Matthew 21:18-22 “Israel and The Fig Tree; Two lessons”

“Mysterious dark-skinned stone age people found”

Context: A newly found Stone Age people featured darker skin, an unusual mix of primitive and modern features and had a strong taste for venison… Since the prehistoric humans lived in areas with a lot of sunlight and ultraviolet radiation, they were likely dark-skinned.

Matthew 21: Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.

Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

Jeremiah 24 Please Turn In Your Bibles

Mark 11:12-14 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Luke 13:6-9 Please Turn In Your Bibles

Matthew 3:8-9 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”

John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.

Matthew 21:43 “I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.”

Revelation 2 & 3 Please Turn In Your Bibles “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent…” “‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain”

“the congregation did not strike me as being particularly religious; they were not an assembly of devout souls, but appeared rather to be worldly-minded people going to Church for recreation and in conformity to custom.” Gandhi

Ezekiel 36:27 “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

John 14:16-17 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

John 15:1-8 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

“Is not everyone who claims to be a Christian but does not bear fruit, in awful danger of becoming a withered fig-tree? So long as a person is content with the mere leaves of religion—with a reputation for being alive while he is dead, a form of godliness without the power—so long his soul is in great peril.” J. C. Ryle

Vs "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

“…belief in the New Testament is never reduced to forcing oneself to ‘believe’ what he does not really believe. Instead, it is related to genuine trust in God and discernment and obedience to his will…” Carson Matthew

John 14:12-15 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments.”

Luke 18:7-8 “…now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Matthew 24:12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

Ephesians 5:14-17 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.