Be Ready!!! 1/23/22
Mark 11:12-17 (KJV)
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Greetings from a POST-Covid household, (PRAYERFULLY!!!)!!!
So MANY folks are experiencing this pandemic/endemic-As my Covid doctor advised as to what I should be doing to recover and prevent this malady, she advised PRAY!!!!
AMEN AND AMEN!!!
As I have reported often times, the good thing about Amanda's sleeping schedule is that I find myself OFTEN awake in the wee hours of the morning.
TRUST ME-there is little else to do between the hours of midnight and 4 AM but PRAY and read my Bible!!!!
In the course of my nightly Bible reading, I read the very familiar Stories posted above-please take the time now to reread and realize ( as I did) that these seemingly unconnected Stories are actually tied together.
DID YOU REREAD THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES YET????????????//
It begins with Jesus being PHYSICALLY hungry. He spots a fig tree, “HAVING LEAVES” and He, BEING HUNGRY, hoped/perhaps expected? To satisfy His need of physical nourishment.
The question begs to be asked and answered here:
WHAT IS THE SOLE PURPOSE OF A FIG TREE??????
The answer, of course, TO PRODUCE edible and nourishing figs.
DUH!!????????
EVERYTHING God created has one purpose- “Be fruitful and MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH!!!”
Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Immediately following the Story of the UNPRODUCTIVE fig tree, Jesus enters the Holy Temple.
Again, the question begs to be answered:
WHY DO PEOPLE ENTER THE TEMPLE/CHURCH?????????????????
The glaringly simple answer is because they are HUNGRY-SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY!!
Yet when Jesus entered the Temple, what did He find????????????????
PLEASE go ahead and reread the above Scriptures.....................
Jesus found a “DEN OF THIEVES!!!!!!!”
Jesus, AGAIN, found no satisfaction to His need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE are like a fig tree-the Church must be a PRODUCTIVE fig tree.
When people encounter you and I with NEEDS, when people come to our gatherings of worship, they almost exclusively came because of N-E-E-D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They come because they are lost and/or suffering or sick.
I cannot think of one instance in the Bible or in Jesus' ministry where folks cried out for His help or blessing on their finances or building programs-OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They/We came and continue to come for H-E-L-P!!!
Personally, I got SAVED because I knew I was lost!!!
I came to a house of worship out of need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WAS sick and tired and lonely and defeated and had no hope in and of THIS life!!!
Today, may each of us vow to be a PRODUCTIVE fig tree, one that not only looks like a FIG BEARING tree, HAVING LEAVES, but a fig tree that bears life giving fruit.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
In closing, may each of us:
2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
GOD BLESS YOU TODAY,
Pastor Doug
404-295-5644 or
CHURCH ADDRESS:
70 Stone Rd.
McDonough, GA. 30253
Your tithes and offerings are greatly appreciated and much needed and can be sent to the above CHURCH ADDRESS or by accessing our website:
and/or via pay pal or cash app.
Thank You and God Bless You!!!
