Becoming a Christian Who Makes a Difference

The Jeremy Roberts Podcast

Becoming a Christian Who Makes a Difference
Mark 11:1–26

¹¹And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. ¹² On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. ¹³ And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:14

I. Jesus is Looking for Fruit

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17

And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. Mark 11:16

¹⁵ And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. Mark 11:15-16

II. Jesus Wants Us to Seek Him

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? Mark 17b

And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:14

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” ² And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Mark 13:1-2

for it was not the season for figs. Mark 11:13b

But if some of the branches [referring to Israel] were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, Romans 11:17

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁶ And in this way all Israel will be saved Romans 11:23, 26a

III. How We Can Bear Fruit

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations . . .Mark 11:17b

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

A. Cultivate Faith

²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.²³ Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Mark 11:22–23

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

B. Cultivate Forgiveness (v. 25)

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44