Produce Or Perish!    By James L Lantz

         You may never have heard or read a sermon with this great of an emphasis on bearing fruit for the kingdom but every word of God is important. Dr. Luke recounts Jesus parable of a certain man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and came looking for fruit on it and found none.  Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Those of us whom God purchased with the blood and life of His Son are sometimes figuratively spoken of as His field, His garden, or His building.  1 Cor. 3:9 AMPC For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.  Jesus referred to men as trees in Matthews gospel account.  Mt. 12:33  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.  Jesus is obviously speaking about people and not trees because of the surrounding verses. Jesus continued by saying that good people will produce good things by speaking from the good that is in their heart in abundance. The bad person who has an abundance of evil in his heart will speak evil and therefore produce evil.  Mt. 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  In the parable of the fig tree the owner of the vineyard is representative of Father God and the gardener is representative of Jesus who is our High Priest.

Not A Thorn Bush But A Fig Tree!

The fig tree is representative of a good man, a christian, who should be producing fruit. Father God expects all of His children to grow, mature, and to bear fruit in their proper time. The Father requires that He receive a return on His investment as illustrated by the owner of the vineyard seeking figs for three years and finding none, saying, cut it down, its wasting our resources.  Luke 13:7  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  Thank God for Jesus who sends someone to dig and probe around this unproductive one!  Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  The Holy Spirit is speaking to their heart, bringing thoughts to their mind, turn away from sin, forgive those who have wronged you, get a job, support My church with your attendance, prayers, your service, tithes, and offerings. Avail yourself to the gifts I’ve set in the church to perfect and equip you.  Ephesians 4:11 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Ephesians 4:12 NLT  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.  It amazes me sometimes how human beings will hold on to the belief of the masses rather than the truth of the word of God. Tradition teaches us that God placed the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in the church to do the work of the ministry while in reality they are there to teach and train us to do the work. Brother Hagin would say that ministry is spelled WORK. It may seem radical to some but God actually expects the whole body of Christ to be actively about His kingdom business.  Luke 13:9  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  This quote comes from an actual message Jesus taught in the synagogue on the sabbath day! God is not harsh and he will send you help as long as there is any trace of desire left in you.  Matthew 12:20  CEV He won’t break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done. God so desires that every person turn from their own way of thinking and doing things and receive of His mercy! Paul referenced himself as the chief of sinners, yet, when he saw the Truth, said Lord, what would you have me do.  Acts 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  Saul, who became Paul, recognized immediately that Jesus wanted him to stop destroying His church but rather to build His church! No need to do penance, if you have been fighting against God and His will for your life, just repent, and begin to do His will. Remember that peace is the umpire that tells us we have made the proper adjustments according to what we know. There is no peace for the wicked! Walk after the Spirit and enjoy being free from condemnation!

       Jesus gave another parable showing us the importance of being fruitful in God’s kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country who called his servants and gave them his goods. Jesus is obviously referring to His leaving and charging His people to teach and preach the gospel until He returns. He gave five talents to the one, two talents to another, and one talent to another, each according to their ability and then went on a journey. The servants receiving the five and the two talents were productive in bringing increase for the master and thus they were promoted.  Mt. 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  The servant with the least responsibility was wicked. He thought his life was his own and refused to bring increase to his master and therefore was cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Mt. 25:28&29  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

       There are many differing opinions to what God is like but who would know better than Jesus. He said that His Father prunes every branch in order to produce more fruit and He removes all the dead branches. God is the judge about what happens to those who refuse Him but He is not the one who makes the choice to reject the truth. There are many things that we don’t get to choose. We didn’t get to choose our parents or what generation we would be born into. We are privileged to choose Jesus and eternal life! Father God went to the extreme cost of sacrificing His very own Son so that no one would have to suffer everlasting punishment.  Mt. 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

       Our Lord is not asking us to work our fingers to the bone or try to do the impossible without Him. He wants to make things easy for us and our burdens light by doing things the kingdom of God way! Agreeing with God’s plan for our life and getting after it will cause us to be fruitful. Don’t seek after the blessing but rather seek to please the one from whom the blessing flows.  Ps. 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me . . .   We are to labor to enter into faith through which we access God’s plan and provision created for us from the foundation of the world!  Hebrews 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  All things were made by the Lord Jesus and all things were made for the Lord Jesus and by Him all things consist! Those of us that have revelation, like Peter, that Jesus is the Christ give ourselves to the building of His church.

Lev. 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.