THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD

1. THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD LAWS OF PROPAGATION SOWING FOR THE MASTER FIGURES FROM THE VINEYARD

2. THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD Jesus the Master teacher used various figures involving vineyards: the parable of the laborers, a tale of two sons, a parable of wicked vinedressers and the metaphor of the vine and the branches. Before we briefly analyze those figures, let us consider some basic principles.

3. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION First, there are the laws of propagation, which were established on the third day of creation week.

4. Genesis 1:11-12 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

5. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION First, there are the laws of propagation, which were established on the third day of creation week. Each original plant created by God contained its own seed, and each plant reproduced after its own kind. Farmers and gardeners apply this science by sowing the seed of the plant they wish to reap.

6. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION Vegetable life has only a passive role in its reproduction. Meteorological and geologic forces [rain, wind, gravity] must be brought to bear for vegetation to reproduce after its own kind. In some cases, animal intervention is also necessary [“the birds & the bees”].

7. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION Second, we reap what we sow, both in the physical and spiritual realms.

8. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

9. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION Second, we reap what we sow, both in the physical and spiritual realms. In the parable of the tares, Jesus pointed out that a man who sowed good seed in his field had an enemy who sowed tares, which appeared together with the wheat.

10. Matthew 13:24-26 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared."

11. Matthew 13:27 "So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'"

12. Matthew 13:28-29 "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them."

13. Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."

14. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION Second, we reap what we sow, both in the physical and spiritual realms. In the parable of the tares, Jesus pointed out that a man who sowed good seed in his field had an enemy who sowed tares, which appeared together with the wheat. Tares were reaped because tares were sown.

15. THE LAWS OF PROPAGATION A third law that applies equally to physical and spiritual vineyards is that reaping is proportionate to sowing; the more you sow the more you reap.

16. 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

17. SOWING FOR THE MASTER That which is sown in the spiritual realm is the word of God.

18. Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

19. SOWING FOR THE MASTER That which is sown in the spiritual realm is the word of God. The soil in which the word of God is planted is human hearts.

20. Luke 8:12 "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

21. SOWING FOR THE MASTER That which is sown in the spiritual realm is the word of God. The soil in which the word of God is planted is human hearts. This is not the physical heart, but the spiritual heart, consisting of the mind, the emotions, the conscience and the will.

22. SOWING FOR THE MASTER The word must be planted in the heart because obedience is “from the heart.”

23. Romans 6:15-16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

24. Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

25. SOWING FOR THE MASTER The word must be planted in the heart because obedience is “from the heart.” Just as some soil is unsuitable for producing physical fruit, some hearts are unfit for producing spiritual fruit.

26. Matthew 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside."

27. Luke 8:12 "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

28. SOWING FOR THE MASTER The heart represented by the “way side” soil is slow to understand, giving Satan time to remove the word before he or she can “believe and be saved.”

29. Matthew 13:20-21 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles."

30. Luke 8:13 "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away."

31. Matthew 13:22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful."

32. Luke 8:14 "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."

33. SOWING FOR THE MASTER Those whose hearts were signified by “stony places” and “thorns” initially believe the gospel but do not endure unto the end, apparently because each fails to count the cost.

34. Luke 14:25-27 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

35. Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"

36. Luke 14:31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?"

37. Luke 14:32-33 "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

38. SOWING FOR THE MASTER One who has a good and honest heart, however, not only receives the gospel, initially, but also bears fruit with patience.

39. Matthew 13:23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

40. Luke 8:15 "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

41. SOWING FOR THE MASTER Having counted the cost of discipleship he is ready for the challenge presented by the various tribulations, persecutions, temptations, cares, riches and pleasures of life, rises to the challenge and overcomes.

42. Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

43. Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."

44. Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."

45. Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

46. Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."

47. Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

48. SOWING FOR THE MASTER The word of God, sown in the human heart, will produce only Christians. Likewise, denominational doctrine will produce only a member of that particular denomination. Methodist doctrine, for example, will never produce a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Catholic or a Christian.

49. SOWING FOR THE MASTER Similarly, the word of God will never produce a member of a denomination. The doctrines and commandments of men are necessary for that, but they will always and only result in vain worship.

50. Matthew 15:9 "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."