Download Study Materials
What we need… vs. (4 things)
4th – Then we will be able to shine for Jesus in a world compromised by sin!
1st – We are all need Jesus… vs. 1-5
Some who were convicted by Jesus warning – to be ready / get right with God…
Seeking to prove they were ‘good people’- told Jesus about those Pilate had put to death…
How Pilate had killed them as they were offering sacrifices (perhaps Passover)…
This could be a reference to a man called Judas from Galilee – Acts 5:37
He had taught that Jews did not have to pay taxes to Rome…
He gathered a large following – until Rome came and killed him an all his followers…
The Passover was always a volatile time of year – Jews from all over coming ‘home’…
Perhaps Judas used it as an opportunity to try and rally men to his cause…
And Pilate came and ‘spilled their blood’ as they offered their Passover lambs…
The crowd assumed these men died because they were evil (rebels)…
But since they were still alive – then they were better – they were good people…
They thought their story proved they were good / godly men…
Most people assume they are good because they compare themselves to others…
They think because they are not a bank robber / or murderer – they are a good person
But that is their standard of good – not God’s – God tells us there is none good…
Romans 3:10 – “There is none righteous, no, not one…”
No one will ever be able to get into heaven by their own merit – their good works!
Jesus picked up on their assumption – and corrected them…
The men whom Pilate killed were no worse than any other man…
In fact all men are ‘evil’ and share the same fate if they don’t repent…
There are no levels of sinners with God – you are either perfect or a sinner…
The man who loves his wife and kids – and does his best to live a good life…
Is no more righteous before God – than the convicted criminal in prison…
We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of perfection – Romans 3:23
Because we are all sinners – we all have ‘earned’ the reward of hell – Romans 6:23
But if we repent – and receive the free gift of salvation Jesus offers through the cross…
The cross makes even the worst of sinners into the holiest of saints!
The collapse of the tower of Siloam…
Jesus gave a 2nd example to reinforce His point…
A tower by the pool of Siloam had collapsed killing 18 people…
Unlike the rebellion of Judas – this was a complete accident…
The people did nothing wrong – they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time…
The people knew the event – but again assumed those who died were ‘more evil’…
In order for something bad to happen to them – they must be guilty of something…
We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
If you get sick / have a bad harvest – people assume it is God punishing you…
But the truth is God lets bad things happen to innocent people…
Job was a righteous man – but God allowed him to lose everything!
The reason was because Job only knew about God before his trials – but after…
Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
It is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!
At the same time we assume good things happen to good people…
If someone gives us 100 pesos – God is blessing because we did something right…
God will often allow good things to happen to evil people…
Romans 2:4 – “Knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance…”
God does not want anyone to perish – in His love he even blesses sinners…
Trials or blessings – it all comes down to sinners needing Jesus!
2nd – We need to bear good fruit… vs. 6-9
Jesus gave the people a parable to explain – ‘the fig tree with no fruit’…
A man planted a fig tree in a vineyard – he came to collect the fruit and found none…
He said to the keeper of the vineyard – 3 years I have waited for fruit – cut the tree down!
But the keeper asked for one more year – he would try to ‘cast manure’ under the tree…
Learning from your mistakes…
God planted Israel (fig tree) in the world (vineyard) so they could bear fruit for God…
Jesus (keeper) had been ministering for three years – and still there was no fruit…
So Israel was in danger of being ‘cut down’…
It is easy to fool ourselves – thinking we are ok with God…
We think we are ok – we believe in God – we are planted in ‘the vineyard’…
But where is our heart – are we excited about Jesus / or going through the motions…
* II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you.”
We can call ourselves Christians – but actions speak louder than words…
If we are not bearing good fruit for God – we have to question our walk with God…
Jesus was going to use manure – to fertilize and bring fruit from a lifeless tree…
If we are not bearing fruit – chances are we need a little fertilizer – we need manure…
Our manure is our past – our sinful lives – recognizing we are desperate sinners!
Until we admit that – we are not going to see our great need for Jesus…
If you feel like Jesus is just a small part of your life – take it or leave it…
If you wonder why you are not more sold out for the Lord…
Likely it is because you do not think you desperately need Jesus…
You think you are a pretty good person – even without Him
But in truth were all hopelessly lost in sin – all of us desperately needed Christ…
The more realize/embrace that – the more we will love/follow Jesus
* Philippians 3:8 – “Everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as manure, so that I may have Christ…”
The result of clinging to Jesus is we start to bear good fruit – John 15:4-5
3rd – We need faith in Jesus… vs. 10-17
Not empty faith in superstitions…
Jesus went to teach in a Synagogue…
A woman had a curvature of the spine – and could not stand up straight…
She had been in bondage to a ‘spirit of sickness’ – for 18 years…
She had looked everywhere – she had tried faith healers – all the local remedies…
But the more she tried – the more she was bent over – the worse she became!
We all know people who are (and perhaps we were) caught up in superstitions…
People who live in constant fear of evil spirits / those who trust in idols…
When we are in bondage to superstition / spirits – our eyes are not on Jesus…
Rather than looking to the Lord – we have placed our faith in something else!
Jesus healed the woman – and she stood up and glorified God!
When we look to Jesus we no longer live in fear of spirits / worry about superstitions
Jesus sets us free – John 8:36 – He sets us free to life and worship Him…
We can build a house anytime/anywhere – knowing God is on our side!
Not empty faith in religion…
The ruler of the Synagogue was furious…
He told the people – there are 6 days in the week to work – come be healed then…
According to the Jew’s interpretation of the Law – you couldn’t heal on the Sabbath
The most you could do was to save a life if someone was dying…
Any more than that and it would constitute work – breaking the Sabbath…
But this woman had been coming to ‘church’ for 18 years and it had not helped!
Many people think cause they attend a church every week – they are OK with God…
Going to church does not make you a child of God – it will not save you…
Many people believe their religion makes them strong in the Lord…
When in reality their religion makes them weak – taking their eyes off of Jesus…
They trust in their religion – rather than looking to and depending on the Lord!
Hypocrites – Jesus challenged their two faced religion…
If any of them had an animal that was thirsty on the Sabbath…
They would not let them suffer – they would lead them to water….
How much more should this ‘daughter of Abraham’ – one of their countrymen…
Deserve to be freed from the bondage of satan after 18 years…
Religion did not seek to set the woman free – it had help keep her bound up!
Don’t put your faith in empty superstition/religion – instead put your faith in Jesus…
Superstition and religion steal the joy of life away from us – keep us bound…
Jesus came to give us live – * John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly…”
4th – We need to shine for Jesus… vs. 18-21
Not everyone in church is saved – Parable of the Mustard Seed… vs. 18-19
The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds – yet becomes a large tree…
Jesus here likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed…
The Church (Kingdom of Heaven) starts very small…
But it would grow unnaturally large – filled by those who are not really believers…
So that satan (the birds of the air) will even be able to hide in its branches…
We know birds represent satan from the parable of the ‘Seed and the Sower’…
History shows the church flourished under persecution in the first 3 centuries…
It was when the church became the accepted religion that things went wrong…
Though the numbers grew – those who truly believed in Jesus declined…
Satan found that the best way to beat the church – was to join it!
Just because someone goes to church – that does not make them a Christian…
Any more than hanging out in a poultry – makes you a chicken…
We need to look at the fruit of a person – do they have true faith in Jesus
Sin is contagious – leaven in 3 measures of flour… vs. 20-21
A woman ‘hid’ leaven in 3 measures of flour – and it spreads…
It is interesting how much flour is in the parable – about 9 gallons…
Enough to make 72 large loaves of bread – this is a LOT of flour!
The woman represents satan who places leaven in the church…
The leaven represents sin that has come into the church…
The Bible consistently uses leaven as a picture of sin – Galatians 5:7-10
It continues to spread until it has filled the whole church…
The church is unnaturally large (72 loaves worth)…
Because it is compromised by unbelievers and satan coming in – brining in sin…
Sin when it is not dealt with – spreads…
Sin is not a matter to be taken lightly in the church…
It can also encourage others to follow the example of sin…
When sin is not dealt with – it spreads – and destroys lives…
Therefore we need…
1st – To realize we are all sinners – and in desperate need of Jesus…
2nd – Not just for salvation – but every day – clinging to Jesus so we bear good fruit…
3rd – Not trusting in superstitions or religion – but a relationship with our living Lord…
Leave a Reply