Song of the Vineyard
--- Missionary-Evangelist Esther
Thornton ---
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Illustration:
When I was
recovering from a long illness, Bob built me a temporary greenhouse. It was
large and very nice. I had tomatoes that would grow up to the ten-foot ceiling
and then would grow some more. I had a large banana plant and other things that
you can’t grow outside in this part of the country. I had piped in music! I had
a large area holding potting soil, so I could pot plants. I really enjoyed
planting and reaping the benefits of that planting.
But, the day
came when my body was restored and I no longer worked in the greenhouse. But,
Bob and I began our ministry for God - here and overseas. Now, I was planting
spiritually in the work of God, instead of in the natural, in my greenhouse.
Well, my
greenhouse started showing signs of neglect. You are supposed to replace the
thick plastic every 2-3 years and it wasn’t being done. Tons of weeds began to
grow inside and outside of the greenhouse. The fluorescent lights and music
speakers were no longer operative. Neglect had taken over the greenhouse and no
more planting could be done. We finally hired a man to come in completely
remove the greenhouse.
I. The vineyard (Isaiah 5)
Isaiah
chapter five is a song about a spiritual vineyard. The vineyard is Israel; the
singer is God, Elohim, and the Beloved is His Beloved Son. (Luke 20:9-17).
There are two main names for God in the Hebrew Scriptures and these are Elohim
and Jehovah. Elohim refers to His fullness of divine power; and Jehovah (or
Yahweh), meaning “He who is”, which is His self-existence.
Israel is
compared to a vine in various scriptures (Psalm 50:8-16; S. of Sol. 8:12).
Israel’s days under David and on, were fruitful. God put a circle around
Israel, showing the enemy that it belonged to Him. He gathered out the stones
or removed those things that would clutter it. He planted a superior vine so
that it would bring forth much fruit (John. 15:1-5). But, they rejected Him and
brought forth no fruit. He built a tower. Towers were built in vineyards in
ancient times so a watch might be kept against thieves. (Matthew 21:33-46). The
tower symbolized the Lord as the defense of Israel but they turned to men
instead of to God. He made a wine press. This was an excavation in the ground,
which contained a vat above, which was the press, worked by men who wrung the
grape juice out of the grape bag containing the grapes. As He had planted the
choicest of vines, He expected the choicest of fruit. He was to be bitterly
disappointed, as it brought forth wild grapes.
From this
potion of scripture, we have painted a dark picture. Some years ago, I gave a
personal prophecy to an artist. I knew nothing about painting pictures! But, I
told her that her life had been like a picture with a dark background. But, I
saw flowers and growth and life in the front part of the picture. So, she
painted me what I had seen on a large canvas. The colorful flowers stand out on
the dark background.
And, so I am
going to paint you a spiritual picture at this point. We have painted the dark
background, and now will put on it the colorful flowers.
II. Application for Today
The finished
work of Christ is enough
God has done
everything possible for us that we might have salvation, the power of the Holy
Spirit, healing and miracles. The finished work of Christ is all that is
needed. And, “It is finished!” The work is complete!
III. Hindrances to Producing Good
Fruit
1.
Complacency
All we have
to do to fail is to do nothing!
If we
neglect what He has provided, we will not produce quality fruits but wild
grapes that are good for nothing.
“And I will
lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up
briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon
it.” Jehovah would have to break down its hedge and destroy its wall. Vineyards
were usually protected either by a hedge of thorns or else by a wall, or even
both. In this case, it was both as God had given His vineyard all the
protection possible.
God withdrew
the rain, speaking of spiritual renewal. Why did He lay it waste and bring no
rain? Because the vineyard He had so carefully prepared had not be utilized and
brought forth wild grapes.
The Titanic
(1912): It was said of the Titanic that it couldn’t sink. So they sailed boldly
into dangerous waters with reckless abandon. Arrogance and pride can be fatal.
When the Titanic hit the iceberg, it was noticed, but after a few seconds the
party continued. None of them realized that in two hours most of them would be
at the bottom of the sea. It was not the iceberg that sunk the Titanic - it was
complacency. Captain Smith and his crew received numerous warnings about the
ice field which lay directly across their path - and they did not even slow
down! They had a false sense of security. They wanted to break a record and
prove that they could do something.
There is a
true account of a man who was sharing this story in the Moody Church in Chicago
some years ago. When the Titanic went down, he was in the icy waters. Another
man kept calling out to him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt
be saved” - over and over again he called out to him. Finally, he heard the
voice no more. But, he called upon the name of the Lord and was saved. He was
rescued by a life boat and lived to tell this story. And, now at the Moody
Church he said, “The man who called out to me in that water was your pastor
here at this church”. He had refused a life boat that others lives could be
saved. And, he cared more about winning souls, than his very life.
God is
calling us today by His Spirit to come out of our complacency and to take on
His priorities. And, He will cause our vineyard to produce quality fruits that
will bring forth wine in abundance for His glory.
2. We need
to change our mind-set
We cannot be
successful in the vineyard unless we allow the Spirit of God to change our
mind-set.
I talked
with a pastor of a large church not long ago about the need for prophets and
the 5-fold ministry in the church. He said to me, “I am the prophet!” I spoke
of the need for the five-fold ministry and gifts and he said that he could take
the church where it needed to be. He said, “I have done it three times before,
and I can do it again!”
We must come
to the point of realizing that without Him we can do nothing that will be
effective in the eyes of God. Success is not in numbers or man’s ways, but in
that which produces good fruit in the vineyard.
Each new
visitation of God is accompanied by a revelation of God’s principles and a
testing of His purposes. Each thing that God does, involves a test of our
submission and commitment to Him.
When the
Lord does a new thing, He releases a new mind to His people so that they can
submit and be involved. A new dimension involves a new mind-set.
Spiritual
change begins with a renewal of mind. (Rom. 12:2)
God thinks
long term. Life is perceived in the Spirit first before it can be understood in
the mind. Something may happen that will later develop into something bigger.
Or, you may meet someone, and at a later time, realize that it was a divine
appointment that will turn into something bigger.
We are
taught to think like God by the Spirit. The more we do this, the more we
develop in maturity. (“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus”)
Our mind
receives information, but our heart receives revelation
When we are
submitted to the Holy Spirit, we will have peace and good fruit for our labor.
There is a
divine order for peace. The heart is for trusting and acknowledging, and the
mind is for understanding and guidance. We then have the mind of Christ as we
have His heart. Revelation moves from heart to mind and we have peace and rest.
God is
building a new work to bring power and effectiveness. We are not to make
ourselves understood by the world, but to relate to the language and culture of
Heaven.
I have heard
of ways Christians try to reach young people, and etc. by using the methods and
ways of the world. The Bible says to come out from among them and be ye
separate and touch not the unclean thing. We are to lift up a standard for
people to follow. It is the high standard of the cross. It is of uncompromising
value and methods which agree with the teaching of the Word of God. We are not
to live as close to the world as we can, but as close to God as we can.
The manifest
presence of God can do more in one moment than we can do in weeks of activity.
The great
commission is more easily fulfilled by those who are God-conscious in mind and
heart, and totally sold out to His life, love, and purpose.
With God, it
is the love of our heart first; and it is on a daily basis.
We must not
let our current mind-set prevent us from entering into a fresh experience with
God.
If we change
our mind, He will change our heart. If we change our thinking, He will change
our emotions. As this process continues, we become ready to go to the next
level.
The wineskin
needs to be turned inside out and scrubbed until all bacteria of the past is
gone, and then kneaded with oil until it is soft and supple. Then, it is ready
to receive new wine. Otherwise, the old bacteria will cause fermentation to
burst the wineskin and lose the new wine. Only Caleb and Joshua qualified to
enter the promised land of God’s next move for Israel. Two men out of three
million! Madame Guyon says that only two or three in a generation will permit
God to bring them into the state where they contain in fullness His presence of
His current move!
IV. The New Song of the Vineyard
Our Beloved
One is singing to us a new song of the vineyard. He is still “the rose of Sharon,
and the lily of the valleys.” And, He calls to us to “come away, my beloved”
1. His
provision: the finished work of Christ (salvation, power, healing, miracles,
all that pertains to life and godliness, he has provided). It is of highest
quality and an abundance of quality fruit should come from it.
2. He has
put up a hedge of protection for us: (Job 1:10; Psa. 91).
3. He is our
tower of defense (Psa. 18:2)
4. He will
tear down the old and rebuild in our lives. (Isa. 61:1-4)
5. He will
once again “rain” upon our lives (Hos. 6:3)
6. The wine
press will be restored in our lives (Jn. 2:1-10) for He has saved the best wine
until last. In these last days we shall experience greater things than ever
before.
Gideon hid
by the threshing floor but the angel sent from God said to him: “O thou mighty
man of valor!” God sees our potential - not our fears and failures.
7. God wants
us to make a “divine exchange” in our lives today. Get rid of that in your life
that has not been productive and begin to use the resources that God has
provided for a bountiful harvest.
Esther
Thornton
_________________
Reference Material:
“Leadership -The Power of a Creative Life” - Rick Joyner
“Story of Titanic” - Dwight Thompson
“A Divine Confrontation” by Graham cook
