September 28, 2008

• Mustard seed, leaven and the gate

  Luke 13:18-19 KJV 
  Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall
  I resemble it?  (19)  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man
  took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree;
  and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

  Matthew
  13:3-9 KJV  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying,
  Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  (4)  And when he sowed, some seeds
  fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  (5) 
  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and
  forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  (6) 
  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no
  root, they withered away.  (7)  And some fell among thorns; and the
  thorns sprung up, and choked them:  (8)  But other fell into good
  ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold,
  some thirtyfold.  (9)  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  Seeds
  in Jesus’ parables are a picture of God’s Word.  The sower threw seeds
  on the ground (Mat. 13) representing the spreading of God’s Word.
  Birds
  seem to be negative, demonic in nature.  Some of the birds (Mat. 13)
  ate the seeds, being a picture of Satan destroying the work of God in
  people’s lives.
  Also, though a mustard seed is little, and though a
  mustard seed grows into a large bush, they don’t grow into a “great
  tree”.  There is something bizarre, abnormal about this kind of growth.

  Luke
  13:20-21 KJV  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of
  God?  (21)  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three
  measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

  Leaven is ALWAYS a picture of sin or evil.

  Paul
  warned the Corinthian church to take care of the sin that had become to
  be accepted in the church.  He warned the Corinthians that they would
  all be affected by sin that was not dealt with.

  1 Corinthians 5:6 KJV  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
  
  The
  way leaven (or “yeast”) works is through decay and putrification.  As
  the leaven mixes in with the bread dough, it begins to break down the
  flour and produces chemical reactions that release gases and the dough
  rises.

  You only need to put a little pinch of yeast into a lump
  of dough and if you let the lump sit long enough, the yeast will
  eventually permeate the entire lump of dough.

  Again, this
  parable is very similar to the preceding parable.  The idea is that
  sometimes a little wickedness can creep into the church.  And if you
  aren’t careful, it can eventually affect everyone.

  2
  Thessalonians 2:3 KJV  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for
  that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and
  that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

  Acts
  20:28-30 KJV  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
  flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
  the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  (29) 
  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
  among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall
  men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
  
  2
  Peter 2:1-22 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people,
  even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall
  bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
  bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow
  their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
  spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words
  make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
  not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  (4)  For if God spared not
  the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them
  into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  (5)  And spared
  not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
  righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 
  (6)  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned
  them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after
  should live ungodly;  (7)  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the
  filthy conversation of the wicked:  (8)  (For that righteous man
  dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul
  from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)  (9)  The Lord knoweth how
  to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto
  the day of judgment to be punished:  (10)  But chiefly them that walk
  after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.
  Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
  dignities.  (11)  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might,
  bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  (12)  But
  these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak
  evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish
  in their own corruption;  (13)  And shall receive the reward of
  unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day
  time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own
  deceivings while they feast with you;  (14)  Having eyes full of
  adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an
  heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 
  (15)  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following
  the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of
  unrighteousness;  (16)  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass
  speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  (17) 
  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest;
  to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (18)  For when they
  speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of
  the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from
  them who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they
  themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
  overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after
  they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of
  the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein,
  and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
  righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
  commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them
  according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
  again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  Are we seeing that???? Oh yeah.

  Luke
  13:22-30 KJV  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching,
  and journeying toward Jerusalem.  (23)  Then said one unto him, Lord,
  are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  (24)  Strive to
  enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to
  enter in, and shall not be able.  (25)  When once the master of the
  house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand
  without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us;
  and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 
  (26)  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy
  presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  (27)  But he shall say,
  I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye
  workers of iniquity.  (28)  There shall be weeping and gnashing of
  teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the
  prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.  (29) 
  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the
  north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 
  (30)  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are
  first which shall be last.

  Lord are there few that be saved??

  strive
  – agonizomai – to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games; to
  contend with adversaries, fight; metaph. to contend, struggle, with
  difficulties and dangers; to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to
  obtain something

  Matthew
  7:13-14 KJV  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
  broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
  go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the
  way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  Narrow, Straight gate.

  The world does not like that. Only one way to God. Narrow minded Christians the world says. Many try to go in the broad way.

  There is only One Way into heaven, and it’s through Jesus.

  Jesus said,
  John 14:6 KJV  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  He also said,
  John
  10:7-10 KJV  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
  unto you, I am the door of the sheep. {8} All that ever came before me
  are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. {9} I am the
  door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
  out, and find pasture. {10} The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
  to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that
  they might have it more abundantly.

  Luke
  13:25 KJV  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut
  to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door,
  saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you,
  I know you not whence ye are:

  The point here is that there will be a time when the “door to heaven” will be shut.

  Hebrews 9:27 KJV  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

  Luke 13:26 KJV  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

  Going to Church wont save you.

  Going
  to Burger King doesn’t make you a Whopper.  Going to Krispy Kreme
  doesn’t make you a donut. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian.

  The Bible says,
  John
  1:12 KJV  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
  the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

  Jesus said,
  Revelation
  3:20 KJV  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
  voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
  and he with me.

  There must be a time where a person
  actually chooses to follow Jesus. They must choose to open their heart
  to Jesus, to allow Jesus access to their life, to choose to follow
  Jesus.

  Luke 13:27 KJV  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

  Jesus
  rejects these people.  Even though they can claim to have hung around
  him, eating, drinking, and being taught, He replies that He doesn’t
  know them.

  What a tragedy if you are churched (know the bible) but have never opened your heart to Jesus Christ.

  If you are a believer you should be characterized  by following in obedience to Jesus.

  If you aren’t characterized by that you need to search your heart.

  John
  14:15-24 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.  (16)  And I will
  pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
  abide with you for ever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
  world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
  but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (18) 
  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  (19)  Yet a
  little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I
  live, ye shall live also.  (20)  At that day ye shall know that I am in
  my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  (21)  He that hath my
  commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
  loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
  manifest myself to him.  (22)  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot,
  Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto
  the world?  (23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me,
  he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come
  unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not
  keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the
  Father’s which sent me.

  Jesus says if you love me keep my commandments. What is your life characterized by?

  Have you opened your heart to Jesus?

  Luke
  13:28 KJV  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall
  see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom
  of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

  When you die the door to salvation is shut. Which side are you on? We are not guaranteed tomorrow.

  Now is the time of salvation.

  Please
  turn your life over to Him NOW. Time slips by so quickly, don’t miss
  this opportunity. If you want to pray and ask Jesus to be your Savior,
  you can say a prayer something like this:

  “Jesus,
  I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have
  sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know
  that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment
  would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me
  for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally
  and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin,
  I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and
  show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You.”

  If you need a church here is a link to find one in your area.

  God bless
  

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