relationships (Matthew 13:44-58) Most Important One

(Matthew 13:44-58)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Christianity is the most precious treasure one can have... for this world, as well as for eternity.  Most importantly, it is all about having a close, personal relationship with the Lord God, who came in flesh and gave His life as a ransom for us, to set us free from the slavery of sin, and reconcile us to Himself.  In this we are born again, receiving His indwelling Holy Spirit, who changes us from the inside out, and in this, He is our heavenly Father.  Adopting us into His family, we become fellow heirs in His kingdom, and He will never disown us!  We can never lose our salvation!  He is always with us, to help us, guide us, equip us... and fill us with His spiritual peace, certain hope, and inexplicable joy!

Here is the thing!  As the verses above tell us, we must "give up everything"... meaning, we are to humble our hearts and repent of our sins.  The Lord gave everything of Himself, so that we could have everything!  Therefore, we should really want to give up "our everything" which is actually really absolutely nothing.  Even our best is - well - this verse gives it to us straight (from the New English Translation version)...

(Isaiah 64:6)  We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.  We all wither like a leaf;  our sins carry us away like the wind.

So when we repent of our sins, in salvation, we understand that the Lord God is and should be first in our lives.  He should not only be placed ahead of everything and everyone else, He should be our pillar of strength, and firm foundation, so that we integrate Him and His will into every aspect and relationship in our lives.  I mean, why would we not?!  He is the most valuable relationship and treasure that one could ever have!!!

relationships (Matthew 13:24-58) No Need to Fear or Worry

(Matthew 13:24-43)

24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. 27 And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

33 He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable. 35 This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

     “I will open My mouth in parables;
     I will proclaim things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear."

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Since God is sovereign (everywhere-present, all-powerful and all-knowing), He already knows who is going to choose to believe in Him, and who will choose to reject Him.  Also remember that the Lord God is just and fair, and therefore will give everyone a fair opportunity to see and hear Truth and make their decision, which is for all eternity.  

Of course, God desires that all come to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him, therefore, of course, He does NOT want to punish anyone.  But because He is holy, He cannot have a relationship with sin.  This is why He came in flesh to accomplish His work on the cross - to provide the way for people - to be forgiven of all sins so that we can be reconciled to Him!

Because God is love, He will never force anyone to love Him back, or obey Him.  This is a personal choice that we all have to make.  Now, if we choose to love Him, and trust in Him, we will know without a doubt that He has the best in mind for us, as well as His kingdom... so that we can spiritually mature and grow in His love, peace, strength and wisdom, and so that His kingdom can spiritually mature and grow in His love, peace, strength and wisdom.  He desires that all people will be born again and become His children and be added to His family - His kingdom!

As this is God's plan and desire, He knows exactly when all people who are going to become Christians have become Christians, and all people who have rejected Him and His salvation will never change their minds.  This is when God will send out His angels to harvest the crop, and get rid of the weeds.  This will happen at the battle of Armageddon, at very end of the Jewish Age.  The Jewish Age has seven remaining years yet to happen, and it will come like a thief in the night, so that nobody knows when this will happen except for God the Father.

All we have to know is that God is sovereign and in charge.  God will bring all of this about at the proper time.  People will make their decision, and be ready... or they will maintain their decision to do their own thing, and not be ready.  And for believers right now, just as Jesus told His disciples before He ascended to heaven (which happened at the start of the Church Age), we are not to worry or fear anything or anyone, and we are not to concern ourselves about "WHEN" either the rapture, or the second coming of Jesus will happen.  Our focus should be on the Lord, always striving to grow closer to Him, as well as striving to serve in sharing the gospel message with others!

relationships (Matthew 13:1-58) To Actually Know

(Matthew 13:1-58)

1 On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. 9 The one who has ears, let him hear.”

10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

     ‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand;
     And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
     With their ears they scarcely hear,
     And they have closed their eyes,
     Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
     Hear with their ears,
     Understand with their heart, and return,
     And I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

To understand how fair the Lord is, there are few truths that bear remembering.  God desires that all come to know Him personally.  God never forces anyone to love Him back, or to obey.  It is all our choice, and because God is sovereign (omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient), He already knows who is going to believe in Him.  AND - God is fair, and therefore gives everyone fair opportunity to make a decision regarding one's eternal destination.

If God's salvation were so easy to understand, there would be too many people who would just be going through the motions without realizing that they were not actually saved!  Christianity is not a religion!  It is not about following a bunch of do's and don'ts with hopes that one might earn their way to heaven.  It is all about having a close, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!  As God's word so very clearly says:

(1 John 5:13)  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

(John 17:3)  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

relationships (Matthew 12:46-50) Family Unity

(Matthew 12:46-50)

46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 [Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] 48 But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

From scripture, we know that Jesus' brothers only became believers after His death and resurrection.  I mean, can you just imagine growing up with a brother who was PERFECT in everything, all of the time???!!!  And I can just hear the parents saying to all the other children:   "You should listen to your brother!" and "Why can't you be more like your brother?!" so... I'm pretty sure the brothers resented Jesus, and were most likely embarrassed by Him.  And NOW, here was their Brother - going around like He's God or something - and "creating scenes" and "making enemies" with the spiritual leaders!

Of course, Jesus was and is God!!!  And the spiritual leaders decided to see Him as their enemy, instead of who He really was.  Meanwhile, the brothers didn't yet want to acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord and that they needed Him.  In this moment, they were only thinking about themselves, and trying to take control.  Well, if Jesus wouldn't listen to them, surely they would listen to Mom!  After all, God's word tells us to obey and honor our parents!  So, they most likely convinced Mary to go with them in order to convince Jesus to stop all of this nonsense and craziness.

While Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a righteous woman, she was still born a sinner in need of a Savior, and once a believer, she would have still needed the Lord's help and guidance, just the same as everyone else.  So even though she was already a believer, it seems that in this moment, she too decided to go against God's will, thinking that they knew better and could sway Jesus away from what He was doing and what He came to do.

Culturally, what Jesus said would have sounded so disrespectful.  But Jesus knows the big picture, and lets us in on it.  While we are told to love all people, and respect and honor our parents, and submit to all believers, and obey and submit to all authorities... it is only "unto the Lord".  This means that if anyone tells us to do something that is against God and His will, we should not follow those instructions, but instead, obey the Lord.  The Lord God and His will should always come first.  And this shouldn't even just be at the top of our lists of hierarchies, this should be our firm foundation.

As believers... 

(1 Corinthians 6:17) ...the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him

Because we are in a personal relationship with the Lord, forever joined to Him, this means that He goes with us wherever we go and whatever we do.  And whatever He says, it is to our benefit to listen to Him, and then ask Him to do it with us!  Also, we are to meet with and work with our fellow believers, who are also in one spirit with Him!  Jesus provides a wonderful spiritual family!  Are they perfect yet?  No!  But iron sharpens iron.  

We are to be involved, to serve, teach, equip, fellowship and encourage one another so that we are all striving together to be steadfast in our personal walk with the Lord.  And when we corporately experience unity in God's Spirit, we will all be moving in the exact same direction!  Just like when family members respect, obey and honor their parents and the family is NOT dysfunctional - imagine how functional our spiritual family can be when we all respect, obey and honor our heavenly Father!

relationships (Matthew 12:43-45) Finding and Holding on to Hope

(Matthew 12:43-45)

43 “Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

In a big general sense, even as Christians, when we allow a bit of evil into our lives, it will beget more evil.  When we think it is okay to let one little sin slide in, we will find ourselves sliding down a slippery slope, sinning more and more.  Although, we should know that it is not a sin to be faced with temptations, since Jesus faced every form of temptation and yet did not sin.  But if and when we become obsessed with whatever it is that we are being tempted in, that is the same as coveting, which is a sin, and it is most beneficial to confess this to the Lord, because He is able to deliver us from that.

It is also important to know that as believers, because we have God's indwelling Holy Spirit, we cannot ever become demon possessed, but we can very definitely become oppressed!  As we let sin into our homes and lives, this is like an invitation.  Demons will also attack those who are steadfast, and people or organizations who have a strong impact, influence and outreach.  If and when we find that we are experiencing this darkness (which comes to deceive, distort, divide and destroy), ask God to deliver us from evil!  After all, He is omnipotent and more powerful than all powers put together!  

In the biggest sense, regarding these verses, when we repent and ask God into our lives, He gives us His indwelling Holy Spirit who seals us, and remains with us for eternity, to protect us, guide us, empower us, as well as convict us when we stray.  And let us not deceive ourselves.  We will stray.  But God already knows this, and that is why He also offers us His grace, and is so very patient with us.  But also know that our heavenly Father, who loves and cares for us, will discipline us.  While we can never lose our salvation, when we stray, He will allow consequences into our lives.  

When we quench His Holy Spirit within us, we will feel alone and abandoned.  Of course, as His children, the Lord will never leave us, but He will allow us to feel a lonely, hopeless, helpless despair, because without His help, we are helpless.  If He just continued allowing us to feel His joy, hope and peace, and all other blessings, we would most likely continue on in the sinful lifestyle that we have fallen into.

Since He is a loving God who desires to have a close relationship with us, He wants us to continue looking into His word and going to church and Bible studies so that He can talk to us.  He wants us to continue praying to Him for everything so that we have a constant dialogue with Him.  And He wants us to continue trusting in and relying on Him for His guidance, help and strength, so that we can experience and enjoy His friendship and great blessings.

relationships (Matthew 12:38-43) Do We Want to Know?

(Matthew 12:38-43)

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

When God in flesh is right in front of someone - talking to them and performing miracles and speaking truth - and THEN they ask for a sign - clearly, their eyes and ears are not opened.  People deliberately shut themselves off to the truth because they have no desire to see or hear it.  It's fascinating how that works!  I know that I've done this sort of thing on various topics or at various times, simply because I selfishly want to see what I want to see.  And even in praying, how often have I asked for something because I WANT it, while I should be seeking out what I need.  In fact, very often, the things we want, are the very things that will hurt us.

Even though Jonah didn't want to go preach to the people of Nineveh, because those people were enemies of Israel, God knew what was needed.  But Jonah either thought that he was going to be wasting his time and/or thought he was putting his life in danger by going to them... or even worse, thought that if they should repent, God would save them - those people that Jonah saw as unworthy enemies.  But we all fall short of God's glory.  Jonah wasn't any better or worthier to be saved.

Now, while Jonah suffered for 3 days and nights in the belly of a big fish because of his own sin of disobedience, Jesus suffered and died, and was buried for 3 days and nights, because of all our sins.  And just like the Lord delivered Jonah from the fish's belly, so that he could then obediently do as the Lord asked, the Lord can deliver anyone who repents of their sins so that we can then obediently do and live as the Lord asks.  In the Lord's forgiveness, we die to sin, and in the Lord's righteousness we live through Him.  Because of what He accomplished in His death and resurrection, we can have victory over sin and death.

Just like the Queen of Sheba who traveled a long distance, from Ethiopia, just to hear God's wisdom from the mouth of Solomon, and believe, those who seek out God's Truth and embrace it, will be saved.  It doesn't matter who we are or what color our skin is, God came in flesh to pay the price of all sin, for all people, of all time, all to His glory.  It is our choice to want to open our spiritual eyes and ears to find and know His truth!  And in His truth, most importantly, we find a loving, personal relationship with the Lord God, Himself!!! 

relationships (Matthew 12:30-37) Choosing a Side

(Matthew 12:30-50)

30 The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36 But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

The one unpardonable sin is to reject Jesus and His salvation, which comes with His forgiveness of all our sins (past, present and future), as well as eternal life, and His indwelling Holy Spirit, who seals us, and changes us from the inside out.  Then, when believers stand before the Lord at the Bema Seat to be judged and rewarded for the good deeds we have done with right motives.  We will not be judged according to our sins, because they have all been forgiven, and the Lord chooses to remember them no more.

Those who have rejected the Lord, and never received His forgiveness of sins, and do not have the Holy Spirit, have chosen to live by their own works.  Therefore, when they stand before the Lord at the White Throne Judgement, they will be judged and punished for the sins they have committed.  Understand, the Lord doesn't want to punish anyone, but desires that all come to know Him.  But because He is love, He does not force anyone to love Him back.  Even once someone decides to become a believer, He does not force anyone to be obedient.

Now, looking back at verse 30, it very clearly says, "The one who is not with Me is against Me..."  One cannot be an unbeliever and know and serve the Lord.  God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin.  The one who is still a slave to sin, will not understand the Lord or His way.

It is also important to note that this verse does NOT say - the one who is with Me is not against Me - because the Lord knows that believers will stray and fall into sin.  I've even seen how Christians will fight for their personal preferences, to the point of causing divisions and scattering believers, either to other churches, or, even sadder, to just give up in their walk with God!  If and when we do that, we must realize that we are actually doing the work of Satan!  So then when we sin, as we are God's children, He will discipline us.  This isn't a bad thing.  

Remember, Christianity is all about having a personal relationship with the Lord, because He loves us, and desires that we continue to return to Him and His word, because He has a much better way, and we will see that it is so very worth it!  And because of His grace, patience and faithfulness, we can never lose our salvation.  But since He wants us to return to Him, confess, and continue on in growing closer to Him, in our disobedience, He will allow us to feel loneliness and despair.  Even though He will never leave us, if we choose to stray, we are the ones who are walking away from this most precious relationship of peace, joy, certain hope, wisdom and strength.  Therefore, it is up to us to once again seek after Him!

When we return in obedience, we will once again experience the Lord.  The more we experience the Lord, the more we look to Him.  The more we look to Him, the more He works for us, in us and through us, to be more and more obedient, fruitful, and helpful in serving Him and others with good deeds!  Good deeds that are done with right motives, are those which are done in God's love, strength and in His righteousness, all to His glory.  This is what it means to be with the Lord!