30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 20 9-18 THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 03 Luke 20 9-10 The amazing parallel
📖 Luke 20:9-18
19Feb2021 - *The amazing parallel* - _Luke 20:9-18_ - THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 3 – Bible reading: _II Chronicles 36:15-16_
The vine-growers were to look after the vineyard in a leased-out arrangement with the owner. They were provided for but they had to produce results for the owner. The owner sent His servants to the vine-growers for the fruit.
The Lord expected the nation of Israel, which was a theocratic state, to produce results for God and thus bring glory to Him. To this end, the Lord sent them prophets.
_Luke 20:9-10 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. (10) Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed._
The Lord did not leave the vine-growers to fend for themselves but He sent them prophets, who reminded them of their responsibility to fulfil their purpose for them to be a theocratic state, which was to be a light to the Gentiles. The prophets urged them to return to God and be in His habitat.
The winegrowers were not willing to listen, instead, they sent the prophets away, empty-handed. This has been the narrative of the history of Israel.
_Judges 6:8-10 that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; (9) and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. (10) Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice.' "_
The Lord reminded them, through His prophets, of His miracles, deliverance and His provision but they hardened their heart against God.
Is this not the narrative of the church too? Consider, friends, *the amazing parallel between disobedient Israel and the church*.
*We come to God to receive all His miracles, His deliverance and His provision but we do not seek to know His mandate for us and give ourselves to be His kingdom builders in our land*.
Our songs magnify who God is to us. He is a way maker, miracle worker and a promise keeper, but He expects us to be His true vine growers bringing results for His kingdom.
Not only did God remind the people of Israel of their purpose, but He also warned them of the consequences of their refusal to fulfil God’s purpose for them.
_II Chronicles 36:15-16 And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. (16) But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy._
God has been sending His messengers to the church to remind us of our purpose as His people to be His kingdom builders. God has also been warning the church of the consequences.
We will say, we have not mocked, we have not scoffed at God’s messengers but we have done worse. We have listened well to all our preachers and teachers, who taught and reminded us of the purposes of God but we chose to continue to live our lives for our end objectives, without even a sense of remorse. We, the church, have mastered the art of living life in two compartments, the sacred and the secular.
*We have made God as a means to our end.*
_Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it._
_Jeremiah 35:15 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, 'Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.' But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me._
We go after many other gods. Everything that takes the first place in our life, is a god to us. This is how we have used God as a means to our end.
God was patient with the Israelites
_Nehemiah 9:30 Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands._
God has been patient with the church, though we have not given our life entirely to the purpose of God. We have become those who are under the pressure of the world and we compromise to the ways of the world. The Israelites went into bondage and that is the same with the church. We have come into bondage to the world system.
*Thought to ponder*
```Will the church recognize the parallel and repent?```