Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today we’re going to examine a simple object lesson that Jesus gives us as He leaves Bethany heading back to Jerusalem one day.

This lesson was most certainly directed toward the Jews as a nation, but is not isolated to them entirely.

As what Jesus did unto the Jews, He most certainly can / has done unto many churches as well.

Paul addressed this very thing to the church at Rome in Rom.

11:19-21 “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.

Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

So we’ll take a look at the Fig Tree’s Story and prayerfully it will serve as warning unto us here today.

The first thing that we notice in this passage is the Position of the Tree

I.

The Position of the Tree (v12)

The Description

We notice that the first description of this Fig Tree was that it was ‘afar off’.

In other words, it wasn’t close to Jesus

This image tells us a lot concerning the issue at hand.

The Application

As mentioned, the Fig Tree is actually an illustration of the Jewish people.

Particularly, the Jewish religious leaders.

God had ordained their doings, yet they strayed so far from what God had instructed, they were in essence a shadow of what they should have been.

This is the reason why the majority of the religious leaders were anti-Christ.

This is why the high priest and the chief priests tried Him illegally and demanded that He be crucified!

Mind you - there were a few of the religious leaders that weren’t ungodly.

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, as was Joseph of Arimathea, neither of them were ungodly, but they were the few… by far the majority were exactly that - UNGODLY.

I also think that those type percentages bear out today concerning all of the ‘churches’ that stand and have services each Sunday.

The majority are ‘afar off’ from Jesus.

There are a few that are not - a few keep the faith, but they are few and far between.

So how does a church stand ‘afar off’ from Jesus?

Churches stand ‘afar off’ from Jesus by:

Denying His Word

Denying the Authenticity of His Word

Most churches today don’t believe that we actually have God’s Word.

Many believe that God’s Word only exists in the original languages.

And even still, we only have the ‘most reliable’ - what does that even mean?!?

Let me set your mind at ease, church - we have God’s Word today.

It’s perfectly preserved by God unto english speaking people in the King James Bible.

The truth is this: If you don’t believe in the authenticity of God’s Word, your entire theology is built on shifting sand!

Church stand ‘afar off’ because they deny the Authenticity of God’s Word - that He’s able to preserve it for you and I through the ages.

Denying the Authority of His Word

Many (judging by their actions) deny the Authority of His Word

How can the Joyce Meyers of this world stand there and say ‘Thus saith the LORD’, knowing 1Tim.

2:12 “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

How can the Joel Osteens of this world puff up their congregations, giving them words to declare over themselves - lifting man up, when Jesus said: Joh.

12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Many churches deny the Authority of God’s Word

Denying the Accuracy of His Word

Going back to the women preachers for a minute - one of the arguments against 1Tim.

2:12 is that ‘Well it was against the culture for women to have authority back in those days’ As if God is somehow bound by the culture of the time.

Many deny the accuracy of His Word

Embracing the World

In it’s Music

Many churches today embrace popular music as a means to attract the world.

However, Scripture teaches us over and over the place for a Christian is to be in the world, but that the world not be in him!

We’re to be Holy

We’re to be Separate

But popular Christianity is using the all-too-powerful means of music to ‘worship’.

Which reminds me of Rom.

1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

Amen.”

Churches stand ‘afar off’ by embracing worldly music

In it’s Message

The message from many other churches are very dissimilar than what you get here.

Judgment, Separation, Sanctification, Hell, Responsibilities, Service, Soul Winning - so much of these are foreign to many churches.

In fact, what most churches offer up unto the Congregation any typical Sunday amounts to an extended devotion… something to give you the ‘feel goods’ for about 15-20 minutes, then send you on your way.

There is a reason why in these contemporary churches you get over an hour of ‘worship’ music and 15 minutes of preaching.

They often reject Rom.

10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Churches stand ‘afar off’ by the message they send forth

In it’s Methods

Many churches promote the same speech, dress, motives and priorities as does the world.

Most churches are nothing more than a social gathering.

A place to go where you feel like you’ve ‘served your time’ for God and give you the freedom to go and live as you please.

Most churches stand ‘afar off’ from Christ.

That is their position.

They would not agree with this statement, but if you’d have asked the Pharisees, they wouldn’t have either.

We see the Position of the Tree, Next we see the Production of the Tree

II.

The Production of the Tree (v13)

It Appeared Fruitful

The fact that the tree had leaves on it, was an indication that fruit would be present as well.

So when Jesus looked upon it, it appeared as though He would have gleaned some fruit to His satisfaction.

It Appeared Fruitful, but upon further inspection, it was Actually Barren

It Actually was Barren

Although at a distance, it looked as though it was going to have much fruit, however it had none.

To so many people when they think of ‘church’, they lump every church in together as though there is no difference.

‘Church is church’.

They are looking at church from a distance - so it all appears beautiful and fruitful.

(Ill) It’s interesting - seeing a lot of these protestant churches, and their ‘ministers’ and the way they dress.

They’ll put on the fancy robes and sashes with pins & colors and all this elegance.

And they’ll stand before congregations and make pronouncements and from a distance (Spiritually and intellectually) it looks like it’s ‘religious’.

It LOOKS like there should be some fruit there… but in truth there isn’t.

This is much the way Jesus described the Pharisees: Mat.

23:5-7 “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”

Mat.

23:25-28 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”