Cursing the fig tree

18 Early in the morning as Jesus was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19 He saw a fig tree along the road, but when he came to it, he found nothing except leaves. Then he said to it, “You’ll never again bear fruit!” The fig tree dried up at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree dry up so fast?” they asked. 21 Jesus responded, “I assure you that if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree. You will even say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the lake.’ And it will happen. 22 If you have faith, you will receive whatever you pray for.” (Matthew 21:18-22, CEB)

Ok I have a problem here. So if I pray and I don’t get it does that mean I don’t have faith?

Jesus said, “If you have faith, you will receive whatever you pray for.” So if I pray and I don’t get it does that mean I don’t have faith, or I don’t have enough faith?

Also Jesus said “I assure you that if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree. You will even say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the lake.’ And it will happen.” So maybe it’s not that I don’t have faith but I’m just doubting.

And doubt is the opposite of faith, right?

Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Even though our reading seems to say that. Doubt is questioning, and wondering. I will tell you as a pastor there are many times I doubt my call. I doubt God can use me, even as I tell others that God will use their live to show love to the world. I wonder and question God all the time. But I still have faith in God. I still believe that that promises we have been give are true and God’s love is always there for all of us.

So what do we do this this passage. Well, number 1 it is out of context. We can read any passage of scripture and without the context or other scripture to help us know what it says we can get some scary and bad stuff.

Jesus said other places that you will receive your prayer if it is God’s will. So it might not be you doubted and it isn’t because you don’t have enough faith. In another passage, Jesus said if you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, which is really small, you could tell this mountain to move and it would move, which most people take as to say that we have a very little faith. Which could be true, but the faith you have is enough to make you though. It isn’t about you having the ability to move mountains, because honestly if I could move mountains, I wouldn’t do anything else. It is about you having enough faith to fully rely on God.

So know you have enough faith, and don’t worry about doubting, God can take it.

Authority

Every person should place themselves under the authority of the government. There isn’t any authority unless it comes from God, and the authorities that are there have been put in place by God. 2 So anyone who opposes the authority is standing against what God has established. People who take this kind of stand will get punished. 3 The authorities don’t frighten people who are doing the right thing. Rather, they frighten people who are doing wrong. Would you rather not be afraid of authority? Do what’s right, and you will receive its approval. 4 It is God’s servant given for your benefit. But if you do what’s wrong, be afraid because it doesn’t have weapons to enforce the law for nothing. It is God’s servant put in place to carry out his punishment on those who do what is wrong. 5 That is why it is necessary to place yourself under the government’s authority, not only to avoid God’s punishment but also for the sake of your conscience. 6 You should also pay taxes for the same reason, because the authorities are God’s assistants, concerned with this very thing. 7 So pay everyone what you owe them. Pay the taxes you owe, pay the duties you are charged, give respect to those you should respect, and honor those you should honor. (Romans 13:1-7, CEB)

We should submit to the authority of the authorities according to Paul in the snippet of Romans. We would need to read around it to see what else Paul says, and how we should interpret this.

Now in the days in the United States of America, where it seems that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) are killed more by police or stopped more by police. I know lots of BIPOC who are worried every time they leave their home. This is not what Paul is speaking of above. He is talking about when everyone is treated justly, and equally. And when we get there, then we can say this, but until then I wonder what Paul would say to our time here now.

We should follow the rule of God and Love everyone and stand up for those who can not stand for themselves. I believe Paul would tell us a different story than he told the Romans.

What do you think?

Strangers

11 Dear friends, since you are immigrants and strangers in the world, I urge that you avoid worldly desires that wage war against your lives. 12 Live honorably among the unbelievers. Today, they defame you, as if you were doing evil. But in the day when God visits to judge they will glorify him, because they have observed your honorable deeds. 13 For the sake of the Lord submit to every human institution. Do this whether it means submitting to the emperor as supreme ruler, 14 or to governors as those sent by the emperor. They are sent to punish those doing evil and to praise those doing good. 15 Submit to them because it’s God’s will that by doing good you will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Do this as God’s slaves, and yet also as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respectful fear of God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:11-17, CEB)

So as I read this passage and think about what it says, I wonder how we should listen to Trump and the government that is now. According to this passage we should submit to the governing body because in doing so we bring honor to God. Because it is God’s will that by doing good we will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. I wonder if we would all submit to this government if the foolish talk would stop…

But we should honor everyone regardless of our thoughts or feelings for them, because that is what God calls us to do.

So let s all honor all people and follow the ways of God, so we might show God’s love to all the world.

Conflict

15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. 16 But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 17 But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. 18 I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. 19 Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” (Matthew 18:15-20, CEB)

Actually this Bible passage could be the end to all conflict in the world.

The reason we have conflict or fights is because of lack of communication.

Well hold on just a minute there pastor, isn’t conflict caused by disagreement?

Well maybe, but if two people disagree about something, or one has wronged the other, then the one who is wronged goes and talks to the one that wronged them. They may not agree, but they can talk about the issue and come to an understanding and continue to move forward without conflict.

So many things in my life would have been different if this passage had been followed.

So here is my challenge to all of us. If you have a grievance with someone, or they did something wrong to you, go and talk to them personally. Suck it up and be the bigger person. That is what Christ told us to do.

Seek reconciliation. Show love.

Judgment

29 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 You say, ‘If we had lived in our ancestors’ days, we wouldn’t have joined them in killing the prophets.’ 31 You testify against yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, complete what your ancestors did. 33 You snakes! You children of snakes! How will you be able to escape the judgment of hell? 34 Therefore, look, I’m sending you prophets, wise people, and legal experts. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some you will beat in your synagogues and chase from city to city. 35 Therefore, upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been poured out on the earth, from the blood of that righteous man Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. 36 I assure you that all these things will come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:29-36, CEB)

How we will be judged. And how we judge!

The people who killed Jesus, the powers that be of the religious order of the time who killed the prophets that God sent to warn them and show them how to live, and then wound up killing God’s Son.

But the interesting thing to me as I read this today was, “the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar.” Between the temple and the altar…

Where is Between the Temple and the Altar?

The Altar is the place of sacrifice and the Temple contains the altar doesn’t it? Well here the Altar is probably the altar for burnt offerings which stood outside the Temple which contained the altar where sacrifices were done, which is the Holy of Holies. So they killed Zechariah in the place where God was worshipped.

Have we come so low that we do this?

How have we belittled God with our actions?

Bring

As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the good news. 16 But everyone hasn’t obeyed the good news. As Isaiah says, Lord, who has had faith in our message? 17 So, faith comes from listening, but it’s listening by means of Christ’s message. 18 But I ask you, didn’t they hear it? Definitely! Their voice has gone out into the entire earth, and their message has gone out to the corners of the inhabited world. 19 But I ask you again, didn’t Israel understand? First, Moses says, I will make you jealous of those who aren’t a people, of a people without understanding. 20 And Isaiah even dares to say, I was found by those who didn’t look for me; I revealed myself to those who didn’t ask for me. 21 But he says about Israel, All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. (Romans 10:15b-21, CEB)

You have been called to take the message of the love of God to the world!!!

Seem like a huge task?

Well in actuality it is. But realize you are not doing it alone, you along with all of God’s children are sharing the love of God with the world.

You just need to be faithful with taking the message and living a life that points people to God’s love for them.

You will show those who don’t love God God.

You are a beautiful messenger for the Lord!

A Visit

11 I’ve become a fool! You made me do it. Actually, I should have been commended by you. I’m not inferior to the super-apostles in any way, even though I’m a nonentity. 12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with continuous endurance through signs, wonders, and miracles. 13 How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself wasn’t a financial burden on you? Forgive me for this wrong! 14 Look, I’m ready to visit you a third time, and I won’t be a burden on you. I don’t want your things; I want you. It isn’t the children’s responsibility to save up for their parents but parents for children. 15 I will very gladly spend and be spent for your sake. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 We all know that I didn’t place a burden on you, but in spite of that you think I’m a con artist who fooled you with a trick. 17 I haven’t taken advantage of you through any of the people I sent to you, have I? 18 I strongly encouraged Titus to go to you and sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we live by the same Spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same footsteps? 19 Have you been thinking up to now that we are defending ourselves to you? Actually, we are speaking in the sight of God and in Christ. Dear friends, everything is meant to build you up. 20 I’m afraid that maybe when I come you will be different from the way I want you to be, and that I’ll be different from the way you want me to be. I’m afraid that there might be fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly conduct. 21 I’m afraid that when I come again, my God may embarrass me in front of you. I might have to go into mourning over all the people who have sinned before and haven’t changed their hearts and lives from what they used to practice: moral corruption, sexual immorality, and doing whatever feels good. (2 Corinthians 12:11-21, CEB)

Would you ever be embarrassed to visit someone you knew?

Why?

Paul here tells the Corinthians that he is coming to visit, but he might be mourning over those who have sinned and not returned to God.

Where are we with our faith?

Where are you with God?

We can and do turn away from God, but God is always there to accept us back when we turn around and come back.

Would Paul be mourning over you?

Unforgivable

22 They brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak. Jesus healed him so that he could both speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “This man couldn’t be the Son of David, could he?” 24 When the Pharisees heard, they said, “This man throws out demons only by the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 25 Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he replied, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland. Every city or house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 26 If Satan throws out Satan, he is at war with himself. How then can his kingdom endure? 27 And if I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if I throw out demons by the power of God’s Spirit, then God’s kingdom has already overtaken you. 29 Can people go into a house that belongs to a strong man and steal his possessions, unless they first tie up the strong man? Then they can rob his house. 30 Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters. 31 “Therefore, I tell you that people will be forgiven for every sin and insult to God. But insulting the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Human One will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven, not in this age or in the age that is coming. (Matthew 12:22-32, CEB)

The unforgivable sin is speaking against the Holy Spirit. Everything else can be forgiven.

Saying that a house is divided against itself, saying whatever you want against Jesus and the Father, but denying or speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.

Every time I read this I wonder if I have done this. Because really what does this mean? I ran away from God when I was called to go to seminary for a long time. Was that speaking against the Holy Spirit? Because I knew who I was and I would say that there is no way that God wants me to be a pastor, even though I knew, I knew that is what was supposed to happen.

How are we sure?

One thing we can always be sure of is God’s love. we are always loved.

Philadelphia

7 “Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia:
These are the words of the one who is holy and true, who has the key of David. Whatever he opens, no one will shut; and whatever he shuts, no one opens. 8 I know your works. Look! I have set in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have so little power, and yet you have kept my word and haven’t denied my name. 9 Because of this I will make the people from Satan’s synagogue (who say they are Jews and really aren’t, but are lying)—I will make them come and bow down at your feet and realize that I have loved you.10 Because you kept my command to endure, I will keep you safe through the time of testing that is about to come over the whole world, to test those who live on earth. 11 I’m coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown. 12 As for those who emerge victorious, I will make them pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my own new name. 13 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 3:7-13, CEB)

Things are going to get rough.

Maybe things already have gotten rough…

And we have little power to do anything about the things happening around. Except to stay true to our faith and calling that God has given us. And when we are victorious in this, God will have those who were not bow at our feet and make them realize that we have been showing them all along the ways of God.

So hold fast in your faith and do not be shaken. We can not change the world, but we can be a witness to the world.

Share God’s love in all you do!

Sardis

“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: These are the words of the one who holds God’s seven spirits and the seven stars: I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, and you are in fact dead.2 Wake up and strengthen whatever you have left, teetering on the brink of death, for I’ve found that your works are far from complete in the eyes of my God. 3 So remember what you received and heard. Hold on to it and change your hearts and lives. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know what time I will come upon you. 4 But you do have a few people in Sardis who haven’t stained their clothing. They will walk with me clothed in white because they are worthy. 5 Those who emerge victorious will wear white clothing like this. I won’t scratch out their names from the scroll of life, but will declare their names in the presence of my Father and his angels.6 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 3:1-6, CEB)

You seem to be alive, yet you are dead…

Seems like the state of Christianity today in the world. We as Christians seem to be more interested in people being just like us and acting in certain ways and not doing certain things before God will love them.

I say we because those who are not Christian, I assume, lump us all into one pot, as we Christians normally do for Muslims, Jews, or insert other religion here. And even this of course is a generalization. We are not all like this, but we get labeled certain things because we say we are Christian.

So how can those of us who haven’t stained our clothes bring God’s love to the forefront of the conversation? How can we bring God’s love to bear on the world?

Stay focused on Jesus and do what we are led to do and know that God is always with us.