Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom” (Song of Songs 2:15)
Song of Solomon 2:15 KJV Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon 2:15 MSG Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden
The Lord’s wants all His children to bear fruits.
John 15:16 KJV Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
THIS IS GOD'S PLAN, AGENDA, AND INTENTION.
However, there are foxes that attacks the vineyards, and must be rooted out. The vineyard must be protected against the ravaging foxes. Song of Solomon 1:6 KJV
Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
INTRODUCTION—EVERYONE HAS A VINEYARD
Every person has a vineyard. And we are keepers of vineyards and there are responsibilities that we all have for our vineyards.
TYPES OF VINEYARDS WE HAVE 1.VINEYARD OF OUR SOUL
**First, we have the personal vineyard of our own soul. It is perhaps the most important vineyard that we must take care of.
Our soul is the most valuable possession that we have according to the Word of God.
Matthew 16:26 KJV
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 10:28 KJV
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. The care of the soul is very tedious and a challenging process.
*Taken out the weeds,
Constant planting & cultivating it with the Word
*Watering the soul with the Word
We must constantly care for your soul
**Just as a farmer is in a joint venture with God, to care for our soul will have to be a joint venture with God.
We cannot do it all alone! We need the help of God through His Spirit and the Word to be able to do according to His will.
**thy word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
CARING FOR YOUR SOUL IS AN ONGOING PROCESS!
The care of the soul is not something that will be accomplished with a single attempt but rather it is an ongoing process with constant devotion & commitment.
**It is a process of a life of holiness or sanctification
Luke 1:74-75 KJV
That he would grant unto us, that we are being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 4:23-24 KJV
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Hebrews 12:4 KJV
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
2 Peter 3:10-11 KJV
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, There will be ups-and-downs, but we have to constantly strive to please to God
Philippians 3:14 KJV
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:1-12; 8:1-10
2.VINEYARD OF OUR FAMILY
The second vineyard that we have a responsibility for is that of our family.
It is one of the most challenging vineyards to care for in our times.
The family has been under the attack of the devil since the first family who lived in the Garden of Eden.
He refuses to let the family rest from his attacks.
When the children of Israel were about to go into the Promised Land, God gave Moses some advice to pass on to the Israelites concerning the vineyard of the family.
Because family is a very important and strategic vineyard.
They were about to go into another pagan culture.
They had been SLAVES, then WANDERERS, and now they were CONQUERORS, but God still required a level of devotion to them.
In Deuteronomy 6 there are a few principles laid out that help us to see how we are to care for the vineyard of our families.
a). The parents has to have a deep love and reverence for God.
Deuteronomy 6:1-5 KJV
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: [2] That thou mightiest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. [3] Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it ; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. [4] Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: [5] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
b). The parents must make sure that, there is a constant, conscious, and consistent transfer of truth.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 KJV
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
This kind of instruction is not PASSIVE but it is AGGRESSIVELY ACTIVE and it will require ATTENTION, TIME, and EFFORT for it to be accomplished.)
c). The parents had to make sure that they did not fall into the traps that are often laid by prosperity.
Deuteronomy 6:10-14 KJV
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, [11] And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; [12] Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. [13] Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. [14] Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
***From a wilderness of manna and quail to a land of milk and honey which defines the possibility of falling to the snare of materialism.
***This can only be overcome when there is a constant element of gratitude and humility in one’s heart.
d). The parents had to frequently and regularly remind themselves of God’s faithfulness and grace.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 KJV
And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? [21] Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: [22] And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: [23] And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. [24] And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. [25] And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.
3.THE VINEYARD OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
The third vineyard that we find ourselves having to take care of is the church of God.
If you have experienced the New Birth comprised of repentance, water baptism by immersion in Jesus Name, and have received the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with tongues, you have a responsibility to help with the vineyard of the church.
We all have a role to play in taking care of the vineyard of the church.
Not only the responsibilities of Pastors and leaders.
To take care of the vineyard we look at the the book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42 KJV
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
They were devoted to learning
**they learned the Apostle’s doctrine.
**They were devoted to fellowship
**they loved each other.
**They were devoted to worship
**they gave themselves to prayer.
These was the excellent foundation of the early church, that enabled them to accomplish incredible things for the Lord.
We are in an extremely challenging world and society, strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to Guard the vineyards in your care.
God blesses
