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Ecclesiastes 12:10
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New Year Sermon, New Year's Sermon entitled
THIS YEAR ALSO
Luke 13:
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down;
why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it
alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then
after that thou shalt cut it down.
Our
text is verse 8 - these words
...
this year also ...
THESE WORDS HAVE SOUNDED
THEMSELVES
SO OFTEN IN MY MIND THESE
LAST DAYS
THAT IT HAS BEEN AS IF A
BELL WAS RINGING,
AND
THE CLAPPER RANG OUT EACH TIME ...
this year also ...
I ATTACH NO SPECIAL
SIGNIFICANCE TO THE FACT
THAT THIS THOUGHT KEEPS
GOING THROUGH MY MIND,
EXCEPT TO PREACH THIS
SERMON.
this year also ...
I SEE IN THESE WORDS ...
I. A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
This
year ... this gift of time
was
a grant ... a grace grant by God.
II. A PAST RECOLLECTION
There
is a sense of retrospect here.
We
see it in the word also.
The owner has looked
amongst the leaves of this tree previously,
and found no fruit,
and thus felt disappointment,
&
He tires of the investment.
III. A POWERFUL MOTIVATION
We
see the Master in Action during this year.
We see Him cutting away
before He cuts down.
Neither
digging nor dunging
seems
particularly inviting to me,
yet
God may do both
in
His efforts to salvage us.
what
will you do with this warning.
this year also.
Implies that
the
trees time is coming to an end.
You are being given this year, second by second,
what will you do with this gift?
with further repetition
of
your rejection of Christ?
Adding
sin unto sin,
making
your judgement all the more fixed.
2 Peter
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
You may lift your head now
in
arrogance & impudence,
but when the axe falls suddenly,
without warning,
& you are cut down, & cast down,
where will your pride be then?
We
dare not think ourselves too important.
The
loss of a tree is a loss to the tree itself,
but
the forest will flourish all the same.
noticeably
diminished
because a single grain of sand
has been removed?
Is
the ocean noticeable diminished
because
a drop has been discarded?
If
you die lost, the loss will be yours.
To
the carnal Christian,
will
this year merely be
a
repetition of rebellion?
What
will yet be in 2003?
Will
you trample on the grace
of
the one who has given you space to repent
by
instead going ever deeper into your sin?
Longsuffering
has born with your fault and folly,
but
not forever.
It is time to turn now ...
while
you can ... before you are cut down.
This tree will have no excuse;
it
was given more chance than it deserved..
The owner is not
unreasonable
to expect fruit from
this tree.
Friend, think about
what
He should have already received from you,
& He has not.
He should have already
received your love and
devotion.
but
they have not.
Shall I tell my Master
that it is evident that
you care not for this gospel?
I speak to you now of
grace and opportunity.
You
apparently are given this time,
at least this moment ...
The preceding is a sermon written by Ben Shepherd.
Copyright 2002 Ben Shepherd
Permission is freely granted to those who minister
to use in public proclamation without stating attribution.
All other rights reserved.
Written and edited after reading & rereading from
the sermon(s) or writings cited below by C.H. Spurgeon.
Some of the thoughts and ideas were inspired
by Spurgeon's sermons, which are in the public domain.
THIS YEAR ALSO.
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 25, No. 1451A
FOR THE NEW YEAR.
FROM THE SICK CHAMBER OF C. H. SPURGEON.
JUDGMENT THREATENING BUT MERCY SPARING.
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 11, No. 650
DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING,
BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE,
