The Parable

Another parable put he (Jesus) forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.  The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.   Matthew 13:24-30

The Explanation of the Parable

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Moral Purity

Do you want to know the will of God concerning your life?  Are you obeying the things that God has clearly stated in Scripture concerning His will?

   I Thessalonians 4: 3-8 states; 

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain (to keep oneself from) from fornication (illicit sexual intercourse, including adultery): That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel (exercise self-control) in sanctification (separation unto God through Christ as a result of obedience to His word) and honour (a valuing); Not in the lust (strong desire) of concupiscence (to set one’s heart upon in a bad way), even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother (stir up a desire in another that cannot be fulfilled biblically) in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger (judge) of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (being set apart).  He therefore that despiseth (to reject or set aside), despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Abstinence from fornication is clearly the will of God.  Unfortunately, I think Christian singles are susceptible to being “culturized”.  The Christian single may be tempted to justify certain physical behaviours in a dating relationship by saying or thinking; we are not having sexual intercourse.  In the mean-time participation in these certain physical activities is preparing the body for just that.

In the verses above the Apostle Paul not only forbids illicit sexual activity, but he goes on to admonish us to exercise self-control through separation unto God by obedience to His word.  He warns against following the culture (the Gentile unbelievers) and he warns against stirring up in another a desire that cannot be fulfilled biblically.

Paul warns us because the Lord is the Judge of all such.  He has called us unto holiness (being set apart).  Paul warns that to reject this instruction is not rejecting man, but God. 

Paul concludes the section above by reminding us that God has also given believers His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us and He is grieved when we sin.

If you are a Christian single who is dating, use some common sense.  Do not engage in intimate kissing and touching!  This is not love, it is passion!  This is not God’s will, it is self-will!  Genuine love will not defraud or stir up in another a desire that cannot be fulfilled biblically.  If you are dating, remind yourself of this daily.  The display of genuine love always seeks the best for the object of its affections.   If you are dating someone who is pushing physical intimacy, they do not have your best interests at heart.  In other words, they do not love you.

When dating, do not isolate yourselves from others.   Keep yourself accountable and visible to others.  If you have become engaged, be all the more diligent.  Until you exchange vows, you are NOT married.   Guilt can damage or destroy a relationship and it will affect your fellowship with God.  This is not the way to start a marriage and it is not the foundation upon which to build a marriage.

Keep in mind that whoever you marry becomes God’s will for you.  There is nothing you can do to change this past decision without sinning.  Marriage based on mutual attraction involving a physical type relationship is a poor foundation for choosing a life’s mate.  It is getting the cart before the horse.  Marriage decisions made under these conditions can lead to an unhappy marriage being God’s will for you.

If you do not know what to do…….please get biblical counseling from a Bible believing pastor.

……….and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly……..

Note:  If you do not know a Bible believing pastor with which to seek counsel, you may contact Leading Horses to Water by letter @ 48 Deer Run Trail, Climbing Hill, IA 51015.  

Note also:  Marriage as referred to above is defined as one man and one woman united together before God as one flesh. 

While cleaning out files recently, my wife found a paper napkin with my handwriting in pencil as follows:

That Christians should sing is ever so right,

Everyone sings when its cheery and bright.

It’s harder to sing when its dreary and stark,

The lost only notice when we sing in the dark…

Carbon 14 dating  puts the time of this writing at about 3000 BC.  However a careful examination of the paper napkin indicates that it is most likely from a Denny’s or Shoney’s restaurant and was probably written somewhere around 1980 AD.

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.  Psalm 18:49

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.  Psalm 59:16

Job wrote in the Old Testament; I know my Redeemer liveth!

The Apostle John wrote in the New Testament; These things were written, so that ye may know that ye have eternal life!

The Apostle Paul penned the words; I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him, against that day!

What do you know?

When we began to consider homeschooling our children, it was with the idea that we would do it for two or three years and then enroll them in a Christian school. We also agreed that since the burden of home schooling would fall on my wife, she would only do it as long as she could retain her sanity.  

There was a point in the beginning  where my wife was home schooling two children and caring for two preschoolers at the same time.  The younger two had no idea how important this schooling was to their older siblings, nor did they care.  Their blissful ignorance of what was going on in the home only added to the challenge before my wife.  

My task in all of this was administration.  I provided the funds for the textbooks, satellite feed, and supplies required to keep things in operation.  I was called upon to be an enforcer and to help discipline.  I was careful to require respect from the  students toward their mother and teacher.  They were taught that disrespect to her was considered to be disrespect to me. 

The most important task that I had, however, was to listen to my wife on a daily basis.   This task, by the way, was an act of God for us because it did not come to me naturally.

Let me explain.  Each day, when arriving home, I learned by the grace of God to sit down with my wife and listen to how the day went, including the problems or victories that came with it.  I did not listen while reading the paper (I may have at first) or while messing with my cell phone (not sure we even had cell phones when we began) or while watching the news on TV. 

I learned to listen to her, because all day long she had had no adult conversation.  Listening to her assured her that she was not in this alone.  Eventually, I learned that she did not need advice necessarily or quick solutions.  What she needed and wanted from me was my unwavering support and encouragement.

As a husband and father, I learned some things about my wife and mother of our children through this process of home schooling that I did not understand previously.  I learned that she would literally waste herself to care for our family.  I also learned that I could  stand by and watch her do it; I could pursue my own agenda (so I wouldn’t have to watch her do it); or I could keep her from killing herself by participating in the care and raising of our children.  By the way, she is still alive and she is still sane.  

Whether or not you are homeschooling, every Christian husband should be watching out for his wife, particularly if you have little ones.  Homeschooling only adds to the burden mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  If you as a husband and father are not willing to partner with her in sharing this burden then you should probably not add homeschooling to her agenda.  

One of the characteristics of a Spirit filled (controlled) believer (husband) is that he loves his wife as he loves his own body.  You do the math.  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways that I love my own body.

 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  Ephesians 5:28&29

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

If you are not a Christian, if you have not repented, then you are not in God’s will.  

What does it mean to repent?  To repent means to change one’s mind; to change one’s mind about your sin (sin separates one from God); to change one’s mind about who Jesus is (He is God); to change one’s mind about what He did for you (He died in your place); to believe in His death, burial and resurrection (not yourself);  to change one’s mind about trying to earn salvation (it is a gift); to change one’s mind about who to trust for salvation (trust Jesus Christ and His merit alone).  Changing one’s mind results in a change of direction.

Many years ago, I conducted religious surveys in several rural towns in our area.  The survey was composed of seven questions.  The first five questions were general information questions concerning current religious affiliation, religious background, etc.  The fifth question was a yes or no answer about whether or not one would go to heaven.  The last and most important question was:  If you died today and stood before God and He asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?  

Eighty percent of the answers received to the last question fell within two categories.   God would let me into heaven: 1)  because of who I am, and 2) because of what I’ve done.  The eighty percentile group for these two categories was consistent throughout each community regardless of that community’s religious majority.

Interestingly, those two categories: because of who I am and because of what I’ve done, are the very reasons we cannot enter into God’s presence.  Who are we?  We are sinners, guilty before God.  What have we done?  We have turned each one to our own way and God hath laid on Him (Messiah Jesus) the iniquity of us all.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  Acts 16:31

Will you submit to His will?

In the parable of the sower, the seed is the word of God, therefore it is all good seed.  Although it is all good seed, there can be a great difference in the results from seed to seed.  The difference in outcome depends upon the type of ground each seed falls upon.

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.  And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The sower soweth the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts (desires) of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:1-20

Are you a sower of the Word?  Don’t become discouraged in well doing, for you shall reap in due season, if you faint not.

…..let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…. 

I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Refrain

I love to tell the story!
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, More wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies Of all our golden dreams,
I love to tell the story, It did so much for me,
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

 I love to tell the story, ‘Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story, For some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own Holy Word.

I love to tell the story, For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long.

Words: A. Catherine Hankey, 1834-1911
Music: William G. Fisher, 1835-1912

As Christ ascended into heaven, two men in white apparel were standing by.  They told His disciples that this same Jesus, whom they watched being taken up into heaven, would so come again in like manner as they had seen Him go.  

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  Acts 1:9-11

The return of the Lord, as promised above, is described as follows by the Apostle Paul:  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (the dead in Christ).  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (snatched away) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.              I Thessalonians 4:16-18

According to the Analytical Greek Lexicon (Zondervan Publishing House – sixth printing 1970), the word translated caught up is from the Greek word harpazo.  The form of this word in this context is harpagisometha which means we shall be caught up or  taken away suddenly.

Why do we call this event the Rapture?  According to Wikipedia the word “Rapture” is derived from Middle French rapture, via the Medieval Latin raptura (“seizure, kidnapping”), which derives from the Latin raptus (“a carrying off”).   The American Heritage Dictionary definition #3 defines rapture as; “The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven.”  At what point, in church history, was this use of the word rapture applied to the return of Christ?  I am not sure. 

The idea of the rapture or being snatched away is not without precedent in Scripture.  Enoch walked with God and was not for God took him (Genesis 5:24).  Elijah was taken up bodily to heaven in a whirl wind (II Kings 2:11).  Philip was snatched away by the Holy Spirit after he had witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39) and Paul speaks of being caught up to the third heaven or paradise in II Corinthians 12:2&4.

Just as the OT Jews had difficulty in distinguishing the Messiah’s coming as The Prince of Peace from His coming as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, so there are many in Christendom today that cannot distinguish between Christ’s coming in the Rapture and His coming in judgment to rescue Israel from the Great Tribulation and set up His Kingdom.  Many believe the two are the same event.

The key to distinguishing The Rapture from His Second Coming in judgment is to compare all the verses in the NT that deal with the Lord’s return.  This comparison will reveal that there are different characteristics of His coming among these verses.  This can only mean that these are separate events regarding  the return of Christ.  See John MacArthur’s NKJV study notes on I Thessalonians 4:17.

Some of these verses are all about Christ’s coming in judgment.  These would apply to His return to save Israel and set up His kingdom.   See  Matthew 13:34-50,  Matthew 24:24-44, Revelation 19:11-21.  

The other verses are encouraging to believers and are spoken to comfort Christians.  These verses would apply to the Rapture.  See John 14: 1-3, I Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 3:10.  See John MacArthur’s NKJV study notes on I Thessalonians 4:17.

The Rapture is imminent.  It can happen at any time.  All believers will be removed from this world in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.    Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly!  

Are you ready?

Are you a friend of God or a friend of the world?

YOU CANNOT BE BOTH!

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  James 4:4

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  James 1:27

From blog article entitled “Overcoming the World” in the August 2016 archives: Friendship with the world is the practice of fulfilling legitimate human needs outside the clear commands and boundaries of Scripture.