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 two 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. God considers our desires, but He also has to give priority to His plans.
God searches our hearts, and He knows our desires, but He also knows the plans He made for us before the world began.
The Bible says, “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” (Romans 8:27 TPT).
— While our desires are valid, God’s overarching plans, which encompass our ultimate good and His glory, must prevail. The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV).
— Walking with God to the fullest requires spiritual maturity. We must grow in our understanding that our desires must be submitted to and aligned with God’s sovereign plans.
— We must develop a heart that is yielded to God. The fig tree in the parable was refusing to be what it was created to be. We must be careful not to develop that attitude.
— We must learn to navigate through the times when our desires seem to clash with God’s plans while maintaining trust in His wisdom. Bottom line: we must submit out will to His. I will give you two reasons why: 1) He is God, and 2) His plans are better than ours!
2. God made good plans for us, and He is trying to work with us for those plans to work out for our good.
When we submit to God, we can find peace in knowing that He made good plans and that things will ultimately work out for our good in accordance with those plans.
The Bible says, “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” (Romans 8:28 TPT).
— We must learn to recognize the goodness of God. Acknowledging that God’s plans are inherently good and are designed to bring about our welfare and His glory.
— We are called to be co-laborers with God. The vinedresser wound up working WITH the tree to produce fruit. God desires to work with us, not apart from us, to bring His plans to fruition.
— As we actively engage in God’s plans, becoming conduits of His glory, we get to see Him manifest His plans and purposes on the earth, THROUGH US! This is what the owner of the fig tree wanted. He wanted the fig tree to produce figs and to help change that environment.
— Can God trust you to produce, even when you are in an uncomfortable environment?
3. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He is interceding on our behalf.
The Bible says, “…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?” (Romans 8:34 TPT).
Let’s talk about the significance of Jesus being at the right hand of the Father.
The right hand of the throne of a monarch was the place of authority. That is what I have always connected Jesus, sitting at the right hand of the Father, to. Pastor John MacArthur offers another possible interpretation of this.
MacArthur notes that the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling council of the Jews (like their Supreme Court), consisted of 70 Elders. For the Sanhedrin, the presiding judge would sit in the middle. On either side, the left and the right, there were secretaries. If a person was found guilty by the Sanhedrin, the Secretary on the left was in charge of writing out the sentence, the condemnation. But the Secretary on the right was in charge of writing out acquittals. If the person was found guilty, the secretary on the left wrote out his condemnation, if he was declared not guilty, it was the person on the right who wrote out the acquittal.
Jesus Christ is not seated on the left hand to write out our condemnation. He is seated on the right hand to write out our forgiveness, our acquittal.
This is what the vinedresser did for the fig tree in the parable. The owner of the tree had already pronounced his judgment. He said, “Cut it down!” However, this guy stepped in without anyone asking him and pleaded for another year. He interceded for another chance. And this guy, in the parable, represents Jesus. Our text says that He is not just praying for us. He is praying for our triumph!
Appreciate our advocate! Please grasp the profound reality that Jesus is our advocate, interceding and declaring our acquittal in the heavenly realms.
4. We can find comfort in knowing that Jesus is praying for our triumph!
The Bible says, “…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?” (Romans 8:34 TPT).
— In the parable of the barren fig tree, the owner of the tree had run out of patience after three years and said, “Cut it down!” Thankfully, the vinedresser, who served as an intercessor (who represents Jesus in this parable), asked for another year.
— The intercessor wanted to see the tree succeed. It stepped in, unprompted, to support the tree and attempt to help it become a success.
— The intercessor wanted to dig around it and provide fertilizer. Why? So the tree could be successful!
— Please recognize that triumph in Christ may look different from worldly victory and is rooted in faithfulness, obedience, and alignment with God’s will.
— When you walk with God, you can be assured of the victory! God is not going to send you into an area to fail!
— Live with the assurance that our victory is secure, not because of our works, but because of Jesus’ finished work and ongoing intercession.
— Live with an attitude of gratitude! When you understand what we are learning today, you should express your gratitude for Jesus’ intercession, recognizing it as a key factor in our triumph.
— Seek to represent God daily! The triumph that Jesus is praying for us should be reflected in our daily lives, attitudes, and interactions with others. The world should see Jesus in us!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I acknowledge that You know my desires, yet Your plans take precedence in my life.
I submit my will to Yours, trusting that Your plans are far superior to mine, and they will prevail.
I declare that I am growing in spiritual maturity, aligning my desires with Your sovereign plans, and developing a heart that is fully yielded to You.
Father, I am confident that You have made good plans for me, and I find peace in knowing that everything will work out for my good as I submit to Your will.
I recognize Your goodness, Father, and I acknowledge that Your plans are designed for my welfare and Your glory.
I celebrate Jesus, my Advocate, seated at Your right hand, interceding for me, and declaring my acquittal in the heavenly realms.
I am grateful for the triumph that is secured in Christ, not by my works, but by His finished work and ongoing intercession on my behalf.
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!
