20150330 Exposing

Holy Week

Exposing barrenness

Cleansing of temple

Cursing of fig tree

Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang

Text Mark 11:12-25

Denouncing the temple

Cursing of  the temple

Exposing the barren lives

Tree with many  leaves but without fruit
it was pre-season
therefore should have delicate small sweet pre-season fruit
Tree was all show with no fruit
Temple was all show with no fruit

Many affluent churches

strategise

attempt to bring MBA business world ways into church

Bigger Better Faster Newer

NOT ALWAYS BETTER

Dangerous being caught up with numbers

These are the outward show

these are the leaves

Do not try to great things for God

Instead simply do things for a great God

God may say

"I want you to nothing for 3 months"

"I want you to go into the wilderness  for 3 months"

We can only do small things with great love (Mother Teresa)

Or God may say to you

"I want you to do a big thing"

Not so much understand the word

but stand under the word!

Primary goal of church is NOT growth

Primary goal of church is GOD

Buzz for

Leadership

or Servant Leadership

BUT Jesus emphasis was on servanthood 

Jesus has called all of us to servanthood 

The heart of the matter is

the mater of the heart

Humility

Loving Jesus

and

Loving others

NEVER in your own strength

BUT empowered by Holy Spirit

Confidence in God

(Faith can move mountains)

Expectancy

(Trust God)

Prayer

(Talk with God)

With brokenness comes repentance

We can bear FRUIT only through

FAITH and FORGIVENESS

The tree was cursed and withered

The temple was reprimanded and replaced by Jesus