A New Season Reflection

Introduction

Let me share something I received this week.

Hymn vs. Praise Chorus

The differences between Hymns and Praise music:

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. “Well,” said the farmer, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.”

“Praise choruses,” said his wife, “What are those?”

“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer.

“Well, what’s the difference?” asked his wife.

The farmer said, “Well, it’s like this – If I were to say to you: Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well, that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Martha Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, the CORN, CORN, CORN,

then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus.”

As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday a young, new Christian from the city church attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. “Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”

“Hymns,” said his wife, “What are those?”

“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.

“Well, what’s the difference?” asked his wife.

The young man said, “Well it’s like this – If I were to say to you, Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well, that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry Inclines thine ear to the words of my mouth. Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth. For the way of the animals who can explain There in their heads is no shadow of sense, Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced. Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight, Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed. Then goaded by minions of darkness and night They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed. So look to that bright shining day by and by, Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn. Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.

Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.”

Well, that hilarious perspective of an older person from the small town church and the younger person from the big city church reminds us that we all have different wants, desires and visions for the New Year.

We are back this morning in our study of Luke before we shifted our studies in the Advent Season.

In Luke 13:1 the text begins “there were present at that season...”

This morning we are off into a new season 2024. We already see many positive signs for this new season at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. We have been blessed to have two baptisms in the last month. And all the people said Amen. We have seen a greater influx of guests and to God be the glory for that. People are finding their way back to church after an extended period that began during COVID.

Even though we have had the new lot next door for the last few years, we are beginning to see signs of progress, a sign of greater things to come. Amen?

In our personal lives in the new year there are differences in our desires. But there is commonality. We all wish that great revival would break out and God would reign victorious in America in the lives of His people. Amen?

We all face an election year and we hunger for promise of prosperity, peace and good health. We would all wish for peace in the Middle East. Oh that we would see a greater working together in this bipartisan political climate. And many others too numerous to mention.

What is our greatest commonality? We are all Christ followers. How would Jesus guide our steps in the New Year?

This morning in Luke 13, Jesus offered words to a crowd that was listening on that given day at that season of their lives and let’s see today if we can apply that direction in this new season we are entering.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to Luke 13:1-9.

Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1–2 “1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?”

Luke 13:3–5 “3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.””

Luke 13:6–7 “6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’”

Luke 13:8–9 “8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ””

Prayer

Message

Jesus’ days were numbered at this point and He knew the time of the cross and His departure was imminent. Jesus’ words that day and that season for those seekers were forthright and direct.

Jesus was about His Father’s business and He knew time was of the essence.

Dearly beloved, look across this room and ask yourself this question, is my time of the essence? Is our time as a people imminent?

Judgmental Attitudes Focused on the Externals VV. 1-2

Luke 13:1–2 “1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?”

Jesus on that day was saying to His followers, do not lose energy externalizing and placing judgment on the problems of the day.

Luke is in attendance at the gathering of people I assume that had heard about Jesus and all that He was doing. They were intrigued with Jesus.

I imagine they were in awe of Jesus and I’m sure they were nervous in attempting to know just what to talk about. Their conversation topic was probably innocent as they were conveying news of the day to show Jesus they were informed citizens of the Galilean territory. They wanted to show Jesus they were in the know.

And someone in the group piped up, “Jesus, did you hear the horrific news about Pilate killing those Galileans while they were offering sacrifices in the temple? Jesus, its so much worse than that. They mingled the Galileans blood with the animal sacrifices blood. I’ve never seen such.”

We can all at times be like these Galileans when we are conversing. We can discuss things that are pertinent and then for some odd reason our minds go astray and we speak on those things that are really fruitless. Our minds can go astray to the unproductive. Let’s call it filler conversation. But if we are not careful, filler conversation can become fallen and filthy conversation. Our conversations can plant seeds of doubt, discouragement, cynical thinking, and Jesus said that we are either for Him or against Him.

We can not serve God and mammon.

Our discussions can undergird and lift God and other times our conversations can put water on the fires of life. We can put the flames out with conversation that is bipolar to the things God that He is working to accomplish.

There is no telling how many thoughts went through Jesus’ mind when that statement was made because He is God and He knows our thoughts. He knows whether our hearts are pure of if they we have malice or any other sin nature in our hearts.

His thoughts could have been simple and He could have thought, “how does this benefit the ministry? Is your aim to make all of our followers fearful knowing we minister in these times of persecution?”

Jesus knew something deeper about the person’s words. Why? Jesus knows our very thoughts.

1 Chronicles 28:9 “9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 “14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

He knew the group at large had a judgmental spirit.

We know several places in the Bible that people had adapted the mindset that if something bad happened to you that you must have committed some terrible sin.

John 9:2 “2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?””

Their minds were thinking, “I wonder what those Galileans did that there was such harsh punishment toward them?”

Luke 18:9–13 “9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”

They were of the mindset of Eliphaz in Job 4:7 “7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?”

Eliphaz and Job’s other friends stated that Job, undoubtedly you are hiding or covering over some sin because God would not bring such judgment unless you are guilty.

Dearly beloved, God’s Word does state that judgment is without mercy. Each one of us will pay the price for our sins unless we repent.

Deuteronomy 7:9–11 “9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.”

James 2:10 “10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Jesus was saying that there was not necessarily anything extremely terrible in these Galileans lives that caused this tragic incident. The sin of fallen man brings tragedy upon us.

Matthew 5:44–45 “44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

But dearly beloved, the point Jesus wanted to make is that regardless what sin we all commit, if we’ve broken one, we’ve broken them all as the Scriptures state.

If tragedy would come upon us for our sin and sin alone none of us would be here right now. God’s mercy is why we are here right now.

Jolting Incidents Should Cause us to Internalize VV. 3-5

Luke 13:3–5 “3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.””

Jesus continued on and he shared a terrible tragedy of eighteen people that were victimized by the tower of Siloam falling and killing them. Jesus went on to say, “do you think these people were worse sinners because this terrible tragedy happened?”

This is the mindset we must have in the church as well. It is easy to find an area of the church that is suffering and become outwardly critical and place blame on a few key individuals because that area of the church is failing. What should we do? We should internalize and seek how can I be a part of the answer? What can I contribute to improve that ministry? What can I do to reach that age group? What activity can I promote and have people over to my house and steer this group?

The question should be, how do we respond when the jolting incidents of life come about? How should we respond when we hear of terrible tragedy? Furthermore, when we are guilty of constantly finding the problems in this world and placing blame, how should we respond?

I read the best article on Facebook yesterday. Listen:

Christian Baah August 16, 2023 ·

Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart had moments of glory in his ministry, but he also had moments of humiliation. When the devil destabilized the life of this anointed man of God, Jimmy Swaggart, by trapping him with a young lady, his community suspended him. All his close ones called him a Fake Pastor. Over 500,000 of his Church Members left him and abandoned him. Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart was forsaken and forgotten as all the Media Houses targeted talking about the scandal and kept condemning him consistently and intentionally. Men of God even made this sad story of another great man of God who had fallen the centre of their messages. Finally, the day came when they had to receive his so-called rival and replacement who was Evangelist Billy Graham. People carnally thought Evangelist Billy Graham would be happy with what had happened because he had every chance, privilege and ability to divert Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart's followers to follow him and his ministry. Journalists asked him what he thought about the situation of the great man of God who had soiled his reputation and integrity. To the utmost surprise of the Journalist and his listeners Billy Graham responded: "If it happened to Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart it could happen to me; This holy man of God won thousands of souls for Christ. He is already wounded; let us not finish him, let us heal and lift our soldier." Dear Christian Pastor, Brother and Sister, Never rejoice when you see the devil destroy another man's ministry. Never be happy when you see the devil destabilize another man's marriage. Never be excited when the the devil campaigns to dirty and soil another man's life and destiny. Be your brother's keeper.

How do we respond when a tragic incident happens? Pray. Pray fervently for those that lost loved ones. Pray, God show me how I can lead others to Christ to keep another from falling that does not know you. Pray, how can I pick my brother or sister up rather than how I can beat them down.

Jesus Answer- Go Evangelize

Luke 13:6–9 “6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ””

What should we consider in the New Year, this new season the Lord has given us? Firstly, he does not want us to lose energy critiquing and making judgments for the way things are. Instead, when the Lord places a concern, a horrific issue in your path, in the path of this church, rather than externalize and talk and condemn and place blame and judgment on the issue, allow God to use the issue to prick your heart. Allow a time with the Lord to ask yourself, how can I be used to improve this matter?

So, Jesus shares an earthly story with heavenly meaning. We call that a parable. What is interesting about a parable is at times we can be more than one element in the story. Firstly in one sense, we are the fig tree in the story.

In this case, the fig tree had not produced figs in three years. We must stop and rather than externalize the job of all the other trees are doing about me, we must stop and ask the question, what fruit am I producing? Who have I impacted for the Kingdom of God? Who have I witnessed to? What fruit is evident in my life?

Let’s look at the parable in another manner. The owner of the vineyard is the Lord. The keeper is us. God has ordained us to lead others to the Kingdom of God. Let’s read the keeper role as the church. We have come out of a struggled time for the church since COVID, but we have seen several decisions for Christ in the last months. Our dear Lord and Savior is patient.

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

I want to hit the high points and close our time. I remind you that Jesus’ time of departure was imminent. I asked each of us to look around the room and determine is our time imminent. Jesus stated do not be guilty losing time pointing fingers accusing others in judgment for the things wrong with this world. Better yet, internalize and determine what can I do to make a difference.

Dearly beloved, let’s take the parable in literal fashion. God is giving us one more year to break soil, put down fertilizer and bring a tree to growth. Are you going to answer to the keepers request and get busy winning the lost to Jesus?

Let’s pray.