Sour Orange Tree Lesson

I have had what I thought was a lime tree in my backyard since I was a teenager. I am decades older now! A few months ago, for some reason the tree made me upset because it was not bearing. I was talking to my neighbor about how I was feeling, and I said to the tree, “I am giving you one year to produce fruit or else I will chop you down!” I was remembering the story of Jesus and the fig tree when I said this. Would you believe that by the following month the tree started to bear what we call “sour oranges” in Jamaica, and did not even send out any blossoms? We were all shocked. The Lord started to minister to my heart about the power of a firm rebuke.

Mark 11 KJV

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.....20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

From the creation of man, fruitfulness has been the decree given to every creature; barrenness is as a result of fallen man. Man’s sinful state affects both humanity and nature. Fruit bearing trees are expected to do just that. We are likened to trees in the word: Psalms 1:3 says, “ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”. In the story of the fig tree above, the fact that the tree boasted of such foliage, it was not wrong to expect fruit. The Lord therefore cursed it. The Geneva Bible study states that this was, “An example of that vengeance which hangs over the heads of hypocrites”. We as Christians sometimes act as if we can trick God or think our deeds are hidden, or that we are righteous enough in one area that God would overlook the mess in the other areas of our lives. This is not so, if we are boasting about the Lord and boasting about being affiliated with powerful people and ministries, the Lord should find the fruit of the spirit manifesting in our lives. Hypocrisy is very distasteful to God. This is evident throughout the Gospels as Christ consistently rebuked and declared woes for the Scribes and Pharisees for having leaves as though they were fruitful but were not. We ought to continuously be examining ourselves lest we think we are standing but we are in a fallen state.

I was listening to a fairly popular servant of God preach, and though his message was powerful and there was truth, because this preacher did not use the sword of the spirit on himself before he used it on the people of God, the impact that such a word could have had was drastically diminished. I say to us, let us all examine ourselves to ensure we are not boasting of healthy and beautiful leaves but there is no fruit.

Luke 13 KJV

⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Here is another story about how seriously the Lord takes fruit bearing. Unlike the first story, this fig tree had an intercessor that committed to do what was necessary to help the tree to bear fruit. There are several popular persons in the body of Christ who have stopped bearing fruit because of fame, fortune, and status that they currently have gotten relaxed in. These persons are clueless that the only reason they have not been removed from the earth is because God has laid them on some diligent intercessors’ heart that they may experience mercy, grace and added time.

We must remember to walk softly before the Lord in every stage of our lives. God is about to, out of His mercy and love, rebuke strongly some leaf bearing trees, that the fruit can be forced to manifest. When the rebukes come, as this sour orange tree submitted to my word and has borne fruit, may we all accept graciously the rebuke of the Lord and bear fruit. The rebuke may come in a variety of ways so may we also be able to discern the rebuke and submit to what is being required. Some of the Pharisees took the rebuke well and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Nicodemus and those that were mentioned in Acts 15:15, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,…”).