Bailey Methodist Church
8/24/2025
  • Ancient Of Days
  • The Way
  • There Is None Like You
  • What Mercy Did For Me
  • Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow!
  • Hebrews 11:29–12:2 ESV
    29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
    Luke 12:49–56 ESV
    49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
    Isaiah 5:1–7 ESV
    1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
    Introduction
    Some passages in Scripture start gently but end with a shock. Isaiah 5 is one such example. It opens like a tender love song—words that you might expect to hear at a wedding or in a poem: “Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard.” We anticipate a story about beauty, blessing, and abundance.
    However, as Isaiah continues, the tone shifts dramatically. This is no ordinary love song; it’s a parable of disappointment. The “beloved” represents God, the “vineyard” symbolizes His people, and the “love” reflects His faithful covenant care. God has invested everything in His vineyard, hoping it would yield sweet fruit, but instead, it produces only wild, bitter grapes.
    This passage is not merely an ancient indictment against Israel; it carries a message for the church today—for you and me. It serves as a reminder that God is looking for fruit in His people, and He will examine what we produce.
    From this passage, we can identify three truths:
    1. God has done everything necessary for fruitfulness.
    2. God expects righteousness but finds rebellion.
    3. God will judge unfruitfulness.

    1. God Has Done Everything Necessary for Fruitfulness (vs. 1–2)

    Isaiah begins his “love song” with intentional ambiguity. The prophet sings “for my beloved”—language that echoes the romantic poetry of the Song of Solomon. His audience likely expected a tender song about human love, and the vineyard imagery would have reinforced that assumption since, in Israelite poetry, a “vineyard” can be a metaphor for a bride (Song 2:15; 4:16; 8:11).
    However, Isaiah’s careful concealment is strategic. The “beloved” is not a man’s fiancée; it is God Himself. The “vineyard” does not represent a woman—it symbolizes God’s chosen people. The prophet’s artistry draws the listeners in, leading them to agree with his eventual condemnation before they realize it is directed at them (v. 7).
    This layered storytelling aligns with Psalm 80:8, where the psalmist prays, “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.” Both passages portray God as the loving gardener who has chosen, planted, and tended His people with care and purpose. He planted them intentionally—in good soil, with protection, and with the expectation of abundant fruit. The vineyard lacked nothing; every resource, protection, and opportunity was provided.
    God’s planting in our lives is always purposeful. Like Israel, we have been chosen, redeemed, and placed where we are by divine design. He cleared away obstacles, offered us the nourishment of His Word, surrounded us with the fellowship of believers, and protected us by His grace.
    But we must ask: Do we recognize His loving intentions, or have we mistaken His planting for our own achievements? The people of Isaiah’s time forgot their dependence on God and began producing “wild grapes”—lives marked by injustice, idolatry, and self-interest. Psalm 80 reminds us that God’s planting calls for our fruitfulness. If He has brought you into a season of blessing, it is not merely for your comfort; it is so that your life would yield the fruit of righteousness, justice, and love.
    The question is not simply, “Has God planted me?”—the answer to that is yes. The real question is, “Am I producing the fruit He intended for me to bear?”

    2. God Expects Righteousness, But Finds Rebellion (vs. 3–4, 7)

    In Isaiah’s parable, the tone shifts abruptly with the words “and now.” The owner of the vineyard enters the song, posing two questions to the rulers and inhabitants of Jerusalem:
    If the owner has done everything necessary—cultivating the soil, planting the choicest vines, and protecting the vineyard—does he not have every reason to expect good grapes instead of sour ones?
    What more could he have done than he had not already done?
    The trap is set. The leaders are invited to render judgment, and in doing so, they condemn themselves. They must acknowledge that the vineyard’s failure is not the owner’s fault.
    Then comes the devastating reveal: the vineyard represents Israel and Judah. God, the Beloved, expected justice (mišpāṭ) but found only bloodshed (miśpāḥ); He expected righteousness (ṣĕdāqâ) but heard only the cries of the oppressed (ṣĕʾākâ). The covenant people, especially their wealthy, oppressive leaders, had traded the fruit of godliness for the poison of corruption.
    Jesus echoes this same truth in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.” God’s expectation of fruit is still binding. When we remain in Christ, His life flows through us to produce righteousness. But apart from Him, our efforts will inevitably yield the sour fruit of self-reliance and rebellion.
    God is still examining His vineyard today. He continues to expect His people to bear the fruit of righteousness and justice. Leaders, teachers, and individuals in positions of influence—whether in the church, home, or community—are primarily accountable.
    The great danger is self-deception. We may affirm God’s right to expect fruit and even condemn unrighteousness in others, yet fail to recognize our own barren branches. Isaiah’s audience did not realize they were on trial until it was too late.
    John 15:5 reminds us that fruitfulness is not a matter of willpower but of abiding in Christ. To produce what God seeks—justice in our dealings, righteousness in our relationships, and compassion for the weak—we must remain vitally connected to Jesus. Disconnection always leads to rebellion, whether quietly in the heart or loudly in our actions.
    Here is the sobering truth: God is still looking for the same fruit today. The fruit He desires is not merely religious activity but transformed lives—lives marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23).
    It is possible to be busy in religious work yet produce wild grapes—fruit that appears impressive outwardly but is bitter at the core. Appearances don’t fool God; He examines the heart.
    The call is clear: examine the vineyard of your life. Is the fruit sweet with Christ’s likeness, or sour with self-centeredness? Return to the Vine, let His life flow through you, and you will bear much fruit to the glory of God.

    3. God Will Judge Unfruitfulness (vs. 5–6)

    In Isaiah 5:5–6, the tone shifts with the emphatic phrase “and now.” The vineyard owner—representing God—decides to take decisive action. His choice is not to seek a better plot of land or ignore the unfruitful vineyard; instead, he resolves to dismantle it entirely. His actions will include:
    Removing the hedge and breaking down the wall, leaving the vineyard open to animals and intruders.
    Withholding cultivation, stopping all hoeing and pruning, which means no ongoing care.
    Withholding rain—directly invoking covenant curses from Leviticus 26:19 and Deuteronomy 28:23–24, ensuring the land remains barren.
    This decision is not a petty overreaction. The vineyard had persistently failed despite every advantage provided to it. The divine verdict is clear: there is no hope for fruitfulness without radical intervention.
    Luke 3:9 conveys a similar message with sharp imagery: “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” In both passages, God’s patience has limits, and fruitlessness ultimately leads to judgment.
    God’s protection is not a passive guarantee; it is linked to His purpose for our fruitfulness. If we continually reject His ways, resist His Word, and fail to produce the fruit of righteousness, we risk losing the very hedge of grace that has shielded us.
    For believers, this serves as a sobering reminder that the outward signs of God’s blessing—such as opportunity, resources, freedom, and provision—are intended to fulfill His purposes, not ours. Taking His care for granted while living in rebellion invites the removal of that care.
    For the church, this is a call to corporate self-examination. Are we bearing fruit that glorifies God, or are we merely consuming His resources? The God who lovingly planted and tended His vineyard is also the God who will act decisively when no fruit is produced.
    The warning is urgent: don’t wait for the hedge to be removed before you repent. Abide in Christ now, as both John the Baptist and Jesus taught, so that when God inspects His vineyard, He finds fruit that remains.
    Conclusion
    Isaiah’s song serves as both a warning and an invitation. It warns us that God examines His vineyard and will not tolerate wild grapes indefinitely. At the same time, it invites us to remember that the same God who planted Israel is the one who, through Christ, plants us in His vineyard by grace.
    If God were to walk through the rows of your life today, what would He discover? Would He find fruit that reflects His glory, or wild grapes that indicate a self-centered way of living?
    The good news is that, in Christ, we can bear the fruit that God desires. As Jesus says in John 15:5, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.”
    Let us abide in Him. Let us respond to His grace with obedience. Let us produce the sweet fruit of righteousness that brings joy to our Master when He comes to inspect His vineyard.

      • Luke 13:10–17ESV

  • Trust and Obey
Bailey Methodist Church
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