It Is A New Year But What If You Had Just One More Year

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