This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Luke 13:6-9 NKJV)
6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’
8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ “
For the last few days, we have been discussing the intercession of Jesus. Yesterday, we looked at the intercession of the Holy Spirit as well. We will flow in this vein again today.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
Let’s look at Romans 8 again, from The Passion Translation, and glean some more insight.
(Romans 8:26-29 TPT)
26 And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, sometimes, we don’t even know how to pray or the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.
27 God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.
28 So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.
29 For he knew all about us before we were born, and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.
(Romans 8:34 TPT)
34 Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph?
Here are a few things we can learn from this passage:
1. The heart of an intercessor.
I teach so much about the grace of God that I am constantly aware of it. I see it everywhere. As I was thinking about this parable this morning, I saw the grace of God in the heart of the vinedresser, which is also the true heart of an intercessor. The owner of the vineyard made a decision to pass judgment. He said to the vinedresser, “This tree is not producing fruit. This tree is taking in but not putting out; it’s using up the resources and not being productive with what it’s taking. Cut it down!”
The owner asked the vinedresser to participate in the destruction of the tree. However, the vinedresser, instead of immediately following the order of the owner, decided to plead the case on behalf of the tree. The vinedresser was saying, “If I’m going to participate in anything, I would rather participate in restoration than destruction.”
“I know, sir, that you’re the owner, and you can do what you want. But if you want me to be involved, please give me a chance to help restore this tree before we destroy it.” In that, I see the love and grace of God clearly. This is the type of heart that we’re supposed to have.
— As believers, when we intercede for someone, we should do it with a sincere heart.
— Our hearts should be in our prayers. When we’re standing in the gap for someone, we should be praying for them as if we were praying for ourselves.
— This is the heart of God, and that heart can only be manifested with the grace of God abounds.
2. What is intercession?
— Pastor Bill Johnson said, “Intercession is about standing in the shoes of another and praying on their behalf.”
— The empathetic nature of intercession is key. It is about making others’ struggles our own.
— We are praying for them as if we were facing the situation ourselves.
3. The Holy Spirit as our intercessor.
From Romans 8:26-27
— The Holy Spirit Intercedes in our weakness.
— The Holy Spirit helps us and prays for us, even when we don’t know what to pray for.
— The Holy Spirit provides prayers and groaning that we cannot put into words.
— His prayers are designed to help align with the will of the Father.
When you pray, you should be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
— The Holy Spirit will guide you when you pray.
— Being open to the His leading.
— As He leads you, you will find yourself praying prayers that align with God’s will.
— As He leads you, you will also find yourself praying for others with a heart full of empathy and compassion.
4. The assurance of God’s Purpose in our lives.
Romans 8:28: All Things Work Together for Good!
— God does not create bad situations to teach us good lessons. But He can surely take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for our good!
— God uses all experiences, good and bad, for our ultimate good.
— When we learn how to trust God through it all, good and bad, we get to experience the grace of God every day.
— The grace of God empowers us to ENJOY the good times, but it also empowers us to ENDURE the difficult times as well.
— We must learn to trust God through trials and triumphs.
5. Jesus as our intercessor.
From Romans 8:34 – Jesus is praying for us at the right hand of the Father!
— Christ died, was raised, and now intercedes for us at God’s right hand.
— His intercession provides us with a powerful advocate before God.
— You should live with the confidence of knowing that Jesus is praying and advocating for you.
— Just as the vinedresser stepped in to intercede on behalf of the barren fig tree, Jesus intercedes for you on those (probably many) occasions where you were not producing what you should have been producing.
— Jesus steps in to plead on your behalf and to ask the Father for grace and mercy!
— Understanding the significance of Jesus’ continual intercession should do two things for you: 1) it should embolden you to enter every day with confidence, knowing you have an advocate with the Father, and 2) it should convict you to want to do better, so Jesus does not have to plead so hard on your behalf!
6. The power and Impact of intercession.
Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding for you!
— The Holy Spirit is praying IN you and FOR you, with prayers you cannot utter with words.
— Jesus is praying for you at the right hand of the Father, not for your condemnation, but for your redemption and acquittal.
— Both are paying for you to align with the purpose of the Father.
— This is what the vinedresser did in the parable. He worked with the tree to align with the purpose of the owner.
— When you know that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying for you to align with the purpose of the Father, you should develop a heart to what to do it as well. You don’t want them to have to pray so hard for you. You want them to see that you are aligning with your divine purpose daily, on your own, as an act of your free will! This is the stage you want to get to, and it is part of #TheGraceLife.
7. A few final thoughts on intercession today.
— You can find peace in knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying for you.
— Know that they are not praying for the Father to grant you the selfish desires of your heart. They are praying for your heart to be aligned with the will of the Father.
— The vinedresser in the parable was not trying to get the owner to be okay with the stubbornness of the tree (it was not producing figs). No, he was trying to get the tree to align with the heart of the owner (to produce figs).
— Your life is not about you and your selfish desires. Your life is about God and the plans He made for you before the world began.
— When you develop the heart of God, not only do you pray for others, but you pray for them earnestly, as if their situation were yours! This is part of #TheGraceLife.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I embrace Your grace, acknowledging that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding for me.
I am confident in Your plans, knowing that every detail of my life is woven together for my good and Your glory.
I submit my desires to You, trusting that Your sovereign plans will always prevail and lead me to my divine destiny.
I commit to praying for others with a sincere and empathetic heart, standing in the gap, and believing for their breakthrough as if it were my own.
I am assured of victory, not by my works, but through Jesus’ finished work and His ongoing intercession on my behalf.
I choose to live daily with an attitude of gratitude, reflecting Your love, mercy, and triumph in every interaction.
I am empowered to enjoy the good times and endure the challenging times, trusting in Your unwavering love and grace every step of the way.
My life is not about my selfish desires but is rooted in fulfilling the plans You established for me before the world began.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
