00:00:00.000 - 00:00:27.700

[ Pause ] [MUSIC] ♪ To my high bowl ♪ ♪ This world ♪

00:00:27.700 - 00:00:55.340

♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ You may have all ♪

00:00:55.340 - 00:01:21.520

♪ This world ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus ♪ ♪ In the morning ♪

00:01:21.520 - 00:01:43.520

♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning ♪ ♪ Arise ♪ ♪ In the morning ♪

00:01:43.520 - 00:02:08.860

♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Dark midnight ♪ was my cry. Dark midnight was my cry. Dark midnight was my cry. Give me Jesus, give me

00:02:08.860 - 00:02:38.860

Dark midnight was my cry. Dark midnight was my cry. Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus.

00:02:38.860 - 00:03:24.720

Give me Jesus. You, my have all this world. Give me Jesus. I heard my mother say.

00:03:28.700 - 00:04:01.520

I heard my mother say, oh, I heard my mother say, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. ♪ Jesus ♪

00:04:01.520 - 00:04:27.680

♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ You may have all ♪ ♪ This world ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪

00:04:27.680 - 00:04:59.220

♪ I heard my mother say ♪ ♪ I heard my mother say ♪ ♪ Oh, I heard my mother say ♪ My mother say, give me Jesus.

00:04:59.220 - 00:05:27.600

Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. ♪ Jesus ♪ ♪ You may have all ♪

00:05:27.600 - 00:06:24.640

♪ This world ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ [singing] Today is the first Sunday in the Lenten season, that period, 40 days, embracing Easter,

00:06:24.640 - 00:07:02.240

which we consider our Lord's passion, those things in his life, reflecting his suffering leading up to the crucifixion and the resurrection. So our scripture this morning is found in the gospel according to Saint Mark, the 11th chapter, the 12th through the 25th verses, reading from the Living Bible, paraphrased.

00:07:02.240 - 00:07:47.680

The next morning as they left Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. A little way off he noticed a fig tree in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But no, there were only leaves, for it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, "You shall never bear fruit again." The disciples heard him say it.

00:07:47.680 - 00:08:15.640

When they arrived back to Jerusalem, he went to the temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers, and knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, and stopped everyone from bringing in loads of merchandise. He told them, "It is written in the scriptures,

00:08:15.640 - 00:08:32.840

"my temple is to be a place of prayer for all nations, "but you have turned it into a den of robbers." When the chief priests and other Jewish leaders heard what he had done, they began planning

00:08:32.840 - 00:08:56.900

how best to get rid of him. Their problem was their fear of riots the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus' teaching. That evening, as usual, they left the city. Next morning, as the disciples passed the fig tree he had

00:08:56.900 - 00:09:33.040

cursed, they saw that it was withered from the roots. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, teacher, the fig tree you cursed has withered." In reply, Jesus said to the disciples, "If you only have faith in God, this is the absolute truth. You can say to this

00:09:33.040 - 00:10:06.920

Mount of Olives rise up and fall into the Mediterranean and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and you have no doubt. Listen to me. You can pray for anything if you believe you have it. It's yours. But when you are praying first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against

00:10:06.920 - 00:10:37.840

so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too. May the Lord add to us the blessing on the reading and hearing of his holy word. Let us turn to hymn number 94, "At the Cross." "At the Cross, Where I First Saw the Light."

00:10:37.840 - 00:10:53.080

Hymn number 94. As we sing this hymn, "At the Cross, Where I First Saw the Light, And the Burden of My Heart Rolled Away,

00:10:54.120 - 00:11:29.840

It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I'm happy all the day. All stances of this hymn as we stand. [music] I have lasted in my state of peace, and in my suffering done.

00:11:29.840 - 00:12:06.160

What evil does a criminal forsake the sense of love? And the cross, and the cross, where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there, my dear, I received my sight,

00:12:06.160 - 00:12:26.220

And now I am happy all the day. Bow in silent meditation. (gentle music) [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:12:26.220 - 00:12:36.540

(gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music)

00:12:36.540 - 00:13:12.600

(gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music) [ Music ]

00:13:13.100 - 00:13:36.820

Amen. On several occasions during our Lord's Passion, He made references to the fig tree. This morning is the basis of this message.

00:13:39.900 - 00:13:54.300

We lift up for your prayerful consideration The thought Bearing fruit out of season Bearing fruit

00:13:54.300 - 00:14:23.220

out of season Is leading up to the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry, that he comes to Jerusalem, the holy city,

00:14:23.220 - 00:15:01.100

and he goes in and out of the city, remaining in that vicinity until the end. comes. On this particular occasion, he is in Bethany, the region of Bethany, which is sort of the suburbs of Jerusalem. He comes out of Bethany in the morning and goes back

00:15:01.100 - 00:16:11.820

at night. On this particular day, our Lord sees a fig tree. He's hungry. And he goes to the tree for the purpose of gathering figs to satisfy his hunger. But there are no figs there. And Mark tells us that it was not the season for figs. It was the wrong time for figs. And yet there comes a curse from the master's lips, for he says because you have

00:16:11.820 - 00:16:50.980

no fruit on you, you will never bear fruit again. The next morning when they came out, saw that that tree was with it from its roots. Now, the scripture has a great deal to say about figs. Figs were related to the coming of the kingdom in its fullness.

00:16:50.980 - 00:17:34.980

The people of God dreamed of a time when every person would sit under his own vine and fig tree, and there would be none to make him afraid. Figs were used to represent productivity, fruitfulness, symbol not only of prosperity, a symbol of peace, figs. But this passage is somewhat strange and difficult to interpret,

00:17:34.980 - 00:18:17.040

and the commentators have had a great deal to say about how this passage ought to be interpreted. Some say that it was because of the fact that the fig tree had leaves and no fruit, and that it was customary for the fig tree to have burning fruit before the leaves appear.

00:18:17.040 - 00:19:02.880

And that what really Jesus is speaking against here is pretension and sham, deception. That there is the appearance here of having fruit because there are leaves, but the appearance is not consistent with reality. Others have gone on to point out that a tree bearing leaves in the spring has kept them

00:19:02.880 - 00:19:24.900

from that time through the winter, during which time the figs should have ripened. Then there is the view that figs appear only in the spring, but regularly and normally before the leaves.

00:19:24.900 - 00:19:45.240

Then there is still another interpretation that figs only appear after leaves in the spring, but that they are green and edible. And so that Jesus came to pick some green figs

00:19:45.240 - 00:20:26.440

and there were no figs there. So when we consider all of these interpretations, We still have to come back to this statement that Mark makes, that it was the wrong season for figs. Now if it is the wrong season for figs, why is it that Jesus curses the fig tree when

00:20:26.440 - 00:20:48.520

he finds no figs there? It seems to me that this is expecting the impossible. We have a season for everything. To everything, says the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, there is a time, there is

00:20:48.520 - 00:21:18.260

a season. And according to the rules of nature, a tree does well when it produces according to its season. And when we look at life from a human viewpoint, we have our styles according to the seasons.

00:21:18.260 - 00:21:43.760

And in keeping with the season, we ought to wear what we wear. Remember once and I went away my wife asked me to bring back a Straw hat a winner straw hat And I asked her I said you mean to tell me they have winner straws she said yes, I

00:21:43.760 - 00:22:10.900

Thought a straw hat was just a straw hat And I discovered that there is such a thing as a winner straw We have a lot of styles, some for the spring, some for the summer, some for the autumn, and some for

00:22:10.900 - 00:22:48.160

the winter. But here is a tree in the springtime, during the months of February and March, when according to the rule, according to the natural sequence, is not expected to have any fruit and yet this tree is cursed by Jesus because it has no fruit.

00:22:48.160 - 00:23:24.260

What does it say to us in connection with the cross? What message has it for us in connection with our Lord's passion? It is this, that those who represent the new Israel, those who are the disciples of the the master. This fig tree represents that group that may be called the disciples who

00:23:24.260 - 00:23:53.300

are known as the company of the committed. Those persons are expected to do the impossible, to bring forth fruit out of season. To do that which is supernatural, to do that which is superhuman,

00:23:53.300 - 00:24:17.940

that which is beyond the ordinary. It was not the season for figs. So the fig tree is cursed because it has no fruit. Cursed because it does not satisfy

00:24:17.940 - 00:24:32.500

the demand of the master. And that is it has promise without fulfilling. So often this is what we see in the midst of our society. promise

00:24:32.500 - 00:24:49.580

But no fulfilling appearance but no reality And yet the word is that there is no particular season for those who Are to do right or there is no particular season for right?

00:24:49.580 - 00:25:06.020

Every season is a season for right You know, haven't we as a people grown so tired of hearings people say to us, you know, that's good You ought to have that But the time ain't right yet

00:25:06.020 - 00:25:26.940

You know Yeah, you people ought to have that but the air come to you by and by but the time is just not right now Well, the time is always right for right Mark says it is the wrong season for

00:25:26.940 - 00:25:50.420

figs And yet this tree is cursed because It has no figs. It's guilty of having leaves and no fruit. There is profession without practice Season for figs hasn't come yet. It's to come a little later and Jesus comes

00:25:51.620 - 00:26:08.620

Seeking figs at the wrong Time according to nature. Well, that's the way it is for each one of us brothers and sisters He wants us to produce fruit out of season

00:26:08.620 - 00:26:20.420

Now it's rather easy to love people that love you That's producing fruit in season. That's the season, you know the season of love

00:26:20.420 - 00:26:37.860

Everybody's loving you and everyone is speaking well of you Well, it's rather easy to love that in that kind of atmosphere but what he's talking about is Loving those who hate you that's bearing fruit out of season

00:26:37.860 - 00:26:53.860

Well It's in season when you are required to go one mile, to go that mile, that's being in season. That's bearing fruit in season.

00:26:53.860 - 00:27:12.300

But Jesus says that if you would be my disciple, that's the meaning here, that you must go two miles, go beyond, you ought to bear fruit out of season. Not just to fulfill the normal human expectation,

00:27:12.300 - 00:27:51.300

But if you would be my disciple, you must go beyond that which is the normal. You must be above the normal, to bear fruit out of season. Well, this comes to us sometimes in different ways. I was told of a person here some time ago is working on a job where the person under

00:27:51.300 - 00:28:12.980

whom that person works doesn't speak. And the person has to work under that kind of supervision and expected to do a good job. Well, that's bearing fruit out of season. When Reverend C.A.

00:28:12.980 - 00:28:30.020

Holliday was appointed to the Board of Corrections, they didn't want to have a black person appointed to that board. Some people didn't. And he was appointed to that board and finally confirmed after a great deal of talk and opposition.

00:28:30.020 - 00:28:58.380

And he later told me that as long as he was on that board, that the chairperson of that board never referred to him by name as Reverend Holliday. He always said, "The person who succeeded Mr. So-and-so will not give his report." And yet, he stayed on that board for six years and carried on as one ought to carry on.

00:28:58.380 - 00:29:17.540

It's alright when someone refers to you as Dr. Holiday and gives you the kind of respect when your report is called for. That's bearing fruit in season, but when they do not give you that respect and yet you give forth the best that is within you.

00:29:17.540 - 00:29:38.000

That's bearing fruit out of season. to bear fruit anyhow when you find that the family circle proves to be a hindrance. That's what Jesus encountered.

00:29:38.000 - 00:29:50.340

His mother and his sisters and brothers didn't really understand what he was trying to do. And in the early part of his ministry, they came on one occasion and said,

00:29:50.340 - 00:30:08.580

"Son, come home." his mother said word in there come home don't don't be carrying on this kind of business don't be doing this come on home and be a good son people are all disturbed about what you're doing they didn't really understand well you

00:30:08.580 - 00:30:35.140

expected nobody nobody else expects does it you sort of expect your family the inner circle to understand, but they didn't understand. And yet Jesus went on, and you see to carry on when the family circle doesn't really understand, and when the family circle is a hindrance, that's bearing fruit out of season.

00:30:35.300 - 00:31:02.640

Well, you can expect your intimate circle of friends to support you in most of your endeavors, but here when the intimate circle of friends misunderstand, and not only misunderstand, but they forsake you in the hour of trial. This is what happens to Jesus.

00:31:02.640 - 00:31:15.440

And when you remain faithful to the eternal in such a time as that, that's bearing fruit out of season. And to bear fruit out of season,

00:31:15.440 - 00:31:36.320

when one is denied and betrayed by those who have been identified with you and close up relations during the struggle, And still be faithful to the eternal that's bearing fruit out of season

00:31:36.320 - 00:31:49.260

so Jesus curses the fig tree Because it fails to bear fruit out of season That's the cross

00:31:49.260 - 00:32:09.560

If you want to know what the cross is in your life, it's to be able to bear fruit out of season That's the cross and don't think brothers and sisters. I always talk about the cross during this time, but don't think That you're going to be a Christian disciple And

00:32:09.560 - 00:32:24.980

Fail to bear fruit out of season You may be a disciple but not a Christian not like Jesus and fail to bear fruit out of season No, no matter no matter what

00:32:25.680 - 00:32:44.280

There is in what save your life you are engaged Whether it's in the family whether it's on your job whether it's in the community all Through life there is the cross Don't think you're gonna have happiness and

00:32:44.280 - 00:33:12.880

Prosperity without the cross Don't think that's gonna be joy without sorrow All through life there is the cross We wouldn't follow in his train it means that one must bear fruit out of season

00:33:12.880 - 00:33:30.700

You know ever ever so often When I make a statement about something about what may be happening in connection with the school system Some people say Reverend, you know, I'm glad you said that

00:33:30.700 - 00:33:53.480

Thank you for saying that as always you feel good when somebody says that but on the other hand, you know You get some nasty letters And one one some time ago had Had had had sent to me someone sent to me all of the names of the black people that were indicted by the grand jury

00:33:53.480 - 00:34:11.800

and said are you and your damn minorities and Don't a few other nasty words along with it well To serve because of the compliments and then stop because of the criticism then you can't

00:34:13.040 - 00:34:30.080

That if you're going to be faithful, you must bear fruit In-season and out of season and so that's that's impossible. That's impossible according to the order of things but God makes the

00:34:30.080 - 00:34:44.400

Impossible possible with God there is what we call the impossible possibility and Jesus said you can do this They said now how can you curse the fig tree? So well you can do that

00:34:44.400 - 00:35:06.320

if you have faith and if you Pray those two things if you have faith and if you pray And and and there's the parable that he tells on another occasion about a fig tree Man had planted it

00:35:06.320 - 00:35:16.440

And he came back three years expecting to find fruit. There was none. And

00:35:16.440 - 00:35:48.220

the owner of the garden said to the gardener, "Cut it down. Three years this tree has occupied space in my garden and has produced no fruit. Cut it down." And the gardener said to the owner, "Spare this tree. just one more year and let me dig around it. Let me put some manure around it and

00:35:48.220 - 00:36:22.780

maybe the tree will respond. Three years the tree has had access to my grace. Three years the tree has had access to my love, my forgiveness. The gardener represents Jesus Christ says spare the tree for my sake, spare the tree because of my sacrificial suffering on Calvary and let me dig around that tree and maybe in

00:36:22.780 - 00:36:57.380

another year it will bear fruit. But that fruitfulness depends upon our commitment to God. That fruitfulness depends upon our faith in the eternal. That fruitfulness depends upon our surrender to that one who is greater than ourselves. That's what it means to have faith and to be rightly related to that God who is the father of us all. Well I think that's the

00:36:57.380 - 00:37:24.460

kind of faith that Habakkuk is describing when he says that though the fig tree fails to blossom and though there be no cattle in the stall, yet will I trust in him. That's the kind of faith that no matter what may happen in season and out of season that I'll trust in God says the prophet. Then Job picks up the refrain

00:37:24.460 - 00:37:54.260

and Job says, "Well, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Paul says even in the midst of his trials, "My grace," my grace is the word, is sufficient. God's grace is sufficient for every trial. And so to have that faith in season and out of of season. That's what it means really to pray. "Oh for a faith that will not

00:37:54.260 - 00:38:36.600

shrink, though crushed by every fall, that will not murmur on the brink of any earthly woe. Faith that shines both bright and clear when tempests rage without, when in danger knows no fear, in darkness knows no doubt." This is the faith by which the church lives. It is the faith that enables us to bear our cross even in the heat of the day. To bear our cross in season and out of season for every Christian is a person for every season to be faithful to God

00:38:36.600 - 00:39:04.160

in season and out of season to have that faith that enables us to bear a cross whatever that cross may be whether it's a cross of sickness whether it's a cross of anxiety whether it's a cross of alienation and loneliness whatever that cross may be to have the faith in God that will enable us to bear that cross in season

00:39:04.160 - 00:39:31.000

and out of season. Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? Well when you really pray and trust in him the answer comes back, "No, there's a cross for everyone and there's a cross for me." Not just when things are going well but But I'll bear fruit, God, when things are not going well,

00:39:31.000 - 00:39:48.240

out of season. As we sing now, we extend the privilege of the church for us, for faithful, for those who believe, who will trust in the word to bear fruit out of season.

00:39:48.240 - 00:40:02.620

We ask you to come this morning to give your life to the master. Say, "Lord, I'll just not be faithful in the summer, "in the spring, but I'll be faithful

00:40:02.620 - 00:40:13.360

"even in the winter season. "I'll be faithful, I'll bear fruit." If that kind of faith we ask you to come, commit yourself, surrender yourself to God,

00:40:13.360 - 00:40:32.220

must Jesus bear the cross. ♪ Must Jesus bear the cross ♪ ♪ Across the land ♪ ♪ And on this land ♪

00:40:32.220 - 00:40:54.960

♪ We'll sing ♪ ♪ Long as the ♪ ♪ Wild and free ♪ ♪ And there's a hope for me ♪

00:40:54.960 - 00:41:20.100

♪ Oh, help me, Lord ♪ ♪ The strength to move ♪ ♪ Over this lonely hill ♪ ♪ And all will hear ♪

00:41:20.100 - 00:41:45.700

♪ The dawning ♪ ♪ The day of love and joy ♪ ♪ Without a tear ♪ ♪ The blossoming rain ♪

00:41:45.700 - 00:42:08.700

♪ It falls again ♪ ♪ Till death shall set me free ♪ ♪ I'll never go home ♪ ♪ I've come to wear ♪

00:42:08.700 - 00:42:32.500

♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ ♪ Where cross and death ♪ ♪ Till death shall set thee free ♪

00:42:36.840 - 00:43:01.160

♪ The happy Lord ♪ ♪ I come to bear ♪ ♪ Father, the crown for me ♪ (audience applauding)

00:43:01.160 - 00:43:21.440

- The bad fruit out of season the call of the committed disciple to accept the challenge to live courageously in difficult times to live dangerously and yet live victoriously let us listen now to the report

00:43:21.440 - 00:43:45.720

we have a miss more old gene womack which the gentleman by a Christian spirit she comes from San Antonio first Baptist sister womack would you stand Sister Womack comes to unite with our church by Christian experience from the Mount Zion First Baptist Church of San Antonio Texas pastored by the Reverend C. William Black. What is your pleasure all who are in favor of receiving her as she has applied?

00:43:45.720 - 00:44:05.980

Would you say aye? Those no, it's carried and sister Womack. It is a delightful privilege to welcome you into the fellowship of our church We are happy to have you to unite with the family of God here at Ebenezer And we trust that together we will be found faithful as we seek to fulfill our Lord's commands

00:44:05.980 - 00:44:16.020

May God bless you and may he keep you Let's all say amen now we continue our worship if there are those who

00:44:16.020 - 00:45:03.280

Did not receive the right hand of fellowship. We have not received it who united with our church and have not received the right hand of [ Silence ] [BLANK_AUDIO]