How Fruitful Are You?
[ ] 10/17/2010 #904
HOW FRUITFUL ARE YOU?
Luke 13:6-9
INTRODUCTION: The Lord created us for His glory and pleasure. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)This parable reminds us that God expects to find spiritual fruit in our lives. He inspects our lives. It also reminds us that we have a limited amount of time to be productive. How much time do you have?
I. INSPECTOR
A. DESIRE. “sought fruit on it”
Jesus, when He was hungry saw a fig tree. As He approached the tree, He found nothing on it but leaves. Jesus said: “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matt. 21:18-19)
B. DISCOVER. “found none”
C. DECISION. “Cut it down”
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:19-20
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6
II. INTERCESSOR
A. PLEA. “Lord, let it alone this year”
B. PLAN. “I shall dig about it, and dung it.”
The plan was to cultivate the soil and place manure around the tree. If the tree still failed to produce fruit, it would be destroyed.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1-2
III. IMPLICATION
A. BEARING TIME. “if it bear fruit, well”
1. The sinner is to bring forth “fruits meet for repentance.”
Trees have their season to bear fruit.The tree in this parable had another year to bear fruit. Sinners are to bring forth “fruits meet for repentance.” (Matt. 3:8) The evidence of genuine repentance is the fruit of a changed life. The absence of spiritual fruit means there is no spiritual life. Jesus had warned all the people: “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3, 5)
2. The saved are to bring forth spiritual fruit.
The saved are to bring forth spiritual fruit. The Christian is “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) He is to bear the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:22-23) In Ephesians 5:9, “the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”
B. BORROWED TIME. “if not, . . . thou shalt cut it down”
God is longsuffering, not willing for any to perish, but His mercy does have its limit. The tree in this parable deserved to be destroyed. The owner gave it one more opportunity to bear fruit. One more year. The sentence had been pronounced.The sinner is living on borrowed time. He is already condemned. (John 3:18) He has no promise of tomorrow. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)
The 33 miners trapped in Chile’s copper mine are living on borrowed time. They were as good as dead deep in the mine. God gave them grace and spared them from death at that time.
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Christian, are you fruitful? Do you have leaves of deception with no fruit? Make it your decision to be fruitful for the Lord.
2. God may say today concerning you, “Cut it down.” Where will you spend eternity?
3. Jesus said that repentance and faith are required for salvation. Have you repented and trusted Jesus Christ?