IT IS JUST ONE MORE YEAR BUT WHAT IF WE HAD ONLY ONE MORE ?
Luke 13:6-9
INTRODUCTION
This is another year
-time of starting over
-fresh ideas
-new challenges/opportunities
Nothing may have changed but a new year is looked at as an opportunity for a fresh start.
Some things to consider
-time of unknowns
-opportunities to pursue a path never traveled
- No guarantees
It is another year and may seem at this point much like the last one but the question God wants you to consider this morning is: WHAT IF YOU HAD JUST ONE MORE?
Text : Parable
-Illustration/ story that uses natural circumstances or items to show or reveal a spiritual truth
-Jesus used them extensively: with the Jews and with disciples
-Constantly used to teach a lesson
: Alarming/sobering
: get attention- make a point
This parable : Vineyard people knew about /understood.
1.setting
Vineyard
-livelihood/provision : grapes, trees( olive, fig)
-future/life
-everyone was familiar: specific piece of ground
2.Characters
Certain man:-other places he is called the master/owner : he is a type of God
Caretaker:-Jesus Christ
Fig tree: ref-to Israel/Jews -today : the Church, the called, the body of Christ
3.Story
-Certain man had a fig tree
-planted in his vineyard
-he came seeking fruit
-did not find any
-judgment on the tree :cut it down it is just taking up space
-The caretaker steps up and intercedes for the tree. :he offers to work with the tree and see if he could get it to produce fruit. The master agrees but gives it just one more year
Lessons that we need to see and learn
1.We are special to the owner of the vineyard,
-he knows us
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.Jer 1:5
-he has a plan for us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11
What is that plan ?
-he does not want any to perish but rather wants all to be planted in his vineyard
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9
-for those who are a part of the vineyard: chosen, planted we are to produce fruit : What are we doing for God to expand the kingdom.
John ch.15 :5-8
-if we are in him we are the vine and we are to produce fruit
-particular attention; we are not someone that God does not pay attention to
2.The owner expected fruit- God expects fruit
God has a high expectation of fruit from some but not all
-tree in the vineyard/not those out of the vineyard
He came with specific intentions
-God is looking for ripe fruit
-it is his vineyard and the purpose of the tree is to produce fruit.
Meaning for us
The master did not take a fruitless tree lightly
-Lost sheep parable
-he will seek and seek as long as he can: this was the third year for this tree.
3. The owner will come
The owner of the vineyard came :
He came seeking
-Even now today he is seeking
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20
God is seeking each one of us because
-we are important to him
-we are valuable to him
4.Can not fool the master
What did it say about the tree?
What did it not say?
-the tree outwardly looked good. :it looked like a fig tree
-leaves, bark, height
But there was a problem
-there is a problem today!
Why was there a problem?
-what effects fruit producing :the tree had internal problems
-in our lives
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly,… But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemie: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a manMatt 15:17-20
What will happen when we stand before God?
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:21-23
-who is this referring to?
We have to be serious about how we live our lives.
5.The judgment of the master
-he came expecting fruit( three years-chance after chance after chance…)
-he found none
Result judgment; it was to be cut down
The hand of God’s judgment will be stayed only so long
John 15:1-
Results of not bearing fruit
Story of the cursed fig tree
The Bible is clear we are to be about producing fruit or there is a consequence to pay
-there will come a day when the Master will look at the tree which is our life and say: Where is the fruit ? What will he find ?
6.The Hope of the caretaker
The master came looking for fruit
-he found none
-enough was enough : the tree was to be cut down.” It was taking up space.’
But in stepped the caretaker -Who is Jesus Christ
-“ let me work with it”
-Give it one more year.
The master said ok but just one more year.
What if you knew you had just one more year : What would you do different
What things need to change to day to enable you to produce fruit ?
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:1
1.get over the past
2.let go of bad choices
3.move past anger,bitterness
4.get rid of bad habits
What do we need to do to bear fruit
1.prepare the ground
-prayer
-word :
Parable of the sower Luke 8:9-15
2.die
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24
3. worship
-lifestyle choices
CONCLUSION
The master of the Vineyard is coming to see if the trees in his vineyard are bearing fruit
What will he find.
You are to bear fruit but to many today do not have fruitful lives because of
-the past
-anger
-bitterness
-unforgiveness
-bad choices
Today the creator of the vineyard desires you to once again dance before him with the fruit of love and worship.
