It’s a common reaction
to want to be alone when you’ve lost a family member or a friend. When someone you love has died, the grief can tear you up inside. And sometimes, the sadness can last a long time. The mourning can be totally overwhelming, and it can feel like you’re walking through a dream. For many, the last thing they want to do is help somebody. It can be hard to give away more of yourself when you feel like a part of your heart has just been ripped away. I know the feeling all to well because I lost my brother and my mother within a short period of time. The majority of me wanted to withdraw, but I was a wife and mother and had to go on living. It was hard. But what I found was the more I focused on the needs of another, the more God healed my own broken heart. It did not happen overnight. It took a little bit of time. And that is why I am able to see what I believe to be the greatest miracle found in Matthew Chapter 14. It’s not the feeding of thousands of people from two loaves of bread and five fish, and it’s not that Peter and Jesus walked on water - No, that is not it. It’s the ability of Jesus to respond to thousands of people with great compassion right after finding out that Herod had killed his beloved cousin, John the Baptist. The scripture says, “On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.” “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” Isn’t this the initial reaction of most of us who find out our loved one is dead? In disbelief, we want to retreat, or faint, or attack the person or the reason responsible for ripping out our heart. “Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Can you imagine? You go off to be alone and people come from all around for selfish motives. Most of us would say, “Just go away and leave me alone! But that is not what Jesus did. His compassion for others was stronger than his own heartache. “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” Matthew Chapter 14 Matthew Chapter 14 is all about grief and compassion. And we can the human side of Jesus felt strong emotion and needed to grieve, but the God side of Jesus WON. His compassion for mankind went above and beyond losing a man that he loved.
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At this point in the story, Jesus had just finished speaking to large crowds who came out of nowhere to follow him. He healed all who were ill, and He warned them not to tell others about him. All the people were astonished, and wondered if he could be the Son of David. But the Pharisees said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” The crowds were so large, that Jesus got into a boat, while all the people stood on the shore, and from there he told them many things about the Kingdom of Heaven in parables. After Jesus had finished talking to the people, he went to his hometown of Nazareth to serve as a hometown prophet. He continued his ministry of teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. But then, the Nazarenes wondered, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” Instead of believing that Jesus could be the Son of David, like the others did, the Nazarenes became offended by him. The scripture says, Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Matthew 13:53-58 Isn’t it amazing how people can attach so many preconceived notions on their fellow man based on who they think they should be. The people judged who Jesus was based on the family he came from and his likeness to them. Since he was ordinary, just like them, and did not possess any heavenly characteristics, they became indignant that he was teaching them. They minimized his value and disqualified his acts - all because they dismissed who he was. You see, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” This tells me that the Word of God that comes out of the mouth of a person is more likely to be received and believed by those who do not know them. “And Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” This passage is a great indicator that it’s not the giver that determines whether a miracle takes place, but rather the heart of the person of the one who is receiving it. So far, in reading Matthew it seems every parable that Jesus speaks of is about the kingdom of Heaven. From seeds to weeds and pearls and hidden treasures, the message always contains a Heavenly perspective. And this time is no different. The Parable that comes next is about a fishing net, a furnace, and a storeroom. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50 Do you believe that Jesus is telling the truth? In every parable he says the same thing! There will be a separation between humans - between the ones he considers to be good and bad, whom he also refers to as the righteous and wicked. Jesus asked his disciples, “Have you understood?” You see, once the disciples had a firm understanding of what would happen on the day of judgment, He gave them more information. And I believe this is what I will see as I progress through the scriptures. “Every teacher of the law (As written by God) who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:51-52 At first I did not understand what this second part of the parable meant, but now the word is slapping me right in my face. I believe this is what it means - A follower of Christ is one who studies the Word, And follows the influence of the Holy Spirit. A disciple of Christ is given knowledge and wisdom, and a firm understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven. Disciples of Christ are fully equipped by God to show others the truths contained in the Old and New Testament. And let me tell you this - Everything points to Jesus! I’m not speaking from what I learned in a Bible college, because I never attended! I went through what is known as the "life of hard knocks." I am just a regular person who heard the voice of God and decided to listen. I am a just an everyday person who opened the Book of God’s instruction, and decided to submit to the Father’s correction. This is why my life chapter is Hebrews 12. Truly, I am just like a Gideon. I come from a lowly position, and thought myself as completely unworthy, until Jesus showed up and taught me whose I am. It's true. Jesus appeared in a boardwalk vision and lifted me from the pit of self-destruction. He walked me down the aisle, to the Father then opened the tent door. In an instant I was transformed into God’s illumination, and I suddenly knew WHO I was made of. God is so much more than a figment of our imagination. He is the Creator of the universe, the earth and the heavens. God is more than a feel-good message. He is the one who gives breath, and takes it away. He is the one who curses and who blesses. Ever since that day I’ve been a true follower of Christ - not a carnal Christian who says she loves God but goes her own way. I am no longer an unfaithful servant - who half-heartedly abides but is an adulterer at heart. I have learned that as a follower of Christ I must understand God’s plan to walk in my purpose. And this means that I must live in the earth realm as a citizen of Heaven. And every citizen of Heaven has a storeroom because they share in the glory of God. A storeroom is a place where necessities are placed until it’s the right time to bring them out. A storeroom also contains a surplus of wealth. It’s where a person places things that are close to their heart - like Jesus, God’s promise of eternal life. Did you know that God gave his children a storeroom because we are made in His imagine - and He has one? God’s storeroom contains his unfailing love and faithfulness; his absolute grace and patience with us, and his constant provision to care for us. Eating from the storehouse of God, which comes from the heavens above, is how God blesses his children for their obedience, and how Jesus lavishes His bride in splendor and perfume. “The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” Deuteronomy 28:12 The Lord says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Malachi 3:10 Reading the Word is like unscrolling the scroll. The more you open it, the more comes out. The same is true for our tithe. The more we give to build the kingdom of God, the more we store up in the New Jerusalem. God said, through the mouth of Malachi, his prophet, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Do you know this is the only time that God says to test him? It's when He challenges us to build up His Kingdom. If you love God with all your heart, your mind and your soul, then you will acknowledge Him in all that you do in the earth realm because you are storing up riches in Heaven. It feels good to move on
from the seeds and the weeds, to the Parable of the Pearls. Though classified as a gemstone, pearls are extremely unique, largely due to the fact they are the only gemstone formed and found within a living creature. And unlike diamonds, rubies, emeralds and lapis lazuli, pearls require no cutting or polishing before use and are simply stunning the way they naturally form. Hunting for pearls requires great work. Finding an oyster that contains a pearl, is only like 1 in a 100 positive chance. Finding natural pearls, in the wild is easier said than done, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. The very idea of opening an oyster up and finding a pearl to be harvested can only be likened to finding an unopened treasure chest at the bottom of the sea in the dark. And now that we understand the uniqueness of a pearl, we can see why people place so much value in it, and why they labor to possess its worth. So let’s dive in to God’s Word so that we can fully understand the Parable of the Pearls. The Most High God who became flesh said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46 Now what do you think Jesus meant by what he said? To me it means that kingdom of Heaven is better than anything we could ever imagine. This earth that is ridden with sin is like a murky sea consumed by darkness. And yet, within 1 in a 100 persons is the very essence of the Spirit of God. From the beginning of time, God's Word was alive, therefore He has always provided a remnant who understand what He says. God’s remnant are those who know who their Creator is, and they acknowledge His voice in all of their deeds. They are the ones who confess their sins, while believing God is faithful just to forgive them. God’s remnant are those who know they are righteous simply because of the blood of the Lamb. They have learned to apply Holy Spirit wisdom, instead of trying to establish their own self-righteousness through works and traditions, rituals and programs. God’s remnant are those who have His spiritual DNA. They are the ones who have expressed faith. The Word of God is a bowl of unending treasure. All you have to do is dive in and you can find it. The Word of God clarifies God’s plan and tells exactly how we fit in. The Word of God reconciles differences and conflicts concerning doctrines, and brings unity in truth, knowledge and understanding. The Word of God brings hope to a lost generation and re-establishes His firm foundation. The Word of God is a complete testament to the life of Jesus. It’s the oath made by God unto to himself. The Word of God was thought, said and written from the beginning of time, before darkness and light were separated and the earth was formed. You see, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John 1:1-2 “And yet, people continue to deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed by waters. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed, (in the days of Noah). By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly (when the chaff is separated from the wheat). But do not forget this one thing, With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But know this, the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:5-16 My friends, The Kingdom of God can only be found when the soul of a person has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 Purified and cleansed, and set free from sin is the creation we will be in the New Jerusalem. God’s children are like pearls hidden within shells, protected and loved until fully mature. I suppose this is why Jesus said, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6 Today I feel a little foolish
because yesterday I wrote a poem explaining the Parable of the Weeds and didn’t read ahead to realize that Jesus explained it. I was so excited to give my own interpretation of the Holy Spirit illumination, that I didn’t even pay attention to the following verses. But here’s the good news, I got it right! I understood what Jesus meant by the Parable of the Weeds so I have not misled anyone. It’s so interesting to me, because yesterday, as I wrote my poem, I started off by saying the reader will think I am dumb. I said the illumination would NOT be music to their ears because it means some men have the seed of Satan. And most people don’t want to believe that. I know I didn’t. I once wrote a paper about my counseling philosophy and It was based on the premise that every person is good, and with proper rehabilitation, they can be redirected. But I was wrong, because that is NOT what Jesus says. Here are His words, and we must remember that His words are true and trustworthy. “Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:36-43 You see, there are two kinds of seed growing in people, One for God and one for Satan. They often look the same, but God can tell what they are made of inside. And when we have His Spirit, He gives us discernment. But He also says not to play God, by thinking that we can separate them. Because our own hearts can be the most deceitful. I am so excited to be growing in Holy Spirit wisdom, and I know it can only be done through a humble, hungry heart and the reading of His Word that is contained in His Book. This past year I pressed in, with other God-fearing women, to the Book of Daniel. and it led us into so many truths regarding the end of age, things to come and how to live by the Maranatha cry! Let me see if I can summarize: Daniel was a faithful prophet who lived and loved among the Babylonians, a narcissistic, pagan nation that was bent on doing evil. And yet, He served his kings with the utmost respect while serving the Most High God above all else. He was given vision and wisdom unlike any other prophet. He saw mighty angels, including the one who watches over God’s people. And I believe he saw Jesus, the Son of Man, in God’s throne room. The people of the land called Daniel the Chief Magician, because he was able to tell the future and interpret dreams without first being told of their content. He was constantly elevated and respected because of his kindness, love and devotion. And even when he was manipulated by evil men, he came out on top because of God's protection. He even survived the Lions Den! Daniel was given great details about the first and second coming of Jesus. He was even permitted to hear about God’s timeline. Daniel was told about the Kings of the North and the Kings of the South, and was given detailed information about the anti-Christ. Reading Daniel was not only amazing, but very humbling! We took 7 full months to process the scripture because we had to also explore the revelation of John, 2 Thessalonians 2, and the Word of the Lord through the Old Testament prophets. We went here and there in God's Word to increase knowledge. Please understand - Believing that Jesus came to die for your sins is only half of the equation. Believing that He is the King of the New Jerusalem, where all of God's children will go to live, after their slumber, after their rest - now that’s the full gospel message! But we also learn not everyone is good, because satanic seed has been spread into the hearts of humans. And it’s only through the blood of Jesus and the washing of the Word, that a heart is renewed and made righteous before God. And this is a hard message for most of us. We want to believe that everyone is good, and everyone is saved, but once again, that is not what God’s word says. These are the words of Jesus, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already burning! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53 We know that there is, and will forever be, division in our own family - and that is both sad and scary for us to come to terms with. Scripture says that those who do not believe in the full gospel message, the Lamb of God who is returning as the Lion of Judah, will be thrown into the fire. Don’t you think it’s about time to get back to full gospel message? Shouldn’t we be holding our pastors and teachers accountable? Isn’t it time for God’s people to tell the truth about Jesus? Isn’t it time to warn people about the anti-Christ spirit? Jesus said, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” Luke 12:54-56 Can’t we see that the twisted, westernized gospel has actually advanced the coming of the anti-Christ spirit instead of the Kingdom of God? Even Paul was smart enough to know that he had to preach the whole gospel almost 2000 years ago! He said to the Thessalonians, “Do not believe that the antichrist has come yet. Don’t let anyone deceive you for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 FYI - I searched the scripture to find Paul's original words, but I could not find them. Either I have not seen them, or they must not have been recorded. “And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6 That’s amazing! The Thessalonians knew who was holding back the actual anti-Christ, the man of lawlessness, the man of destruction! Today, most people believe it’s the Holy Spirit, but I’ve also heard other plausible suggestions with scripture-based arguments. As for me, I still am not sure. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 Children of God, It is time to press in! Do not follow a Pastor who only speaks half the gospel through a feel-good message because it actually keeps you in bondage! Get into the Word yourself, and be led by God! The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth! I leave you with these words. God in the flesh is not a thing of old. The Son of Man is coming back soon! Take hold! Prepare the way of the Lord. Make no doubt about it, the Lamb of God has done His job. God himself took on the flesh of man to be the final atonement. And the Lion of Judah is coming soon to rule his Kingdom. The question is - will you be in it? Written 7/6/21
I can’t believe what I just learned. What I’m about to say will NOT be music to your ears. At first it’s going to sound incredibly dumb, but I implore you to stick with me until the end. But first, I encourage you to read the Parable of the Weeds. This way you can develop your own opinion. Then I’ll express what I have learned, and you can decide whether it’s crazy or not. Here goes: “Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “No,’ he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” Matthew 13:24-30 So, what do you think? How is the Holy Spirit guiding you? Well, let me tell you what He illuminated to me. First, the kingdom of Heaven is not a far away place. It’s exists right here, among the weeds! It’s the place where God himself has sown good seed. It’s the intent of God’s heart with faithful deeds. And it’s also the place where Satan has sown his seed - Using trickery to entangle with weeds of deceit. The children of God stepped in to work for free. They offered to do God’s work and pull out the weeds. But God said no, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat.” You see, there are two kinds of seed growing in the hearts of men - one for Satan and one for God. Each one begins underground, then grows up to show its kind. Often times, they look the same. At first, it can be hard to tell the difference. But with time, the truth comes out. One bears God’s fruit and one does not. Jesus said there will be a time of harvest when the two will be separated. Until then, they are to grow together. But take courage. The harvest will come at the appointed time, when the heart of God’s people has become wise. At that time, God will tell his harvesters: “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” For the glory of the Lord will shine upon them. You see, in the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns, “The earth and the heavens will pass away, because there will be no place for them. The dead, great and small, will stand before God’s throne, and the books will be opened. The dead will be judged according to what they have done as recorded in the books of God. The sea will give up the dead, and death and Hades will give up the dead in them, and each person will be judged according to what they have done. Then death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire will be their second death. Revelation 20:11-15 This will be the end result, the final destiny, for Satan’s seed. At that time, God will create “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth will pass away, and there will no longer be any sea. The seed of God whom are His children, will see the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. She will be prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. God’s people will hear the following announced, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” The Father will say, “I am making everything new!” Now write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-5 God loves his people so much that He is not willing to sacrifice one of them! He refuses to kill His seed, even if it means they have to grow up with the weeds. May this word give you enduring hope and patience through your difficulties. #Maranatha Last night the Lord woke me up three times,
to tell me that “We are all God’s children” is a colloquialism. It’s a common misperception, and it doesn’t tell the truth. It’s often used by people who identify as Christian, which just shows that most of them are walking in deception. And I used to be one of them. While everything we see is the creation of God, it does not mean that we all have His spiritual DNA. The scripture says that Adam has gone away, while Christ is here to stay. The first man was of the earth, the second man was from heaven. The first Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. Just as Adam was the first of the human race, so Christ is the first of those who will be raised from the dead. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn. Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him so that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 So let us remember, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 Now listen to what I have to say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes the sin of the world away; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son to condemn you and me. He sent His Son so that we might be saved through Him.” John 3:16 To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 For in Christ Jesus we are all sons of God, through the gene of faith. Galatians 3:26 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. "The Holy Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs to the throne and fellow heirs with Christ, provided that we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17 So as you can see, Not everyone is a child of God. According to the Bible, The only children of God are those who come through Christ. True love is not expressed through those who tell you what you want to hear. True love refuses to watch you die through the tickling of your ears. True love is what God has shown to us - by giving us time to make a life-giving choice. If you have never heard the gospel spoken in truth and love, then now is your chance to receive the Spirit of God. You must be careful not to twist the Word of God, and make it into something that sounds good - the devil is roaring about like a hungry lion and he likes to attack the minds of men through the thoughts of pride. “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36 You must remember that Satan has been given reign over this world, until God’s appointed time when Jesus returns. At that time, the scripture says, “For there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” Matthew 24:21-22 You see God is giving us time to figure it out. He is giving people time to make a turn about. Satan’s primary goal is to blind the minds of men, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In the beginning, man was made in the image of God, but when he went against God, he became Satan’s pawn. God removed his Spirit from the heart of man, and sent him into the wilderness to walk all alone. But the Word of God is faithful and He became a Lamb. He sacrificed himself so that He could open the scroll. “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:2-12 So now you must make a choice. Do you believe that salvation ONLY comes through Christ? Do you believe that He is the final sacrifice? Do you believe that He shed his blood for you? Do you believe that He paid the ultimate price just to have you reconciled back to Him? Are you a true child of God? One of the things I learned
when I was studying to be a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, was something called the Tell, Show and Do Method. Tell, Show and Do are elements of good instruction. They each play a part in the proper transfer of information from the teacher to the learner. It involves the instructor telling the student what they need to know, and then showing them how to do it. Then, the student begins to move to copy it. Through the use of three learning styles, the auditory, visual and kinesthetic systems, students are more inclined to retain information which leads to full integration and application. In addition, if a mistake is made, then the instructor is there to support them, and offer proper correction. I believe this is what Jesus did when training his disciples to be the Apostles. "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Specifically, in Matthew 13, Jesus tells his disciples a parable and then He explains it. He later goes on to show them how to do it. And then, as we all know, the students are given an opportunity to practice what they have learned and stand corrected - before being sent out to apply it. In this passage, Jesus told a parable. He said, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:3-9 Very rarely does Jesus explain what the parables mean. He usually just says and then carries on. But in this case, Jesus explains it. He said, “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” There it is - the seed represents the gospel message about the Kingdom of Heaven, where Jesus is King - the life-giving Spirit who rules and reigns it. This is very different from Adam - the living being who was made from dust to rule and reign over God’s physical creation. The land represents the soil of the heart - the condition of a person to receive the gospel message and to bear fruit from it. The evil one represents a thief. A criminal spirit who unlawfully takes God’s blessing away. In this instance, if a persons heart is totally resistant to Christ, then the seed is diverted, and is sown along the path. The great thing that I just noticed is that the seed is not changed! It simply is diverted to a different location until it falls into good hands and locates a heart that is ready to receive it. “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” To me, this is pretty straightforward. It reminds me of the temporary friend who is only there to have a good time. As soon as trouble comes, they leave you alone to fend for yourself. This is the heart that is all about self - Completely narcissistic in nature based on what in it for them. “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word out, making it unfruitful.” This is the person who is lukewarm. They have more faith in the world than they have in God. They also put more emphasis on themselves. They may root, but they do not bear fruit, and this is not okay with God. God in His mercy grants us another day, another hour, and another breath. Christ stands at the door of each man’s heart knocking and seeking to gain entrance and requiring repentance from sin. But if there is no fruit, no repentance, His patience will come to an end, and the fruitless, unrepentant individual will be cut down. (Quoted from Got Questions) They weeds and thorns squeeze out the true witness. Due to their allegiance to the world, these people are not able to die to self and point people to Christ to be transformed. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23 You see, The heart of the believer is more than able to testify to Christ because they have died to self and have been transformed. They are willing and able to recognize and respond to the Voice of God. Their whole desire is to draw in and pay attention to the Word of God, because they know in their heart and soul that Jesus is sovereign. You see, the Bible is more than a book. It’s the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it not only explains where man comes from, but it explains the Kingdom of Heaven and how we transform from being a living being to an eternal spirit. It also tells us what is to come on the Day of the Lord. And in this age, which is known as “the Church” believers are called to be ambassadors for Christ - reconciling men back to God. I used to think that a disciple, an apostle or an evangelist were man-made positions that required special certifications from Bible colleges. I thought that a Priest or a Pastor who was ordained by another had to be the one to give a person that special recognition. But that is NOT what the Bible says! My God, how we have twisted the Word of God! We have it so wrong! An apostle, missionary or evangelist, is simply one who is sent by God to convey the gospel message. They are the names that people give to explain a follower of Christ, who has been sent by God to spread the gospel message through the testimony of their faith in Christ. Their sole mission is to point people to Christ to reconcile men back to God. Why humans have to elevate themselves is beyond my understanding! It reminds me of the disciples squabbling over who was the greatest! I love how Jesus rebuked them. He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever takes the position of the least is the greatest.” Matthew 18:3-5 So I ask you, what kind of heart do you have? Are you able to receive the Kingdom of Heaven? Are you willing to be a personal trainer for Christ by teaching people how to apply the Tell, Show and Do method? Are you a person who is caught in the man-made system? Or has Jesus ordained you for the great commission? Do you elevate yourself through bragging rights and labels? Or is your audience solely Jesus Christ? I’ve been in education
for over 25 years, and one of my favorite things to do is read storybooks to children. I love it when I walk into a classroom and I hear a child say, “Ms. Burgess, what are you going to read to us today?” The excitement that comes from a child’s voice still brings goosebumps to my skin, and joy rises up from within my soul as I begin to enter in. As such, narrative therapy and journaling activities are some of my favorite counseling tools, because stories are perfect ways for people to build all kinds of connections. And when I’m presenting to adults, I love to throw a picture book in, because children’s stories keep difficult concepts comprehensive. Something magical happens when stories start to unfold. People fall under a spell when the storytelling begins. Well, I’d like to tell you a story about the greatest storyteller that ever lived. His name was Jesus Christ, and he was famous for captivating all kinds of audiences. Crowds would come from all around just to get a sneak peak. They would fill the land, from end to end, just to hear him speak. Matthew 13 says, “A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since the seeds didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Matthew 13:2-9 See…isn’t Jesus amazing? The man is dead, but His Spirit lives! “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrew 4:12 And the storytelling goes on through the opening of the scroll. His words come off the page and enter into our hearts to live. The truth is the WORD OF GOD IS the greatest story ever told! What do you think Jesus means through the parable of the seed? Is there a truth He wants you to know? If so, what is it? Sometimes, when we want to convey an important message, it’s best to use metaphors. A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another for rhetorical effect. For instance, instead of saying “I am happy” I might say “My eyes are full of sunshine.” A metaphor is like an allegory - a picture, story or poem that is used to expose the hidden meaning behind something strong. Did you know that Jesus used allegories all the time? He shared simple stories called Parables to reveal spiritual truths. Time and time again, when Jesus spoke to people about the Kingdom of Heaven, he used visual stories - much like the Prophets of old. Did you know that I used to believe that Jesus was metaphorically speaking in order to provide clarity into the hidden meanings of spiritual things. But now that I write, I believe the opposite is true. Jesus isn’t trying to hide anything from the children of God. He is speaking a language that is shared between siblings - brothers and sisters who are imagers of God. Metaphorically speaking, the proof is in the pudding. We need to understand that everything is given in the Word. You see, When the spirit of the reader matches the spirit of the writer - the scripture makes total sense! The Holy Spirit in NOT a person who is full of bullshit or nonsense! The Word of God is not bent! In fact it is completely straight and has a perfect plumb-line. It’s full of truth, faithfulness, unfailing love and endurance. Since God is the alpha and omega, He does not leave any rock unturned. He does not leave any question unanswered. All we have to do is dig into the scripture. It's all there! The answers to every life problem can be found. Jesus tells us very clearly why he spoke in parables. He said, “As my disciples, you are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.” “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge." "But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away.” “That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.” This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, “When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” Matthew 13:10-17 Isn't God good? He rewards those who are in love with him. Jesus said, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge." The more we pay attention and dig into scripture, the more we grow in Holy Spirit wisdom. The Holy Spirit reveals that truth is only hidden from those who have hardened their hearts towards God. If there is any opposition to getting into the Word, or understanding what it says then we must take a long look inside - because the proof is in the pudding. The heart of a person can only be determined by putting it to the test - and appearances must be set aside. May those who ears to hear, hear. May those who have eyes to see, see. #Maranatha |
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