses about being doers of the word. Listen to Wild James rights and in the connections, he makes to this teaching of Jesus know this my beloved Brothers let every person be quick to hear slow to speak slow to anger for the anger of man does not produce like that idea producing something fruit does not produce the righteousness of God, therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourself. Bravetti one is a hero of the word and not a door. He is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror for looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like, but the one who looks into the perfect law the law of Liberty. I perseveres being no hero forgets but it do or who asked he will be blessed in his doing he will flourish. The disciple who hears Jesus's teaching Jesus's instruction Jesus's word. And obeys it. Will be blessed in his doing anyone thinks he's religious and does not Bridle his tongue interesting. The tongue comes into play now, but deceives is hard. This person's religion is worthless.

Jesus talked about fruit and he's talked about Foundation. how to finish this morning by talking about the full sermon on the plain Just to remind you. We talked about it initially and Luke 6 verses 20 through 26 the Beatitudes and the walls, which we talked about was a description of what it was to be a flourishing disciple in the kingdom of God. And then in Luke 6:27 through 36 John magwood preached on Jesus's teaching of love and generous Mercy to order enemies. Luke 6:37 and through eight his instructions on proper judgment followed by the example of the speck in your neighbor's eye in the log in your own. Let me see in 43 245 the analogy of the tree in the fruit and in 46 the warning about saying Lord Lord and not doing what Jesus says and finally this closing illustration of the two foundations.

All of that was packaged in one sermon in the Book of Luke and it indicates that flourishing as a disciple of Jesus requires a god-centered president future-oriented perspective. the results and virtuous living

The Virtuous living is known by its radical love and its humble self-examination We're by our words and deeds represent a flourishing in her life built on obedience to Jesus. That's how I would describe the message he gave on this sermon on the plain.

There's a lot there you could you could preach on that for weeks and weeks. We're going to finish it today and I want to finish it by looking at two ideas that are presented here that we often think or dissimilar. Those two ideas are love and obedience. So we sink of obedience is this cold calculated dutiful thing that we're supposed to do or supposed to obey. We don't think that it connects with love and mercy and kindness. And yes scripture is clear these two things go hand-in-hand. Who is the best one to articulate that connection between love and obedience was the Apostle John? Let's look at what he says in chapter 14 in chapter 15 of his gospel. John 14:15 says if you love me. You will keep my Commandments.

Or 21 of chapter 14 Whoever has my Commandments and keeps them he it is who loves me.

Or verse 24 whoever does not love me does not keep my words love and obedience.

Or the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John verse 10. If you keep my Commandments you will abide in my love just as I have kept my father's Commandments and abide in his love.

Erase 14 you are my friends. If you do what I command you a Heart of Love towards Jesus produces a life of obedience to Jesus. A Heart of Love towards Jesus produces a life of obedience to Jesus.

How does that work?

If love for Jesus gives rise to abeyance to Jesus.

Then we need to love Jesus more and more.

How do we do that?

1st John again the Apostle John first John chapter 4 verse 19 you need to understand that we love because he first loved us know we've been talking about self examination and I Think Jesus is talking about that and I think that's a reporter, but I'll remind you the principal from last week for every one look we take it ourselves without a take 10 looks at Jesus. Look at ourselves and as we look to Jesus we come to understand that we love because he first loved us. And that's the foundation for any talk about love and obedience where disciple of Christ is that understanding? The foundation of our love is not us. The foundation of our love is him and his love. the weather report on us first until the path to obedient Which leads to flourishing is a disciple of Christ? Is to recognize and reflect and respond to the love of God the Father through God the son. That's how we love Jesus more. That's how we're obedient to what he's called us to. 1st John chapter 4 9 through 11 laces out I think perfectly. Recognizing reflecting and responding verse 9 in this is our story in this the love of God was made manifest Among Us that God sent his only son in the world so that we might live through him that's recognition. What picture are we looking at here? What are we talking about in terms of love? The love of God was manifest Among Us when he sent his son.

And then John reflects on this he says in this is love not that we have love God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. It recognizes. No, it was the love of God that initiated all this as he sent his son he reflects on it by thinking about the cross and thinking about Christ work on our behalf.

And then he responds verse 11 beloved. If God so loved us we ought to love one another. That's how this works. We recognize and reflect and respond to the love of God the Father through God the son. and as we do so I love for Christ gross. And are billions Rises old about love. Let's pray. Lord I Thank you for your word. I thank you for this sermon on the plain as it's called. and for the rich teaching that it gives to us about being a disciple who flourishes. I pray that by your spirit you would help me and my brothers and sisters to understand that a flourishing life.

house with it flourishing actions and flourishing words

Let us not be people who profess Christ but who practice Christ in the things we do in the words we say we need your help in this.

We thank you this morning that you gave us a new heart.

Are the very core of our being we were evil and could only produce evil. But you gave us a heart of Flesh for a Heart of Stone.

We thank you for that father God.

Finally, I pray Lord that you by your spirit would help us. to be obedient knowing that that doesn't come from us, but that it comes from you and your love for us you loved us first.

Help us to recognize that and reflect on it and respond. Respond by being obedient to your word respond by being obedient to the teachings of Christ. What's in his name? I pray amen.