WEBVTT 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:08.620 Let's begin our singing first of all in Psalm 105, Psalm 105, and that's in the Scottish 00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:11.080 Psalter, page 374. 00:00:14.380 --> 00:00:16.240 The tune is Peterson. 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:19.620 Give thanks to God, call on His name. 00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:22.820 To men His deeds make known, sing ye to Him. 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:26.300 Sing Psalms, proclaim His wondrous works each one. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:33.579 See that ye in His holy name to glory do accord, and let the heart of everyone rejoice that 00:00:33.579 --> 00:00:34.659 seeks the Lord. 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:37.880 We're singing verses 1 to 7 to the tune Peterson. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.859 Give thanks to God. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:08.239 Sing ye to them, sing Psalms, proclaim His wondrous works each one. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:24.519 Sing to Him, sing Psalms, proclaim His holy name to glory do accord, and let the heart of 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:32.159 everyone rejoice that speaks the Lord. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:45.259 The Lord Almighty and His friend, with steadfast heart seek He. 00:01:45.259 --> 00:01:56.459 His blessed and His gracious face, seek He contendially. 00:01:56.459 --> 00:02:09.459 Think on the works that He hath done, which admiration we. 00:02:09.459 --> 00:02:21.459 His wonders and the judgments of which from His mouth proceed. 00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:34.460 He that are of Abraham's race, His servant dwelleth full. 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:47.460 And He that Jacob's children are, whom He chose for His own. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:59.460 Because He and He only is the mighty Lord our God. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:12.460 And His most righteous judgments are in all the earth above. 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:17.460 Let's join together now in prayer. 00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:21.460 Let's briefly pray. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:26.460 Our gracious God, we give thanks that You have given us that knowledge of You, so that 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:31.460 we confess that You are the only Lord God Almighty. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:35.460 And that we come before You today, Lord, to claim You by faith as our God. 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:40.460 We thank You for the way that Your Word reveals Yourself to us. 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:45.460 And the ways in which You are revealed to us, Lord, are all revealed for our good and for 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:46.460 our benefit. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:51.460 And we thank You today that we are planted within Your church, and thereby that we have 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:57.460 access to those things You have given to Your church, so that we might progress spiritually 00:03:57.460 --> 00:03:58.460 in our lives. 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:03.460 And we thank You today for the Bible that we possess, and for the way that You have given 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:07.460 us, Lord, the freedom to gather together today to worship You. 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:11.460 We ask Your blessing to be upon all our gatherings today. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:14.460 We pray that You bless this Lord's day to us. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:20.460 Help us, we pray, to appreciate the holiness that belongs to Your day, that ought to mark it 00:04:20.460 --> 00:04:23.460 in our own observance of it as well. 00:04:23.460 --> 00:04:25.460 Bless our children today. 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:30.459 We thank You for all who are here, and we pray for them and for all who are away at 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:35.459 this time, for those who are on holiday, and grant to them, Lord, Your blessing and protective 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:36.459 care. 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:38.459 And we ask that You bless our children. 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:41.459 Bless them, Lord, in their own families. 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:43.459 Bless them in their schoolwork. 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:45.459 Bless them in their recreations. 00:04:45.459 --> 00:04:50.459 Bless and protect them in the world from all that is harmful and evil in the world. 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:57.459 Lord, we ask that Your own truth might truly be their guardian, and that they might use 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:06.459 Your Word each day they live, so as to know that God Himself is their God and protects them 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:09.459 each step of the way through life. 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:11.459 Bless them now and bless us here together. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:14.459 And pardon our sin for Jesus' sake. 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:15.459 Amen. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:20.459 Okay, children, it's good to see so many children out today. 00:05:20.459 --> 00:05:26.459 There's some not just here with the twinnies, but also I can see throughout the church, and 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:30.459 it's great to see you all here during a time of holiday. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:33.459 I wonder what your favourite food is. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:39.459 You all have different favourites, I'm sure, when it comes to eating stuff. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:43.459 Hands up all those who like pizza. 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:44.459 Anybody like pizza? 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:50.459 Yeah, there's one or two hands going up there for pizza. 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:51.459 Yeah, okay. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:55.459 Well, pizza's not my favourite, but a lot of people like pizza. 00:05:55.459 --> 00:06:00.459 And we'll all have different kinds of food that we like. 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:01.459 What about chips? 00:06:01.459 --> 00:06:02.459 Who likes chips? 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:03.459 Yeah? 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:07.459 Who of the oldies likes chips? 00:06:07.459 --> 00:06:10.459 Oh yes, lots of hands going up for chips. 00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:15.459 Okay, so, now, there's a verse in the Bible that I want you to learn. 00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:18.459 It's in Psalm 34. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:21.459 Psalm 34 and verse 8. 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:23.459 And it goes like this. 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:28.459 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:32.459 Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:36.459 How do you know whether or not you like food? 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:39.459 Well, the answer is obvious, isn't it? 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:43.459 You know whether or not you like food because you've tasted it. 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:49.459 You need to taste the food in order to know whether you like it or not. 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:55.459 There are some foods that people say I don't like them, but they've never really tasted them properly. 00:06:55.459 --> 00:07:01.459 You need to taste the food in order to then say, I like this or I don't like that. 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:06.459 Why do I not like mushrooms? 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:08.459 Sorry for those who do like mushrooms. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:09.459 Why do I not like mushrooms? 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:10.459 Because I've tasted them. 00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:13.459 And personally, I don't like the taste of them. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:16.459 Other people love them, which is absolutely fine. 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:18.459 That's how it should be. 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:24.459 But that's how we know we have a liking or disliking for food. 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:27.459 Unless we taste it, we can't really see, can we? 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:32.459 Now, here's a verse that tells us, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:07:32.459 --> 00:07:35.459 How do we know that the Lord is good? 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:38.459 Well, because we come to know Himself. 00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:40.459 We come to taste Him. 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:43.459 That means really we come to know Him for ourselves. 00:07:43.459 --> 00:07:46.459 We come to know what He's like. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:49.459 We come in prayer to Him and reading the Bible. 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:51.459 We come to find out about Him. 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:56.459 But especially we come to know Him in a relationship with Him. 00:07:56.459 --> 00:07:58.459 Just like we are related one to another. 00:07:58.459 --> 00:08:01.459 Just like you relate to parents or grandparents. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:04.459 Spiritually, we have a relationship with God. 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:09.459 And it's through that relationship with God that we come every day to taste 00:08:09.459 --> 00:08:11.459 and to see that He is good. 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:13.459 To find out that He is good for us. 00:08:13.459 --> 00:08:17.459 That He's always good in Himself in everything that He does. 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:24.459 Now, you might have a book at home where your mums, dads even, 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:27.459 and grandparents might have a book with recipes. 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:35.460 Pictures, usually in these books, of the food that you can prepare following the directions in the book. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:40.460 But if you look at a picture there, let's say it was a plate of mushrooms, 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:42.460 and I had never tasted mushrooms before. 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:45.460 And you looked at that plate of mushrooms and they're beautifully presented, 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:48.460 you would say, oh, that looks really good. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:53.460 Or else you might have a picture there that say, hmm, not so sure about that. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:56.460 I don't think that would really be very nice, very tasty. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:58.460 But how will I know unless I've tasted it? 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:01.460 And so it's like that with God as well. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:05.460 The Bible gives us a description of God. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:10.460 In other words, you get pictures of God from what you find in the Bible. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:14.460 But you need to taste and to see that He is good. 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:18.460 It's the same for all of us as adults as for you children as well. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:24.460 When you come to know Him yourself, when you come to trust in Him, to taste what He's like, 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:26.460 then you'll know that He's really good. 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:28.460 And that's what you're learning, isn't it? 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:34.460 In Sunday school and at tweenies and at home or in church services like this, 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:38.460 we're trying to present what the Bible says about God 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:48.460 so that you and I will come to say for ourselves to other people, oh, taste and see that God is good. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:51.460 So today, taste and see that God is good. 00:09:51.460 --> 00:10:03.460 Let's take what the Bible says and let's take that into our souls and we'll find that God is really good. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:07.460 Let's say the Lord's Prayer then together. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:11.460 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:13.460 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:16.460 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:23.460 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:28.460 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:33.460 For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:35.460 Amen. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:39.460 Now let's sing again to God's praise. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:44.460 This time we're singing in Psalm 80 and that's on page 107. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:49.460 The tune is Stuttgart and it's verses 7 to 15. 00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:56.460 Stuttgart and it's verses 7 to 15. 00:10:56.460 --> 00:11:03.460 Look on us, O God Almighty, let us see your glory bright. 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:08.460 Turn us once again toward you, come and save us, give us light. 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:13.460 Once you brought a vine from Egypt, drove out kings with mighty hand. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:19.460 Set the vine and ground made ready, it took root and filled the land. 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:24.460 So that's 7 to 15 to the tune Stuttgart to God's praise. 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.460 Stuttgart and it's verses 7 to 15. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:27.460 Let us see your glory bright. 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:32.460 Let us see your glory bright. 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:39.460 Turn us once again toward you, come and save us, give us light. 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:41.460 Won't you brought a vine from Egypt, 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.460 Let us see your glory bright. 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:46.460 Turn us once again toward you, come and save us, give us light. 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:48.460 Won't you brought a vine from Egypt, 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:53.460 Come and save us, give us light. 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:56.460 Won't you brought a vine from Egypt, 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.460 Throw our kings with mighty hand. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:12:00.460 Won't you brought a vine from Egypt, 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.460 Throw our kings with mighty hand. 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:03.460 Set the vine and ground made ready, 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:19.460 Here to root and fill the land. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:26.460 So when branches o'er the mountains, 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:32.460 Shining every cedar tree, 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:38.460 Spreading from the great Euphrates 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:45.460 Through the mighty western sea. 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:51.460 Why did you break down its fences, 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:57.460 So that all made buckets grew, 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:03.460 Creatures of the field devoured, 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:10.460 Wild boars traded from the root. 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:16.460 Turn to us, O God Almighty, 00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:22.460 Look and see from heaven above. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:28.460 Tend this vine you hand us planted, 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:35.460 And the sun you raised in love. 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:41.460 Now let's read a passage of God's Word from the Gospel of Luke, 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.460 Chapter 13. 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:47.460 Luke 13, we're going to read verses 1 to 17. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:01.460 There were some present at that very time 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.460 Who told him about the Galileans 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:07.460 Whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.460 And he answered them, 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:12.460 Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:14.460 Than all the other Galileans, 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:16.460 Because they suffered in this way? 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:18.460 No, I tell you, 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.460 But unless you repent, 00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:21.460 You will all likewise perish. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:25.460 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.460 And killed them, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:28.460 Do you think that they were worse offenders 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:31.460 Than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.460 No, I tell you, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:34.460 But unless you repent, 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:37.460 You will all likewise perish. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:39.460 And he told this parable, 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.460 A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:45.460 And he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:47.460 And he said to the vine dresser, 00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:49.460 Look, for three years now, 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:51.460 I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:53.460 And I find none. 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.460 Cut it down. 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.460 Why should it use up the ground? 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:58.460 And he answered him, 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:00.460 Sir, let it alone this year also, 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:03.460 Until I dig round it and put on manure. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:05.460 Then if it should bear fruit next year, 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:06.460 Well and good. 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:08.460 But if not, 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:10.460 You can cut it down. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.460 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.460 On the Sabbath. 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:16.460 And there was a woman who had a disabling spirit 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.460 For eighteen years. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:21.460 She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.460 When Jesus saw her, 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.460 He called her over and said to her, 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:28.460 Woman, you are freed from your disability. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:30.460 And he laid his hands on her 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:32.460 And immediately she was made straight, 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:34.460 And she glorified God. 00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:36.460 But the ruler of the synagogue, 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:39.460 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:41.460 Said to the people, 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:44.460 There are six days in which work ought to be done. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.460 Come on those days and be healed, 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:48.460 But not on the Sabbath day. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:50.460 Then the Lord answered him, 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.460 You hypocrites! 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:53.460 Does not each of you on the Sabbath 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:56.460 Untie his ox or his donkey from the manger 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:59.460 And lead it away to water it? 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.460 And ought not this woman, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.460 A daughter of Abraham, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:05.460 Whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:08.460 Be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:11.460 As he said these things, 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:14.460 All his adversaries were put to shame, 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:16.460 And all the people rejoiced 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:20.460 At all the glorious things that were done by him. 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:22.460 Amen. 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:25.460 May God follow with his blessing that reading of his own word. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.460 Let's again pray. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:32.460 O Lord, our gracious God, 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:35.460 As we worship you today, 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:39.460 We pray that your Holy Spirit may be active within us. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:44.460 We pray that our minds may be open to further understand your word. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:47.460 We pray that you would apply it to us, O Lord, 00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:53.460 So that spiritually and morally we may advance in our relationship with you, 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:56.460 And in our journey through life. 00:16:56.460 --> 00:17:01.460 We thank you that your word contains all we need to know for our salvation. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:07.460 We thank you that you have not revealed everything to us that is true about yourself, 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:12.460 Or other truths that you have chosen, Lord, to keep hidden from us. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:18.460 And we thank you that we are not in a position to understand all your doings. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:26.460 For you are God, and Lord, we cannot expect to understand every aspect of your being or of your works. 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:30.460 And so we thank you for that greatness that belongs to you, 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:33.460 That greatness that makes you unique. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:37.460 The greatness, Lord, that you revealed to us in your word, 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:40.460 Brought the world and all that is in it into being. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:43.460 We thank you for the grace, Lord, that you have revealed, 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:47.460 The grace that you use in the salvation of your people. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:51.460 And we come before you today, Lord, as part of our worship, 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:53.460 To give thanks for that grace. 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:58.460 And to give thanks for all the good things that you give to us from day to day. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:01.460 As we have been thinking earlier, Lord, with the children, 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:05.460 Of the way that we taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:10.460 Oh, help us, we pray now, to do so during this time of worship. 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:14.460 And help us throughout this day to taste and see that you are good. 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:22.460 Help us to reflect, oh Lord, seriously and meaningfully on the ways in which your goodness reaches us each day we live. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:26.460 Enable us, we pray, to take that goodness to heart. 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:31.460 And to realize, oh Lord, that we are undeserving of any of it. 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:34.460 To realize that we are deserving of everything opposite to it. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:39.460 And yet, oh Lord, you have dealt with us in this rich way. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:43.460 So as to reveal to us the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:45.460 To reveal to us our own sinfulness. 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:51.460 And thereby bring to our notice our need of this Savior. 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:58.460 And Lord, oh, we pray today that all of us may reach out in faith and claim him for ourselves. 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:08.460 And if we have already done this, oh Lord, we pray that today, once again, we may be conscious of receiving the grace of Christ into our souls. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:15.460 And thereby being empowered to continue with that life of faith and hope and love. 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:21.460 We ask today that your blessing will rest with us, oh Lord, as a congregation of your people. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:25.460 We give thanks as we reflect on your goodness to us as a people. 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:29.460 We give thanks for the ways in which you have continued to bless us. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:32.460 And for the ways in which, Lord, you have overlooked our sin. 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:39.460 We come together today to not only give thanks to your name, but to confess our sin together. 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:43.460 But we know that each of us has sinned to confess every day we live. 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:54.460 And we have used these words, oh Lord, already that you taught your disciples to forgive our trespasses, our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:59.460 And we ask today, oh Lord, that you would hide your face from our iniquities. 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:06.460 And that you would teach us, oh Lord, the ways and the seriousness and the deceitfulness of sin. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:13.460 Help us, oh God, to take to heart the teaching of your word in regard to this also. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:18.460 Lest we should see ourselves as better than we are. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:23.460 Lest we should imagine, oh Lord, that we have some claim upon you through our own goodness. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:28.460 And yet we give thanks today that you offer life to us. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.460 Sinful as you see us and sinful as we are. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:40.460 And undeserving of any mercy from you, you extend to us, Lord, today that salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:48.460 And we pray, oh Lord, today that each of us here together with all God's people everywhere 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:53.460 we may know for ourselves that goodness of God in our hearts. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:57.460 We ask you blessing to be with those who cannot gather with us today. 00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:06.460 Oh God, we think especially of those who have particular needs at this time and are confined to their homes or to hospital beds or to care homes. 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:12.460 We ask that you would bless them, those who belong to us as families and as a congregation especially. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:14.460 We commit them to you. 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:20.460 We ask that they may know your good hand upon them, your goodness surrounding them and providing for them. 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:24.460 We pray that you would draw them near to yourself, oh Lord. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:33.460 For every time we come to be ill, especially with serious illness, we know that we are conscious of eternity drawing near to us. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:36.460 We pray that you would make us wise unto salvation. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:42.460 Teach us, we pray daily, to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom. 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:50.460 We pray for those today whose hearts are heavy with sorrow and with grief. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:53.460 Those who have lost loved ones in this week gone by. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:22:04.460 Those who reflect also on times gone by where bereavement came to their experience and to their lives personally in the removing of those they loved. 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:06.460 Bless them all, we pray. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.460 Extend to them today your comfort. 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:20.460 And we pray that any who in these times, oh Lord, have lost loved ones but have not yet reckoned with the reality and with the seriousness of death and with eternal issues that they may do so. 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:32.460 Using, oh Lord, even the providence of death in their experience to draw near to God and to seek to draw their strength and their comfort and life from you. 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:37.460 We pray your blessing to be extended, Lord, to us as a people in our communities. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:47.460 Bless us in all the activities we are conscious of from day to day, in our day schools, in our Sunday school, in everything to do with the education of our children. 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:55.460 Bless the teachers in our schools, the head teachers, those who have responsibility, Lord, to teach our children. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.460 We thank you for them. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.460 We thank you for their dedication. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:23:07.460 And we pray that you would grant your blessing to them, especially at times when so much is asked of them. 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:16.460 And when there may be materials as there are that they themselves are not satisfied with and yet are promoted by government. 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:20.460 Lord, we ask that you would give wisdom to those concerned. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:23.460 We pray that you bless our local authority. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:31.460 Bless them in all the ways in which, Lord, they seek to do good to our society, to our people. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:39.460 Bless them, we pray, in all their activities and in all the ways in which they engage with society as it is. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:42.460 We pray that you bless our government at this time. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:48.460 Remember those in Westminster, Lord, amongst the turmoil that exist there at the present time. 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:54.460 Oh, Lord, our God, we pray for days of peace, for days of stability. 00:23:54.460 --> 00:24:07.460 We pray for days when there will be set over us those who will honor you, those who will be characterized by truth and by order and by all that would make for good government. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:12.460 We pray that your blessing, Lord, will be at this time with them in Parliament. 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:14.460 We pray also for the Scottish Parliament. 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:25.460 We pray that you would grant blessing to all the ministers, to the presiding government and all who assist with it. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:31.460 We ask, oh Lord, that the first minister and our government, our cabinet, will be blessed. 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:38.460 We pray that you would give them the resolve by which to govern in the fear of God and an acknowledgement of your ways. 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:44.460 Bless those of them who do know you and who do commend you to their fellow members of Parliament. 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:56.460 We ask that you would continue to bless them and support them, Lord, by your own strength and give them of your own blessed spirit so that they may be guided in all their ways by you. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:03.460 Now, bless, we pray, all those who around us are in particular need today. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:13.460 We pray for those who suffer from various addictions, from those, Lord, who find themselves in prison throughout our land. 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:21.460 We pray for those ministering to them, those who are seeking to bring them help and relief and guidance and stability. 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:25.460 We ask for all of these efforts, oh Lord, that they may be blessed by you. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:35.460 We pray that we may see days when the gospel and the influence of the gospel will come to pervade our homes and our communities more than it does. 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:38.460 And to that end, we pray for your own spirit, oh Lord. 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:45.460 We know that we look to a God who is able to do more than we are able to ask or think. 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:48.460 You are able to do so exceeding abundantly. 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:58.460 And so we pray to you today, oh Lord, as the one we know created the heavens and the earth, sustains all things by the power of your word. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:02.460 And we ask that that power may be used for our good as a people. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:07.460 Hear us now, we pray, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:14.460 Before we turn to the word of God, let's sing once again, this time in Psalm number one. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:24.460 Singing Psalm 1 from the Scottish Psalter, page 200, the tune this time is Paisley. 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:41.460 That man hath perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray in counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinner's way, nor sitteth in the scornish chair, but placeth his delight upon God's law, and meditates on his law day and night. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:48.460 The whole of Psalm number one, again we stand to sing. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.460 God. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:27:18.440 I ask that men hath perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray in counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinner's way, nor sitteth him the same. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:27.259 The storm is yet but place of this delight. 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:40.779 Upon God's law and meditate on his law day and night. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:54.379 He shall be like a tree that rose here planted by a river. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:07.960 Which in his season yields his fruit and his leaf fadeth never. 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:15.960 And all the angels shall prosper well. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:22.059 The wicked are not so. 00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:35.880 But like thee are unto the chaff which with right to and fro. 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:48.880 And judgment therefore shall not stand such as the sanctuary. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:29:04.880 Nor in the assembly of the just shall wicked men appear. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:20.120 For why the way of godly men unto the Lord is known. 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:33.119 Whereas the way of wicked men shall white be overthrown. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:40.659 Let's turn together for a short time to Luke chapter 13. 00:29:41.719 --> 00:29:45.479 And today we're looking at verses 6 to 9 of this chapter. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:49.719 This parable that Jesus told the people at that time. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:53.500 The parable as it says in the title there of the barren fig tree. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:30:02.279 Scripture as you know frequently uses images drawn from agriculture. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:05.440 Here it's viniculture or vineculture. 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.759 Respecting a vineyard. 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:14.339 That's the kind of imagery the Bible often uses to present to us spiritual truth. 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:17.299 Images of spiritual life in different ways. 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:20.079 Think of Isaiah chapter 5. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:24.700 God is saying that Israel is his vineyard. 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:30.019 And he goes there through to teach about their need to turn back to himself. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:35.779 Jeremiah chapter 4 calling upon Israel to plow up their fallow ground. 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:39.399 A ground that's been left unused for some time. 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:42.299 Spiritually that's a neglect of course. 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:47.460 And they're being asked to or demanded God demands them to plow up that fallow ground. 00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:50.000 See to it that they repent of their sins. 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.960 Proverbs chapter 20. 00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:56.299 A picture there of a vineyard that's been abandoned. 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:58.119 Or certainly been badly neglected. 00:30:58.779 --> 00:31:01.200 All overgrown and full of weeds and so on. 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:04.700 And that makes its own point of course with regard to our life too. 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.039 John chapter 15. 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.799 Well known words of Jesus. 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:12.399 Jesus I am the true vine and my father is the vine dresser. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:18.919 And then he goes on to speak about the relationship of the branches to the vine as he teaches the disciples there. 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:23.680 And the passage we have here is a passage about a fig tree. 00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:25.680 It's not about the vineyard as such. 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:30.240 It's about the fig tree that was planted in this vineyard. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:41.779 It's obviously fertile soil because otherwise they wouldn't have planted vines there for the culture, for the viniculture, for the production of grapes. 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:50.299 But in this vineyard, as very often was and still is the case, the owner of the vineyard had planted a fig tree. 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:58.740 Making use of all the space possible in the vineyard and between the rows of vines planting this fig tree. 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:12.579 And that had immediate application of course to the Jews in Jesus' time as Jesus was speaking to them or teaching them about the privileges that they had had as a people. 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:17.259 And that's really the essence of the lesson from this passage today. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:29.519 Spiritual privileges and advantages and the use or not use that we have in relation to those in our own lives too. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:32.519 Here is Israel being addressed, the people of Israel, the Jews. 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.899 Obviously it's an image of them in the immediate context. 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:38.419 They had been so favored by God. 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:42.160 They had been blessed above all other nations of the earth. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:45.600 They had come to know God, this God of the covenant. 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:49.180 They had come to know this God who had created the heavens and the earth. 00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:51.779 This God who had entered into covenant with them. 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:58.080 This God who had taught them through the prophets, through the days of the Old Testament, all into the New Testament. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.560 They were the vineyard of the Lord. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:03.060 And as they were the vineyard of the Lord, 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:08.099 So the Lord was looking for them to be productive in their lives spiritually, 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:11.700 to bring forth the kind of fruit that honored Him, 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:16.940 the kind of fruit that showed they had made proper use of their advantages and privileges. 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:22.740 And we're applying that today to ourselves because that's really what the passage is about. 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:29.059 It's not there just to teach us a history lesson about what Jesus said to the Jews and about the Jews. 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:34.539 We have to translate this into our own present experience, our own present situation. 00:33:35.659 --> 00:33:36.859 It's a portrait, really. 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:42.039 We're following through with our series of Scripture portraits of the church. 00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:44.599 And this is really one of those portraits, if you like, 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:49.899 where you find the Lord actually giving us this imagery, this portrait of the church 00:33:49.899 --> 00:33:55.159 and the gospel privileges that you and I have as belonging to that church visibly. 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.559 The gospel advantages that He has given you. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:04.779 In other words, we've been planted so favorably in our lives in relation to the gospel, 00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:08.599 in relation to the church of God, that today God is saying to us, 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.679 You are essentially my vineyard. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.559 This is where I have planted you. 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:16.159 But especially we're focusing on this fig tree, 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:20.920 because this is really what Jesus set before the people of the day. 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:24.360 Here is this fig tree in this fertile ground, 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:27.720 surrounded by vines bearing grapes. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:31.340 And yet this fig tree is fruitless. 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:33.079 It is barren. 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:37.880 It's not making the use of the ground that it ought to. 00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:40.500 It doesn't have any figs. 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:44.760 And so the Lord is using that of an imagery, 00:34:45.140 --> 00:34:48.180 just solemnly telling us today that it's possible 00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:52.779 to actually enjoy many advantages and many privileges in the gospel 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:56.139 and not bear the fruit that God is looking for, 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:02.779 not bear the fruit that God Himself requires of us as human beings. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.839 So here are our two headings today. 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:11.620 First of all, God has planted us in fertile soil. 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:18.680 Secondly, therefore, God expects us to bear fruit for Him. 00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:22.720 God has planted us in fertile soil. 00:35:23.160 --> 00:35:28.320 Therefore, secondly, God expects us to bear fruit for Him. 00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:32.500 Let's look at these two as we follow the teaching of the parable. 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:36.599 God has planted us in fertile soil. 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:40.780 As we said earlier, this fig tree had all the advantages. 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:42.360 It had the fertile soil. 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:47.940 There was evidence around it that the soil could produce a good crop. 00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:50.340 And that's how you are as well than I am. 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:53.420 We have been planted very favorably by God. 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:56.219 We've been planted in the vineyard of God's church. 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:58.219 This is what's leaving you here today. 00:35:58.340 --> 00:36:00.539 This is what is true about you all here today, 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:03.679 and myself as well as individuals, as a congregation. 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:05.699 This is where God has planted us. 00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:08.099 He's planted us in the vineyard of the church. 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:11.079 If you like, in the soil of the gospel. 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:16.460 You know, it's something that we really sometimes don't really think seriously enough about, 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:21.119 although it sounds almost too simple to really follow out in any detail. 00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:28.079 But it is a very important point that God has planted us as human beings in the soil of the gospel. 00:36:28.339 --> 00:36:34.980 We have access to the pure water and the nourishment and the nutrients that we find in God's Word. 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:40.059 They're channeled into our lives, into our minds, into our hearts, into our consciences. 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:42.920 As we're rooted in the soil of the gospel. 00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:45.880 As we come to know these nutrients of the gospel. 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.860 These nutrients from God's Word. 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:51.139 The watering of our souls by the Word of God. 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:54.659 By the Spirit of God persuading us of our need. 00:36:56.139 --> 00:37:00.559 We're also sheltered to a great extent compared to others in the world. 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:03.599 We're not persecuted because we gather here today. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:10.759 We don't come through these streets or drive to church fearing that somehow or other there will be a bomb or a missile 00:37:10.759 --> 00:37:15.219 or a group of people waiting to just take it out on us because we're Christians. 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.739 That's our advantage. 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:19.860 That's where God has placed us. 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:29.440 And we have the warm sun of God's favor, therefore, shining upon us. 00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:33.139 We could have been. 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:37.920 Had God chosen it, we could have been where others are today. 00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:43.159 We could have been in places where the gospel isn't faithfully preached. 00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:47.119 We could have been out there in the wilderness of secularism. 00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:53.400 We could be out there sharing with those who are atheists who reject God, who don't believe in God. 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:56.480 We could be amongst them instead of being here in church. 00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:01.000 God, in His providence, could have planted us somewhere else. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.719 But He hasn't. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:03.280 He's planted us in His church. 00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:05.840 He's planted us here in the soil of the gospel. 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:09.300 He's planted us where we receive so many benefits, 00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:13.960 where we're surrounded by fellow believers, fellow people who worship God. 00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:19.800 What a great thing that is. 00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:31.000 And you know, Jesus was very much intending that His listeners at this time would really take to heart the truth of what He was saying. 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:36.460 You are a fig tree planted in the most favorable conditions. 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:39.160 Now think about that today. 00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:42.900 Think how God has favored your life. 00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:46.800 Think how God has given you all these advantages. 00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:53.920 Think of what it might be like today if you were out there amongst those people who don't care to go to church, 00:38:54.060 --> 00:38:57.860 who even some of them despise the church. 00:38:58.960 --> 00:39:01.120 But that's not true of you. 00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:05.900 God has placed you in His church, 00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:08.220 in the soil of the gospel, 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.240 under the favor 00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:13.380 that He has shown to you 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:14.980 throughout your life. 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:17.860 God has planted us 00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:20.719 in fertile soil. 00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.940 Therefore, 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:25.400 God expects us 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:27.219 to bear fruit. 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:29.119 See the way the parable goes? 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:31.480 Let's just follow the terms of it there. 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:34.440 The man who had the fig tree planted in his vineyard, 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:36.400 this is the owner of the vineyard, 00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:38.260 and he's obviously employed 00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:39.800 this vine dresser, 00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:40.659 this manager, 00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:42.139 to look after his vineyard 00:39:42.139 --> 00:39:45.420 when he himself or he himself is away somewhere else, 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:45.839 the owner. 00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:47.079 And so he's given 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:49.339 this task to the vine dresser 00:39:49.339 --> 00:39:51.219 to look after this vineyard for him. 00:39:51.819 --> 00:39:52.980 And the owner has returned 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:54.839 seeking fruit 00:39:54.839 --> 00:39:56.279 on this fig tree. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:58.859 This is what God is doing right now. 00:39:59.079 --> 00:40:00.719 This is what God's doing with me 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.379 and with you. 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.460 God is saying to me, 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.500 look, you've been in this pulpit 00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:04.760 for well over 30 years. 00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:06.739 What fruit are you showing 00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:08.639 in your life? 00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.800 And here he is saying to you as well, 00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:12.019 you've been planted 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:13.460 in the soil of the gospel. 00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:14.519 He has a right. 00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:15.579 This man had a right 00:40:15.579 --> 00:40:17.059 to expect fruit 00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:18.079 of this fig tree. 00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:18.880 You see what he's saying? 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:19.739 Look, 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:20.920 for three years now, 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.119 I've come seeking fruit 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:22.980 on this fig tree 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:23.920 and I find none. 00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:26.380 And he had a right 00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.400 to expect fruit 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.300 of this fig tree. 00:40:28.619 --> 00:40:29.880 He'd had it planted there 00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:31.119 for three whole years 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:32.079 and that's enough time 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:33.820 for a fig tree to bear fruit. 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.300 A fig tree usually bears fruit 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:36.760 within two to three years. 00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:39.260 It starts bearing figs. 00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:40.340 So he had a right 00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:42.559 to expect this fig tree 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.420 would bear fruit. 00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:46.320 So God is saying, 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:48.079 I have a right, you know, 00:40:48.200 --> 00:40:49.480 to come today 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:50.760 to look at your life 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:52.619 and to expect 00:40:52.619 --> 00:40:54.059 that you're bearing fruit 00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:55.139 for me. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.519 He has a right to come 00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:59.579 and find in your life 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:01.539 the growth of faith, 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.619 the growth of love 00:41:03.619 --> 00:41:04.319 for himself 00:41:04.319 --> 00:41:05.460 and for his cause, 00:41:06.299 --> 00:41:08.980 the growth of repentance, 00:41:10.859 --> 00:41:11.920 turning from sin, 00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:13.579 leaving that sin, 00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:16.739 following a holy life 00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:17.799 as far as possible. 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:20.279 All the things the Bible tells you 00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.859 are true of a Christian life. 00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:23.779 Well, he's expecting that 00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.420 of you and me 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:26.199 having actually rooted us 00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:27.039 and planted us 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:29.339 in such fertile soil. 00:41:30.339 --> 00:41:31.480 You can relate this passage 00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:32.380 to the previous one 00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:34.199 because Scripture is 00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:35.960 very closely tied together 00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.519 as you follow 00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:38.000 the various parts of it. 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:39.699 Here is Jesus saying 00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:42.659 to those who were present 00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:43.420 at that time 00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:44.819 who told him about 00:41:44.819 --> 00:41:45.880 whatever had happened there. 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:47.319 We're not told the details of it. 00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:49.019 The Galileans whose blood 00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:50.359 Pilate had mingled 00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:51.300 with their sacrifice, 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.980 some outrage or other 00:41:52.980 --> 00:41:54.300 under Pilate's direction. 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.640 And Jesus said, 00:41:55.700 --> 00:41:56.860 Do you think that these Galileans 00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:57.579 were worse sinners 00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:58.760 than all the other Galileans 00:41:58.760 --> 00:42:00.059 because they suffered 00:42:00.059 --> 00:42:00.620 in this way? 00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:01.340 No, he said, 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:01.940 I tell you. 00:42:02.160 --> 00:42:03.840 But unless you repent, 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:05.380 you will all likewise perish. 00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:07.160 Same in the following verses 00:42:07.160 --> 00:42:08.400 with the Tower of Siloam. 00:42:08.660 --> 00:42:09.599 No, I tell you, 00:42:09.660 --> 00:42:10.680 but unless you repent, 00:42:10.940 --> 00:42:13.300 you will all likewise perish. 00:42:13.300 --> 00:42:16.960 You find the same thing 00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:18.460 elsewhere in the Bible. 00:42:18.640 --> 00:42:21.460 You find Romans chapter 2 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:23.019 and verse 4, for example. 00:42:23.120 --> 00:42:24.160 Let me just read that to you. 00:42:24.600 --> 00:42:25.680 It's very much in keeping 00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:26.440 with what you find 00:42:26.440 --> 00:42:28.560 in this passage in Luke. 00:42:29.600 --> 00:42:30.780 Here's Romans chapter 2. 00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:33.539 Here's Paul writing these terms 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:35.600 to those who are making something 00:42:35.600 --> 00:42:36.760 of the fact that they have 00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:38.740 had a background 00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:40.200 where God has blessed them 00:42:40.200 --> 00:42:40.820 as a people, 00:42:41.160 --> 00:42:42.539 where they belong to people, 00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.840 with Abraham and so on 00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:44.579 as their ancestor. 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:47.159 Here is God saying to them there 00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:48.980 in verse 4, 00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:50.960 Do you not realize? 00:42:51.759 --> 00:42:53.300 Do you presume on the riches 00:42:53.300 --> 00:42:54.840 of His kindness 00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:57.420 and forbearance and patience, 00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:01.059 not knowing that God's kindness 00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:03.820 is meant to lead you to repentance? 00:43:04.019 --> 00:43:05.039 That's a wonderful verse. 00:43:05.340 --> 00:43:06.759 That's a great powerful verse 00:43:06.759 --> 00:43:08.059 that God's kindness, 00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:09.940 God's kindness to you 00:43:09.940 --> 00:43:11.300 and planting you where you are, 00:43:11.300 --> 00:43:13.380 God's kindness in making you 00:43:13.380 --> 00:43:15.060 familiar with the gospel 00:43:15.060 --> 00:43:16.920 and giving you to have your life 00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:18.060 rooted and grounded 00:43:18.060 --> 00:43:19.360 in the soil of the gospel. 00:43:20.300 --> 00:43:21.760 The goodness of God. 00:43:22.600 --> 00:43:23.920 The goodness of God 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:25.280 is intended to lead you 00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:26.600 to repentance, 00:43:27.600 --> 00:43:29.400 to repent of your sin, 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:31.539 to accept Christ. 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:34.800 I hope we're not presenting this, 00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:36.159 and I hope I'm not presenting this 00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:39.000 in a way that sounds terribly negative 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:41.460 and certainly not condemnatory. 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.659 I have to say this to myself 00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:45.059 as much as to anyone else, 00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:46.719 but this is God's word to us today, 00:43:46.840 --> 00:43:47.039 friends. 00:43:47.619 --> 00:43:49.279 This is our place of advantage. 00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:50.639 This is our place of privilege. 00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:52.800 This is where God has placed us, 00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:54.719 and now He's come looking for His fruit. 00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.719 And you have to answer to that 00:43:56.719 --> 00:43:57.380 like I have to. 00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:59.460 None of us can say to God, 00:43:59.559 --> 00:44:00.700 well, I have all the fruit 00:44:00.700 --> 00:44:01.920 that I really am, 00:44:02.160 --> 00:44:03.920 that you really require of me. 00:44:04.500 --> 00:44:08.160 I've always had this fruit in my life, 00:44:08.240 --> 00:44:09.559 so I know that you will not 00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:10.519 actually accuse me 00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:11.519 of not bearing fruit. 00:44:11.740 --> 00:44:13.180 None of us can say that 00:44:13.180 --> 00:44:14.240 to the extent 00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:15.800 that we would say 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:17.320 we have so much fruit 00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:19.039 that everything that God looks for 00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:20.240 is there in place in my life. 00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:21.340 I can't say that. 00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:22.380 Neither can you say that. 00:44:22.380 --> 00:44:23.320 But what I'm asking is, 00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:25.140 are you bearing the fruit 00:44:25.140 --> 00:44:27.000 of repentance 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:28.260 and of faith 00:44:28.260 --> 00:44:29.320 and of love 00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:30.539 and of all the things 00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:31.519 that are associated 00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:32.740 with being saved? 00:44:33.820 --> 00:44:35.240 That's really what it amounts to. 00:44:35.300 --> 00:44:35.820 These people 00:44:35.820 --> 00:44:37.099 who are listening to Jesus 00:44:37.099 --> 00:44:37.980 weren't saved. 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:39.660 They weren't taking, 00:44:40.619 --> 00:44:41.579 they weren't making use 00:44:41.579 --> 00:44:43.039 of the advantages they have. 00:44:44.220 --> 00:44:46.059 And this is what God 00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:47.800 is impressing on us today. 00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:49.579 This is our advantage. 00:44:50.200 --> 00:44:51.300 This is God's kindness. 00:44:52.380 --> 00:44:54.220 That's meant to lead us 00:44:54.220 --> 00:44:55.500 to repentance. 00:44:57.079 --> 00:44:58.480 Now you see what he says. 00:44:59.280 --> 00:44:59.780 Look, he says, 00:44:59.900 --> 00:45:00.680 for three years now 00:45:00.680 --> 00:45:02.380 I have come seeking fruit 00:45:02.380 --> 00:45:03.260 on this fig tree 00:45:03.260 --> 00:45:04.700 and I find none. 00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:06.380 None cut it down. 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:09.000 Why should it use up the ground? 00:45:09.840 --> 00:45:13.019 These are certainly powerful, 00:45:13.559 --> 00:45:15.059 solemn, challenging words, 00:45:15.180 --> 00:45:15.400 aren't they? 00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:16.579 Here is something 00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:17.900 that's very understandable 00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:19.119 in crop management. 00:45:19.300 --> 00:45:20.760 This is a very sensible thing. 00:45:20.760 --> 00:45:22.460 In terms of crop management, 00:45:22.620 --> 00:45:23.620 in terms of looking after 00:45:23.620 --> 00:45:24.940 this piece of ground 00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:25.880 and this fig tree 00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:26.780 and these vines, 00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:28.340 it makes sense. 00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:29.840 This is how those 00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:30.840 who manage such things 00:45:30.840 --> 00:45:31.840 go about the business. 00:45:32.220 --> 00:45:33.440 I mean, if you had a fig tree 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:34.880 set in a vineyard 00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:36.060 with all the advantages 00:45:36.060 --> 00:45:37.520 and all the care 00:45:37.520 --> 00:45:38.580 lavished upon it 00:45:38.580 --> 00:45:40.600 that you had lavished upon it 00:45:40.600 --> 00:45:41.420 and it didn't actually 00:45:41.420 --> 00:45:42.560 produce any fruit, 00:45:42.660 --> 00:45:43.280 what would you say? 00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:44.660 You'd say exactly the same 00:45:44.660 --> 00:45:45.500 as this man said. 00:45:45.800 --> 00:45:47.260 Well, that's no use 00:45:47.260 --> 00:45:48.100 leaving that there. 00:45:48.099 --> 00:45:48.799 It's just taking up 00:45:48.799 --> 00:45:49.539 a bit of ground 00:45:49.539 --> 00:45:50.579 that could be used 00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.420 for something else. 00:45:51.480 --> 00:45:52.460 So, take it out 00:45:52.460 --> 00:45:53.360 and put something else 00:45:53.360 --> 00:45:53.880 in its place. 00:45:54.199 --> 00:45:55.679 That's crop management for you. 00:45:55.719 --> 00:45:56.319 That's how we would 00:45:56.319 --> 00:45:57.900 actually deal with things 00:45:57.900 --> 00:45:59.099 in the ordinary sense 00:45:59.099 --> 00:46:00.059 in the natural world 00:46:00.059 --> 00:46:01.599 in terms of crop management. 00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:02.400 But of course, 00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:03.799 this is not crop management 00:46:03.799 --> 00:46:05.159 that's meant by this. 00:46:06.440 --> 00:46:07.799 It's soul management. 00:46:08.179 --> 00:46:10.719 It's human people, 00:46:10.940 --> 00:46:11.920 that is to human beings 00:46:11.920 --> 00:46:12.799 he's talking to. 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:16.300 And what he's saying really 00:46:16.300 --> 00:46:17.780 is that we will take to heart 00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:20.580 what it is that ought 00:46:20.580 --> 00:46:21.820 to be done with us 00:46:21.820 --> 00:46:24.180 if we don't produce fruit 00:46:24.180 --> 00:46:25.220 to God's glory. 00:46:26.160 --> 00:46:27.260 That sounds very severe, 00:46:27.620 --> 00:46:29.780 but it is Christ's own word. 00:46:30.260 --> 00:46:31.940 The space of this fig tree 00:46:31.940 --> 00:46:33.140 could be reused. 00:46:33.600 --> 00:46:34.780 And the words that he uses here, 00:46:35.340 --> 00:46:38.120 why should it use up the ground? 00:46:38.240 --> 00:46:39.300 If you remember the old AV, 00:46:39.300 --> 00:46:42.440 the old AV translation 00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:44.100 has the word cumbereth. 00:46:44.840 --> 00:46:46.820 Why cumbereth it the ground? 00:46:46.900 --> 00:46:48.420 Why does it cumber the ground? 00:46:49.060 --> 00:46:50.080 And the literal meaning 00:46:50.080 --> 00:46:51.240 of these words in Greek, 00:46:51.700 --> 00:46:52.860 whatever we translate them, 00:46:53.180 --> 00:46:54.340 the literal meaning is 00:46:54.340 --> 00:46:57.440 it's really rendering useless. 00:46:58.060 --> 00:46:59.800 It's rendering something useless 00:46:59.800 --> 00:47:01.120 or of no effect. 00:47:02.019 --> 00:47:02.420 In other words, 00:47:02.519 --> 00:47:03.640 that fig tree, 00:47:04.140 --> 00:47:05.980 because it wasn't bearing fruit, 00:47:07.060 --> 00:47:07.760 it was to, 00:47:07.760 --> 00:47:10.180 well, it was to 00:47:10.180 --> 00:47:12.620 all intents and purposes 00:47:12.620 --> 00:47:13.920 really rendering 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:15.880 that piece of ground ineffective 00:47:15.880 --> 00:47:17.920 when it was being used 00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:19.900 and there was no production 00:47:19.900 --> 00:47:21.240 of figs on it. 00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:23.000 And I think that's saying 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:23.720 something to us 00:47:23.720 --> 00:47:27.520 that's also solemn, 00:47:27.700 --> 00:47:29.060 but we need to bear it in mind, 00:47:29.120 --> 00:47:29.780 and it's this. 00:47:29.780 --> 00:47:33.240 This fruitless fig tree 00:47:33.240 --> 00:47:35.519 was making it seem 00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:37.180 as if that ground 00:47:37.180 --> 00:47:38.360 was very little use, 00:47:39.640 --> 00:47:40.700 was infertile, 00:47:41.620 --> 00:47:43.420 as if there weren't really enough 00:47:43.420 --> 00:47:45.060 of the good conditions 00:47:45.060 --> 00:47:47.300 and the fertile soil there 00:47:47.300 --> 00:47:48.560 that this tree would really need 00:47:48.560 --> 00:47:49.380 to make it grow. 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:51.140 That's what it seemed like 00:47:51.140 --> 00:47:53.060 when you take account of the fact 00:47:53.060 --> 00:47:54.580 it didn't bear fruit. 00:47:55.480 --> 00:47:56.420 Now, you apply that 00:47:56.420 --> 00:47:57.620 to yourself and myself, 00:47:57.619 --> 00:47:58.440 and what's it saying? 00:47:58.539 --> 00:47:59.819 Well, it means that 00:47:59.819 --> 00:48:00.719 if we haven't come 00:48:00.719 --> 00:48:01.859 to turn to the Lord, 00:48:02.539 --> 00:48:04.000 if we're not yet saved, 00:48:04.779 --> 00:48:06.039 if we haven't put our trust 00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:06.500 in Christ, 00:48:06.599 --> 00:48:07.659 if we haven't received 00:48:07.659 --> 00:48:08.880 Christ for ourselves, 00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:10.779 then to all intents 00:48:10.779 --> 00:48:11.259 and purposes, 00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:13.500 it seems like the soil 00:48:13.500 --> 00:48:14.199 of the church 00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:14.859 and the gospel 00:48:14.859 --> 00:48:16.299 in which God has placed us 00:48:16.299 --> 00:48:17.799 is not really very fertile, 00:48:17.980 --> 00:48:18.819 not very good soil. 00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:19.880 That's the impression 00:48:19.880 --> 00:48:20.900 it gives, doesn't it? 00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:24.380 And of course, 00:48:24.440 --> 00:48:25.239 we know that that's not 00:48:25.239 --> 00:48:26.339 the case with this ground. 00:48:26.340 --> 00:48:27.960 There's nothing wrong 00:48:27.960 --> 00:48:28.539 with this ground. 00:48:28.620 --> 00:48:29.880 The vines are growing there. 00:48:30.559 --> 00:48:31.360 There's nothing wrong 00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:32.000 with the ground 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:32.860 of the gospel. 00:48:33.480 --> 00:48:34.519 Many people are growing 00:48:34.519 --> 00:48:35.180 successfully. 00:48:35.380 --> 00:48:36.579 They're growing fruit there 00:48:36.579 --> 00:48:37.780 to the glory of God. 00:48:38.180 --> 00:48:39.700 But if you and I are not, 00:48:40.680 --> 00:48:41.840 if we've not yet made 00:48:41.840 --> 00:48:43.820 the use of that piece of ground, 00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:44.320 if you like, 00:48:44.340 --> 00:48:44.840 in this church 00:48:44.840 --> 00:48:45.920 that God intends, 00:48:46.500 --> 00:48:47.579 that's the impression 00:48:47.579 --> 00:48:48.260 we're giving. 00:48:49.600 --> 00:48:50.559 That's the impression 00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:52.500 we're giving both to God 00:48:52.500 --> 00:48:54.220 and to others 00:48:54.220 --> 00:48:55.019 and ourselves. 00:48:55.019 --> 00:48:57.699 In other words, 00:48:58.800 --> 00:48:59.460 to remain, 00:48:59.920 --> 00:49:01.480 how can I put it, 00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:03.159 to remain unsaved, 00:49:03.199 --> 00:49:03.940 if you're here today 00:49:03.940 --> 00:49:05.420 and you're still not saved, 00:49:05.500 --> 00:49:06.719 you haven't turned to Christ, 00:49:07.099 --> 00:49:08.820 you haven't put your trust 00:49:08.820 --> 00:49:09.460 in Him, 00:49:09.960 --> 00:49:11.119 you haven't given yourself 00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:11.920 to Him 00:49:11.920 --> 00:49:14.619 in your own individual life, 00:49:16.000 --> 00:49:18.259 it's really giving the impression 00:49:18.259 --> 00:49:19.460 that God hasn't really 00:49:19.460 --> 00:49:20.960 been kind to you at all, 00:49:20.960 --> 00:49:23.360 that God hasn't given you 00:49:23.360 --> 00:49:24.980 the proper conditions, 00:49:26.380 --> 00:49:27.240 that the soil 00:49:27.240 --> 00:49:28.720 in which you're placed 00:49:28.720 --> 00:49:29.880 is not very fertile. 00:49:31.440 --> 00:49:32.579 Now, you don't want that 00:49:32.579 --> 00:49:33.360 to be the case. 00:49:35.360 --> 00:49:36.880 You don't want God's name 00:49:36.880 --> 00:49:37.840 to be doubted. 00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:40.240 You don't want people 00:49:40.240 --> 00:49:41.559 to actually get the impression 00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:42.599 that actually the church 00:49:42.599 --> 00:49:43.960 is little good after all, 00:49:44.579 --> 00:49:45.639 or that the gospel 00:49:45.639 --> 00:49:46.980 doesn't really do much 00:49:46.980 --> 00:49:48.059 for a person after all. 00:49:48.059 --> 00:49:49.360 That's not what you want 00:49:49.360 --> 00:49:50.659 to have in your own life, 00:49:50.719 --> 00:49:51.519 that's not what you want 00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:53.099 the impression of the world 00:49:53.099 --> 00:49:54.279 of your life to be, 00:49:54.340 --> 00:49:56.099 because that reflects upon God. 00:49:58.340 --> 00:49:59.980 And it reflects upon God 00:49:59.980 --> 00:50:00.920 in such a way 00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:02.340 that does not give the glory 00:50:02.340 --> 00:50:03.400 to God that you and I 00:50:03.400 --> 00:50:04.400 were created for. 00:50:05.259 --> 00:50:06.299 We were created 00:50:06.299 --> 00:50:08.639 to produce spiritual fruit, 00:50:08.759 --> 00:50:10.119 the fruit of faith, 00:50:10.500 --> 00:50:10.960 of love, 00:50:11.059 --> 00:50:11.599 of repentance, 00:50:11.799 --> 00:50:12.400 of righteousness, 00:50:12.639 --> 00:50:13.139 of holiness, 00:50:13.420 --> 00:50:14.820 to the glory of God. 00:50:14.900 --> 00:50:15.920 That's why we exist. 00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:17.920 That is our chief end 00:50:17.920 --> 00:50:19.360 as the catechism begins, 00:50:19.420 --> 00:50:20.420 to glorify God 00:50:20.420 --> 00:50:22.300 and to enjoy Him forever. 00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:23.780 And so here is, 00:50:24.400 --> 00:50:25.619 in God's kindness, 00:50:26.059 --> 00:50:26.960 in God's goodness, 00:50:27.360 --> 00:50:28.680 He's impressing upon you 00:50:28.680 --> 00:50:30.240 and impressing upon me today 00:50:30.240 --> 00:50:31.980 the meaning of this passage. 00:50:33.420 --> 00:50:34.300 He's doing this 00:50:34.300 --> 00:50:35.460 so that you can attend 00:50:35.460 --> 00:50:39.480 to the need of your soul 00:50:39.480 --> 00:50:41.200 if you haven't meaningfully 00:50:41.200 --> 00:50:42.740 and fully done so already. 00:50:42.739 --> 00:50:45.379 There are many of you here 00:50:45.379 --> 00:50:48.000 who are already bearing fruit. 00:50:49.039 --> 00:50:50.699 It's obvious in your lives. 00:50:51.679 --> 00:50:53.519 There may be others of you 00:50:53.519 --> 00:50:55.959 who have the genuine desire 00:50:55.959 --> 00:50:58.879 to produce these fruits 00:50:58.879 --> 00:51:01.599 spiritually that will glorify God, 00:51:02.139 --> 00:51:04.039 but you've not yet seen to it 00:51:04.039 --> 00:51:06.699 that your life is fully rooted 00:51:06.699 --> 00:51:07.659 in Christ. 00:51:07.659 --> 00:51:10.159 You haven't given yourself 00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:10.639 to Him 00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:14.839 as the Bible requires of you, 00:51:15.079 --> 00:51:16.519 as God requires of you. 00:51:18.099 --> 00:51:19.000 So here today, 00:51:20.299 --> 00:51:20.899 lovingly, 00:51:21.879 --> 00:51:22.480 tactfully, 00:51:23.579 --> 00:51:24.199 patiently, 00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:26.219 God is saying to you, 00:51:26.719 --> 00:51:27.679 why is this? 00:51:29.139 --> 00:51:30.699 Why have you not yet come 00:51:30.699 --> 00:51:33.159 to accept me, 00:51:33.659 --> 00:51:35.099 to turn to me, 00:51:35.099 --> 00:51:36.759 to receive me, 00:51:37.339 --> 00:51:38.779 to put your trust in me? 00:51:39.659 --> 00:51:40.819 Is there something wrong 00:51:40.819 --> 00:51:42.339 with what I've provided for you? 00:51:43.299 --> 00:51:44.319 Are the conditions 00:51:44.319 --> 00:51:46.599 not exactly what you need? 00:51:48.079 --> 00:51:50.259 So God is urging you 00:51:50.259 --> 00:51:51.420 through the gospel today 00:51:51.420 --> 00:51:53.400 to look at your life 00:51:53.400 --> 00:51:54.699 and me to look at my life. 00:51:55.980 --> 00:51:57.559 What evidence is there of fruit? 00:51:57.679 --> 00:51:59.420 And I know a lot of the Lord's people 00:51:59.420 --> 00:51:59.779 will say, 00:51:59.900 --> 00:52:01.119 well, I don't find much evidence 00:52:01.119 --> 00:52:02.279 of fruit in my life. 00:52:02.280 --> 00:52:03.519 But you wouldn't say 00:52:03.519 --> 00:52:05.320 you're not rooted in the Lord 00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:06.900 or not delighting in His ways. 00:52:08.480 --> 00:52:09.280 Here is the challenge. 00:52:10.120 --> 00:52:10.740 Cut it down. 00:52:11.320 --> 00:52:12.780 Why should it cumber up the ground? 00:52:12.940 --> 00:52:14.120 Why should it use up the ground? 00:52:14.660 --> 00:52:15.860 But then you see this appeal, 00:52:16.019 --> 00:52:16.340 thirdly. 00:52:17.360 --> 00:52:18.080 He answered him, 00:52:18.120 --> 00:52:18.340 Sir, 00:52:18.740 --> 00:52:20.540 let it alone this year also 00:52:20.540 --> 00:52:21.900 until I dig round it 00:52:21.900 --> 00:52:24.480 and put manure on it. 00:52:25.220 --> 00:52:26.460 Then if it should bear fruit 00:52:26.460 --> 00:52:27.000 next year, 00:52:27.080 --> 00:52:27.560 well and good. 00:52:28.140 --> 00:52:28.760 If not, 00:52:28.820 --> 00:52:29.860 you can cut it down. 00:52:29.860 --> 00:52:30.960 You see, 00:52:31.260 --> 00:52:32.160 the person who's looking 00:52:32.160 --> 00:52:33.059 after this tree 00:52:33.059 --> 00:52:34.840 for the owner of the vineyard 00:52:34.840 --> 00:52:36.380 is really concerned 00:52:36.380 --> 00:52:38.340 to give it every opportunity 00:52:38.340 --> 00:52:39.579 to bear fruit. 00:52:40.680 --> 00:52:41.340 So he doesn't want 00:52:41.340 --> 00:52:42.579 to cut it down right now. 00:52:43.059 --> 00:52:44.280 He appeals to the owner, 00:52:44.640 --> 00:52:45.820 give it another year. 00:52:45.920 --> 00:52:46.500 Let it alone. 00:52:46.840 --> 00:52:48.340 And during this year to come, 00:52:48.660 --> 00:52:49.500 I will make sure 00:52:49.500 --> 00:52:50.840 that it has even more 00:52:50.840 --> 00:52:52.059 by way of advantage 00:52:52.059 --> 00:52:52.900 and privilege. 00:52:53.240 --> 00:52:54.380 I will give it all 00:52:54.380 --> 00:52:55.820 that it requires of manure. 00:52:56.200 --> 00:52:57.180 I'll dig around it, 00:52:57.220 --> 00:52:58.099 make sure its roots 00:52:58.099 --> 00:52:58.900 are freed up 00:52:58.900 --> 00:53:00.559 so that the nutrients 00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:01.940 get into the roots properly. 00:53:02.059 --> 00:53:02.599 I'll make sure 00:53:02.599 --> 00:53:03.260 that everything 00:53:03.260 --> 00:53:04.340 that needs to be done 00:53:04.340 --> 00:53:05.160 on my part, 00:53:05.380 --> 00:53:07.180 I will do for this fruit tree. 00:53:09.619 --> 00:53:10.720 So leave it alone 00:53:10.720 --> 00:53:12.579 for another year, 00:53:12.619 --> 00:53:13.119 he says. 00:53:14.639 --> 00:53:15.079 Now, 00:53:15.139 --> 00:53:16.059 doesn't that show you 00:53:16.059 --> 00:53:18.160 the amazing 00:53:18.160 --> 00:53:19.900 patience 00:53:19.900 --> 00:53:21.900 and kindness 00:53:22.440 --> 00:53:23.340 of God? 00:53:23.340 --> 00:53:25.900 the amazing 00:53:25.900 --> 00:53:27.140 patience 00:53:27.140 --> 00:53:28.140 of God. 00:53:28.600 --> 00:53:29.880 How patient 00:53:29.880 --> 00:53:31.100 God is with me 00:53:31.100 --> 00:53:32.100 and with you. 00:53:32.620 --> 00:53:33.300 When our life 00:53:33.300 --> 00:53:34.960 is not as it should be, 00:53:35.380 --> 00:53:35.920 he doesn't just 00:53:35.920 --> 00:53:37.340 immediately cut us off. 00:53:38.140 --> 00:53:38.880 He doesn't say, 00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:39.620 well, that's it, 00:53:39.680 --> 00:53:40.660 you've had enough time, 00:53:40.760 --> 00:53:42.000 you've had enough privilege, 00:53:42.120 --> 00:53:43.160 you've had enough opportunity. 00:53:43.600 --> 00:53:44.240 No, he says, 00:53:44.579 --> 00:53:46.320 I'm giving you 00:53:46.320 --> 00:53:47.000 another chance, 00:53:47.079 --> 00:53:47.480 I've given you 00:53:47.480 --> 00:53:48.039 another year, 00:53:48.100 --> 00:53:48.579 I'm giving you 00:53:48.579 --> 00:53:49.539 every opportunity 00:53:49.539 --> 00:53:50.680 to bear fruit 00:53:50.680 --> 00:53:51.800 in your life 00:53:51.800 --> 00:53:52.519 as you ought. 00:53:54.400 --> 00:53:55.240 God, you see, 00:53:56.640 --> 00:53:58.340 is always reluctant 00:53:58.340 --> 00:53:59.220 to condemn. 00:54:00.580 --> 00:54:01.180 You'll find that 00:54:01.180 --> 00:54:01.920 throughout the Bible. 00:54:02.440 --> 00:54:03.680 1 Timothy chapter 2, 00:54:03.760 --> 00:54:04.260 verse 4, 00:54:04.360 --> 00:54:05.200 talks about God 00:54:05.200 --> 00:54:06.760 as not willing 00:54:06.760 --> 00:54:08.460 that any should perish, 00:54:08.900 --> 00:54:09.740 but that all 00:54:09.740 --> 00:54:11.080 should come to repentance, 00:54:11.460 --> 00:54:12.800 to know the truth. 00:54:13.800 --> 00:54:14.539 There is nobody 00:54:14.539 --> 00:54:15.500 here today 00:54:15.500 --> 00:54:17.220 over whom God 00:54:17.220 --> 00:54:17.700 is saying, 00:54:18.180 --> 00:54:18.980 I am willing 00:54:18.980 --> 00:54:19.740 to condemn you, 00:54:19.760 --> 00:54:20.180 I'm willing, 00:54:20.179 --> 00:54:21.980 and I would love 00:54:21.980 --> 00:54:23.019 just to condemn you. 00:54:24.679 --> 00:54:25.659 He's not willing 00:54:25.659 --> 00:54:26.879 that any should perish, 00:54:27.719 --> 00:54:29.019 but that all 00:54:29.019 --> 00:54:29.679 should come. 00:54:30.159 --> 00:54:31.699 That's all of us today 00:54:31.699 --> 00:54:33.139 planted in the soil 00:54:33.139 --> 00:54:33.839 of the gospel, 00:54:34.159 --> 00:54:35.579 in the favorable conditions 00:54:35.579 --> 00:54:36.480 of God's church, 00:54:36.599 --> 00:54:37.359 God's vineyard. 00:54:37.559 --> 00:54:38.819 He's saying to you today, 00:54:38.819 --> 00:54:41.099 I'm going to give you 00:54:41.099 --> 00:54:42.139 some more opportunity 00:54:42.139 --> 00:54:44.399 to get some more 00:54:44.399 --> 00:54:45.859 spiritual nourishment 00:54:45.859 --> 00:54:47.779 from the gospel. 00:54:47.780 --> 00:54:50.760 I'm not going 00:54:50.760 --> 00:54:51.440 to cut you down 00:54:51.440 --> 00:54:51.980 immediately. 00:54:54.460 --> 00:54:55.360 Hasn't God 00:54:55.360 --> 00:54:56.019 been patient 00:54:56.019 --> 00:54:56.740 with yourself? 00:54:59.880 --> 00:55:01.040 Hasn't He given you 00:55:01.040 --> 00:55:01.840 ever the opportunity 00:55:01.840 --> 00:55:02.660 up to now 00:55:02.660 --> 00:55:04.500 to know Him, 00:55:05.620 --> 00:55:06.560 to turn to Him, 00:55:07.440 --> 00:55:08.340 to love Him, 00:55:09.340 --> 00:55:10.740 to put your trust in Him, 00:55:11.320 --> 00:55:12.900 to believe in Him? 00:55:12.900 --> 00:55:15.059 I'm sure everybody 00:55:15.059 --> 00:55:15.760 here will say, 00:55:16.840 --> 00:55:17.840 yes, of course He has. 00:55:18.539 --> 00:55:19.280 You're not going 00:55:19.280 --> 00:55:19.860 to deny 00:55:19.860 --> 00:55:21.139 the patience 00:55:21.139 --> 00:55:21.720 and the goodness 00:55:21.720 --> 00:55:22.400 of God. 00:55:23.260 --> 00:55:24.400 But why was this 00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:25.440 given, 00:55:25.619 --> 00:55:26.480 why was this said 00:55:26.480 --> 00:55:27.880 to the owner 00:55:27.880 --> 00:55:29.039 of the vineyard, 00:55:29.200 --> 00:55:29.760 let it alone 00:55:29.760 --> 00:55:30.740 until I dig round it 00:55:30.740 --> 00:55:31.840 and put on my new? 00:55:31.900 --> 00:55:32.820 You notice the purpose 00:55:32.820 --> 00:55:34.639 of this further year 00:55:34.639 --> 00:55:36.680 was so that this 00:55:36.680 --> 00:55:38.240 tree would actually 00:55:38.240 --> 00:55:38.900 come to produce 00:55:39.480 --> 00:55:39.900 figs, 00:55:41.160 --> 00:55:41.900 produce fruit, 00:55:41.900 --> 00:55:42.579 fruit. 00:55:44.280 --> 00:55:45.139 It's not 00:55:45.139 --> 00:55:46.800 so that 00:55:46.800 --> 00:55:48.119 we could take 00:55:48.119 --> 00:55:48.760 from this 00:55:48.760 --> 00:55:50.119 the false impression 00:55:50.119 --> 00:55:51.240 that we can relax, 00:55:52.480 --> 00:55:53.300 that if He's giving us 00:55:53.300 --> 00:55:53.840 another year, 00:55:53.900 --> 00:55:54.559 well, that's fine, 00:55:54.660 --> 00:55:55.480 we'll just see to it 00:55:55.480 --> 00:55:56.099 somehow or other 00:55:56.099 --> 00:55:57.360 during that time 00:55:57.360 --> 00:55:57.920 that we'll come 00:55:57.920 --> 00:55:58.519 to know Him 00:55:58.519 --> 00:55:59.440 and come to love Him 00:55:59.440 --> 00:56:00.559 and come to place 00:56:00.559 --> 00:56:01.960 our life in His hands. 00:56:04.099 --> 00:56:05.800 Every application, 00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:06.519 if you like, 00:56:07.240 --> 00:56:09.000 of the manure 00:56:09.000 --> 00:56:09.920 or the nutrients 00:56:09.920 --> 00:56:10.880 of the gospel 00:56:10.880 --> 00:56:11.740 in your life 00:56:11.740 --> 00:56:12.780 and in my life 00:56:12.780 --> 00:56:14.660 are intended 00:56:14.660 --> 00:56:15.360 to make us 00:56:15.360 --> 00:56:16.220 produce fruit, 00:56:17.559 --> 00:56:18.660 it's not so 00:56:18.660 --> 00:56:19.440 that we can delay. 00:56:21.039 --> 00:56:21.720 It's not so 00:56:21.720 --> 00:56:22.300 that you can say, 00:56:22.420 --> 00:56:22.840 well, okay, 00:56:22.920 --> 00:56:23.619 then if I'm not 00:56:23.619 --> 00:56:24.380 going to be cut down 00:56:24.380 --> 00:56:24.740 immediately, 00:56:24.900 --> 00:56:25.160 it's now, 00:56:25.320 --> 00:56:26.260 that's fine, 00:56:26.260 --> 00:56:27.039 just leave it 00:56:27.039 --> 00:56:27.579 as it is, 00:56:27.640 --> 00:56:27.960 just now, 00:56:28.039 --> 00:56:28.559 then I'll think 00:56:28.559 --> 00:56:29.019 about it. 00:56:29.480 --> 00:56:30.200 No, it's so 00:56:30.200 --> 00:56:30.640 that you can 00:56:30.640 --> 00:56:31.340 actually say 00:56:31.340 --> 00:56:32.320 the goodness 00:56:32.320 --> 00:56:32.860 of God 00:56:32.860 --> 00:56:33.780 as it continues 00:56:33.780 --> 00:56:34.800 to be lavished 00:56:34.800 --> 00:56:35.460 upon you 00:56:35.460 --> 00:56:36.519 is so that 00:56:36.519 --> 00:56:37.019 you will come 00:56:37.019 --> 00:56:37.619 to attend 00:56:37.619 --> 00:56:38.159 to this 00:56:38.159 --> 00:56:38.799 immediately 00:56:38.799 --> 00:56:40.319 and turn 00:56:40.319 --> 00:56:40.940 to himself 00:56:40.940 --> 00:56:42.259 and know Him 00:56:42.259 --> 00:56:43.480 and love Him 00:56:43.480 --> 00:56:44.799 and trust in Him. 00:56:47.039 --> 00:56:47.699 He says, 00:56:47.739 --> 00:56:48.359 I'll do this. 00:56:49.039 --> 00:56:49.559 I'll dig 00:56:49.559 --> 00:56:50.039 round it, 00:56:50.359 --> 00:56:51.299 I'll put on my new, 00:56:51.420 --> 00:56:51.920 and then, 00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:52.480 he says, 00:56:52.960 --> 00:56:54.159 if it should bear 00:56:54.159 --> 00:56:55.059 fruit next year, 00:56:55.420 --> 00:56:56.519 well and good. 00:56:56.960 --> 00:56:57.819 He's going to give it 00:56:57.819 --> 00:56:58.799 every opportunity. 00:56:59.359 --> 00:57:00.239 There'll be no excuse 00:57:00.239 --> 00:57:00.920 for this tree 00:57:00.920 --> 00:57:02.000 if it doesn't bear fruit. 00:57:02.480 --> 00:57:03.480 Everything's been done 00:57:03.480 --> 00:57:04.179 for it that could 00:57:04.179 --> 00:57:04.859 have been done. 00:57:04.860 --> 00:57:06.579 If it bears fruit, 00:57:06.640 --> 00:57:08.240 then well and good. 00:57:09.680 --> 00:57:10.820 But if not, 00:57:11.360 --> 00:57:13.539 you can cut it down. 00:57:17.360 --> 00:57:18.519 The mercy, 00:57:19.559 --> 00:57:20.780 the patience 00:57:20.780 --> 00:57:22.460 of God 00:57:22.460 --> 00:57:24.579 are beautiful 00:57:24.579 --> 00:57:26.920 and precious. 00:57:28.220 --> 00:57:29.820 What is more precious 00:57:29.820 --> 00:57:30.320 to you 00:57:30.320 --> 00:57:31.180 than to know 00:57:31.180 --> 00:57:32.320 that God is merciful 00:57:32.320 --> 00:57:33.079 and forgiving 00:57:33.079 --> 00:57:34.819 when you take account 00:57:34.819 --> 00:57:36.099 of your sinfulness 00:57:36.099 --> 00:57:36.599 and mine 00:57:36.599 --> 00:57:37.539 and what we deserve? 00:57:39.440 --> 00:57:39.719 Yes, 00:57:39.759 --> 00:57:40.179 the mercy 00:57:40.179 --> 00:57:40.819 and the patience 00:57:40.819 --> 00:57:41.360 of God 00:57:41.360 --> 00:57:43.199 are so beautiful 00:57:43.199 --> 00:57:44.159 and so precious. 00:57:46.400 --> 00:57:47.380 But be careful 00:57:47.380 --> 00:57:47.960 that you don't 00:57:47.960 --> 00:57:49.039 take a false assurance 00:57:49.039 --> 00:57:49.679 from that. 00:57:51.059 --> 00:57:51.519 Be careful 00:57:51.519 --> 00:57:52.099 that you don't 00:57:52.099 --> 00:57:53.599 draw from this parable 00:57:53.599 --> 00:57:54.119 and the teaching 00:57:54.119 --> 00:57:55.059 of this parable 00:57:55.059 --> 00:57:56.259 something along 00:57:56.259 --> 00:57:56.880 the lines of 00:57:56.880 --> 00:57:57.639 God will never 00:57:57.639 --> 00:57:58.759 condemn me. 00:58:00.819 --> 00:58:01.599 Because that's 00:58:01.599 --> 00:58:02.159 a misuse 00:58:02.159 --> 00:58:02.920 of the passage. 00:58:03.079 --> 00:58:07.179 God does 00:58:07.179 --> 00:58:07.779 condemn. 00:58:09.539 --> 00:58:10.440 God does 00:58:10.440 --> 00:58:11.019 possess 00:58:11.019 --> 00:58:12.279 wrath 00:58:12.279 --> 00:58:12.940 and anger. 00:58:14.739 --> 00:58:15.299 God will 00:58:15.299 --> 00:58:16.239 bring judgment, 00:58:17.219 --> 00:58:19.179 His own judgment 00:58:19.179 --> 00:58:19.799 upon those 00:58:19.799 --> 00:58:20.380 who have not 00:58:20.380 --> 00:58:21.759 responded to the 00:58:21.759 --> 00:58:22.119 gospel 00:58:22.119 --> 00:58:24.059 and borne fruit 00:58:24.059 --> 00:58:24.880 to His glory. 00:58:26.619 --> 00:58:27.759 Because mercy 00:58:27.759 --> 00:58:29.319 and patience, 00:58:29.819 --> 00:58:30.659 while beautiful 00:58:30.659 --> 00:58:31.259 and precious 00:58:31.260 --> 00:58:31.980 in themselves, 00:58:32.480 --> 00:58:33.880 if you spurn 00:58:33.880 --> 00:58:34.500 them and if I 00:58:34.500 --> 00:58:35.080 spurn them, 00:58:36.080 --> 00:58:37.140 if we don't 00:58:37.140 --> 00:58:37.720 make the use 00:58:37.720 --> 00:58:38.200 of them 00:58:38.200 --> 00:58:39.180 that God 00:58:39.180 --> 00:58:39.860 intends, 00:58:41.260 --> 00:58:42.100 then we'll 00:58:42.100 --> 00:58:42.740 find out, 00:58:43.300 --> 00:58:43.640 sadly, 00:58:44.740 --> 00:58:45.280 the words of 00:58:45.280 --> 00:58:45.920 Hebrews 10 00:58:45.920 --> 00:58:46.740 verse 31, 00:58:48.360 --> 00:58:49.320 it is a fearful 00:58:49.320 --> 00:58:50.320 thing to fall 00:58:50.320 --> 00:58:51.220 into the hands 00:58:51.219 --> 00:58:53.059 of the living 00:58:53.059 --> 00:58:53.579 God. 00:58:57.079 --> 00:58:57.339 See, 00:58:57.399 --> 00:58:57.519 it would be 00:58:57.519 --> 00:58:58.079 easy for me 00:58:58.079 --> 00:58:58.459 today, 00:58:58.819 --> 00:58:59.619 relatively easy, 00:59:00.259 --> 00:59:00.980 to come to the 00:59:00.980 --> 00:59:01.539 pulpit and say, 00:59:01.619 --> 00:59:01.739 well, 00:59:02.459 --> 00:59:03.639 I don't think I 00:59:03.639 --> 00:59:04.619 should choose a 00:59:04.619 --> 00:59:05.259 passage or 00:59:05.259 --> 00:59:07.039 have a sermon 00:59:07.039 --> 00:59:07.739 that includes 00:59:07.739 --> 00:59:08.399 such things as 00:59:08.399 --> 00:59:09.219 God condemning 00:59:09.219 --> 00:59:09.639 people, 00:59:10.179 --> 00:59:11.439 or God's 00:59:11.439 --> 00:59:11.779 judgment 00:59:11.779 --> 00:59:12.719 bringing that 00:59:12.719 --> 00:59:14.219 rejection or 00:59:14.219 --> 00:59:15.179 condemnation of 00:59:15.179 --> 00:59:15.519 people. 00:59:15.879 --> 00:59:16.239 Because I 00:59:16.239 --> 00:59:16.759 wouldn't be true 00:59:16.760 --> 00:59:17.400 to the Bible 00:59:17.400 --> 00:59:18.000 if I did, 00:59:18.040 --> 00:59:18.420 and you know 00:59:18.420 --> 00:59:18.760 that. 00:59:20.480 --> 00:59:20.980 I know these 00:59:20.980 --> 00:59:21.360 passages, 00:59:21.640 --> 00:59:22.340 if I can speak 00:59:22.340 --> 00:59:22.840 personally, 00:59:23.760 --> 00:59:24.300 are actually 00:59:24.300 --> 00:59:25.120 very difficult 00:59:25.120 --> 00:59:25.980 to preach. 00:59:27.680 --> 00:59:28.120 They're difficult 00:59:28.120 --> 00:59:28.700 to preach 00:59:28.700 --> 00:59:29.620 to people 00:59:29.620 --> 00:59:30.120 that you know 00:59:30.120 --> 00:59:30.960 and love. 00:59:32.340 --> 00:59:33.140 Because God 00:59:33.140 --> 00:59:33.980 is bringing 00:59:33.980 --> 00:59:34.500 to you 00:59:34.500 --> 00:59:35.660 a truth 00:59:35.660 --> 00:59:36.340 which is really 00:59:36.340 --> 00:59:37.200 unpalatable 00:59:37.200 --> 00:59:37.900 to ourselves, 00:59:38.060 --> 00:59:39.040 naturally speaking. 00:59:40.320 --> 00:59:40.800 So, 00:59:40.840 --> 00:59:41.360 we're not doing 00:59:41.360 --> 00:59:42.500 this just 00:59:42.500 --> 00:59:43.340 because we 00:59:43.340 --> 00:59:44.500 want ourselves 00:59:44.500 --> 00:59:45.559 simply to be 00:59:45.559 --> 00:59:46.940 orthodox, 00:59:48.119 --> 00:59:48.980 or in a 00:59:48.980 --> 00:59:49.860 reformed theology 00:59:49.860 --> 00:59:50.599 just to keep 00:59:50.599 --> 00:59:52.260 strictly and 00:59:52.260 --> 00:59:52.940 tactlessly, 00:59:53.079 --> 00:59:53.420 if you like, 00:59:53.480 --> 00:59:53.960 to the things 00:59:53.960 --> 00:59:55.099 of God's 00:59:55.099 --> 00:59:55.539 Word. 00:59:58.000 --> 00:59:58.679 I'm doing 00:59:58.679 --> 00:59:59.179 this today, 00:59:59.300 --> 00:59:59.539 friends, 00:59:59.639 --> 01:00:00.360 because I love 01:00:00.360 --> 01:00:00.619 you. 01:00:02.699 --> 01:00:03.539 Because I don't 01:00:03.539 --> 01:00:04.059 want you to 01:00:04.059 --> 01:00:04.500 perish. 01:00:06.699 --> 01:00:07.480 Because God 01:00:07.480 --> 01:00:08.079 has placed you 01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:08.840 on my heart. 01:00:10.900 --> 01:00:11.639 Because God 01:00:11.639 --> 01:00:12.179 has brought us 01:00:12.179 --> 01:00:12.779 together as 01:00:12.779 --> 01:00:13.199 congregation 01:00:13.199 --> 01:00:14.019 and people. 01:00:15.619 --> 01:00:16.299 Because I 01:00:16.299 --> 01:00:16.980 believe this 01:00:16.980 --> 01:00:17.399 truth. 01:00:19.859 --> 01:00:20.559 Because I 01:00:20.559 --> 01:00:21.159 have to face 01:00:21.159 --> 01:00:21.579 God 01:00:21.579 --> 01:00:23.480 if I don't 01:00:23.480 --> 01:00:24.039 preach it. 01:00:27.579 --> 01:00:28.059 Now, 01:00:28.099 --> 01:00:28.379 we're not 01:00:28.379 --> 01:00:29.500 told the 01:00:29.500 --> 01:00:30.000 outcome. 01:00:31.579 --> 01:00:31.819 You see, 01:00:31.960 --> 01:00:32.779 it's just 01:00:32.779 --> 01:00:33.579 such a brilliant 01:00:33.579 --> 01:00:34.279 parable in the 01:00:34.279 --> 01:00:34.559 way it's 01:00:34.559 --> 01:00:35.199 constructed in 01:00:35.199 --> 01:00:35.559 the teaching 01:00:35.559 --> 01:00:36.099 of the Lord. 01:00:37.319 --> 01:00:37.940 Because you 01:00:37.940 --> 01:00:38.259 and I would 01:00:38.259 --> 01:00:39.179 probably prefer 01:00:39.179 --> 01:00:39.679 to know, 01:00:40.000 --> 01:00:40.079 well, 01:00:40.139 --> 01:00:40.699 what happened 01:00:40.699 --> 01:00:41.339 to this fig 01:00:41.339 --> 01:00:41.579 tree? 01:00:42.179 --> 01:00:43.839 did it 01:00:43.839 --> 01:00:44.460 actually bear 01:00:44.460 --> 01:00:44.859 fruit? 01:00:46.039 --> 01:00:46.579 Was it 01:00:46.579 --> 01:00:47.219 actually cut 01:00:47.219 --> 01:00:47.819 down after 01:00:47.819 --> 01:00:48.359 the year? 01:00:48.739 --> 01:00:49.419 We're not 01:00:49.419 --> 01:00:49.899 told. 01:00:50.599 --> 01:00:51.139 Why are we 01:00:51.139 --> 01:00:51.859 not told? 01:00:53.219 --> 01:00:53.699 Well, 01:00:53.739 --> 01:00:54.079 for this 01:00:54.079 --> 01:00:54.619 reason at 01:00:54.619 --> 01:00:54.940 least, 01:00:55.779 --> 01:00:56.599 that you 01:00:56.599 --> 01:00:56.940 and I 01:00:56.940 --> 01:00:57.399 can make 01:00:57.399 --> 01:00:58.139 this passage 01:00:58.139 --> 01:00:59.419 relevant to 01:00:59.419 --> 01:01:00.059 ourselves. 01:01:01.500 --> 01:01:02.239 So that 01:01:02.239 --> 01:01:02.719 you and I 01:01:02.719 --> 01:01:03.659 can conclude, 01:01:05.099 --> 01:01:05.819 well, 01:01:05.899 --> 01:01:06.759 my life, 01:01:06.760 --> 01:01:08.600 with all 01:01:08.600 --> 01:01:09.560 that God 01:01:09.560 --> 01:01:10.320 lavishes 01:01:10.320 --> 01:01:10.880 upon it 01:01:10.880 --> 01:01:11.160 of His 01:01:11.160 --> 01:01:11.760 care 01:01:11.760 --> 01:01:13.040 and of 01:01:13.040 --> 01:01:13.260 His 01:01:13.260 --> 01:01:14.100 patience 01:01:14.100 --> 01:01:15.120 and the 01:01:15.120 --> 01:01:15.540 placement 01:01:15.540 --> 01:01:15.860 that He 01:01:15.860 --> 01:01:16.200 has given 01:01:16.200 --> 01:01:16.560 me so 01:01:16.560 --> 01:01:17.920 favorably, 01:01:18.420 --> 01:01:19.480 my life 01:01:19.480 --> 01:01:19.940 is not 01:01:19.940 --> 01:01:20.260 going to 01:01:20.260 --> 01:01:21.000 be fruitless. 01:01:23.000 --> 01:01:23.640 That's 01:01:23.640 --> 01:01:24.660 why it 01:01:24.660 --> 01:01:25.000 doesn't 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:26.100 have an 01:01:26.100 --> 01:01:26.560 outcome 01:01:26.560 --> 01:01:27.540 specified. 01:01:28.320 --> 01:01:29.300 So that you 01:01:29.300 --> 01:01:29.740 and I can 01:01:29.740 --> 01:01:29.900 say, 01:01:30.020 --> 01:01:30.100 well, 01:01:30.160 --> 01:01:30.460 whatever 01:01:30.460 --> 01:01:30.960 happened 01:01:30.960 --> 01:01:31.980 to that 01:01:31.980 --> 01:01:32.560 fig tree, 01:01:32.559 --> 01:01:34.299 I am 01:01:34.299 --> 01:01:34.739 not going 01:01:34.739 --> 01:01:35.000 to be 01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:35.460 rejected. 01:01:36.539 --> 01:01:37.079 I am 01:01:37.079 --> 01:01:37.420 going to 01:01:37.420 --> 01:01:38.440 bear fruit 01:01:38.440 --> 01:01:39.360 as God 01:01:39.360 --> 01:01:40.259 enables me 01:01:40.259 --> 01:01:41.639 to His 01:01:41.639 --> 01:01:42.099 glory, 01:01:42.559 --> 01:01:42.920 to His 01:01:42.920 --> 01:01:43.460 praise, 01:01:43.900 --> 01:01:44.239 and to 01:01:44.239 --> 01:01:45.039 my eternal 01:01:45.039 --> 01:01:46.400 advantage. 01:01:47.360 --> 01:01:47.679 May it 01:01:47.679 --> 01:01:48.039 be so 01:01:48.039 --> 01:01:48.940 for all 01:01:48.940 --> 01:01:49.219 of us. 01:01:49.279 --> 01:01:49.480 Let's 01:01:49.480 --> 01:01:49.679 pray. 01:01:52.179 --> 01:01:52.699 Lord, 01:01:52.739 --> 01:01:53.139 we give 01:01:53.139 --> 01:01:53.779 thanks today 01:01:53.779 --> 01:01:55.179 for the 01:01:55.179 --> 01:01:55.940 solemn passages 01:01:55.940 --> 01:01:56.400 of Your 01:01:56.400 --> 01:01:56.759 Word, 01:01:57.440 --> 01:01:57.940 as well as 01:01:57.940 --> 01:01:58.340 those that 01:01:58.340 --> 01:01:58.659 are so 01:01:58.659 --> 01:01:59.159 encouraging. 01:02:00.420 --> 01:02:00.860 Yet even 01:02:00.860 --> 01:02:01.119 in the 01:02:01.119 --> 01:02:01.639 solemn ones, 01:02:01.699 --> 01:02:02.039 O Lord, 01:02:02.139 --> 01:02:02.340 we, 01:02:02.559 --> 01:02:03.179 give thanks 01:02:03.179 --> 01:02:03.460 that we 01:02:03.460 --> 01:02:04.139 find much 01:02:04.139 --> 01:02:04.699 to encourage 01:02:04.699 --> 01:02:05.420 our souls, 01:02:06.219 --> 01:02:06.779 even as we 01:02:06.779 --> 01:02:07.380 do in this 01:02:07.380 --> 01:02:08.059 passage today 01:02:08.059 --> 01:02:08.400 that You 01:02:08.400 --> 01:02:08.739 have given 01:02:08.739 --> 01:02:09.079 us. 01:02:10.079 --> 01:02:10.500 We thank 01:02:10.500 --> 01:02:10.799 You for 01:02:10.799 --> 01:02:11.480 Your care, 01:02:12.019 --> 01:02:12.420 for Your 01:02:12.420 --> 01:02:12.920 patience, 01:02:13.599 --> 01:02:14.000 for Your 01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:14.619 dealings with 01:02:14.619 --> 01:02:14.940 us. 01:02:15.599 --> 01:02:16.179 We thank 01:02:16.179 --> 01:02:16.380 You for 01:02:16.380 --> 01:02:16.980 the gospel, 01:02:17.940 --> 01:02:18.299 for the 01:02:18.299 --> 01:02:19.039 richness of 01:02:19.039 --> 01:02:20.039 it, for 01:02:20.039 --> 01:02:20.639 the soil in 01:02:20.639 --> 01:02:20.960 which You 01:02:20.960 --> 01:02:21.480 have placed 01:02:21.480 --> 01:02:22.820 us, for 01:02:22.820 --> 01:02:23.259 the church 01:02:23.259 --> 01:02:23.840 we belong 01:02:23.840 --> 01:02:24.139 to. 01:02:25.159 --> 01:02:25.480 Lord, 01:02:25.539 --> 01:02:25.960 our God, 01:02:26.019 --> 01:02:26.880 we give 01:02:26.880 --> 01:02:27.259 You the 01:02:27.259 --> 01:02:28.539 thanks for 01:02:28.539 --> 01:02:29.079 Your favor 01:02:29.079 --> 01:02:29.679 toward us 01:02:29.679 --> 01:02:30.099 in all of 01:02:30.099 --> 01:02:30.759 these things. 01:02:31.880 --> 01:02:32.139 Forgive 01:02:32.139 --> 01:02:32.559 us, we 01:02:32.559 --> 01:02:32.799 pray, 01:02:32.900 --> 01:02:33.239 when we 01:02:33.239 --> 01:02:33.719 don't bear 01:02:33.719 --> 01:02:34.119 the fruit 01:02:34.119 --> 01:02:34.420 that we 01:02:34.420 --> 01:02:34.699 ought, 01:02:35.379 --> 01:02:35.819 or to 01:02:35.819 --> 01:02:36.339 the extent 01:02:36.339 --> 01:02:36.719 that we 01:02:36.719 --> 01:02:37.019 ought. 01:02:37.920 --> 01:02:38.299 Give us 01:02:38.299 --> 01:02:38.900 today, Lord, 01:02:39.000 --> 01:02:39.940 that resolve 01:02:39.940 --> 01:02:40.500 through the 01:02:40.500 --> 01:02:41.059 aid of Your 01:02:41.059 --> 01:02:42.699 Spirit to 01:02:42.699 --> 01:02:43.159 come to 01:02:43.159 --> 01:02:43.900 produce that 01:02:43.900 --> 01:02:44.339 fruit of 01:02:44.339 --> 01:02:44.859 righteousness 01:02:44.859 --> 01:02:46.039 to the 01:02:46.039 --> 01:02:46.539 glory of 01:02:46.539 --> 01:02:47.039 Your name. 01:02:47.900 --> 01:02:48.279 Hear us, 01:02:48.379 --> 01:02:48.759 we pray, 01:02:49.139 --> 01:02:49.699 for Jesus' 01:02:49.920 --> 01:02:50.159 sake. 01:02:50.519 --> 01:02:50.819 Amen. 01:02:53.299 --> 01:02:53.859 Let's sing 01:02:53.859 --> 01:02:54.119 now in 01:02:54.119 --> 01:02:54.719 conclusion in 01:02:54.719 --> 01:02:55.639 Psalm 67. 01:02:55.639 --> 01:02:58.059 67, that's 01:02:58.059 --> 01:02:58.480 in the 01:02:58.480 --> 01:02:59.059 Sing 01:02:59.059 --> 01:02:59.759 Psalms version, 01:03:00.179 --> 01:03:00.839 page 84, 01:03:01.019 --> 01:03:01.400 the tune 01:03:01.400 --> 01:03:02.259 is Nettleton. 01:03:05.920 --> 01:03:06.559 God, be 01:03:06.559 --> 01:03:07.219 merciful and 01:03:07.219 --> 01:03:07.739 bless us, 01:03:07.839 --> 01:03:08.379 shine upon 01:03:08.379 --> 01:03:08.779 us with 01:03:08.779 --> 01:03:09.400 Your face, 01:03:09.960 --> 01:03:10.299 that the 01:03:10.299 --> 01:03:10.739 earth may 01:03:10.739 --> 01:03:11.059 know Your 01:03:11.059 --> 01:03:11.679 actions and 01:03:11.679 --> 01:03:12.179 all lands 01:03:12.179 --> 01:03:12.839 Your saving 01:03:12.839 --> 01:03:13.219 grace. 01:03:14.039 --> 01:03:14.519 O God, 01:03:14.619 --> 01:03:14.960 may the 01:03:14.960 --> 01:03:15.719 peoples praise 01:03:15.719 --> 01:03:16.119 You, may 01:03:16.119 --> 01:03:16.719 all peoples 01:03:16.719 --> 01:03:17.239 sing Your 01:03:17.239 --> 01:03:17.699 praise, 01:03:18.359 --> 01:03:18.739 for You 01:03:18.739 --> 01:03:19.199 judge the 01:03:19.199 --> 01:03:19.539 nations 01:03:19.539 --> 01:03:20.219 justly, 01:03:20.639 --> 01:03:21.400 ruling over 01:03:21.400 --> 01:03:23.000 every race. 01:03:23.000 --> 01:03:23.320 and so 01:03:23.320 --> 01:03:23.539 on, 01:03:23.780 --> 01:03:23.880 the 01:03:23.880 --> 01:03:24.119 whole of 01:03:24.119 --> 01:03:24.260 the 01:03:24.260 --> 01:03:24.500 psalm, 01:03:24.579 --> 01:03:25.500 psalm 67, 01:03:26.019 --> 01:03:26.500 to God's 01:03:26.500 --> 01:03:26.860 praise. 01:03:26.860 --> 01:03:27.340 Amen. 01:03:33.420 --> 01:03:35.139 God, be 01:03:35.139 --> 01:03:37.519 merciful and 01:03:37.519 --> 01:03:38.500 blessed, 01:03:39.360 --> 01:03:40.860 shine upon 01:03:40.860 --> 01:03:42.760 us with 01:03:42.760 --> 01:03:44.599 Your face, 01:03:44.980 --> 01:03:46.159 that the 01:03:46.159 --> 01:03:47.940 earth may 01:03:47.940 --> 01:03:48.940 know Your 01:03:48.940 --> 01:03:50.500 actions, 01:03:50.860 --> 01:03:51.980 and all 01:03:51.980 --> 01:03:52.860 lands 01:03:52.860 --> 01:03:53.599 Your 01:03:53.599 --> 01:03:54.760 saving 01:03:54.760 --> 01:03:56.200 grace. 01:03:56.780 --> 01:03:57.860 O God, 01:03:57.980 --> 01:03:59.680 may the 01:03:59.680 --> 01:04:00.340 people 01:04:00.340 --> 01:04:02.240 taste You, 01:04:02.599 --> 01:04:03.700 may all 01:04:03.700 --> 01:04:04.620 people 01:04:04.620 --> 01:04:06.500 sing Your 01:04:06.500 --> 01:04:08.200 praise, 01:04:08.579 --> 01:04:09.620 for You 01:04:09.620 --> 01:04:11.599 judge the 01:04:11.599 --> 01:04:12.300 nations 01:04:12.300 --> 01:04:14.099 justly, 01:04:14.599 --> 01:04:16.700 ruling over 01:04:16.700 --> 01:04:20.200 every race. 01:04:20.199 --> 01:04:22.319 may they 01:04:22.319 --> 01:04:24.319 sing with 01:04:24.319 --> 01:04:25.439 joy and 01:04:25.439 --> 01:04:27.119 gladness, 01:04:27.119 --> 01:04:28.519 may they 01:04:28.519 --> 01:04:30.119 all rejoice 01:04:31.019 --> 01:04:32.779 as one. 01:04:33.319 --> 01:04:34.519 O God, 01:04:34.619 --> 01:04:36.419 may the 01:04:36.419 --> 01:04:37.199 peoples 01:04:37.199 --> 01:04:38.980 praise You, 01:04:39.319 --> 01:04:40.480 as they 01:04:40.480 --> 01:04:43.019 all unite 01:04:43.019 --> 01:04:44.739 in song, 01:04:44.739 --> 01:04:45.739 come. 01:04:45.739 --> 01:04:46.379 Then the 01:04:46.379 --> 01:04:47.419 land 01:04:47.419 --> 01:04:48.179 will 01:04:48.179 --> 01:04:48.959 yield 01:04:48.959 --> 01:04:49.439 its 01:04:49.439 --> 01:04:51.019 harvest, 01:04:51.419 --> 01:04:52.019 God 01:04:52.019 --> 01:04:52.479 will 01:04:52.479 --> 01:04:53.519 pour 01:04:53.519 --> 01:04:54.439 its 01:04:54.439 --> 01:04:55.019 gifts 01:04:55.019 --> 01:04:55.899 abroad. 01:04:57.579 --> 01:04:58.319 God, 01:04:58.379 --> 01:04:59.799 our God, 01:04:59.879 --> 01:05:00.579 will 01:05:00.579 --> 01:05:01.479 surely 01:05:01.479 --> 01:05:03.479 bless us, 01:05:03.859 --> 01:05:04.939 all the 01:05:04.939 --> 01:05:05.919 earth 01:05:05.919 --> 01:05:06.859 will 01:05:06.859 --> 01:05:07.659 fear 01:05:07.659 --> 01:05:08.159 our 01:05:08.159 --> 01:05:09.000 God. 01:05:09.000 --> 01:05:11.460 I'll go to 01:05:11.460 --> 01:05:12.000 the door to my 01:05:12.000 --> 01:05:12.480 left this 01:05:12.480 --> 01:05:12.800 morning. 01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:15.699 Now may the 01:05:15.699 --> 01:05:16.199 grace of the 01:05:16.199 --> 01:05:16.699 Lord Jesus 01:05:16.699 --> 01:05:17.480 Christ, the 01:05:17.480 --> 01:05:18.079 love of God 01:05:18.079 --> 01:05:18.719 the Father, and 01:05:18.719 --> 01:05:19.460 the communion of 01:05:19.460 --> 01:05:20.159 the Holy Spirit 01:05:20.159 --> 01:05:21.639 be with you now 01:05:21.639 --> 01:05:22.440 and evermore. 01:05:22.440 --> 01:05:23.000 Amen. 01:05:23.000 --> 01:05:23.159 Amen.