30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 20 9-18 THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 06 Luke 20 10-13 God’s provision of His Son
📖 Luke 20:9-18
22Feb2021 - *God’s provision of His Son* - _Luke 20:9-18_ - THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 6 – Bible reading: _John 3:16-19_
The Lord was revealing the pain of His heart to the leaders. He longed for them to repent and return to Him so that they would be healed and take up the task of bearing the results that were expected of them.
God heals and restores us so that we will bear results for which we have been chosen by God.
_Luke 20:10-13 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. (11) Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. (12) And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. (13) "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? *I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him*.'_
The Lord has given us a long rope to let His words to change us. I keep reiterating this thought that we are changed to fulfil His purpose, not for us to be content in the change by itself. The change that happens to us, when we Christ is a part of the journey. Our destination is to bear the results that are expected of us.
_Deuteronomy 32:28-29 “For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them. (29) Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, *That they would consider their latter end*!_
The Lord expects His people to consider the later end.
_Psalm 81:13 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! Isaiah 48:18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea._
Our peace being like a river and our righteousness as the waves of the sea are the effects of our returning to the habitat of God but returning to the habitat of God must push us out to accomplish His purpose. If we are not bearing fruit then we are still, backslidden children. Children, yes, but backslidden ones, which is not acceptable.
_Hosea 11:7-8 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. (8) "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? *My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred*._
God’s heart churns for us and His sympathy for us is stirred.
When the vine-growers did not give heed to the servants, the owner of the vineyard sent His Son. He expected that the vine-growers would respect the Son, the Heir and give to the Son the due respect and also deliver to the Son the results for which they were made to be the vine-growers.
_John 3:16-19 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (18) "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil._
Israel ought to have recognized and welcomed her Son, in worship, but she did not.
_John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and *the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him*._
The church’s responsibility is to make known the Son to the world and reconcile people to Him.
If the world does not believe in Jesus, it perishes. Man is already in a state of death, alienation from God. This is the time and opportunity that God provides for man to return to Him and cross over from death to life. If man rejects the provision of His Son, whom God has sent into the world, then man will perish for eternity.
_John 3:35-36 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (36) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and *he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him*."_
The result that God expects from the church is not just satisfied with our personal salivation but realise that we are here to reconcile a lost world back to God, which is the purpose of God.
_Jeremiah 36:7 It may be that they will present their supplication before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way. For great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people."_
*Thought to ponder*
The Son looks to the church (the vine-growers), expecting the church to respect Him and deliver to the Son the results that the Owner expects. Will we respond and meet God’s expectations of us?