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.’ “
Undoubtedly, our journey as believers often finds us in a constant pursuit of divine blessings. Every day, across the globe, people lift their eyes and hearts toward Heaven, seeking God’s peace, wisdom, power, protection, and, above all, His boundless love and acceptance. The quest to understand if we can truly trust Him and to fortify our faith and unwavering belief in Him is a universal pursuit. I’ve shared countless messages aimed at building your faith and trust in God. But today, let’s look at it from the other side of the lens. God, too, is looking towards us! He seeks assurance in our commitment and wonders, “Can I trust you?” Let’s consider this perspective today.
So, what does this mean for you today? It means that God is paying attention to your life. He is looking for several things from you.
1. God is looking for authenticity.
I have already told you that the anointing only flows through this authentic.
Let’s look at something Peter taught about this.
(2 Peter 1:1-4)
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Being Born-Again and fulfilling your purpose is NOT the same thing. To be your authentic self, after coming into the knowledge of God, you must come into God’s knowledge of you!
— When you discover Jesus, you get to discover yourself!
— The day you come into the knowledge of God, the day you accept Jesus as Lord, is the day your salvation is secure. However, all that does is ensure you are not going to hell.
— At that point, you have not done anything to impact this world. To do that, you must come into God’s knowledge of you.
— When you start living as the person God called you to be, you become the light of the world!
When you are dealing with a person who knows who they are in Christ Jesus, it is evident that they:
— are at peace with themselves.
— are comfortable in their own skin.
— are not trying to compete with anyone.
— are not judging themselves by anyone else’s performance.
— are not moved by the opinions of others because they are so focused on God’s opinion of them.
All God wanted from the fig tree in the parable was for it to be its authentic self and produce figs.
— God was not asking for it to be anything other than what He called it to be.
— God, in the text, came checking time after time, looking for the tree to be who it was supposed to be.
— Guess what? God is checking in on you.
When God looks at you, all He is looking for is what He planned.
— In this parable, God was looking for the fig tree to produce figs.
— In the Garden of Eden, God would check in on Adam from time to time.
— Before the fall, God loved what He saw when He checked in. Adam was clothed with His glory!
— After the fall, when Adam was clothed with fig leaves, God asked, “Adam, where are you?“
— God was not asking where He was as if He did not know the location.
— God was saying, “Where are you, son? What I see right now is not what I planned for your life. What have you done? What have you gotten yourself into?”
God’s love will not keep you from the consequences of your decisions.
— In the Garden of Eden, when God told Adam not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil when Adam disobeyed God’s command, Adam had to deal with the consequences.
— Adam and Eve lost the Holy Spirit, and they were judged.
— After God passed judgment on the serpent, the woman, and the man, God removed Adam and Eve from the Garden.
— In the parable, God was willing to cut the fig tree down because it was refusing to produce figs.
Simply put, God is looking for you to be your authentic self, and when you are not, there may be consequences.
2. God is looking for production.
When we studied the parable of the talents, I said the following about the fact that God is a God of increase and advancement:
— The steward who was called “wicked and lazy” did not lose the money he was given. He maintained it. He held on to it. And he was still called “wicked and lazy.” Why? Because the owner (God) was looking for an increase!
— In the parable of the talents, God calls increase, “faithfulness!”
— God entrusted His money to three people, and He was looking for a return on His investment. God is looking for production.
— God gives you resources, and He wants you to EXPAND His resources so He can EXPAND His Kingdom on earth.
— To be clear, the increase I am talking about is not for selfish gain but for the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth.
— Once you are Born-Again, you have an instinct for increase. God has wired us for growth and expansion, and it’s our job to tap into that.
The reason why the owner of the fig tree was upset is because it was not PRODUCING figs.
— The fig tree, despite having the appearance of health and vitality with its lush leaves, failed to fulfill its purpose of bearing fruit.
— Similarly, as believers, our external displays of spirituality and religious practices are futile if they do not result in spiritual fruitfulness and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
— God has invested in us—through His Word, His Spirit, and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He rightfully expects a return on that investment in the form of souls won, disciples made, and His Kingdom expanded on earth.
In both parables, it is clear that God is looking for us to be productive on earth.
— God’s expectation for production is not rooted in a demand for works but stems from a desire to see us live out our full potential and purpose in Him.
— Our productivity in God’s Kingdom is not about achieving personal success or accumulating wealth for our own benefit. It’s about stewarding the resources, gifts, and opportunities God has given us to bring glory to Him and draw others into His Kingdom.
— The fruitfulness God seeks is not merely in the form of material or numerical increase but also in spiritual growth, character development, and the advancement of His love, justice, and righteousness in the world.
— God’s desire for our productivity is also a reflection of His love for humanity. When we produce spiritual fruit, we become conduits of His blessings, grace, and salvation to a world in desperate need of Him.
— When we are productive in our walk with God, we demonstrate the power of His grace, providing a compelling witness that draws others to Him.
3. God is looking for consistency.
I may not be a lot of things, but one thing I am is consistent.
— With me, you are going to get the same person, day in and day out.
— Years ago, one of my bosses said to me, “Chief, one thing I know about you is that my BlackBerry is going to vibrate at 7am. When I look at it, it is because of Today’s Word. I may not always read our emails, but just the fact that I know that you write them and send them (and then do a video about them) every day, no matter what, speaks volumes to me. It speaks to me about your consistency.”
— Consistency matters with God.
— I believe this fig tree was moved from an orchard to the vineyard, and it stopped producing figs as a result of the change in environment.
— While the environment changed, the expectations from the owner did not.
— God wants you to know that you will produce what He put in you, day in and day out, no matter the external conditions or how you FEEL!
If external conditions or feelings move you, you will never fulfill your purpose.
— Your feelings and external circumstances, while valid and real, should not dictate your faithfulness and consistency in producing the fruit God has designed you to produce.
— Consistency in our walk with God is not about perfection but about persistently pursuing Him and His purposes, even amidst challenges and changes.
— Just like the fig tree, our purpose and calling do not change even when our surroundings do. God’s expectation for us to bear fruit remains, and His grace enables us to do so even in new or challenging environments.
— Consistency is a testament to our trust and reliance on God, demonstrating that our faith is not swayed by our circumstances but is anchored in His unchanging nature and promises.
— In the parable, the fig tree’s failure to produce fruit, despite being given additional time and care, reflects a lack of consistency in fulfilling its purpose. Similarly, God provides us with the resources, opportunities, and grace we need to consistently live out our calling, and He expects us to utilize them to bear fruit in every season of our lives.
— Consistency in producing spiritual fruit is not only beneficial for our personal growth but also provides a reliable witness to others, showcasing the steadfastness and faithfulness of God in our lives.
— God’s call for consistency is also a call to steadfast obedience. It’s about continuously aligning our lives with His will, regardless of the challenges we may face, and remaining committed to our divine assignment.
Simply put, don’t shut down because you don’t like the environment or you don’t like what you are going through right now. God needs to know that He can trust you to be YOU day in and day out, no matter what happens.
If you shut down every time things get complicated, then you won’t produce much fruit because the devil will see that you can be easily manipulated. God is looking for you to be consistent, no matter what!
CAN GOD TRUST YOU?
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
You are looking for me to be productive, not just busy, and I declare that I will!
I commit to being a fruitful branch, abiding in the Vine, Jesus Christ, and allowing Your Spirit to produce fruit through me.
My life will produce fruit that aligns with Your Kingdom.
I embrace the grace to be productive in every area of my life, ensuring that my actions, decisions, and lifestyle bring honor to You.
I recognize that Your call upon my life requires consistency, and I commit to being steadfast in my walk with You.
I will not allow external conditions or my feelings to deter me from fulfilling the purpose You have for me.
I understand that my consistency in bearing fruit is a reflection of my trust and reliance on You, and I choose to remain anchored in Your promises, regardless of my circumstances.
I choose to continuously align my life with Your will, remaining steadfast in my divine assignment, even amidst challenges and changes.
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!
