Fruitless or Fruitful?

Recap

Luke 12

Jesus is having an intimate discussion with the disciples

Luke 12:1

In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

He is very direct with them

V:3- What is done in secret will be brought to the light

V:53- Families will be divided because of the Gospel

Luke 13:6-9

Luke 12:54- Speaking to the Multitudes

Parable: Earthly story with a heavenly meaning

Simple story that people can relate to practically to help understand a greater message

Jesus spoke in parables often when he was talking to large crowds

Read

Luke 13:6-9

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.’ ”

God Looks For Fruit

Uncommitted and Unfruitful

Preoccupied with the things of this world?

Luke 12:54-56

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

This is a reminder from Jesus that the things of this world pale in comparison to knowing the truth of His word and Him intimately

Too often that get the bulk of our time goes to the signs of our times

It’s Nov 4th- The Day after Election day....

Time watching polls and pundits

Time worshiping and praying

We serve a mighty and sovereign God that is outside of time and knows the results and directs the hearts of kings (Prov 21:1)

Matt 13:22 (Parable of the Sower and the Seed)

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

We don’t want to be found uncommitted

Faithful and Fruitful

Focused and fixated on eternal things, we will be fruitful

2 Peter 1:5-11

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Brotherly Kindness: (Philadelphia) Love for your fellow brother/Believer

Hard to love other believers

Love: (Agape)- Unconditional Love

Even harder to love unconditionally

I don't agree

I don’t believe

Concerned and Connected to our King

John 15:4-5

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

These characteristics above will not come on their own

Self Control

Perseverance

Godliness

Brotherly Kindness

Love

Read

Luke 18:7-8

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?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

The Fruit of God’s Love is Long-suffering

The Father is patient for us to progress

Three Years: Lv 19:23- They couldn’t harvest fruit from trees for the first three years.

This tells us that it has been an additional 3 years (6 total) that he has been waiting to eat the fruit of the tree.

Psalm 86:15

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Long-suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

2 Peter 3:9

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.

Jesus tenderly tends His sheep

The Keeper of the Vineyard said....

Give me one more year

(NLT) - I’ll give it extra attention and plenty of fertilizer

John 10:11&14-16

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The Other Sheep: The Gentiles, He brings them in

How do we bring in the sheep that are not of this fold?

Coast Hills?

Welcoming

Different background?

Different way of Life?

Lets tenderly care for all

Read

Luke 13:9

And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

The Lack of Fruit Leads to Destruction

John 15:2

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away

Prov 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Fruit= Has seeds to Reproduce