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The Last Sunday of a Year

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"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
(Luke 13:8-9)

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Today is the last Sunday of this year.

When the last day of a year comes, everyone looks back to distinguish the right from the wrong.

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First, we should check over what we did last year then prepare for the new year.

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A master of a vineyard planted a fig tree in his own vineyard.

The master planted to gain good fruit from his fig tree.

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A servant took care of the fig tree that the master planted to gain good fruit.

The fig tree grew well without any problems.

It looked good and was in bloom as well.

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However, there was something wrong with the tree.

The master came to harvest the good fruit from the fig tree but there was no fruit that year.

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The master had waited for three years but the fig tree did not bear fruit any more.  The master told the servant, "Cut it down! This tree is useless.

Why should it use up the soil?"

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That time, the servant demanded,

"Sir, leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.

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If the fig tree did not bear fruit any more for one more year, it would be cut down and burnt. This is a scary and unhappy situation.

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If trees do not bear fruit the trees are useless.

So the master said that he would give the tree one more chance and after that, if the tree did not bear fruit, it would be cut down.

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We are also Spiritual trees and we follow Jesus as our master.

Our master, God accepts us as his children and orders us to make fruit that God wants.

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There are nine fruit of the Spirit that Christians have to bear.

Let's read together.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5: 22-23)

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Fig trees have to bear figs.

We should bear the fruit of the Spirit to prove that we are truly the people of God.

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Today is the last day of this year.

God may check out our fruit of the Spirit today.

Which fruit do you have? Have you had fruit that you can show to God?

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People who have the good fruit of the Spirit will be praised by God.

God will help you achieve God's will and raise you up.

You should prepare for the new year with a very humble heart and try to bear good fruit for God's kingdom.

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Therefore, don't you have the good fruit of the Spirit that you show to God?

Do you have any bad fruit in your life that God hates?

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Jesus, our servant of the vineyard may beg God, "God, please give me one more year. I will pray and help this man to bear the good fruit of the Spirit."

Even though he does this, Jesus' heart may feel painful.

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The past cannot be undone now.

But God will give you one more year or another chance.

Some of you who have born the good fruit of the Spirit should stay humble and try to bear more fruit next year.

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If you don't have any fruit, ask for God to forgive your sin.

Renew your mind and follow the Holy Spirit so that you can bear much good fruit in the new year.