I. Introduction
   A. Review:  Last week we learned that crises
        1. Conform us to the image of Christ
        2. Prepare us for glory
        3. Help us identify with Christ’s sufferings
        4. Strengthen our faith and character
  B. This week we learn they also produce fruit in us.
        1. Fruit – a favorite topic of ours  EG Pear tree illustration
           a. When moving from MA to MI, Peg; “Buy a Cape Cod with lots of trees’
           b. Lee: “Found Cape Cod with 32 trees. You’ll love it!”
           c. What Lee didn’t say was that those 32 trees were PEAR TREES!
           d. We were going to be living in a former orchard (Pears didn’t know they were in a FORMER orchard)
           e. Those pears just kept doing what they had always done: produce fruit!
           f. Overwhelming during pear season:
                1) We left bags of pears on doorsteps of friends
                2) We left bags of pears on doorsteps of “enemies”
                3) We placed ads in paper: “Free pears; Come & get them” (few takers)
                4) Following year ad: “Bargain! Pears $3 per bushel (mobbed!)
                5) Still had pears left over
                    a) Lee got pear wrist (like tennis elbow) from picking up pears
                    b) Peg spent 3 hours each day in kitchen making pear sauce, pear pie, pear butter, pear crunch
                        (strong sense of stewardship: What God gives, you use!)
           g. In spring when trees blossomed, people: “What kind of trees?” (We would tell them)
                 1) In fall, when fruit appeared, nobody asked, “What kind?”
                 2) They knew; they could see the fruit
          h. One day somebody told Lee, “Prune your trees and you’ll get fewer pears” (but bigger pears).
                1) So Lee armed himself with pruning shears and approached trees
                2) What were trees thinking?
                    a) “Don’t hurt me, please. We don’t like pain!”
                    b) “Don’t make any changes, please. We like things the way they are!”
                3) But once pruning done and the trees saw the quality of their fruit, what might their reaction be?
       2. Those pear trees gave us a lot to ponder.
   C. Quality fruit is as important in spiritual realm as in physical
        1. Bearing fruit is God’s plan for followers of Jesus Christ. Jn 15:16  “You did not choose me, but I chose you
            and appointed you to go and bear fruit.”
        2. Christians are expected to bear fruit even in times of difficulty.  Jer 17:7  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
            whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
            It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to
            bear fruit.”
        3. What is fruit?
            a. Matt 26:29  “fruit of the vine” (wine)
            b. Lu 1:42  “fruit of the womb”  (child)
            c. Isa 3:10  “fruit of our labors”  (results)
            d. Lu 3:8  “fruit of repentance”  CHANGED LIFE!
                1) This is the fruit the Bible emphasizes
                2) Christ is more interested in what we’re becoming, than what we’re doing
        4. Gal 5:22  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
            and self-control.”
            a. Not “fruit of the Christian”
            b. But “fruit of the Spirit” (He produces it)
                1) You never hear pear trees say, “I’ve got to produce a pear today”
                2) Pear trees produce pears because they are pear trees (open to power within)
            c. Question: How does the Holy Spirit grow the fruit of Christlikeness in us?
           d. Answer: By Holy Spirit creating situations that are difficult (CRISES)
                1) Love? By giving us someone hard to love
                2) Joy? By sending times of sorrow
                3) Peace? By providing chaos for us to deal with
                4) Patience? By making us wait
                5) Kindness? By placing us in situations where unkindness abounds
                6) Goodness? By letting evil reign. EG  Goodness like a flower growing in midst of barren landscape (lavascape)
                7) Faithfulness? By enabling us to stick by someone who is unfaithful
                8) Gentleness? By having us deal with an abrasive personality
                9) Self-control? By allowing us to work with someone who “loses it”
          e. Conclusion: crises set the stage for the fruit of God’s Spirit to grow
II Good fruit depends on a good connection to the trunk.  Jn 15:1-8   READ
  A. Question: What happens to branches that don’t produce fruit?   v.2 “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.”
  B. Question: Why does the Gardener prune the branches that are producing?
    1. v.2  ‘Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
    2. The sight of the Gardener with pruning shears must be threatening
  C. Question: What is expected to flow through the vine to the branches, keeping the branches clean  (the WORD)
        v.3  “You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.”
  D. Question: What is the branch told it must do in order to produce fruit?  (STAY CONNECTED to the vine)
        v.4a  “Remain in me and I will remain in you”  (“Abide”  KJV)
  E. Question: What is the branch told it cannot do?  (Bear fruit by itself)  v.4b  “No branch can bear fruit by itself;
        it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
  F. Question: What is it that flows through the branches producing fruit to the glory of God? (the WORD the power source!)
    1. v.7  “If you remain in me and my words remain in you….”
    2. v.8  “much fruit” – “to the Father’s glory”
  G. Our effectiveness as Christians is directly proportional to the amount of God’s Word that flows through us.
III A warning about bad fruit – Mt 7:15-23  READ (frightening passage!)
  A. Question: What is the mark of a Christian? (FRUIT)
    1. v.16  “By their fruits you will recognize them”
    2. Good fruit is how to tell Christians from other people
    3. Bad fruit is how you tell non-Christians   v.15 (it takes great discernment)
        a. They may look like Christians – in “sheep clothing” v.15
        b. They may sound like Christians – calling Him “Lord”  v.21
        c. Dig deeper – into their nature (bad fruit)
  B. v.17  ‘Every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit”  (Restate in your own words)
    1. A person who calls himself a Christian and really is a Christian will eventually show himself to be a Christian by his
        changed life.
    2. A person who calls himself a Christian but really is NOT a Christian will eventually show his true nature.
        (professing but not possessing)
  C. v.18  “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit”  Rephrase:
    1. It is impossible for a true believer to practice sin on a regular basis.
        (1Jn 3:6 “No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him”)
        a. A true believer may sin but will immediately recognize it as sin, confess it, and get cleansed from it.
        (1Jn 1:9  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”)
        b. A true believer will make an effort not to repeat the sin (“fruit of repentance”)
    2. EG Sheep and pig approach mud puddle
        a. Both fall in
        b. Sheep gets up, shakes mud off, continues on way, being careful to avoid any more mud puddles
        c. Pig makes no effort to get out, wallows in mud, getting filthier by minute: LOVING IT!
        d. Temptation to sin proves nature of beast
        e. Christians are sheep, NOT pigs  (Don’t want to sin)
  D. v.19 ‘Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Rephrase:
    1. Professing Christians who show no evidence of a changed life are sent to hell
    2. This business of producing good fruit is serious business to God!
  E. v.20  (Repeat):  “By their fruits you will recognize them.” (What are God’s mandates to us?)
    1. Become fruit Inspectors of the religiously influential people in our lives
        a. Learn to discern the true from the false (Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, TV evangelists)
        b. If we are confronted by the false, “receive him not into your house” (2Jn 10)
    2. Be fruit Inspectors of our own lives
        a. Ask ourselves: Am I more Christlike today than when I first professed Jesus Christ as Lord of my life?
        b. Ask ourselves: Am I serious about wanting to become God’s man or woman? What am I doing to grow spiritually?
           What goals have I set for 2001?
  F. v.21-23  What “saving faith” is NOT  (evident on Judgment Day):
    1. Saving faith is not a mere profession of Jesus Christ as Lord – although a profession is necessary. (polls: high %)
        v.21  “Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.’”
2. Saving faith is not miraculous manifestations -although these may occur. (faith healers) v.22  “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons?’”
a. EG Female faith healer doing miracles on stage, at death ear implant discovered.  Book called “Daughter of Destiny”
1) Before start of program, assistant would interview people
2) Assistant write down ailments, history, addresses, etc.
3) Assistant relay information to faith healer thru ear implant
4) Faith healer: “There’s someone in audience with….”
5) Sick person: “How did she know? A miracle! I’m going to be healed!”
6) The “healing” occurs
b. Frightening aspect: these bogus miracles done “in the name” of Christ, fooling all but the most discerning  (“in the name” 3x in KJV)
3. Saving faith is not doing wonderful works – although these are expected. (do gooders: poor, hungry) v.22 KJV  “And in your name do many wonderful works” (“miracles” NIV)
4. The result: an eternal death sentence  v.23  ‘Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.”
a. “Never knew you” – you never allowed Me to become intimate with you.
1) I wanted to plant the seed of my Word in the spiritual womb of your being so that My likeness would be reproduced through you
2) You did not want to give birth to the changed life
b. You’re “evildoers’ (Your good works not only do not count, they’re evil in My eyes)
       5.    Saving faith is the changed life (FRUIT of Spirit)
G. It is God’s Word put into practice – v.24-27 Wise man and foolish man
1. It is building our faith so strong that when crises come, it stands firm.
2. It is not building our faith on sand (profession only, no possession)
3. Scary thing: in both cases the Word is present – “these word of mine” v.24,26
a. In the first case God’s Word is assimilated
b. In the second case it’s in one ear and out the other
4. Crises are the method God uses to determine whether faith is real or fake
IV Whether we allow crises to make us or break us is, in large part, up to us -
 (THE DRAMA)
A. PEG read Mark 4:2-9; actors portray 4 life situations (sower, bird, witherer, choker, fruit bearer)
B. Have class turn to Mark 4 and number situations  v.2-9
C. Read v.14-20 and number corresponding situations
1. Seed? Word (secret to producing fruit -  8x)
2. Birds?  Satan v.15  Steals seed before it can take root.  S#1
3. Sun?  Trouble or persecution  v.17  Causes plant to wither  S#2
4. Thorns?  Worries of this life, deceitfulness of wealth, desire for things. v.19  choke the Word right out of the plant.  S#3
5. Fruit?  v.20  Christlikeness – in differing degrees (sovereignty of God)  S#4
D. Draw life situations on BOARD
1. What does plant #4 have that the other plants don’t? (roots and fruit)
a. Where does the fruit get its nourishment from? (roots)
b. Where do the roots come from?  (seed being opened)
2. Should Peg draw birds above #4?
a. Any Satanic activity in the life of a Christian? (YES!)
b. Why can’t Satan get the seed? (It’s turned into roots, below ground)
c. What if Satan goes after fruit? (Holy Spirit produces more)
3. Should Peg draw the sun in the sky above #4?
a. Do Christians experience troubles and persecutions?  YES!
b. What positive things do troubles and persecutions do for the Christian who is rooted? (cause growth: can’t grow WITHOUT sun)
4. Should Peg draw thorns around the tree in #4?
a. Can Christians be distracted by worries and the drive for wealth and things?  (YES!)
b. What positive things do these distractions do for the Christian who is rooted? (force him to set proper priorities)
E. Truths from the parable
1. That which destroys the plant WITHOUT roots strengthens the plant WITH roots.  (CRISES)
2. God wants all of us to be plant #4, producing the fruit of His likeness.
3. Question: When crises come, will we have strong enough roots to bring us through? (Remember: roots come from the Word)
4. Crises come from many sources: what we do with those crises is, many times, up to us!
F. Other observations from the parable:
1. The sower sows seed with the intention of reaping fruit.
2. All seed sown doesn’t produce fruit
a. In situation #1, seed is stolen before anything at all can happen to it.
b. In situations #2 and #3, the seed looks like it is going to grow up and bear fruit but doesn’t.
c. It doesn’t because it fails to send down deep roots.
3. Observers can see only what takes place above ground: God can see above and below.
4. There is a time when seed #2, #3 and #4 look the same.
5. Crises are the test that proves the genuineness of faith.
6. How can there be a #2 and #3: four types of faith
a. Historical (or intellectual)
1) Belief is orthodox
2) In head only (never travels to heart and out through life)
b. Miraculous
1) Trust in God in times of need (self-centered)
2) Desire for the miracle but not for the Miracle-worker
c. Temporary
1) Real trust in God but only for the moment (i.e.:life-boat, fox hole)
2) When crisis over, there’s no further need for God
d. Saving (differs from other 3)
1) A gift of God, not of works
2) Rooted in Word, (not in human resources)
3) Evidences fruit of Spirit  (not of the Christian)
4) Perseveres to end – Mt.10:22 “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
V Conclusion
A. Where are you?
B. Where do you want to be?
C. What are you planning to do about it?
 
 



 

I. Introduction
  A. Question: What is the chief end and purpose of man?
       Answer:  “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (Westminster Catechism)

  B. Question: Do crises give us an opportunity to fulfill this purpose? Yes.
    1. A greater opportunity than when life is carefree
    2. In crises, we’re called upon to do what we can not do on our own (patience, peace)
    3. In crises, people watch to see if we’re “walking the talk”

II. Any hints as to how to go through a crisis in a Christlike way?
   A. Jesus, our example, though in some ways His crisis (the cross) was different:
    1. He knew what was going to happen to him
        Mk 8:31  “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things…and that He must be killed.”
        a. Can you imagine knowing what the future holds?
        b. Isn’t God merciful not to show us?
        c. Using fortunetellers, astrologers, psychics is forbidden by God for our own good.
    2. He knew when it was going to happen – Jn 17:1  “Father, the time has come….”
        a. Can you imagine living to 33 or so, counting the days?
        b. Isn’t God merciful not to tell us the date of our death?
    3. He knew how painful it would be – Lu 22:44  “His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
    4. How did He handle the pressure?

  B. Five ways (authentic, not surface Christianity). We must let the Holy Spirit do these thing through us:
    1. He submitted early on to the will of the Father
        Heb 10:5  “I have come to do your will, O God.”
    2. He made a resolve to see the crisis through to the end
        Isa 50:7  “I set my face like flint,”  (Sometimes we need to set our face like a flint too)
    3. He prayed the Father would be glorified in His faithfulness
         Jn17:1 “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you.”  (our prayer too)
    4. He faced head-on the enormity of the pain He was about to experience (no denying the reality)
        Lu 22:41-44  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
            (resistance, relinquishment, release) “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (relinquishment – the key)
    5. He persevered to the end, knowing there was purpose in His pain
        Heb 12:1-3
        a. Someone said, “People who see purpose in pain can go through anything.”
        b. Ask any woman who’s been through childbirth
        c. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
             despising (KJV) its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such
             opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
            1) Jesus, the doer – “author and finisher” (KJV) of faith – PHEW!
            2) His joy, not immediate – “set before Him” (marshmallows)
            3) He “scorning” (NIV) “despising” (KJV) the shame of the cross (okay to hate circumstances)
            4) Once through it, He knew He would be drawn close to the Father (“at His right hand” worth it!)
            5) Meanwhile, He had to “endure it” (not smiling on cross) That’s OK!
            6) We are told to let Him be our example “so that we will not grow weary and faint” (easy in crisis)

III. What crises can accomplish in us if we submit to them as Christ did
  A. In the Bible: a connection between suffering and glory.
    Two types of glory:
        1. The glory we’ll partake of when we get to heaven
        2. The glory we’re expected to reflect now

  B. Crises can conform us to the image of Christ
     That’s God’s purpose for leaving us here after our salvation.
        (Rom 8:28-30)  “And we know that in all things (“our present sufferings” v.18) God works for the good of those who
        love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be
        conformed to the likeness of His Son…Those He predestined He called…justified…and glorified.”
        (past tense: purpose completed)

  C. Crises can prepare us for the glory to come
    1. Rom 8:17,18  “Now if we are children, then heirs – heirs of God and coheirs with Christ
        if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
    2. 2 Cor 4:7,8,16-18  “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
        all.”

  D. Crises can help us identify with Christ’s sufferings and glory and thereby bond us to Him.
    1. Lu 24:26
        “Did not Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?”
    2. Suffering, a privilege
        Phil 1:29, 2:11  “For it has been granted to you (AMP: “You have been granted the privilege”) not only to believe on
        Him but also to suffer for Him…to the glory of God the Father.”
    3. First Peter (subject: “sufferings”) starts with a reference to the prophets’ predicting “the sufferings of Christ and the
        glories that would follow” 1Pet 1:11
    4. It charges us to rejoice in our identification with Christ’s sufferings
        1Pet 4:13 “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is
        revealed.”
    5. It charges our elders to be good examples in suffering.
        1Pet 5:1-4  “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also
        will share in the glory to the revealed: Be shepherds (v.2) be examples.” (v.3)

  E. Crises can give an opportunity to reflect God’s glory to others.
    1. 1Pet 4:14  “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ (persecution: one type of suffering), you are blessed,
        for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” KJV adds, “On their part (the persecutors), He is evil spoken of,
        but on your part He is glorified.”
    2. 1Pet 4:16  “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
        (KJV  “but let him glorify God on this behalf.”)

  F. Crises can strengthen our faith and our character
    1Pet 5:10  “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, AFTER you have suffered a little while,
    will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” (KJV “establish, strengthen and settle you”)
        1. If you’ve ever looked into the eyes of one who has suffered a lot, you see a certain peace.
        2. EG  Leah Bowers (daughter dying, husband ill, living on missionary budget, when asked to play a selection on piano at
            retreat, played, “Make Me a Blessing.”)

IV.    A Personal Crisis and How God Used It
  A. The Mark Story – Peg
  B. The Siemens Opportunity – Lee

V.     Conclusion
  A. Are you going through a crises right now?
  B. Look for an opportunity to glorify God in it
  C. When the opportunity presents itself, don’t hesitate to take it, seize the moment.
  D. You’ll be glad you did; others might be too!