THE VALUE OF THE VINEYARD

Matthew 21:18-19 (KJV) 18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Luke 13:6-9 (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.

BOTH PASSAGES SPEAK TO US ABOUT A TREE

FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BEING A TREE BOTH WERE “GOOD” TREE’S

THEY HAD GREEN LEAVES

FROM THERE APPREANCE YOU COULD TELL WHAT KIND OF TREE THEY WERE

A FIG TREE IS UNIQUE AND EASILY IDENTIFIED

THEY WERE LARGE MATURE TREE’S

PROBLEM: THEY WERE PRODUCING NO FRUIT

THEY COULD HAVE FELT GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES

THEY COULD SAY:

I’M PLANTED

MY ROOTS ARE DEEP IN THE EARTH

I HAVE GROWN WERE I AM

LARGE BRANCHES

LOOK AT MY GREEN LEAVES

WE COULD SPEAK A LOT ABOUT THE THINGS THEY WERE OR APPEARED TO BE

ACCORDING TO OUR TEXTS THOUGH, THEY WERE NOT PRODUCING ANY FRUIT.

ONE DAY THE MASTER CAME BY:

WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS SUFFICENT, WAS NOT WHAT THE MASTER WAS LOOKING FOR

WHAT THEY THOUGT WAS ACCEPTABLE WASN’T ACCEPTABLE TO THE MASTER

THE MASTER WAS LOOKING FOR FRUIT!

THAT IS A PICTURE OF THE RELIGIOUS WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS “BELIEVE IN JESUS AND YOUR SAVED”

Matthew 3:8 (KJV) 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

IMAGINE: GOD TOLD MOSES TO APPLY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB TO DOOR POSTS

WHAT IF SOMEONE SAID “I BELIEVE I HAVE APPLY THE BLOOD”

IF ALL THEY DID WAS “BELIEVE” AND NEVER DO IT, THE DEATH ANGEL WOULD PAY THEM A VISIT

THERE HAD TO BE AN APPLICATION

THIS RELIGIOUS WORLD IS SAYING “WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT IS SUFFICENT”

THE MASTER IS SAYING “WHERE IS THE FRUITS, MEET FOR REPENTANCE?”

AFTER YOU ARE SAVED THERE WILL BE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUR LIFE

GOOD WORKS, NOT TO BE SAVED BY, BUT BECAUSE YOUR SAVED

GOOD WORKS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE HOLYGHOST

NOT HOLY TO BE SAVED

HOLY BECAUSE I’M SAVED

TEXT:

THE MASTER WAS SAYING WHAT YOU THINK YOUR GIVING IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

I’M LOOKING FOR SOME FRUIT!

LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE THAT THERE’S LIFE MORE THAN JUST TO SUPPORT THE GREEN LEAVES

THE GREEN LEAVES ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TREE

THE LEAVES TAKE CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE AIR AND PUTS OXYGEN BACK IN THE AIR

WITHOUT LEAVES THE TREE CANT SURVIVE

THAT’S WHY EVERY SPRING THE LEAVES BUD

THE FRUIT IS NOT TO BENEFIT THE TREE, IT’S FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOMEBODY ELSE

THE FRUIT IS NOT WHAT MAKES THE TREE LIVE

THE FRUIT IS WHAT THE TREE PRODUCES TO HELP SOMETHING ELSE LIVE

THE MASTER IS STILL LOOKING FRUIT ON US

SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN LIVE BY AND ENJOY

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

THAT’S WHAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR US TO PRODUCE

BEING A GREEN TREE ISNT ENOUGH

HAVING AND KNOWING THE TRUTH ISNT ENOUGH

LIVING A STANDARD ISNT ENOUGH

LOOKING PRETTY ISNT ENOUGH

WE NEED TO PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT OTHERS CAN LIVE BY

LOVE CAN HELP OTHERS

JOY CAN HELP OTHERS

OTHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS ETC FROM

LETS LOOK AT OUR TEXTS AGAIN:

MATTHEW 21 WE FIND A TREE “IN THE WAY”

IT SPRUNG UP

NO ONE PLANTED IT

JUST A WILD TREE

ALL BY ITSELF

LUKE 13 THIS TREE WAS PLANTED ON PURPOSE

BECAUSE IT WAS PLANTED ON PURPOSE, IT HAD PURPOSE

BY THE WAY---ALL ALONE

WAS IN THE VINEYARD

THE MASTER CAME BY LOOKING FOR FRUIT

THE TREE THAT WAS ALL ALONE SUFFERED JUDGMENT AND DIED

THIS TREE HAD NO ONE TO HELP IT BECAUSE IT WAS ALONE

THE MASTER HAD WATCHED THE TREE IN THE VINEYARD FOR 3 YEARS, NOW SAYS CUT IT DOWN

THANKFULLY THIS TREE HAD SOMEONE TO SAY “PLEASE, LET ME WORK WITH IT ANTOHER YEAR”

THAT IS THE VALUE OF THE VINEYARD

WHEN YOUR NOT WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE, SOMEONE IS THERE TO HELP YOU BECOME WHAT YOU SHOULD BE

DON’T RESIST WHEN THE MINISTRY DIGS AROUND YOU AND MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE

THANK GOD FOR THE VINEYARD

SOMEONE TO OVERSEE YOUR GROWTH

A VINEYARD HAS A SHIPPING DEPARTMENT

TO SEND OUT WHATS BEEN PRODUCED TO FOLKS WHO ISNT APART OF THE VINEYARD

WE DON’T BARE FRUIT JUST TO SUSTAIN US IN THE VINEYARD

WE SHIP THIS OUT

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (KJV) 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

AFTER SALVATION YOU BECOME APART OF THE BODY

YOU WASN’T SAVED TO BE ALL BY YOURSELF AND ALONE

LAST ONE TO CHURCH

FIRST ONE TO LEAVE

Ephesians 4:16 (KJV) 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

NOTICE HOW YOUR FINGER IS CONNECTED TO YOUR ARM ETC….

THE WHOLE BODY MUST WORK TOGETHER

WHEN I TOLD MY BODY “LETS GO TO CHURCH”

PART OF ME DIDN’T SAY “I THINK I’LL STAY HOME”

1 Corinthians 12:20-26 (KJV) 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

WE HAVE COMELY PARTS

WE HAVE UNCOMELY PARTS

WHEN YOUR IN THE BODY THE BODY WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE BODY

I TOLD A MAN AT WORK:

NATURE TEACHES US SOMETHINGS ABOUT OUR BODY:

ILLUSTRATE: WOMAN COULD BE ON THE BEACH WITH 2 PC BIKINI.

NEXT DAY WALK THE STREET IN A DRESS & THE WIND BLOWS UP HER DRESS

HER NATURAL INSTECT IS “PULL IT DOWN AND COVER UP” NATURE TAUGHT HER THAT

AT THE BEACH SHE OVERROAD HER NATURE

WHEN YOU A LONER YOU DON’T LOOK AS GOOD AS YOU DO WHEN YOUR APART OF THE BODY

ILLUSTRATE: MY FINGER LOOKS GOOD ON MY HAND

IF YOU GO TO YOUR CAR AND SEE A FINGER LAYING ON THE HOOD YOU’D FLIP OUT

A FINGER LOOKS GOOD ON THE BODY!

DISSCONNECTED SAINTS DON’T LOOK LIKE SAINTS APART OF THE BODY

THE REST OF MY BODY MAKES MY FINGER LOOK GOOD AND NORMAL

LONERS LOOK ODD

DON’T JUDGE THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE CHURCH OVER 1 OR 2 INDIVIDUALS

MEASURE THE HEALTH OF THE CHURCH BY THE WHOLE BODY

THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT IS 9 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF ONE SPIRIT

DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO EXEMPLIFIES ALL 9 ALL THE TIME? NO!!!

SOME HAVE LOVE, JOY, PEACE DOWN PAT

MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LONGSUFFERING

MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TEMPRANCE (SELF CONTROL)

ATTITUDE PROBLEM FROM TIME TO TIME

THEY WORK ON IT AND THEY TRY, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN, THEY SPOUT OFF LIKE A VOLCANO

WE ARE MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR BUT WE MAKE UP ONE BODY

MY FINGER IS NOT MY BODY, IT’S A PART OF MY BODY

THEY VALUE OF THE VINEYARD IS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE MAKES YOU LOOK BETTER

YOU LOOK GOOD AS A CHILD OF GOD

THE BODY MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD

I’M GLAD I’M APART OF THE BODY

WHEN IS HIT MY FINGER ACCIDENTALLY, I DON’T SAY “YOUR SORRY FINGER, CUT YOU OFF”

NO MY OTHER HAND GRABBED IT SAYING “WOOCHI, WOOCHI”

WORKED WITH IT AND MASSAGED IT

THAT’S THE BENEFIT OF BEING IN THE VINEYARD

THE BODY SUPPORTS YOU AND HELPS YOU

2 Samuel 10:9-11 (KJV) 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

THE VALUE OF THE VINEYARD ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND YOUR FIGHTING

YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT’S WATCHING YOUR BACK

SISTER BUCHANNON’S CANCER (WHOLE CHURCH PILED IN THAT HOSPITAL ROOM)

Jeremiah 18:1-4 (KJV) 1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

THE OPERATIVE WORDS IN THIS TEXT IS NOT THAT IT WAS MARRED

THE OPPERATIVE WORDS ARE “HE MADE IT AGAIN”

ALSO, IT WAS MARRED IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER

IT WAS MARRED BUT THE POTTER HAD HIS HANDS ON IT

THE VALUE OF THE VINEYARD WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND FAIL

IF YOUR GONNA FAIL, DO IT WITH THE POTTERS HANDS ON YOU

IF YOU MESS UP TRYING, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO START ALL OVER AGAIN

ID RATHER STRUGGLE LIVING FOR GOD

THAN TO DO IT IN THE WORLD WITH NO ONE TO HELP

IN THE VINEYARD YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN WORK ON YOU

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