Refuel Throwback: Church Anniversary Edition "The Barren, The Fruitless Fig Tree" Rev Dr Clay Evans

5:15 because if you don't, it's certainly not of any use to you. and many times it get in the way. It accumulates dust. And so therefore, we attempt to discord it, to do away with it because it has come short of what its purpose is really for.

5:50 Now, if that be true with things that we have, certainly if God would be just, if God would pour out his anger upon us, many of us who are sitting up here now and who are listening have not fulfilled. The purpose for which God made us. now he the Lord the Lord had been good to us he brought us from a long way many of us know the history of the Jews the Israelites how God brought them out of Egypt honor that hard mean low down taskmaster how he preserved their lives led them across the Red Sea performed a miracle caused the waters to part there to congeal and seal itself.

7:24 And they walked across dry shod. And when their enemies pursued them, Pharaoh and his host got drowned in the Red Sea. the Lord did not allow their enemies to overtake them did not allow their enemies to destroy them and swallow them up and the Lord led them with a pillar of fire by night and cloud in the daytime and when they were in the wilderness the Lord fed them with manna what is this? with manna, with angel food from on high and gave them water out of a rock. Did he not do it?

8:18 And did not allow their clothes to wear out. And yet, when they got to the place that they should have been praising the Lord, should have been testifying and talking about God's goodness, they fail to do it. Well somebody would say to me Reverend Evan well that's alright for them back there. Well the Lord have done a lot for you. He brought you out of your mother's womb.

8:54 Have taken care of you all of these years. You didn't take care of yourself. We are not that smart. We don't have that much intelligence. We're not that shrewd. Other people, what is that old prayer? We pray, pray. Other people better by nature. than some of us are by practice. They have gone on. But you are still here, as we say, in the land of the living. but our lives are barren. Our lives are empty. Our lives are useless. We ain't doing much to say thank you, Jesus. Can I get a witness?

9:49 The doom of the fig tree, I say, was Israel, And some of us already doomed. For the Lord been coming back each day, each week, each month, giving us another chance.

10:11 But our lives are empty. It's barren. They did not produce fruit. And sometimes we can look at others and talk about what others should do. Hmm. So look like they would have. The Lord done so much for them. But I don't want you looking at somebody else. Look at yourself.

10:35 He's still doing great things for me. Shake somebody's hand and say, The Lord is still doing great things for me. After the Lord had done for them, And there are people who are ungrateful. They are ingrates. If you've seen some people like that, I don't care how much you do for them. Look like they would respond. You just keep on bending backwards. You keep on going the second mile. And instead of them getting better, they get worse. Nobody have to be good Nobody have to be kind Nobody have to be nice to you Some of us take it for granted But it's good Every once in a while To let somebody know Some husband ought to let some wives Well some wives ought to let some husbands Some children ought to just go to your mother and father and say, Mama, thank you.

11:52 I know you're a mama and I know you're a dad But you didn't have to do it I know some other children Their parents is not as good Can I get a witness? Yeah These Israelites Have been given Three years Of probation With all of the benefits Of the gardener's care Look here this tree had been given three years. The caretaker, the vinedresser, was right there to take care of it, to cultivate it. It had absorbed the moisture, the food value from the soil, the sunshine, the wind, and the rain.

12:46 The Lord had blessed that fig tree from beneath and from above. Some folks look like the Lord just good to them. Blessings just come from the north, south, east, and west. Can I get a witness? Yes, we are here, but not here to stay always. This is just the probation period. We are waves traveling here through this wave, howling wilderness. The fig tree had a favorable, a special position. If the Lord has saved us, he's done something very special for us. He, some of us, came up in Christian homes.

13:46 Can I get a witness? Around Kristen, mother and father. Been a member of a church for a long time. Can I get a witness? They were, this tree was in the vineyard. Not on the hillside. Mm-mm. Not somewhere untaken care of. Not out there on its own. but it was placed in the vanyahu under cultivation and tender care. So was Israel. So is every child of God. If you don't grow, if you don't develop, ain't nobody's fault but you. You've been hearing the gospel.

14:42 You don't hear me? Ever since you were knee high, You ought to pray with me today. They carried you and sent you to Sunday school. But now you've grown. You're on your own. And all that you were taught, you've turned your back on. Mother taught you how to. Said Jesus wept before you ate. Can I get a witness? and before you went to sleep at night. Now lay me down to sleep. And now you won't pray at all. Only time you use the lost name. You use it in vain. But I came today to remind you That God.

15:39 Expect. Something. From everybody. Every name. And every woman. The Lord. Expect. You to glorify. Expect especially those. That have been born again. And got their name. On the church road. Hmm. You tell your child of God, the Lord, expect some fruit from every one of us. The parable said that he came seeking fruit. Well, he's still among us seeking some fruit. He's here right now in fellowship seeking some fruit.

16:43 The Christian heart ought to yield the fruit of the spirit. But I've never seen so many mean people talking about their child of God and going around hating folk, envious, jealous, malice, bitterness, hard hearted, won't forgive one another. Can I get a witness? It's a terrible thing to sing in the choir and won't speak to choir members. Can I get a witness?

17:31 God got his eyes on you. God. And I expect if you say you're a Christian, you ought to act like a Christian. You ought to walk and talk like a Christian. Can I get a witness? That's the reason that many people won't come to church. because you said one thing but you live another but in the heart ought to bear some fruit the fruit of the spirit ought to be in your heart you know what they are love you got to love I mean sure enough love love people that hate you didn't that what he said and he said pray for those that that's fightfully you well you can do it if you really a child of God you can't do it on your own because if somebody mistreats you, you're going to try to pay them back.

19:07 But I heard him say venience is mine. Now I know you've been a member of the church for 10, 15, and 20 years. But some of us are still puny, weak huh do you hear me but when you grow strong enough that you can look people in the eye that you know have done you wrong and reach out your hand and say I love you you've come a long way can I get a witness the Lord is looking for the fruit of love in the choir, in the pulpit, on the digging bowl, in the pew.

20:10 The Lord is looking for the fruit of joy. You got too many folks who walk around looking saved, made, with a long faith. Can I get a witness? But if you got Jesus, you ought to have some joy. Got to smile.

20:40 And did you not know the Lord can give you joy? In the midst, doesn't mean you don't have no trouble. I didn't say that. But in the midst of triumph, And tribulation. And when your way is dark. And you can't hardly see your way. Joy. Joy. You can have some joy. Bells ringing. Down on the inside. One reason why you can do it. And there are a lot of reasons. Is because you know. That weeping. May endure for a night. but John will come in the morning. Next thing you know is that you may be down but I'm not going to be down always.

21:36 Behind every dark cloud there is a civil line. And what do I want to challenge you today? That the Lord is here now. Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year. Looking for some fruit. Fruit of peace. In the time of trouble. Some folks are upset. Disturbed. All the time. First thing we need peace. With God. Peace. of God. Peace that surpasses all understanding.

22:30 What do you mean by that? Sometime I got it and I don't understand it. For look like my head ought to be bowed low. Inhumance all around me don't see how I'm going to make it. Folks are glad when you're down. And they put stumbling blocks all in your way. But some way another. When I got Jesus I can hold my peace. The Lord will fight my battle. Can I get a witness? The Lord is looking for somebody with the fruit of long suffering. I don't mean suffer long, but with the fruit of long suffering can suffer even when you don't have to suffer.

23:37 Suffer for Christ's sake. The Lord is looking for the fruit of gentleness, of goodness, the fruit of faith, the fruit of meekness, the fruit of temperance. But I heard, said I look for fruit. But I found none. He expects the fruit of the lips that they will yield some thanksgiving and yield some praises. Let me take my time. Can I get a witness? There are too many that are going around complaining but we ought to have thanksgiving in our heart.

24:40 Ought to pray them. Praise them. Can I get a witness? instead of murmuring, instead of complaining. Mmm. Mmm. I'm glad. I say I'm glad that I got something on the inside that would let me praise. Praise. Praise. I'm going to praise him Anyhow And I found out The more you praise him And the more you thank him The more he'll give you To be thankful for Can I get a witness?

25:33 The Bible said That he came Looking For some fruit the fruit of obedience, the fruit of usefulness, and the fruit of service ought to be found here today. Can I get a witness? I know you want somebody. Can I get with you? To go in the vineyard and go on and work for you. Oh, I made up in my mind like Isaiah did a long time ago. if the Lord wants somebody here am I you can send me if there ain't anybody here that know what I'm talking about I'm told the Lord take me and then use me Use my name Use my mind Use Use my voice I want you to use me, Lord Until you use me up Can I get a witness?

27:20 Let's look at what the text says The text said that he was disappointed because he found none. I wonder this morning if the Lord walked up to you, would he be disappointed? Do you have any fruit? Can I hear you say yes? Wait a minute, don't say it if you don't have any. Do you have any love? Do you love the Lord? With all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, do you love your neighbor? Can I get a witness? If the Lord will look for some joy, and I'm not talking about the joy you find in the drugstore or down at the grocery store. I'm talking about the kind of joy that the world didn't give it to me.

28:20 and the world can't take it away. Can I get away this? The Bible said that he found norm. And this is the point that I want to leave with you. It's dangerous to be empty. It's dangerous to be unproductive. And you got a lot of folks that are like that. They're always taken out. But always taken from. But they never got nothing to put in. Can I get a witness? Oh.

29:02 Oh. I heard him. Said for three years. And you know three strikes is out. But I'm glad. It looked like I got the clothes in there. But I'm glad. I know I fail I fail him a lot of times but I'm glad that I got a merciful God I got a God that sit high but then he looked low I I got a God he knows he knows when I'm right and then he knows when I'm wrong The Bible said That God said cut it down And I know just it would cut me down Can I get a witness?

30:00 But I'm glad this morning I'm glad this morning That the Lord been good to me He decided To let me live on Just a little while longer He decided, though the tree may be strong, and it may have green leaves, it didn't have any fruit. And that's what I want to tell fellowship. You may have your ropes on. Can I get a witness? And you may be strong, and you may be looking good, but the Lord said you don't have any fruit. But I, oh Lord, I feel a little better now. I'm glad that when I get wrong, somebody is in glory pleading for me.