One Year: The Difference A Year Can Make
December 26, 2020
One Year: The Difference A Year Can Make
Luke 13
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. 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. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”
1. You were planted to produce fruit!
Psalm 1:3
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Faithfulness = Fruitfulness
"Don’t despise small starts, and don’t be impressed with rapid results."
2. The fruit you produce is not for yourself.
Philippians 2.3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
“If you are seeking a goal out of selfish ambition you are inevitably going to be disappointed with the result.”
3. You must be open to caretaking.
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
“There is a difference between barrenness and a lack of proper tending.”
James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
4. Those that do not bear fruit will be cut down.
