Isaiah 5:1-7, 18-24 (ESV)

1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! … 18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, 19 who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! 24 Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Intro: We need to review some history of Judah & Isaiah …

GOD’S GOOD CARE
What is so significant about a vineyard and its Owner?

A REBELLIOUS VINEYARD
How had His people rebelled? And how did God respond?

JESUS, THE TRUE VINE
How does Jesus offer hope to such corrupt people like us?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD that He is a Life-giving God and Savior. Adore Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for His care and attention to all of your needs.

2 - How have you lived with a lack of contentment, ingratitude or bitterness? Confess your fruitlessness to Jesus, the True Vine, asking Him to forgive you and bear the fruit of His Spirit in your life.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His faithfulness as the True Vine. Thank Him for bearing the curse for your sinfulness by His death, and inviting you to share in His transforming goodness by His indwelling Spirit.

4 - Who do you know whose life is barren? Pray for them, asking the Holy Spirit to pour out His life upon them. Ask also that God would strengthen you to be an encouragement to this person.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to abide in Christ. Pray that He would give you a sense of His Presence and to bear His fruit of Christ-like character in your life.