27 Apr 2014: "Are we Authentic in our Worship?"
- 1. Mark 11:11-14 • 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. • 12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. • 15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. • 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” • 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city. • The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree • 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
- 2. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves,…. Tree had the appearance of deceptive fruitfulness
- 4. the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.
- 6. “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Isaiah 56:6-7 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the LORD, who serve Him and love His name, who worship Him… I will bring them to My holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in My house of prayer”.
- 7. Mark 11:15-16 Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.
- 8. 1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.
- 10. The LORD spoke through the prophet Ezekiel that His people don’t know the distinction between what is holy and what is not; what is ceremonially clean and unclean.. and they have dishonoured His name.. (Ezekiel 22:26)
- 11. Mark 11:20 “In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots”
- 15. fig leaves are pre+y but fig tree leaves cannot sa3sfy hunger.. Are we all leaf and no fruit, all talk and no walk? 1 Cor 9 : 26-‐27 “I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified”.