Fruitfulness

and Fig Trees

The Humble Fig Tree
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Jesus also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a
fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking
fruit on it and found none.
Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for
three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree
and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the
ground?’
But the gardener answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let
it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize
it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you
can cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6-9
The Players….

“A Certain Man”: the owner of the Vineyard.

This is God the Father.

“The Keeper of his Vineyard”: “The Gardener.”

This is Jesus.

“The Fig Tree.”

This is you and me.

God expects fruit from us.

The Parable of the Fig Tree (revised)
Jesus also spoke this parable: “The Father has
planted you in His Church, and one day He came
seeking fruit from you, but He found none.
Then the Father came to Me (because I’m building
My Church) and He said, ‘Look, for three years I have
come seeking fruit on this person and I’ve find none.
Cut him down; why does him use up my blessings?’
But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Father, let him
alone one more year, until I dig into his life and fertilize
it. And if he bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you
can cut him down.’”
Luke 13:6-9 (sort of)
Three options when we’re examined for fruit:

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Cut down.

3. Fruitfulness
None of the above.
Who plants a garden and doesn’t look for fruit?
Who plants a garden and doesn’t look for fruit?
What is fruit?
 What is fruit?
1.
 What is fruit?

Philippians 1:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in
2. the flesh, this will mean fruit
fruit from my labor
labor… I know that I shall
remain and continue with you all for your progress
progress and
and joy
joy of
of
faith
faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in
Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Romans 1
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often
planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I
also just as among the
might have some fruit among you also,
other Gentiles.
 What is fruit?
1. My life is changed so that I look more and
more like Jesus

2. My life influences others around me so that

they are changed and they look more and
more like Jesus.
God Expects Fruit From Our Lives
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who
hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit
and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty.” --Matthew 13:23

Those who are planted in the house of the LORD

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing
--Psalm 92:13,14

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
-- Matthew 3: 7,8
Three options when we’re examined for fruit:

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Cut down.

3. Fruitfulness
None of the above.
Who plants a garden and doesn’t look for fruit?
Who plants a garden and doesn’t look for fruit?
Three options when we’re examined for fruit:

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Cut down.

3. Fruitfulness
None of the above.
1. Fruitlessness
Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I
have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.

• My life isn’t growing in the fruit of the Spirit.

• The people around me aren’t coming to Jesus

• I’m not really influencing people to be more like Jesus.

• My life is stagnant: no vision, not a lot of hope.

• I’m going around in circles: same issues over and over again.

• I feel trapped by routine, habits, sins, relationships.

1. Fruitlessness brings….
brings…
But the gardener answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this
year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit,
well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’

The consequence of fruitlessness is:

5) Jesus digs into and around our lives

6) He loads us up with fertilizer
7) He looks for fruit.

What do gardeners use for fertilizer?

1. Fruitlessness brings fertilizer…
Adversity Jams
Afflictions Miseries
Bad Breaks Misfortunes
Bad News Mishaps
Bummers Pickles
Calamities Rotten Breaks
Contretemps Rotten Luck
Crunches Rough Going
Difficulties Scrapes
Disasters Sorrows
Distresses Sufferings
Downers Tough Breaks
Hard Times Tough Luck
Hardships Trials
Holy Messes Troubles
Hurts Ugly Circumstances
Ill Fortunes Unholy Messes
Three options when we’re examined for fruit:

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer: crap dug into our lives.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Cut down.

3. Fruitfulness
None of the above.
2. Continued Fruitlessness
Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I
have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down;
why does it use up the ground?’
But the gardener answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year
also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And ifif itit bears
bears fruit,
fruit, well.
well. But
But if not,
if not, afterafter
that that
you you
can can
cut itcut it down.’
down.’

Cut it down…?

Cut me down?
2. Continued Fruitlessness brings…
Complete Destruction…
2. Continued Fruitlessness brings…
Complete Destruction
Romans 8:32: He who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with
Him also freely give us all things?

Acts 5:10-11: Then immediately she fell down at his

feet and breathed her last. And the young men
came in and found her dead, and carrying her out,
buried her by her husband. So great fear came
upon all the church and upon all who heard these
things.

1 Corinthians 5:5 “Deliver such a one to Satan for the

destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
2. Continued Fruitlessness brings…
“Rejuvenation
Complete Destruction…
Pruning”

Rejuvenation: “to be restored to a former state; made

fresh or new again”

This kind of “prune it to ground level” is terribly

drastic, but sometimes the new growth is more
fruitful than the old tree was.

This is the God who said, “I will never leave you or

forsake you,” remember?

When Jesus cuts our tree down, he’s allowing

complete destruction to come to our life, in order
that we ourselves may be saved.
Three options when we’re examined for fruit:

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer. Crap in my life.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Complete Destruction.

3. Fruitfulness
None of the above.
3. Fruitfulness brings…
“NonePruning!”
“Pick of the Above!”
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit
He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He
prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

www.gardenweb.com: “Woody plant material is pruned

mainly to keep the specimen healthy, vigorous, able
to maintain a strong, balanced branch structure, and
to maximize fruitfulness. Pruning is most important in
the first few years of a plant's life when you can
influence its shape, size and growth patterns more
easily. A tree needs less pruning as it ages.”
3. Fruitfulness brings…
“Pick Pruning!”
The Process:
• The Father evaluates every branch
• Cut off every branch that has no fruit
• Trim back every branch that has fruit

The Goal:
• The branch is “in Him”: Nourishment of every branch
comes from Jesus.
• Fruitfulness is increased
• My life looks more like Jesus
• Lives around me look more like Jesus
• No “sap” is wasted on fruitlessness.
3. Fruitfulness brings…
“Pick Pruning”
The Process:

• Every aspect of my life is examined.

• Does this get its life from Jesus?
• Does this make me more like Jesus?
• Does this bring others closer to Jesus?

• Every aspect of my life is cut.

• Some things are cut away completely.
• Some things are cut back and reduced.
• Some things are trimmed to make them more fruitful.

• I am looking forward to God’s pruning.

3. Fruitfulness brings…
“Pick Pruning”
The Result:

• My life is less complicated, less “overwhelming.”

• The things left are more satisfying & fulfilling.

• I become a mature man of God.

• People around me are challenged to follow Jesus

(whether I am trying or not!)

• God smiles.
How to Avoid Troubles
Short version: Give up. It won’t happen.

1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer. Trouble in my life.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Complete Destruction, so I can be saved.

3. Fruitfulness
Careful Pruning of my life.
How to Avoid Troubles
Holy Spirit: Please show me what you’re doing in my
Long Version: Make your choice, and submit to
life:
the process.
1. Fruitlessness:
Fertilizer. Trouble in my life.

2. Continued Fruitlessness:
Complete Destruction, so I can be saved.

3. Fruitfulness
Careful Pruning of my life.