WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.580 --> 00:00:46.380 Good morning. 00:00:47.220 --> 00:00:48.840 Glad that y'all are here with us. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:52.280 If you've got your Bible, go ahead and open up to Luke chapter 13. 00:00:52.940 --> 00:00:57.080 If you are one of our guests, whether you're here with us on campus, or whether you're 00:00:57.080 --> 00:01:01.200 joining us online, thank you for so much for being here and for worshiping with us today. 00:01:01.360 --> 00:01:06.080 We would love to connect with you, so please text to that number so we can connect with 00:01:06.080 --> 00:01:07.280 you this week. 00:01:07.580 --> 00:01:12.000 Well, as we dive into our message, I guess before we dive into our message this morning, 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:16.340 got an important announcement and a couple of people that I'd like to introduce you guys 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:16.600 to. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:22.000 As you know, a couple of weeks ago, we shared with you, we've been in a hunt for a new youth 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.560 minister now for close to, I think, roughly about 18 months. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:30.900 About 18 months ago, our old youth pastor, Rick, sat down with me, and he felt like God was 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.740 calling him to a different season of life, a different area of ministry. 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:39.540 And we prayed through and supported, and it's been exciting to see what God has done in his 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:41.760 life as he's stepped into a new time. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:46.860 But for us, it opened up a door, an opportunity for us to ask God, what's next? 00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:53.260 Now, to kind of let you know the depth of the process we've gone through, COVID wasn't 00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:54.400 necessarily a thing. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:57.600 I mean, it was a thing, but it wasn't a thing when we started the process. 00:01:57.600 --> 00:01:58.900 It was that long ago. 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:03.620 And we went through, you know, the thing that we've kind of joked around about COVID is it's 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:05.500 everybody's first time as you go through it. 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:10.120 And so it was the first time as we led for a staff search during that time. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.140 And so it was a learning process. 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:16.000 It was a learning curve for us as we began to go through that journey. 00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:20.600 And I want to share with you, because I think this talks about the goodness of God, of what 00:02:20.600 --> 00:02:21.220 God's done. 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:26.040 There were points and times where the process was very frustrating. 00:02:27.100 --> 00:02:31.280 I would begin to think and then to feel like maybe this is where God was going, and then 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:32.220 God would close the door. 00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:38.160 It felt like sitting on my desk, there was either a hundred resumes to go through or no resumes 00:02:38.160 --> 00:02:38.880 to go through. 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:41.760 There was never the balance of what was there. 00:02:42.820 --> 00:02:48.300 And honestly, before Christmastime, it was probably the most culminating of frustrating 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:49.140 experiences. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:54.740 We were talking to several different individuals, and I'd lined up a lunch to meet with one of 00:02:54.740 --> 00:02:54.860 them. 00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:59.980 And this candidate checked all the boxes, everything that we were looking for, and just needed to 00:02:59.980 --> 00:03:01.560 sit down and interact. 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:07.040 And so we went, we met for lunch, we sat down, we talked, and nothing was wrong. 00:03:07.140 --> 00:03:08.000 Everything was good. 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.780 And in my prayer, as I rode home, I felt like God speaking in my heart. 00:03:13.380 --> 00:03:14.960 And I got home and Aaron said, well, what do you think? 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:16.300 And I said, he's great. 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:17.580 He's fantastic. 00:03:17.700 --> 00:03:20.940 I love his experience, I love where he's coming from, I love his passion. 00:03:21.440 --> 00:03:24.380 But I can't tell you why, but it's just not who God has for us. 00:03:25.160 --> 00:03:31.060 And so starting back in the process was one of those days where the resume pile was zero, 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:36.180 and I was frustrated, and I picked up the phone and called a couple of area pastors that I know, 00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:40.360 and we were talking, and both of them said one individual's name. 00:03:41.160 --> 00:03:42.560 So you ever talked to a guy named Moses? 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:43.920 Nope. 00:03:44.720 --> 00:03:46.500 Never even met a guy named Moses, right? 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:50.500 Up at that point, I'd read about Moses, but I'd never talked to a guy named Moses. 00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:54.200 I said, no, you need to have a conversation with Moses Boyd. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:04:00.160 And so I got Moses' cell phone number, sent him a text message, and we connected the next day. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:06.200 We talked for about an hour, I think it was a Tuesday afternoon, we talked for about an hour. 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:11.720 He had just gotten off of work, we talked, and Aaron knew that I was talking with him, 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:15.980 and she came home after a night of being a dance chauffeur for our daughter, 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:19.700 getting her back and forth from dancing, her friends, and she said, what do you think? 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:26.560 And I said, I'm not saying he's the guy, but I'm saying that that conversation felt really good. 00:04:27.280 --> 00:04:31.460 And we began to pray, and began to have a lot more conversations, and sat down and met, 00:04:31.460 --> 00:04:37.980 and got to know Moses' heart, and also really importantly speaking to individuals who he had served alongside, 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:43.100 and his experience of serving at different churches, Lake Murray Baptist here in Lexington, 00:04:43.260 --> 00:04:47.000 Park Baptist in Rock Hill, and at BCM at Winthrop University, 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:51.880 and kind of going through the process, getting to meet him at the time, 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:55.180 his girlfriend, Christina, fill you in on that in just a second, 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:59.840 and just began to see God stop closing doors, 00:05:00.380 --> 00:05:03.680 and God just kept opening doors, and opening doors, and opening doors. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:10.020 And so as we prayed, we felt with great confidence that this is the individual that God had for us. 00:05:10.080 --> 00:05:15.720 And so several weeks ago, we extended the offer, but here's how this works, 00:05:15.760 --> 00:05:18.340 and you guys know this in the job world, right? 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.400 An employer has to say yes, and an employee has to say yes, and it comes together. 00:05:23.580 --> 00:05:27.420 And in our world, I'll be honest with you, there's a lot more prayer, not about what I want, 00:05:27.460 --> 00:05:28.640 but God, what do you want? 00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:31.680 And I felt like God's saying yes, we're saying yes, 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:35.200 so if Moses says no, we've got to have a conversation about sin, right? 00:05:35.340 --> 00:05:36.560 Because you're saying no to God. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:42.560 So we had the conversation, and Moses said yes, as God was affirming in his heart 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.760 what God was affirming in our heart, and so we extended the offer. 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:48.600 Moses said yes, and we're excited to have them here. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.280 So today is his first day on staff. 00:05:51.640 --> 00:05:55.340 He's excited to be here, so I want to bring him, Moses Boyd, up on stage, 00:05:55.340 --> 00:06:00.300 and now, all right, not his girlfriend, but his fiancée, Christina, 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:04.900 if y'all will come on stage, and if y'all will help us in welcoming them this morning. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:23.000 So we are excited that y'all are here. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:28.580 Moses, we're excited in the leadership and the man who God has created you and called you to be, 00:06:28.760 --> 00:06:34.440 and it's been remarkable, and I won't share all of it because it's his story to share, 00:06:34.440 --> 00:06:39.120 but in the call of God in your life of salvation, but also the call of God in your life in ministry, 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:42.700 and you said yes to those, and both of you saying yes to that, 00:06:42.760 --> 00:06:47.480 and to step out of what was comfortable and what was home, a church that you deeply loved 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:52.660 and were invested in to come here to be a part of this congregation and what God is doing here, 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:57.620 and so we're excited to have y'all here, y'all a part of what God is doing, 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:00.220 and we're going to celebrate that with you, and this is your church family, 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:07.020 and we want to come alongside and support you and help you to grow as y'all help us grow in the kingdom, 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.460 because that's what we understand, right, as we're part of the body together. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.960 So church, I want to ask you if you could join me as we lift up this couple this morning. 00:07:16.760 --> 00:07:19.420 God, I thank you so much for Moses and Christina. 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:25.840 Lord, I thank you for the call of salvation that you've given them, Lord, their response to that. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:31.080 Lord, and in our conversation of getting to know them, Lord, the fruit that is seen in that. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:34.980 Lord, I thank you for the call that you've placed to bring them here. 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:37.980 Lord, you could have called them to any church, 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:43.900 Lord, but you chose us and gave us this opportunity to walk alongside this precious couple 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:49.140 as they walk alongside us, as they invest in us, Lord, as we invest in them. 00:07:50.200 --> 00:07:54.080 Lord, I pray for Moses as he leads our middle school students and our high school students. 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:59.820 Lord, I pray for the wisdom, for the truth, for the grace, for the mercy that he needs. 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:03.920 Lord, I thank you for the leadership characteristics that you've given him 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:06.360 and what still needs to be developed in him, Lord, 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.940 that none of us have arrived and we have the opportunity to grow in ministry. 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:15.080 Lord, and we look forward to what not just today holds. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:18.900 Lord, we look forward to not what the story was, 00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:23.120 but we look forward to what you're going to do through these individuals, 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.260 through this church, Lord, and in all of us. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:28.720 Lord, as a church, have us come alongside, 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:33.860 hold them up, encourage them, speak truth, extend grace, 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:38.340 so that we could all grow and see the kingdom of God grow. 00:08:38.900 --> 00:08:40.760 And Lord, your name glorified. 00:08:41.400 --> 00:08:43.240 So Jesus, we thank you for who you are. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:44.660 We thank you for what you've done. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.680 We celebrate you today. 00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:48.480 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:49.820 Amen. Amen. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:51.380 Thank you, guys. Thank you. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:52.260 Yes, sir. 00:08:56.260 --> 00:09:01.820 So after service is over with, if you didn't get an opportunity to meet them before service, 00:09:01.920 --> 00:09:06.200 they'll be outside on the patio, give you an opportunity to stop by, introduce yourself. 00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:09.820 They're learning lots of names today, so quiz them next week, all right? 00:09:09.880 --> 00:09:11.840 Like, you met me, what's my name, all right? 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:13.080 They're going to do that for you, right? 00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:18.320 And so, but stop by, pray for them as they're in the process. 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.020 Moses is down here. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:21.780 Christina's not down here yet moving. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.500 She's got some things to finish up in Rock Hill. 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:28.960 And so, but pray for them in that transition as they move from where it was home, 00:09:29.020 --> 00:09:32.320 where it was good, to find right here of where God has for them. 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:33.160 And we are excited. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.640 So middle school students, we're back here tonight, 4.30. 00:09:36.800 --> 00:09:38.040 Want to make sure that you're here. 00:09:38.380 --> 00:09:39.680 Moses will be here with us. 00:09:39.760 --> 00:09:42.300 Would love for you to get to know him a little bit more during that time. 00:09:42.520 --> 00:09:44.680 And the same thing for high schoolers on Wednesday night. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:50.540 As Pastor Day leads that crew, you'll have the opportunity to get them to know them even more as well. 00:09:50.660 --> 00:09:52.640 And we're excited to see what God's going to do. 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:53.420 All right. 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.900 So in Luke 13, I want to say this. 00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:00.560 Repetition, right, shows importance. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:06.800 So if your boss says something to you more than once, pay attention. 00:10:07.660 --> 00:10:07.880 All right. 00:10:08.280 --> 00:10:12.340 When you were little, when your parents said something to you more than once, 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:14.880 it was important to pay attention. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:19.180 Now, as some of us in here are parents, and we know that, 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:25.420 when we say something more than once, we're saying it because it is important. 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:26.000 Right. 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:28.240 Make sure you clean your room today. 00:10:29.160 --> 00:10:32.280 Five minutes later, make sure you clean your room today. 00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:35.360 An hour later, make sure you clean your room today. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.500 At the end of the night, you didn't clean your room. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.700 Well, I didn't know that I had to. 00:10:39.060 --> 00:10:44.040 You should have because I repeated myself, and it shows importance. 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:50.100 And the beauty of God's Word is as the narrative of God is written for us, 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:55.740 we see that there are places in Scripture where we can find a thematic repetition. 00:10:56.140 --> 00:11:00.720 So we read through one of Paul's letters, and we see grace is emphasized. 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:03.740 We need to underline that and pay attention to it. 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:06.860 Right now, in several of the different small groups that I'm leading, 00:11:07.020 --> 00:11:11.820 we're reading through the book of James, and it's very clear in James, 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:15.600 like, tame the tongue, slow to speak, quick to listen. 00:11:15.760 --> 00:11:18.040 It's repeated over and over again. 00:11:18.260 --> 00:11:18.580 Why? 00:11:18.780 --> 00:11:23.180 Because that's important, and we need to make sure that we're focusing in on that. 00:11:23.900 --> 00:11:26.860 But most of the time, it's thematic repetition. 00:11:27.380 --> 00:11:33.980 But occasionally, there's the exact same words in Scripture, the exact same phrases. 00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:42.140 And that should cause us to really pause and understand that what is being said is very, very important. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:48.660 Last week, we saw that as we looked at Jesus, His words at the very beginning of Luke 13. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.480 I want to remind you of those words. 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:54.100 In Luke 13, verse 3, Jesus says, 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:59.340 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.300 That's kind of an important statement. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:03.560 It's important of what we see. 00:12:03.920 --> 00:12:07.080 It's common to the ministry and to the life of Jesus. 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:12.620 Going back to the ministry and the call of John the Baptist, of the calling to repent, 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:15.740 this was something that the followers of Jesus had heard before. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:20.680 But to make sure there is an extra layer of importance to it, 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:24.520 Jesus repeats those words again. 00:12:24.640 --> 00:12:27.500 In fact, the exact same words in verse 5. 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:33.420 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:37.900 So that should cause you and me, it should call the followers of Jesus, 00:12:37.900 --> 00:12:41.900 to put a pause on the moment and say, you know what? 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.840 Repentance is a big deal. 00:12:44.760 --> 00:12:46.580 Jesus has said these words again. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.280 He said them twice. 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:50.600 He's repeated the exact same phrase. 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.420 We've got to make sure we get it. 00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:57.140 We've got to make sure we grasp a hold of this concept of repentance. 00:12:57.520 --> 00:13:03.340 So last week as we began to look at that, in fact, we ended the last point of the message that was dealing with repentance. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:08.620 This week we want to continue on in that because it's core to our faith. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.400 It's core to who we are as Jesus calls us to this. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:15.380 And here's the difficulty of repentance. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:20.020 Repentance is not simply something we can just understand. 00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:24.160 But at the very heart of repentance, there's the application of it. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.960 We've got to deal with it. 00:13:26.640 --> 00:13:33.700 And sometimes in our lives, our tendency, right, is to not want to deal with the difficult things. 00:13:34.400 --> 00:13:38.400 Maybe you're a person who sees a challenge and you meet it head on. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:42.280 But the truth is, for most of us, we'd like to take the easy way. 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:45.720 We'd like for someone else to have to deal with that. 00:13:46.560 --> 00:14:02.340 Spiritually speaking, when we look at repentance, it causes you and I to have to admit that we have to deal with the difficult, the sinful, the painful things in our life that we've created. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.220 That we've brought on. 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:06.960 That we've done. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:19.760 It causes you and I to look at the ugly, painful spots that we've brought in, that we've introduced, that we've brought on others. 00:14:20.260 --> 00:14:22.800 Repentance calls us to deal with it. 00:14:23.640 --> 00:14:27.020 But what we'll find, and this is what I want us to get to and to see. 00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:33.900 This is what I want us to experience in our walk with the Lord, is that when we embrace repentance, 00:14:34.520 --> 00:14:41.400 what we will find is that repentance is a very good and sweet space in our life. 00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:50.960 That repentance causes you and I to truly experience a true sense of spiritual health that comes from it. 00:14:51.400 --> 00:14:52.760 Yes, it's painful. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.000 Yes, it can hurt. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:15:01.200 Yes, it causes us to recognize that I'm not as good as I thought that I was. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.580 But what comes from that is beauty. 00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:06.940 What comes from that is health. 00:15:07.260 --> 00:15:09.240 What comes from that is growth. 00:15:09.380 --> 00:15:13.300 When we accept a posture and a heart of repentance in our life. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:20.680 And so Jesus, as he said these two verses, begins to teach those around him in Luke 13. 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:25.200 And he does this the way he does so many times in teaching a complicated concept. 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.860 He tells a parable. 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:35.280 And so I want us to read this parable this morning that's going to help us understand, but more importantly, embrace repentance. 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:38.260 And so let's look starting at verse 6. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.120 It says, 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:51.980 And he said to the vine dresser, 00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:57.840 Look, for three years now I've come seeking fruit on this fig tree and I find none. 00:15:58.260 --> 00:15:58.960 Cut it down. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.800 Why should it use up the ground? 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.800 And he answered him, 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:09.620 Sir, let it alone this year also until I dig around it and put on manure. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:14.040 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good. 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:18.380 But if not, you can cut it down. 00:16:19.260 --> 00:16:23.680 We see this picture of a man who owns a field. 00:16:24.380 --> 00:16:25.440 He owns a vineyard. 00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:28.260 And obviously this is important to him. 00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:32.100 This is not his hobby because he has a vine dresser. 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:35.620 So it's important of what happens and what takes place there. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:43.020 And there's a fruit in his crop that he sees that does not, there's a tree that does not produce fruit. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:51.760 And so like things within our garden at our house, we had an apple tree this year that while all the other trees had blooms on them, 00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:56.540 it didn't even have leaves on it, and so he walked over there and realized this thing's dead. 00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:57.880 Let's don't leave it there. 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.880 Let's get it out. 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:00.620 Let's remove it. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:04.920 He sees a tree that's not doing what it should do. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:09.420 He's seeing a tree that's not producing the fruit that it should produce. 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:11.100 And so he says, let's get rid of it. 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:13.480 But the vine dresser comes in and says, no, no, no. 00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:18.220 I know it should have done this by now, but let's extend it another year. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:23.860 And we'll give it even more opportunity of what it needs so that it can grow and produce. 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:28.600 But if it doesn't, then we'll cut it down and we'll remove it from here. 00:17:29.280 --> 00:17:34.880 And what I want us to look at in this is you and I are the fig tree. 00:17:36.020 --> 00:17:39.020 This is where we find ourselves in our life. 00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:46.860 Of where are we at in growing and producing the fruit that God calls us to. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:53.080 And so as we look through this, I'm going to ask you, are you a tree producing fruit? 00:17:54.100 --> 00:18:01.240 Are you a tree producing the healthy response from our relationship with Christ? 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.540 And begin to draw from the truths that God gives us. 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:09.740 Here's the first thing that's very interesting about this parable. 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:16.520 First thing I want us to take note of is there is opportunity in your life for growth. 00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:22.080 There's an opportunity in the life of this fig tree to bear fruit. 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:28.980 Verse 6, a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:33.620 Which means he thought this tree should have figs on it. 00:18:34.040 --> 00:18:35.700 This is what it should look like. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:39.300 And so he comes and sees that there is none. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.280 So let's understand fig trees for just a moment. 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:49.360 Fig trees were common in Israel during the time of Christ and are common there still today. 00:18:50.100 --> 00:19:02.500 Some interesting aspects that I've never planted or grown a fig tree, but some interesting aspects about these fig trees is that a good fig tree will produce fruit three years after they're planted. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:06.840 So it means that for three years there's no fruit, but you make the investment. 00:19:07.300 --> 00:19:10.460 But there's great reward in the investment. 00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:15.940 Now right now at our house we've got apple trees that just bloomed. 00:19:16.040 --> 00:19:21.400 We've got peach trees that have bloomed and now our peach trees begin to have fruit on them. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:28.160 And I love this time because we'll begin to harvest the peaches when they're ripe and when it's time. 00:19:28.260 --> 00:19:32.780 And we'll freeze some, we'll eat some, and Aaron will make all kind of goodies, right? 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.200 With these peaches. 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:40.860 But the window and season of time for us to get fruit from our peach trees is limited. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.480 It'll get too hot. 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.800 The bugs will begin to take over. 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.620 The tree will stop producing fruit. 00:19:47.280 --> 00:19:47.880 But it's important. 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:53.960 A fig tree will produce fruit for up to 10 months out of a year. 00:19:54.360 --> 00:20:02.960 So we see that as this owner of the tree comes back to it over and over again, by now it should be producing fruit. 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:06.300 By now it should be sustaining and moving forward. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.380 But it's not. 00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:10.120 And so we have to ask the question, why? 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.180 Why? 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:17.780 An interesting thing that I noticed in this and then begin to dig in to answer this question is this. 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:20.280 Why is there a fig tree in a vineyard? 00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:21.180 Right? 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.080 So let me put it in South Carolina terms. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.420 All right? 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:31.980 If Jesus were here telling this parable, maybe he would say a man planted a peach tree in a cornfield, right? 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:38.480 Like if you're riding by and you see a cornfield, you don't expect to see peach trees planted in the middle of it. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:48.660 But when Jesus tells this parable, he's very intentional that he says that there's a fig tree planted in a vineyard. 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.160 So why? 00:20:51.020 --> 00:20:51.380 Why? 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:53.480 Did Jesus do this by mistake? 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.440 Did he do it by accident? 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.460 No. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:59.340 There's great purpose in why Jesus said what he said. 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:04.900 And it paints for us what it means to feed and to be fed. 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:08.680 So we grow lots of fruits and vegetables at our house. 00:21:08.780 --> 00:21:09.960 Let me rephrase that. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:17.220 God and my wife work together with her green thumb, right, to grow a lot of fruits and vegetables at our house. 00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:19.060 My wife has a green thumb. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.660 She's got a greenhouse right now. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:24.360 She's getting ready to plant and has planted all sorts of fruits and vegetables. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:28.760 And it'll be a good but busy season around the Bradbury house, all right? 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.640 I'm the worker. 00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:31.560 I don't need to start anything new. 00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:34.960 I just need to do what she tells me, and that's what we've got going on. 00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:37.420 She's got okra is going to be planted. 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.980 We've got strawberries planted. 00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:40.080 We've got tomatoes planted. 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:41.660 We've got it all lined out. 00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:50.040 Well, one of the things that she learned about in the process of starting this garden is something called companion planting. 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:53.540 Now, I want to take for just a moment, let's have a science lesson, all right? 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:57.460 I was completely ignorant to this until she shared this with me. 00:21:57.520 --> 00:21:59.400 And so just bear with me for a moment. 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:06.540 Here's what we find out, that there are fruits and vegetables that grow well if they're planted together. 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:13.120 And there's other fruits and vegetables that do not grow well if they are planted together. 00:22:13.260 --> 00:22:14.260 So here's an example. 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:23.100 You can plant tomatoes and carrots in the same garden bed, that they actually thrive when they're planted with one another. 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:35.060 So if you come to our house and go in our garden, you'll see that there are tomatoes at the back of the raised bed and then planted all around it are rows of carrots because they thrive when they are planted together. 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:42.440 But there are plants that if they are planted together or even really close to one another, they will not thrive. 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:45.760 In fact, they will die or at a bare minimum not produce fruit. 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:48.640 And so one of those, like cabbage and strawberries. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:56.700 So at our house, we plant both of those, cabbage at one end, strawberries at another end of the garden so they do not cross over. 00:22:56.840 --> 00:23:01.700 You're like, Bo, what in the world does this have to do with what we're talking about this morning, all right? 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.980 Here's the point, all right? 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:06.940 Fig trees and grapes thrive together. 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:20.820 So while we think it's weird to hear that a man planted a fig tree in the midst of a vineyard, it would have been common to see that during the time of Christ. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:27.620 Because both the fig tree and the grapes need the same type of soil. 00:23:28.020 --> 00:23:33.180 So in that setting is where they are fed. 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:43.640 And I believe what Jesus is teaching us, as we look at this and we understand with where we are, is you and I have the tendency in life to look at where we're not. 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:49.100 And if I were there, if I were a part of this, then I could grow. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.200 It's not being done for me what needs to be done. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:58.380 I'm not being given what I need to be given in order to grow, in order to thrive. 00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:12.160 But Jesus makes it very clear that in this process of growth for you and I, as he's positioned you, as he's placed you in your home, in your work, in your neighborhood, in your church, where you are, 00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:23.160 that you have the opportunity to be fed right where you are, but also that you have the opportunity to feed others. 00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:26.320 You see, because we're the fig tree. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:33.960 And the fig tree, not only did it feed off of the same soil that the grapes were fed off of, 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:39.600 but the fig tree helped sustain and give life to the grapes. 00:24:39.760 --> 00:24:40.480 And here's how. 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:46.760 If you've ever been to a vineyard, you'll notice that the grapes do not run on the ground. 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:48.460 The vines do not grow on the ground. 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:50.540 They are elevated and they are off of the ground. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:57.820 And so a lot of times you'll see posts with wire that is run and you'll see the grapes for just miles and miles as they go through. 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.800 And you'll see that. 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:05.760 But during the time of Christ, what they would do, because of the sturdiness of the fig trees, 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:12.240 is that within the vineyard, they would go and plant fig trees in between them. 00:25:12.780 --> 00:25:21.540 So that as the plants grew, they would grow up into the fig trees and then move from fig tree to fig tree. 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:28.620 And so as we see this, as we begin to understand, as we begin to see the opportunities that God has given us, 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:35.420 that we are where we are so that we can be fed, but we also are where we are so that we can feed others. 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:46.620 And I think it begins to give us even more a litmus test into our life of are we seeing the fruit that God longs for us to have? 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:59.720 Are we finding ourselves in opportunities where we are both seeking to feed others the full process of what God has for us? 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:06.560 I love in the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 1-6, he says this, 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:15.660 I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:20.180 That if God has done a work in you, that God's going to see that work through. 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.480 That God's going to see that work through. 00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:25.540 God's fulfilling what God said he's going to do. 00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:31.880 God's seeing through the difficult work of sanctification in your life and in mine, 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:38.900 that God has placed you and positioned you in an opportunity to grow, to be fed, and to feed others. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:42.600 But that also, this is for a reason and for a purpose. 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:44.620 Colossians 1, 9-10. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.240 Paul writes, he says, 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:51.120 And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:57.480 asking you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 00:26:57.820 --> 00:27:02.260 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:06.620 fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:09.960 and increasing in the knowledge of God. 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:15.600 So there's a reason that we walk in this manner that is worthy of the Lord, 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.920 pleasing to him, bearing fruit. 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:21.180 So you've got to look at yourself. 00:27:22.300 --> 00:27:23.920 We have to look at our life. 00:27:24.580 --> 00:27:26.920 We've got to be honest with ourselves. 00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:32.620 Are we the tree that's got the blooms on it and it's got the fruit that's coming in, 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:36.320 or are we the tree that's just got some leaves and trying to fool people? 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:42.580 In your life, are you the tree that is barren and the tree that is bare? 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:47.640 We're called within the body of Christ to look at each other and examine one another, 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:51.460 but where we are in the attitude and the process of repentance 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:56.220 is you have to be honest with yourself through the revealing of the Holy Spirit 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:58.440 and say, is there fruit in my life? 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.360 And I want to be honest with you. 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:07.360 Sitting here amongst us, there ain't the perfect tree. 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:11.540 I looked at one of our peach trees the other day, 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:15.500 and there's a branch that comes off of the side, 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:19.880 and every leaf that was on it is now gone. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.100 Now the rest of the tree is filled with fruit, 00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:28.120 but there's just this one branch that something needs to be done, 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:31.020 and it needs to be pruned off, right? 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:34.740 And you and I have to be honest with ourselves about that as well. 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:38.900 But as we look at our life and we see the fruit that is beginning to grow 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.020 and what God's going to do, 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:43.820 there's also the areas that need to be pruned as well. 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:47.280 The words of Jesus as he talks about this. 00:28:47.760 --> 00:28:49.840 I think this is so key and important for us. 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:52.340 In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6, 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.700 Jesus says, 00:28:53.780 --> 00:28:56.320 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:59.180 for they shall be satisfied. 00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:00.160 Right? 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.860 That we within ourselves, 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:05.380 the righteousness of God, 00:29:06.260 --> 00:29:08.020 that should be within us, 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:11.300 that we should hunger and that we should thirst for it. 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:13.060 So when you look at your life, 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:15.160 you have to understand that where you are 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:19.780 provides you the opportunity to both to be fed and to feed others, 00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:21.220 but it's going to happen through the fruit. 00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:23.160 Is that taking place in your life? 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:25.640 Second thing is we understand repentance. 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:29.600 We need to understand that repentance means admission of guilt. 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.640 And repentance means admission of guilt. 00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:35.240 Repentance is very coarse as I'm wrong. 00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:36.700 Right? 00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:39.360 Repentance is very coarse as I've failed. 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:42.760 Repentance is very coarse as I haven't lived up 00:29:42.760 --> 00:29:44.920 to the expectation of God. 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:48.140 David writes in Psalm 51, 3, 00:29:48.280 --> 00:29:51.420 as he's confronted about both his sexual assault, 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:54.460 his sexual sin of Bathsheba, 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:57.640 but also his murderous nature. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.180 Right? 00:29:58.260 --> 00:30:01.940 As he had her husband put to the front of the line 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:04.380 because he knew that there he would die. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:06.080 When he's confronted with his sin, 00:30:06.300 --> 00:30:06.560 he says, 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:11.500 for I know my transgression and my sin is ever before me. 00:30:12.020 --> 00:30:13.920 David in this moment admits, 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.360 nah, 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.120 that's me. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.560 This is my life. 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:19.640 This is my failure. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:21.300 This is my sin. 00:30:21.300 --> 00:30:24.080 This is the wickedness of my heart. 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.220 I read this week, 00:30:26.260 --> 00:30:27.060 and I love this quote, 00:30:27.260 --> 00:30:32.520 repentance involves saying the same thing about your life that God says about it. 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:34.260 That's what repentance is. 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:36.640 When we repent before the Lord, 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.600 what we're saying is, 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.700 I agree with the way you see me. 00:30:40.260 --> 00:30:40.420 Right? 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.200 God, 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.720 I try to see myself through a different, 00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:45.600 but I see me now. 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.480 I see my lust. 00:30:46.560 --> 00:30:47.460 I see my pride. 00:30:47.540 --> 00:30:48.300 I see my greed. 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.220 I see my anger. 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.340 I see my hatred. 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.840 I see all of these things. 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:54.180 I see my selfishness at the very core. 00:30:54.300 --> 00:30:54.480 God, 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.520 and you've seen this, 00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.540 but now through your grace, 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.420 you reveal it to me, 00:30:57.540 --> 00:30:59.180 and I agree that this is who I am. 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:01.800 That's what repentance looks like. 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:05.200 But for you and I so many times, 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.180 right, 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:10.860 we want to embrace anything else other than repentance. 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:13.660 So when God calls us to repentance, 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:16.640 oftentimes we embrace different things. 00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.800 And here's what we embrace. 00:31:18.800 --> 00:31:20.560 I know that I do this in my life. 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:21.980 Number one, 00:31:22.060 --> 00:31:23.660 the first thing that we do is we blame. 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.300 We blame. 00:31:26.020 --> 00:31:27.040 We blame others. 00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:30.640 It's their fault that I am the way that I am. 00:31:32.760 --> 00:31:33.940 It's my wife's fault, 00:31:34.020 --> 00:31:35.200 because if she would have done this, 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.420 then I wouldn't do this. 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.920 It's my kid's fault, 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.100 because if they wouldn't have done this, 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.220 then I wouldn't do this. 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.260 It's my parents' fault, 00:31:41.320 --> 00:31:42.680 because if they'd have raised me different, 00:31:42.800 --> 00:31:43.780 then I wouldn't have done this. 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:45.300 It's the person who attacked me, 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.600 because if they wouldn't attack me, 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.880 then I wouldn't be this way. 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.020 It's my boss's fault, 00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:50.220 because they don't appreciate me. 00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:51.420 It's my co-worker's fault, 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.760 because they work behind my back. 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:55.540 It's whoever's fault other than me. 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:57.860 What I love about David is David owned it. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:00.780 Are there people in David's life 00:32:00.780 --> 00:32:02.300 that David could have blamed? 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.820 The world says yes, 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.960 the gospel says no. 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:06.800 David says, 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:08.420 No, it's on me. 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:08.960 It's on me. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:12.020 And so sitting here in this room 00:32:12.020 --> 00:32:13.380 are people who have, 00:32:13.520 --> 00:32:16.360 you've been negatively affected by others, 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.580 but you and I, 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.740 we still choose our sin. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:22.620 And so in order to embrace repentance, 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.700 we've got to stop blaming others. 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:27.500 The second thing we've got to stop 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.620 is we've got to stop the excuse. 00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.960 But all too often, 00:32:32.120 --> 00:32:33.360 we excuse our sin. 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.800 And it's not a big deal. 00:32:37.080 --> 00:32:38.820 I'm better than who I was. 00:32:40.040 --> 00:32:42.000 I'm better than those around me. 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:45.600 It's what my culture says is okay. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.700 It's what I'm comfortable with. 00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:49.000 It's how I am. 00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:50.960 This is just what needs to be done. 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:52.500 If you're going to accept me, 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:54.500 then you just need to accept me for who I am. 00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.100 Nope. 00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:56.960 Nope. 00:32:58.040 --> 00:32:59.600 If we're going to embrace repentance, 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:01.180 we've got to stop excusing. 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:03.180 But then most importantly, 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.740 and hear me on this, 00:33:04.780 --> 00:33:06.420 if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:09.640 as the Holy Spirit indwells in you, 00:33:09.780 --> 00:33:11.360 if you're going to embrace repentance, 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.520 you've got to stop ignoring. 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.660 But the problem is we ignore. 00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.300 We ignore. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.300 We ignore one another, 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.640 but that's not who I'm talking about. 00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:21.500 We ignore the Holy Spirit. 00:33:22.520 --> 00:33:26.740 Is that the Holy Spirit in our sin enables us. 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.180 He quickens us. 00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.100 He reveals. 00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:30.100 He convicts. 00:33:30.260 --> 00:33:31.280 And in that moment, 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:32.160 we've got to choose, 00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:36.280 are we going to ignore the calling of the Holy Spirit? 00:33:36.280 --> 00:33:40.360 Are we going to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit? 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:43.160 Or are we going to dive into repentance? 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:46.320 And so we've got to move away from the excuses. 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:48.000 We've got to move away from ignoring. 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:49.480 We've got to move away from blaming. 00:33:49.800 --> 00:33:51.560 And we have to embrace what David said, 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:55.200 for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. 00:33:55.540 --> 00:33:58.500 Repentance for you and I means that we admit that we are guilty. 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:02.900 And last of what we see in this parable, 00:34:03.020 --> 00:34:04.020 what Jesus gives us, 00:34:04.580 --> 00:34:08.540 is that God is patient and able to forgive. 00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:13.100 The truth of the gospel of what we see time and time again 00:34:13.100 --> 00:34:16.180 is that God is more patient with you and I than we deserve. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:19.480 He's more patient than you and I than we deserve. 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.940 Luke 13, 7, it says, 00:34:21.160 --> 00:34:22.800 Look, for three years now, 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:27.340 I have come seeking fruit on this tree and I find none. 00:34:27.540 --> 00:34:29.300 Here's what's so important about this, okay? 00:34:30.120 --> 00:34:32.640 A fig tree, guaranteed, okay? 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:35.920 Guaranteed takes three years to produce fruit. 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:42.600 So, do you think that the owner of the vineyard showed up year one looking for fruit? 00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:43.540 No. 00:34:44.540 --> 00:34:45.600 Not year two? 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:52.500 The owner of the vineyard would have shown up after year three. 00:34:53.080 --> 00:34:58.840 And then from that, he extended three more years of looking for fruit. 00:34:59.140 --> 00:35:01.260 And then the vine dresser comes up and says, 00:35:01.540 --> 00:35:03.420 Hey, how about one more? 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:09.460 You see, for this, what we see is there is impending judgment on the tree. 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:13.020 If it doesn't produce fruit, it gets cut down. 00:35:14.020 --> 00:35:18.380 And if we're not careful, that's the only truth that we draw to this. 00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:21.600 But the other important part that we have to see in this, 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.280 the hope that we find in this, 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:27.540 is the mercy that is displayed in here for the tree. 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.320 It wasn't a one and done. 00:35:30.680 --> 00:35:34.140 It was continuing on to see the fruit. 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:40.400 And church, that's the greatness and the goodness of the mercy of God. 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:46.480 That what God does so many times in your life and in my life, 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:50.440 is He waits and He waits and He waits. 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:54.900 And He gives us moment after moment after moment. 00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:55.860 Right? 00:35:56.760 --> 00:36:00.880 But there is a time that comes. 00:36:02.600 --> 00:36:05.140 Judgment does happen. 00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:09.000 And you and I don't have a clue on when it's going to be. 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:14.820 2 Peter 3.9 says, 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:20.780 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness. 00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:22.360 I love this. 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.640 But is patient toward you, 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:28.020 not wishing that any should perish, 00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:31.680 but that all should reach repentance. 00:36:33.120 --> 00:36:35.080 The fact that you and I are here today, 00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:36.880 God is patient. 00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.720 God is kind. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.280 God is good. 00:36:41.020 --> 00:36:41.740 God is merciful. 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:46.460 And you and I are going to make a decision. 00:36:47.080 --> 00:36:50.480 We're going to make a response based out of the mercy of God. 00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:51.700 Right? 00:36:52.560 --> 00:36:53.580 I don't know about you, 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:55.220 but I know when I was growing up, 00:36:56.080 --> 00:36:59.320 my parents would sometimes say, 00:36:59.620 --> 00:37:01.900 the illustration I used before, 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:04.440 make sure by the end of the day, 00:37:04.580 --> 00:37:05.420 you clean your room. 00:37:07.580 --> 00:37:08.220 Later on, 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.380 they'd see me headed outside. 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.220 Is your room clean? 00:37:12.080 --> 00:37:12.440 No. 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:14.940 Make sure by the end of the day, 00:37:15.080 --> 00:37:15.840 you clean your room. 00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:17.580 Come back in. 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.300 Turn on the TV. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:20.680 Hey, we asked you to clean your room. 00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.960 Did you clean your room? 00:37:22.040 --> 00:37:23.700 No, I haven't cleaned my room today. 00:37:24.020 --> 00:37:25.240 Make sure by the end of the day, 00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.060 you clean your room. 00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:28.860 And then all too often in my life, 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.800 kids don't use this against me. 00:37:31.720 --> 00:37:32.580 I'd go to bed. 00:37:33.560 --> 00:37:34.880 My parents would walk in there. 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.180 Not only is the room not clean, 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:40.240 but the room is dirtier than it was before. 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:40.700 Right? 00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.580 But my parents, 00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:46.720 unless they followed through on what they said, 00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:50.700 I had the tendency to not act in obedience, 00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:53.100 but to act in rebellion. 00:37:55.580 --> 00:37:56.600 Second Peter says, 00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:58.700 the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, 00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:00.380 as some count slowness. 00:38:01.620 --> 00:38:02.520 For you and I, 00:38:02.580 --> 00:38:04.300 there's often times we find ourselves 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:06.240 living in the pattern of the sin 00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:07.780 and we think it's okay 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:09.400 because the judgment is being withheld. 00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:11.800 And the judgment is being withheld. 00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:14.000 And the judgment is being withheld. 00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:17.040 And our response isn't repentance. 00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:19.940 Our response is rebellion. 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.860 Paul writes in Romans, 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.420 should we continue on sinning 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:25.080 so that grace may abound? 00:38:25.620 --> 00:38:27.080 Absolutely not. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:27.960 Right? 00:38:28.580 --> 00:38:31.920 That is the goodness of the heart of God 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:34.280 is revealed to the tendencies 00:38:34.280 --> 00:38:36.080 of the sinfulness of man 00:38:36.080 --> 00:38:38.000 that we make a choice. 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:40.420 One of two choices. 00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:44.260 And it's what we're going to walk out of this room today 00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:45.080 and embrace. 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:48.180 And it reveals the type of fruit 00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:50.000 that's in your life 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.740 and the type of fruit that is in mine. 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:54.360 And so I'm going to wrap up this message 00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:57.640 by asking one question to you this morning. 00:38:57.640 --> 00:39:01.200 Will the patience and mercy of God 00:39:01.200 --> 00:39:03.800 lead you to repentance before Him? 00:39:04.680 --> 00:39:07.900 Or will the patience and mercy of God 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:10.240 take you down the path of rebellion? 00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:12.480 The choice is yours. 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:15.900 Where do you go? 00:39:16.660 --> 00:39:17.180 Let's pray. 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.560 Lord, I thank you 00:39:22.560 --> 00:39:26.300 so much for your goodness and mercy. 00:39:29.220 --> 00:39:30.960 Lord, we deserve your wrath. 00:39:31.060 --> 00:39:31.940 We deserve it fully. 00:39:32.060 --> 00:39:33.140 We deserve it right now. 00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:37.140 But in the kindness of who you are, Lord, 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.540 you wait. 00:39:40.260 --> 00:39:41.540 And you give us another day. 00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:42.940 You give us another moment. 00:39:43.080 --> 00:39:44.300 Lord, you give us another breath. 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:47.260 Lord, not only do you do that 00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:49.000 because our salvation from this 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.780 is not found in our ability, 00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:53.460 but it's found in Christ 00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:54.480 and in Christ alone. 00:39:56.160 --> 00:39:58.340 Lord, and you made a way for us 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.080 through Him 00:39:59.080 --> 00:40:02.320 that is found through faith in Him alone. 00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:05.000 That's rooted in repentance 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:08.020 of accepting and knowing who we are. 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:12.020 That we acknowledge that we are sinners 00:40:12.020 --> 00:40:15.940 who deserve the wrath of God, 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:19.000 but Christ, 00:40:19.520 --> 00:40:21.860 but Christ, 00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:24.780 that He who knew no sin 00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:27.760 became sin 00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:30.020 so that in Him 00:40:30.020 --> 00:40:32.820 we might become the righteousness of God. 00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.820 Lord, I thank you 00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:38.660 for your delay. 00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:41.240 Lord, I anticipate 00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:42.900 your return. 00:40:45.560 --> 00:40:47.480 As we talked about last week, 00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:50.180 may we be ready. 00:40:52.560 --> 00:40:54.360 Lord, I pray that in my life 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:55.820 and in the lives of the individuals 00:40:55.820 --> 00:40:58.320 here this morning, 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:01.600 Lord, that we would bear fruit, 00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:05.020 fruit that is sweet 00:41:05.020 --> 00:41:06.400 to all who taste it, 00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:09.180 the fruit of the gospel 00:41:09.180 --> 00:41:12.660 that shares hope 00:41:12.660 --> 00:41:13.860 and love 00:41:13.860 --> 00:41:14.740 and mercy 00:41:14.740 --> 00:41:18.520 where slaves are set free, 00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:22.260 where bonds are broken 00:41:22.260 --> 00:41:25.480 and where life comes. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:29.040 Lord, I pray that as we 00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:31.140 examine our life, 00:41:32.640 --> 00:41:34.300 Lord, that which needs to be pruned 00:41:34.300 --> 00:41:35.100 can be pruned. 00:41:36.600 --> 00:41:38.000 Lord, that which is unhealthy 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:39.020 can be removed 00:41:39.020 --> 00:41:42.200 so that we can live 00:41:42.200 --> 00:41:42.980 for your glory 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.480 and for your name. 00:41:46.520 --> 00:41:47.500 Jesus, I thank you 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:48.440 that it's not a secret 00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:51.580 because you tell us 00:41:51.580 --> 00:41:53.880 unless you repent, 00:41:55.040 --> 00:41:56.020 you will all 00:41:56.020 --> 00:41:57.720 likewise perish. 00:41:59.140 --> 00:42:00.320 In your name we pray. 00:42:00.940 --> 00:42:01.260 Amen. 00:42:14.900 --> 00:42:16.100 Thanks again for listening 00:42:16.100 --> 00:42:17.260 to the Willow Ridge Church 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:18.240 weekly podcast. 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:19.560 We hope that you enjoyed 00:42:19.560 --> 00:42:20.860 listening to this week's message. 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.420 If you'd like to learn more 00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:23.260 about who we are 00:42:23.260 --> 00:42:24.880 or explore additional resources, 00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:26.360 visit us online 00:42:26.360 --> 00:42:29.920 at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:31.380 or by searching for 00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:32.140 Willow Ridge Church 00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:33.480 on Facebook and Instagram.