Mine Own Vineyard Have I Not Kept

Song of Solomon 1:6

Song of Solomon 1:6

6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

they made me the keeper of the vineyards;

Other ministries were given council. (Advice to others)

Other ministers were giving council. (Advice from others)

Other members were getting council. (Counseling to other members)

but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Answer these QUESTIONS honestly:

I. Are you PLOWING in your own field?

Luke 9:62 (KJV)

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Preachers and people that look back are not looking at the field.

Let me tell you what happened here in 19___!

Back when we were growing up we had revival!

My old pastor at the church I came from said ____!

Preachers and people that look back are not looking at the farm.

How the dairy farm operates.

How the vegetable farm operates.

How the cattle farm operates.

Preachers and people that look back are not looking at the fruit.

Is it ripe?

Is it rotten?

Is it ravaged?

II. Are you PLANNING in your own field?

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

I have heard those that haven’t pastored tell what’s wrong with the churches.

The programs are wrong.

The people are wrong.

The preaching is wrong.

I have heard those that have no patience tell how they can’t deal with people.

“Patient” is a qualification for the ministry.

People are a condition for the ministry.

Pain is a manifestation of the ministry.

I have heard those that do not pastor their own church tell me how to pastor where the Lord put me!

They do not have the burden for the people here.

They do not have the message for the people here.

They do not have the love for the people here.

III. Are you PREACHING in your own field?

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Preaching gets the job done.

God works through the word. (2Timothy 4:2)

God guides through the word. (Psalm 119:133)

God corrects through the word. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Preaching gets the food where we can get to it.

Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Preaching gets the people where God can deal with them.

The word “feed” occurs 10 times in the New Testament.

5 of those are…

John 21:15–17

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:2

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Conclusion:

Mind your own field!

Plow straight.

Plan spiritually.

Preach scripturally.