Audio of Sermon: 

Sermon Notes: Isaiah 5:1-2 (KJV)  Now will I sing to My Well Beloved a song of My Beloved touching his vineyard. My Well Beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:  [2]  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes …

and it brought forth wild grapes.

Today we will take the Lord’s Table. This is a time of self inspection and recognition of God’s love to us. God’s people are called by God to be God’s people. I’ll say that again:

God’s people are called by God to be God’s people!

The Bible uses the image of the grape vineyard to describe God’s people.
In the Old Testament the people of God were called Israel.
In the New Testament the people of God are called the Church.
God’s people – whether Old or New Testament – are likened to God’s Vineyard.

Isaiah 5:1 (KJV)  Now will I sing to my Well Beloved a song of My Beloved touching his vineyard.

God sings to His Well Beloved a song about the Well Beloved’s vineyard.
Who is the “Well Beloved”? It is Jesus Christ.

The Father spoke of Jesus at His baptism, saying:

Matthew 3:17 (CSB) … This is MY BELOVED Son, with whom I am well-pleased …

While the Pharisees plotted His death, God declared of Christ:

Matthew 12:18 (CSB) … Here is my servant whom I have chosen, MY BELOVED in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

As Peter tried to decide whether to hear Jesus, Elijah or Moses at the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father spoke from Heaven saying:

Matthew 17:5 (CSB) … This is MY BELOVED SON, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him! …

Christ is the Father’s Beloved, and the people whom He has saved His Beloved Garden. Throughout the Scripture the word “Beloved” is used either for Christ or for His People. God loves His Son. And if you love His Son and have received His Son as Lord and Savior, YOU are Beloved for His sake. You are …

Beloved of God, called to be saints (Romans 1:7)
Dearly Beloved, who runs from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14)
Beloved brethren, abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Beloved who are made accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Holy and beloved, merciful, kind, humble, and patient (Colossians 3:12)
Oh How The Beloved Loves His Garden!
Oh, How He Loves His People!

God plants His people. Christ plants His Garden. We read:

Isaiah 5:1 (KJV) … My WELL BELOVED hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill …

Christ’s Vineyard Is PLANNED

The Garden of God is planted in a place where it is to be very fruitful. Vineyards that are very fruitful are not accidents or come about by happenstance. God plants His Vineyard where it will be fruitful. The people of God are a people of purpose. The Bible says:

Ephesians 3:10-11 (CSB) This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is ACCORDING TO HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

God places His Garden where He wants it to be, in a place that fulfills His Eternal Purpose.

2 Timothy 1:9 (CSB) He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

The purpose of every believer is to bring forth fruit for God.

The purpose of every Church is to magnify and show our love for our glorious Savior.

Christ’s Vineyard Is PURCHASED

When we think of “purchase” we think of money and inflation. When I was a boy I could purchase a Marathon Bar – a caramel and chocolate candy bar that was about 1 foot long – for about 10 cents. Today the candy bars are tiny. I bought a small Snickers bar the other day and paid $1.38 for it! I remember gas being 35 cents a gallon. No more. That’s inflation.

What purchased us? The Bible tells us:

Titus 2:14 (CSB) … {Jesus} gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, eager to do good works.

Jesus purchased us. He did not purchase us with money subject to inflation, but purchased us with His own blood and His own body. He died for us on Calvary, suffering the shame and agony. He paid for our sins on that tree, that Bloody Tree. Christ chose the nails so that we could receive His Heaven. Jesus paid for our sins in His own Body on the Tree. The Apostle declares:

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, A PEOPLE FOR HIS POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

When we eat the Bread of this table and drink the Cup of this table we are reminded that

His Body was broken for me
His Blood was shed for me

As His Child I am His Purchased Possession. The Bible tells us that Christ made peace with God through His Blood shed on the Cross (Colossians 1:20).

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB) …. You are not your own, 20 for YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. So glorify God with your body (KJV adds “and in your spirit, which are God’s”)

The Vineyard belongs to the Beloved. He purchased us with His Blood. We are called to live for Him.

Christ’s Vineyard Is PLANTED And PROTECTED

Christ bestows a five-fold Grace on His Garden, His people. We read …

Isaiah 5:2 (KJV) And he FENCED it, and GATHERED OUT THE STONES thereof, and PLANTED IT WITH THE CHOICEST VINE, and BUILT A TOWER in the midst of it, and also MADE A WINEPRESS therein: and HE LOOKED that it should bring forth grapes

God loves His Garden, His Church. Purchasing it with His own Blood (Acts 20:28) Christ FENCES or BUILDS A HEDGE around His Church. God protects His Vineyard with His Word. The Church that departs from the Word of God clearly presented is the Church endangered. Jesus told us:

Matthew 7:15-16 (CSB) Be on your guard against FALSE PROPHETS who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

There are false prophets today who teach that a person can go to Heaven without Christ, that any old god will do. This is wrong. There is no other name given under Heaven by which a person can be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus stated:

John 14:6 (CSB) Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.

There are false prophets that teach that which Christ did not teach. Christ said:

John 13:34 (CSB) I give you a NEW COMMAND: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU ARE ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

The false prophets teach racism, division, and hatred. The Garden of God is called to show forth love, just as Christ loved us. Back biting and bickering are foreign to God’s Garden. These are wild grapes which do not please our Master. The Lord:

… gathers out the stones thereof …

Removing that which is non-productive. Sometimes we wonder why trials come in our lives. Trials come because God stirs the soil, pulling out the non-productive. We are told in …

1 Peter 1:5-7 (CSB) You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Someone once said “An untried faith is an uncertain faith”. It is through the trials that God brings to us that we are made more fruitful. The Garden must be weeded, and the soil stirred. Rocks must be removed, and branches pruned. Only then are we able to – relying upon our Christ – bring forth fruit to the glory of Christ our Lord. Christ …

… planted it with the choicest vine …

Do not let the Devil tell you you are unworthy.
You were unworthy, but now in Christ are made worthy.
His Blood cleanses you.
His Spirit indwells you.
God called you to be part of His Garden – He chose you.

John 15:16 (CSB) You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

The Devil and his evil agents – often so called “Brother” or “Pastor” or “Reverend” or even “Doctor” – have many times slandered my calling and my fruits. Yet Christ tells me “Keep your eyes on Me. I called you, not these satans. I called you to my Vineyard, not to a thorny rose patch. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. They accused Me, and they will accuse you. Lived for Me. Bring forth fruit to Me. Abide in Me.” Christ tells us:

Romans 16:17-18 (CSB) Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO CREATE DIVISIONS AND OBSTACLES CONTRARY TO THE TEACHING THAT YOU LEARNED. Avoid them, 18 because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14 (CSB) Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to KEEP AWAY FROM EVERY BROTHER OR SISTER WHO IS IDLE AND DOES NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION RECEIVED FROM US. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

Oh how the devil loves to attack the Garden of God. Keep your eyes upon Jesus. Do as the Scripture says and our Lord declared:

John 15:1-6 (CSB) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Cast aside the accuser and his disciples. Bear fruit for Jesus. Abide in Him. Cling to Him. Trust Him. He is our Beloved, and we His Garden.

… and built a tower in the midst of it …

God watches over His people.

The TOWER is a WATCHTOWER, a place to oversee the Vineyard. God paid so much for your salvation. He will not abandon you whom He has saved. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 121:3-8 (CSB) {God} will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. 4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. 5 The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. 6 The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. 7 The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. 8 The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.

God looks after His people. His eye is on the sparrow – I know He watches me. He has promised:

Psalm 34:15 (CSB) The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.

He will protect His own.

The Vineyard Is To PRODUCE For Christ

and made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes …
and it brought forth wild grapes

Christ expects His Vineyard to bring forth GRAPES … but not WILD GRAPES. What is the difference? A GRAPE grows from a cultivated plant on cultivated soil. A GRAPE comes from a domesticated vine. A WILD GRAPE grows without being planted or tended or overseen by the gardener.

Many today who call themselves “Christian” are wild grapes. Christ does not have to protect wild grapes. In fact, wild grapes are not valuable for anything. You will not find the fruit of wild grapes on supermarket shelves. They are often bitter, unstable, unusable.

The wild grape is not concerned over glory to God, but chases profit.

Isaiah 5:8-9 (KJV)  Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!  [9]  In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

The wild grape cares not for the Lord nor His Vineyard, but cares for their own profit. God promises that in due time they shall be desolate.

The wild grape chases self pleasure rather than God’s pleasure.

Isaiah 5:11-12 (KJV)  Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!  [12]  And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

The wild grape is all about the party, the pleasure, themselves. The wild grape does not live nor love for the Lord.

Isaiah 5:18 (KJV)  Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

The wild grape pursues sin, drawing it to themselves.
The wild grape justifies sin and redefines sin.

Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

God is the definer of sin. What He says is wrong will always be wrong. We who are His are to turn from sin as a destructive force, to love Him with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as Christ has taught us how. We do not argue with our Lord, our Beloved. The wild grape does, but we do not.

Isaiah 5:22-23 (KJV)  Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:  [23]  Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

We who are Christ’s love Him so we love His Word and stand in it, rejecting sin, knowing that, in the end, our Lord will triumph. Praise Him! Praise Him, oh Beloved’s Garden. We now come to the Lord’s Table. Prepare your hearts to receive His lesson.