Seeking First the
Kingdom,
and His
Righteousness
Matt 6:33
IN THIS ISSUE:
* LIBERATION of the saints and people in Goma DRC! Bro Didi
* FBF Goma Regional/ Bro Didi Updates
* Graph showing PL audience in the world
* Uganda - Ex Muslims get baptized into Christ! - Pix - Bro Wachana
* Mt Elgon - Bro Davidson adds a preshcool - paraental outreach
* Tanzania - Bro Michael, Updates on Nyihunge and Mwatolule
* Introduction/ cooperation with Rwanda ministry
* Exposition of Matthew 13 continues...
My Beloved Brethren... be
ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, for as much
as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.
1 Cor.
15:58
WORLD
JUDGMENT is more noticeable and well under way these days, as many of you have already noticed over the last
while. Yet, most specifically, JUDGMENT COMES FIRST WITH THE HOUSE OF GOD! That
part has been in play for a couple of decades, and world events now over the
last decade or so. What we begin to realize is the increasing frequency of
‘BIRTH PANGS’ that is touching every door now! Eventually, ALL the nations will
bow to Jesus/ Yahushua and confess that HE ALONE IS LORD! Amen.
What ever your thoughts are right now—it is important to remember the GREAT OPPORTUNITY yet before His Living Bride of Christ: “If my people, who call themselves by my Name, will first humble themselves... PRAY... SEEK MY FACE... and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS... THEN... I will HEAR from Heaven... FORGIVE their sins... and HEAL THE LAND." 2 Chron. 7:14
Yes... there are 3 GATEWAYS of operations that is available to His obedient Bride company even today: 1) Leading the way to prayer and brokenness for personal and corporate sin—that leads to repentance unto Holiness; 2) The PROCLAMATION of the KINGDOM OF GOD... as only His Bride can deliver; 3) Praise with Thanksgiving unto our Great God and King YHWH!.. even in the midst of calamities. Amen. We encourage you to be ALL that you can be in this late hour... redeeming the time, and thus declaring your first LOVE for the LORD Jesus Christ, and ALL that He has accomplished in His Victorious and Perfect work... for a FULL atonement. Bro Robert
FBF would like to Thank you again for your prayers and encouragements as the Teams in East, Central, South and Western Africa are experiencing many advances and serious revival that continues in the East and Central sections... all Glory to God! East India continues to open up new territories with the Gospel, and the Open Air preach continues in the US. All teams are training new recruits at this time. We thank the LORD for the good work of participating with His Kingdom advance... and with all His Church Bride who is eagerly awaiting His soon return. This is the hour for all of God’s children to ‘rise up’ for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s TIME to do all we can in Christ. His return is more certain than ever before! Amen.
What ever your thoughts are right now—it is important to remember the GREAT OPPORTUNITY yet before His Living Bride of Christ: “If my people, who call themselves by my Name, will first humble themselves... PRAY... SEEK MY FACE... and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS... THEN... I will HEAR from Heaven... FORGIVE their sins... and HEAL THE LAND." 2 Chron. 7:14
Yes... there are 3 GATEWAYS of operations that is available to His obedient Bride company even today: 1) Leading the way to prayer and brokenness for personal and corporate sin—that leads to repentance unto Holiness; 2) The PROCLAMATION of the KINGDOM OF GOD... as only His Bride can deliver; 3) Praise with Thanksgiving unto our Great God and King YHWH!.. even in the midst of calamities. Amen. We encourage you to be ALL that you can be in this late hour... redeeming the time, and thus declaring your first LOVE for the LORD Jesus Christ, and ALL that He has accomplished in His Victorious and Perfect work... for a FULL atonement. Bro Robert
FBF would like to Thank you again for your prayers and encouragements as the Teams in East, Central, South and Western Africa are experiencing many advances and serious revival that continues in the East and Central sections... all Glory to God! East India continues to open up new territories with the Gospel, and the Open Air preach continues in the US. All teams are training new recruits at this time. We thank the LORD for the good work of participating with His Kingdom advance... and with all His Church Bride who is eagerly awaiting His soon return. This is the hour for all of God’s children to ‘rise up’ for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s TIME to do all we can in Christ. His return is more certain than ever before! Amen.
The focus of
the Pastoral Letter (PL) is along the lines of generally edifying and
encouraging Preachers to establish more of Christ in our lives, promoting the
Kingdom of God where ever we go, Establishing God fearing Churches, mission
updates (Africa, India, US), missions reports, focus points, teaching,
exposition, a short list of mail-ins (with some excerpts). We are committed to
the Great Co-Mission for all, as being salt and light are not an option in the
church of Jesus Christ. Matt 5:13-16 ... We continue to bless all those who are at
work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God... for Jesus sake. We continue to
call all men to Jesus, and to the simplicity of Christ that we find in the Book
of Acts Church... to His Glory and Praise!
Acts 2:42, 46-47, Mark
16:15-16
May the LORD
leave His richest blessings upon each one of you as you Press On with
Jesus Christ!
"'Not called!'
did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.
Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of
the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity,
and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear
the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and
sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face
— whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join
heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to
the world.
~William Booth, founder of the Salvation
Army
GOMA DRC
CAPTURED AND RELEASED!
YHWH GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
After a week of suspense in seeing the rebels move in
(almost without a fight) and watching the Congolese army and the UN troops leave
Goma... the M-23 rebels are leaving as quickly as they came in.
Notices went out all over... and Our Great God heard our
prayers! This will help check deterioration of the whole region, including
Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania... not to mention the Eastern DRC
Provincial capitol of Goma, the 2nd largest city in DRC, and it’s neighboring
city to the south—Bukavu. Thank you all for your prayers! We can not stop
praying as this thing is still volatile. This report on Friday of their
withdrawal is here posted below:
M23 rebels leave Goma – E
DRC Answered Prayer
GOMA — The M23 rebels in the eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo appear to be withdrawing from territory they seized
last week around the city of Goma. The rebels say they are pulling back to make
way for political negotiations in accordance with a deal struck with the
Congolese government.
With their weapons and gear slung over their
shoulders, hundreds of M23 soldiers marched down from the hills through the town
of Sake Friday as they prepared to withdraw from the city.
The rebels
took control of Sake and the city of Goma more than a week ago, following fierce
battles with U.N.-backed Congolese forces.
Click to
enlarge
Now they are pulling
back, as part of an agreement with Congolese President Joseph Kabila
orchestrated by the leaders of the Great Lakes Region who met in Uganda last
weekend.
"We are now in a process of withdrawing, and this process began
on Wednesday morning and it continues until now," said Bertrand Bisimwa, the
political spokesman for M23. "We can't say that we'll finish today or tomorrow,
it's a process. The important thing to do is to begin it. And we began it.
Let it continue, please."
M23 soldiers defected from the Congolese army
in April in a dispute over a 2009 peace agreement integrating rebels into the
military.
As the rebels have taken control of more territory in eastern
Congo, they have added to their list of demands to include the release of
political prisoners and greater dialogue with the opposition. They also say
President Kabila's re-election last year was illegitimate.
Bisimwa says
M23 hopes the soldiers' withdrawal will bring the president to the negotiating
table to hear these demands.
"We don't have any proof that Kabila will
accept to negotiate with us," Bisimwa added. "But we say this - if to withdraw
from Goma is the price we have to pay, we have to pay it. And we are paying it
now."
A joint verification team from the International Conference of the
Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is currently in Goma meeting with M23 leaders to
facilitate the drawdown and the return of government forces.
Earlier in
the day, 270 Congolese police who fled to the town of Bukavu during M23's
advance arrived at the port of Goma on Lake Kivu, waiting for permission to
deploy into the city.
Meantime, Goma's residents remain on edge. Many
shops were closed Friday in the city, since M23 rebels have looted homes and
businesses in the past few days. The Congolese army was also accused of similar
abuses when its forces retreated from the city.
DR Congo, Goma FBF
Center
Bro Didi Bujovu revival – 2 1/2
months
LAST REPORT FROM FBF REGIONAL – Brother Didi
11-18 & recent UPDATES
The Rebel M-23 army moved into Goma a week
ago
And completed a withdrawal Yesterday Dec
02
Please pray for His family, staff
Church Center and the many FBF churches in Goma.
T.Y.
Update 12 – 01 Dear Beloved
Bro,
So much thrilled to see how you are much concerned about us.
Indeed, it is godly love. God bless you.
As far as the M23 is concerned, they have been pulling out
from Goma since the 27th Nov. Today it was evident to everybody as they could be
seen on roads in trucks. However, they have looted the City; shops, offices,
vehicles, hospitals....Goma is almost left empty. Consequences, undiscribeable
socio-economic crisis.
As for my family and I, we are doing well in the Lord, by His
grace. I am still in Kitchanga (at 87 Km from Goma). I will be back to Goma
mid-December for the Ministry General Assembly to evaluate the year 2012 and
plan the coming year 2013.
God be with you as you continue praying for us.
Didi
Your Kingdom Bro
UPDATE 11 - 18
Dear Bro Robert,
Good to here from you.
Indeed , i have been on mission in Kitchanga, at 87 km from
goma, since last 14th September 2012.
However, things are alright. We are going on with the
ministry, proclaiming the Gospel. Today, Bujovu quarter is on fire with
the gospel; public early morning service at 4:00 am and Open Air
proclamations from then on, with door to door evangelism as well. A great report
is being prepared to be sent to you. One bullhorn is not enough. We need
at least 5 bullhorns since there are 5 proclamation teams.
Evangelism fire is on in the Majengo Quarter, the church is
growing...
Therefore, we have some needs... please prayerfully
consider:
1. prayer for the evangelism fire to continue burning in the
church members' hearts.
2. to know whether the bullhorns will be
provided.
3. pray for 2000 $ for purchasing the land where our Majengo
church is temporary set. The owner needs money from us. The money can be given
in two part.
I will be sending a full report about the work very soon and
vision work plan updated.
We thank God, the rebels have not reached Goma, but the City
is not secure; some threats like killings are registered in Goma on a daily
basis.
Thank you for your continued prayers,
Didi
Update 11-21:
Finally, Goma fell under the rebels' control. I am still
absent from home. My family had to move since we have now been living near the
airport. But this morning they have returned home.
Keep on praying for
us.
Didi
WE GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD
This week, we discovered this map that tracks the audience of those in the world who most check out the FBF Sons of Thunder Pastoral Letter.
We would like to Thank You for your cooperation and prayers in this year of 2012 for all that have been encouraged and edified by the leading's of the Holy Spirit... as you can see the largest volume has been in places like:
Kashmir, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Russia, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany,
So Africa, the US
... and others not represented on this map.
So Africa, the US
... and others not represented on this map.
Let us continue to uphold the Nations of the world and Israel in this coming year...
... to TURN TO JESUS!
UGANDA
BRO WACHANA AND TEAM
NEW CONVERTS FROM ISLAM
MAKE A PUBLIC CONFESSION
WITH BAPTISM
Bro Wachana just sent in these pix from the baptism.
CERTAINLY this has stirred up the whole city!
The spouses still are upset and discussing divorce
Please keep these new saint's in your prayers.
Thank You!
Baptism is still the operation of a PUBLIC TESTIMONY of saints to other local saints that they submit to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ... by following him.
Although this may bring on persecution for the individuals and churches... the BOLDNESS of the HOLY SPIRIT continues to testify of the Truth in SALVATION!
We ask for continued PRAYER for these 4 and their families... and all the others who came to Jesus with a profession of Faith and Baptism. Thank you.
Mt. Elgon Report,
Bro Davidson Plants a pre-school
Just putting the building together is a PROJECT!!
Davidson – Mt Elgon preschool new start in Post Election violence area's
Hello Brother Robert,
Thanks for your prayers. I have initiated a Nursery school for children aged between 4 and 7 years in an area in the Mt. Elgon that has no school nearby. The pic attached shows me posing with the children. The enrollment currently is 60 and we anticipate it rising to 100 come January. Pray for these children. We pay for two teachers and provide snacks for the children. When you come, we will visit you there. There are many good opportunities with parents and community leaders here. As you can see, we have a building up now, and the children have uniforms. We ask your prayers.
Thanks for your prayers. I have initiated a Nursery school for children aged between 4 and 7 years in an area in the Mt. Elgon that has no school nearby. The pic attached shows me posing with the children. The enrollment currently is 60 and we anticipate it rising to 100 come January. Pray for these children. We pay for two teachers and provide snacks for the children. When you come, we will visit you there. There are many good opportunities with parents and community leaders here. As you can see, we have a building up now, and the children have uniforms. We ask your prayers.
Thank you! Pastor Davidson
W Tanzania – Bro Michael reports
Mwatolule report
Hello Pastor Robert praise the Lord Jesus How are you
doing?
Here is Mwatulole Crusade on August 2012 We thank you for your prayer
love and care us for the food.The meeting was very good .many people were healed
and received Jesus Chris into their lives .The Crusade attended by all FBF From
whole Tanzania areas with the choirThe attendance was athousands of people we sat and shave the food of God together with many servants of God we saw God from his miracle and it was amazing. The message of God was about deliverence of our Lord who was sucrufied and reedemed us from darkness to the light.isaya 53:1-8 God spoken to his people and many of them were accepted and believe his word so at list sixty received Jesus and they have been reedemed fro different boundages. According to this number of belivers lead Mwatulole Church to increase in nuumber. Jesus sent his word through pastor Michael Elikana to his people,we thanks ana glorify our Lord for everything he did for us. We love you,we thank for every thing you gave us as support to the work of God. God bless you indeed also we welcome you again.
Nyihunge
FBF would like to introduce ERM ministries of
Rwanda.
Brother Emmanuel has been a pioneer in a new approach to
helping to place orphans in homes, so that they never are ‘orphans’ again! The
results have been fantastic, and it gives each child a healthy,
NORMAL life, and expectations of being a contributor to the local society.
 ERM also has a Vocational Training Ctr and store front which trains individuals for life skills,.. and items made get sold in the store front. This helps to pay for the facilities and generates income for the ministries associated... all the while serving the community and establishing men and families to a sustainable life in Christ. We intend to work together and help those who want to go on in ministry, to be discipled in the Word of God, trained in the Open Air Proclamation, and responsibly following up with materials, bibles and all that will continue to promote the Kingdom of God. We ask for your prayers, as we look at the ways we may work and grow together, and perhaps set up a model for others to follow in other nations of Africa. We welcome your involvement and ideas into this work. More pix and info will be forthcoming. Developings... Bro Robert FBF Staff |
MATTHEW 13 AN EXPOSITION
... continues
We have come to a crisis point in the Gospel by Matthew. The Lord has shown that earthly relationships are now to be superseded by spiritual ties, that it is no longer a question of Jewish birth but of obedience to God, the Father. In rejecting the King, the scribes and Pharisees have necessarily rejected the kingdom. Now by a series of parables, the Lord Jesus gives a preview of the new form which the kingdom would take during the period between His rejection and His eventual manifestation as King of kings and Lord of lords. Six of these parables begin with the words, “The kingdom of heaven is like. ... ”
With this background in mind, let us look at the parables.
(Matthew 13:1) The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Jesus went out of the house where He had healed the demoniac and sat by the sea of Galilee. Many Bible students see the house as picturing the nation of Israel and the sea, the Gentiles. Thus the Lord's movement symbolizes a break with Israel; during its temporary form, the kingdom will be preached to the nations.
(Matthew 13:2) And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
As great multitudes gathered on the beach, He got into a boat and began to teach the people by parables. A parable is a story with a basic spiritual or moral teaching which is not always apparent immediately. The seven parables that follow tell us what the kingdom will be like during the time between His First and Second Comings.
The first four were spoken to the multitude; the last three were given only to the disciples. The Lord explained the first two and the seventh to the disciples, leaving them (and us) to interpret the others with the keys He had already given.
(Matthew 13:3) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
The first parable concerns a sower who planted his seed in four different types of soil with different results in each case. God is the Sower and the seed is His Word (Isa 55:10-11).
(Matthew 13:4-8) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Notice the decline in the fruit. This could be a prophecy. In verse 18 Jesus explained this parable to the disciples in private. The model is that the Lord is the Sower, sowing the seed, which is the Word of God. The field is the world. In the world there are different kinds of ground, in this case, four. The first is hard surface, the seed lays there and the birds of the air take it away. Who are the birds? In verse 19 the birds are said to be the evil one who takes away the seed. Birds have a bad connotation in parables. In stony places, there is a little soil but not enough to take root. A little pressure, a little persecution and they are on to the next fad, there are no roots. Third, they mean well but they get swept up in the cares of this world. The world makes its demands on you and the thorns choke out any spiritual fruit. The last type is the condition of the heart where the seed really takes root and bears fruit.
(Matthew 13:9) Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus closed the parable with the warning, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” In the parable He was carrying an important message to the multitude, and a different message to the disciples. None should miss the meaning of His words. Since the Lord Himself interprets the parable in verses 18-23, we will restrain our curiosity until we reach that paragraph.
(Matthew 13:10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
The disciples were puzzled that the Lord should speak to the people in the veiled language of parables. So they asked Him to explain His method.
(Matthew 13:11) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
In His reply, Jesus distinguished between the unbelieving crowd and the believing disciples. The parables are given to those who are spiritually enlightened so they can know the mysteries of the kingdom. Parables are not for those in darkness. The crowd, a cross-section of the nation, was obviously rejecting Him, though their rejection would not be complete until the cross. They would not be permitted to know the mysteries (secrets) of the kingdom of heaven, whereas His true followers would be helped to understand. A mystery in the New Testament is a fact never previously known by man, which man could never learn apart from divine revelation, but which has now been revealed. The mysteries of the kingdom are previously unknown truths concerning the kingdom. The parables describe some of the features of the kingdom during the time when the King would be absent.
(Matthew 13:12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
What is He talking about? Spiritual insight. It may seem illogical that these secrets should be withheld from the multitude and revealed to the disciples. The disciples had faith in the Lord Jesus; therefore, they would be given the capacity for more. They had accepted the light; therefore, they would receive more light. The Jewish nation, on the other hand, had rejected the Light of the world; therefore they were not only prevented from receiving more light, they would lose what little light they had. Light rejected is light denied.
(Matthew 13:13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary, compares the parables to the pillar of cloud and fire which enlightened Israel while confusing the Egyptians. The parables would be revealed to those who were sincerely interested but would prove “only an irritation to those who were hostile to Jesus.” So it was not a matter of impulse on the Lord's part, but simply the outworking of a principle which is built into all of life—wilful blindness is followed by judicial blindness. That is why He spoke to the Jews in parables. Because they did not have the love of the truth, they would not get the light of the truth. They professed to see, that is, to be familiar with divine truth, but Truth personified stood before them and they stubbornly refused to see Him. They professed to hear God's Word, but the living Word of God was in their midst and they would not obey Him. They were unwilling to understand the wonderful fact of the Incarnation; therefore, the ability to understand was taken from them. One almost gets the idea that the truth is embodied in parables to tuck it away so some can’t find them. They are a learning aid, but only to those who have the Holy Spirit to illuminate His truth.
(Matthew 13:14-15) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
They were a living fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9-10. Israel's heart had grown dull and their ears were insensitive to the voice of God. They deliberately refused to see with their eyes. They knew that if they saw, heard, understood, and repented, God would heal them. But in their sickness and need, they refused His help. Therefore, their punishment was that they would hear but not understand, and see but not perceive.
(Matthew 13:16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
These are not the words of merely a “great teacher.” These are the words of God in human form. He was speaking of Himself—blessed are those who see Him and hear His words. He was either the greatest egomaniac who ever lived, or He was the source of life in the flesh.
(Matthew 13:17) For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
The disciples were tremendously privileged, because they were seeing what no one had seen before. The prophets and righteous men of the Old Testament had longed to be living when the Messiah arrived, but their desire had not been fulfilled. The disciples were favoured to live at that crisis moment in history, to see the Messiah, to witness His miracles, and to hear the unmatched teaching which came from His lips.
(Matthew 13:18) Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Having explained why He used parables, the Lord now proceeds to expound the parable of the four soils. He does not identify the sower but we can be sure that it refers either to Himself (v. 37) or to those who preach the message of the kingdom. He defines the seed as the word of the kingdom (v. 19). The soils represent those who hear the message.
(Matthew 13:19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The hard-packed pathway speaks of people who refuse to receive the message. They hear the gospel but do not understand it—not because they can't but because they won't. The birds are a picture of Satan; he snatches away the seed from the hearts of these hearers. He cooperates with them in their self-chosen barrenness. The Pharisees were hard-soil hearers. The key difference between the “wayside” hearer in this verse and the “good soil” hearer in verse 19 is understanding. This is why we must use the Law as a “schoolmaster” to bring the knowledge of sin (Galatians 3:24; Romans 3:20). Unless there is understanding as to his true predicament, the sinner will not flee to the Savior. Jonathan Edwards used to say: “I had rather be fully understood by ten than admired by ten thousand.” May this be the attitude of all would be open-air preachers.
(Matthew 13:20-21) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
When Jesus spoke of rocky ground, He had in mind a thin layer of earth covering a ledge of rock. This represents people who hear the word and respond with joy. At first the sower might be excited that his preaching is so successful. But soon he learns the deeper lesson, that it is not good when the message is received with smiles and cheers. First there must be conviction of sin, sorrow, and repentance. It is far more promising to see an inquirer weeping his way to Calvary than to see him walking down the aisle light-heartedly and cheerfully. The shallow earth yields a shallow profession; there is no depth to the root. But when his profession is tested by the scorching sun of tribulation or persecution, he decides it isn't worth it and abandons any profession of subjection to Christ.
(Matthew 13:22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
The thorn-infested ground represents another class who hear the word in a superficial way. They appear outwardly to be genuine subjects of the kingdom but in time their interest is choked out by the cares of this world and by their delight in riches. There is no fruit for God in their lives. There is a story of a son of a money-loving father which had a huge business. This son heard the Word in his youth but became much occupied in the business. He had soon to choose between pleasing his Lord or his father. Thus the thorns were in the soil when the seed was sown and germinated; the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches were already at hand. He fell in with his father's wishes, devoted himself fully to business, rose to be head of the concern, and when well on in life had to acknowledge that he had neglected heavenly things. He was about to retire and he expressed his intention to be more diligent in spiritual matters. But God is not to be mocked. The man retired and died suddenly in only a few months. He left £90,000 and a spiritually wasted life. The thorns had choked the word and it was unfruitful.
(Matthew 13:23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The difference in these results was not in the seed but in the soil on which the seed fell. As the gospel of the kingdom was presented, the good news was the same. The difference was in the individuals who heard that Word. The Lord was not saying that an exact 25 % of those who heard the message would believe. But He was saying that a majority would not respond positively to the good news. In this parable Jesus demonstrated why the Pharisees and religious leaders rejected His message. They were not “prepared soil” for the Word. The “mystery” concerning the kingdom Jesus presented here was the truth that the good news was rejected by the majority. This had not been revealed in the Old Testament. The good ground here represents a true believer. He ... hears the word receptively and understands it through obeying what he hears. Although these believers do not all produce the same amount of fruit, they all show by their fruit that they have divine life. Fruit here is probably the manifestation of Christian character rather than souls won to Christ. When the word fruit is used in the New Testament, it generally refers to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). What was the parable meant to say to the crowds? Obviously it warned against the peril of hearing without obeying. It was designed also to encourage individuals to receive the Word sincerely, then to prove their reality by bringing forth fruit for God. As for the disciples, the parable prepared them and future followers of Jesus for the otherwise discouraging fact that relatively few of those who hear the message are genuinely saved. It saves Christ's loyal subjects from the delusion that all the world will be converted through the spread of the gospel. The disciples are also warned in this parable against the three great enemies of the gospel: (1) the devil (the birds—the evil one); (2) the flesh (the scorching sun—tribulation or persecution); and (3) the world (the thorns— cares of the world and the delight in riches). Finally the disciples are given a vision as to the tremendous returns from investing in human souls. Thirtyfold is 3,000 % return, sixtyfold is 6,000 % return, and one hundredfold is 10,000 % return on the investment. There is actually no way of measuring the results of a single case of genuine conversion. An obscure Sunday school teacher invested in Dwight L. Moody. Moody won others. They in turn won others. The Sunday school teacher started a chain reaction that will never stop.
(Matthew 13:24-25) Another parable put he 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.
The sower is not necessarily asleep as the Lord never sleeps. The tares, which can be seen in Palestine today, looks just like wheat while it is growing, but then while it matures it turns black and shows its true colour. If it gets mixed up in the wheat and you bake bread with it, it is poisonous! Therefore it must be separated from the wheat.
(Matthew 13:26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
This second parable—the wheat and the tares—also sets forth the kingdom in two parts. The wheat represents true believers, the tares are mere professors. Jesus compares the kingdom to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.
(Matthew 13:27-28) 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?
When the servants saw the tares mixed in with the grain, they asked the householder how this happened. He immediately recognized it as the work of an enemy. The servants were ready to pull the weeds immediately.
(Matthew 13:29-30) 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.
The farmer ordered them to wait until the harvest. Then reapers would separate the two. The wheat would be gathered into barns and the tares would be burned. Why did the farmer order this delay in separation? In nature the roots of the wheat and tares are so tangled that it is virtually impossible to pull up one without the other. This parable is explained by our Lord in verses 37-43, so we will pass by further comment till then.
(Matthew 13:31-32) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Mustard seeds grow into bushes about 3 feet tall. Have you ever seen a bird lodge in a small bush? This mustard seed apparently grows to become a monstrosity, something larger than it is supposed to. It becomes a structure so large and spacious that birds come and lodge in the branches. Birds are the birds that picked up the seed in the first parable; the ministers of Satan! The seed represents the humble beginning of the kingdom. At first the kingdom was kept relatively small and pure as a result of persecution. But with the support and protection of the state, it suffered abnormal growth. Then the birds came and roosted in it. Since the birds represent the ministers of Satan, the kingdom became a nesting place for Satan and his agents. Today the umbrella of Christendom covers such Christ-denying systems as Unitarianism, Christian Science, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholicism and the Unification Church (moonies). So here the Lord forewarned the disciples that during His absence the kingdom would experience a phenomenal growth. They should not be deceived nor associate growth with success. It would be unhealthy growth. Though the tiny seed would become an abnormal tree, its largeness would become “a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird” (Rev 18:2).
(Matthew 13:33) Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Next the Lord Jesus compared the kingdom to leaven which a woman hid in three measures of meal. Eventually all the meal became leavened. A common interpretation is that the meal is the world and the leaven is the gospel which will be preached throughout the world until everyone becomes saved. This view, however, is contradicted by Scripture, by history, and by current events. Leaven is always a type of evil in the Bible. When God commanded His people to rid their houses of leaven (Exo 12:15), they understood this. If anyone ate what was leavened from the first till the seventh day of this Feast of Unleavened Bread, he would be cut off from Israel. Jesus warned against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mat 16:6, Mat 16:12) and the leaven of Herod (Mar 8:15). In 1 Cor 5:6-8 leaven is defined as malice and evil, and the context of Gal 5:9 shows that there it means false teaching. In general, leaven means either evil doctrine or evil behavior. We believe that in this parable the meal represents the food of God's people as it is found in the Bible. The leaven is evil doctrine. The woman is a false prophetess who teaches and beguiles (Rev 2:20). Is it not significant that women have been the founders of several false cults? Forbidden by the Bible to teach in the church (1 Cor 14:34; 1 Tim 2:12), some have rebelliously taken the place of doctrinal authorities and have adulterated the food of God's people with destructive heresies.
(Matthew 13:34) All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
This text states clearly that “without a parable He [Jesus] did not speak to them.” However, Jesus gave His whole Sermon on the Mount ( Matt. 5–7 ) without a single parable in it. However are we to reconcile the seeming contradiction? Well, there are two factors that must be noted, one of which is stated and another implied. First, Matthew 13:34 states that Jesus spoke these things “to the multitude,” whereas the Sermon on the Mount was given to His “disciples” (Matt. 5:1–2; cf. Luke 6:20), even though the multitudes apparently listened in (cf. Matt. 7:28). What is more, Jesus’ statement may have only a reference to what He was doing at that time, not on every occasion. It does not say that He always and on every occasion spoke to a crowd only in parables. However, this interpretation is possible, since we have only a limited record of what Jesus spoke (cf. John 21:25).
(Matthew 13:35) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The use of this teaching method by the Lord fulfilled Asaph's prophecy in Ps 78:2 that the Messiah would speak in parables, uttering things kept secret from the foundation of the world. These features of the kingdom of heaven in its temporary form, hidden until this time, were now being made known.
(Matthew 13:36) 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.
The remainder of the Lord's discourse was spoken to the disciples, inside the house. Here the disciples may represent the believing remnant of the nation of Israel. The renewed mention of the house reminds us that God has not rejected forever His people whom He foreknew (Rom 11:2).
(Matthew 13:37) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
In His interpretation of the wheat and tares parable, Jesus identified Himself as the sower. He sowed directly during His earthly ministry, and has been sowing through His servants in succeeding ages.
(Matthew 13:38) 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 field is the world. It is important to emphasize that the field is the world, not the church. The good seeds mean the sons of the kingdom. It might seem bizarre and strange to think of living human beings being planted into the ground. But the point is that these sons of the kingdom were sown in the world. During His years of public ministry, Jesus sowed the world with disciples who were loyal subjects of the kingdom. The tares are the sons of the wicked one. Satan has a counterfeit for every divine reality. He sows the world with those who look like, talk like, and, to some extent, walk like disciples. But they are not genuine followers of the King.
(Matthew 13:39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
The enemy is Satan, the enemy of God and all the people of God. The harvest is the end of the age, the end of the kingdom age in its temporary form, which will be when Jesus Christ returns in power and glory to reign as King.
(Matthew 13:40-42) 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.
The reapers are the angels (see Rev 14:14-20). During the present phase of the kingdom, no forcible separation is made of the wheat and the tares. They are allowed to grow together. But at the Second Coming of Christ, the angels will round up all causes of sin and all evildoers and throw them into the furnace of fire, where they will weep and gnash their teeth. “Weeping” suggests sorrow and grief (emotional agony of the lost in hell), and grinding of one’s teeth speaks of pain (physical agony in hell).
(Matthew 13:43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
This parable does not justify, as some mistakenly suppose, the toleration of ungodly people in a local Christian church. Remember that the field is the world, not the church. Local churches are clearly commanded to put out of their fellowship all who are guilty of certain forms of wickedness (1 Cor 5:9-13). The parable simply teaches that in its mystery form, the kingdom of heaven will include the real and the imitation, the genuine and the counterfeit, and that this condition will continue until the end of the age. Then God's messengers will separate the false, who will be taken away in judgment, from the true, who will enjoy the glorious reign of Christ on earth. The phrase “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” is also found in chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation in the letters to the seven churches.
(Matthew 13:44) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
In this parable Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to treasure hidden in a field. A man having discovered the treasure, then bought that field in order to have the treasure for himself. Since the Lord did not interpret this parable, a variety of interpretive views are held. In the flow of this chapter, it seems best to understand this to be a reference to Israel, God’s “treasured possession” (Exo 19:5; Ps 135:4). One reason Jesus came into the world was to redeem Israel, so that He could be viewed as the One who sold all He had (the glories of heaven; cf. John 17:5; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:5-8) in order to purchase the treasure. The parable is sometimes applied to a sinner, giving up all in order to find Christ, the greatest Treasure. But this interpretation violates the doctrine of grace which insists that salvation is without price (Isa 55:1; Eph 2:8-9).
(Matthew 13:45-46) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
According to Deuteronomy 8 oysters are not kosher and one can only eat seafood with scales. This means that pearls were not prized by the Jewish community. While they might trade in them because they would sell them to the Gentiles, pearls are distinctly a Gentile ornament, not a Jewish ornament. So why is a pearl of great value used by Jesus in this parable? Because of all the jewels, pearls are the only ones that are made by a living organism as a response to irritation that has been introduced. What a fascinating model of the Church! A Gentile organ grows as the response to an irritation. The Church always grew under persecution. When the pearl is found, it is removed from its place of growth to become an item of adornment. As the pearl comes out of the sea, so the church, sometimes called the Gentile bride of Christ, comes largely from the nations. In a hymn that says, “I've found the Pearl of greatest price,” the finder is the sinner and the Pearl is the Savior. But again we protest that the sinner does not have to sell all and does not have to buy Christ as Jesus is free gift. To seek to doing anything to gain Him is blasphemy. To feel that you can add one thing to that which He has done 100% is arrogance; to assume that you can add to that which God has called complete is blasphemy. The One that gave up all that He had for the sake of the treasure is Jesus
Christ! He wanted the treasure, He didn’t buy just one little parcel, but He bought the whole field! He died on the cross for ALL sinners. Who did the buying? He did. What did it cost Him? His Blood. He purchased what? You and I!
(Matthew 13:47-48) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
The final parable in the series likens the kingdom to a filter or dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. mThe fishermen sorted out the fish, keeping the good in containers and dumping the bad.
(Matthew 13:49-50) So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Our Lord interprets the parable. The time is the end of the age; that is, the end of the Tribulation period. It is the time of the Second Coming of Christ. The fishermen are the angels. The good fish are the righteous; that is, saved people, both Jews and Gentiles. The bad fish are the unrighteous; namely, unbelieving people of all races. A separation takes place, as we also saw in the parable of the wheat and tares (vv. 30, 39-43). The righteous enter the kingdom of their Father, whereas the unrighteous are handed over to a place of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 13:51) Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
When He had finished the parables, the Master Teacher asked His disciples if they understood. They replied, “Yes.” Their yes answer is surprising, for they could not have known the full implications of these parables. In fact the disciples’ subsequent questions and actions proved that they did not really comprehend the parables. Sometimes we wish that the disciples didn’t say “yes” so that Jesus could explain a little bit more of the parables!
(Matthew 13:52) Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Because they understood, they were obligated to share with others. Disciples are to be channels, not storehouses of blessings. The twelve were now scribes trained for the kingdom of heaven; that is, teachers and interpreters of the truth. They were like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old. In the Old Testament they had a rich deposit of what we might call old truth. In the parabolic teaching of Christ, they had just received what was completely new. From this vast storehouse of knowledge they should now impart the glorious truth to others.
(Matthew 13:53-54) And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Remember His last visit where they wanted to kill Him (Luke 4:28-30)!
(Matthew 13:55) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Note his brethren! Mary did not remain a virgin after Jesus! Roman Catholicism teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin, that is, that she never had sexual intercourse, even after Jesus was virgin born. However, here we read that Mary had other children as well after Jesus was born. We know that after His resurrection, at least two of his brethren become believers, James and Jude.
(Matthew 13:56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
As He taught them in their synagogue, the people were astonished at His wisdom and His reported miracles. To them He was only the carpenter's son. They knew His mother ... and His brothers ... and His sisters—they were still living there in Nazareth! Surely One so “ordinary” could not be the promised Messiah? How could one of their own hometown boys say and do the things for which He had become so well known? This puzzled them, and they found it easier to cling to their ignorance than to acknowledge the truth.
(Matthew 13:57-58) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
They were offended at Him. This moved Jesus to point out that a genuine prophet is generally more appreciated away from home. His own district and His own relatives allowed their familiarity to breed disrespect. Unbelief largely hindered the Savior's work in Nazareth. He healed only a few sick folk there (cf. Mar 6:5). It was not because He could not do the works; man's wickedness cannot restrain God's power. But He would have been blessing people where there was no desire for blessing, filling needs where there was no consciousness of need, healing people who would have disliked being told they were sick.
FBF Staff - Bro Renier { Ref sources: W McDonald, Walvrood & Zuck, Evidence Bible}
Much emphasis is given by our LORD and the
Apostles in their teaching on the importance of the PREACHING or DECLARING the
Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is the POWER of God on earth as given to men (Rom
1.16)... as it provides the most coverage in every area.
The words used for PREACH, PREACHING carry
with it the Open Air Proclamation just as a TOWN CRIER! It is never a 2 way
conversation... but a DECLARATION TO ALL! The Church Bride of Christ is to be
the VOICE of the Bride and the Bridegroom in this untoward
generation.
It has been, and remains the privilege of
this ministry to expose men to this dimension of the Gospel as prescribed by our
LORD JESUS CHRIST! May we present the Truth in Love... as Jesus did.
Amen.
Mark 16:15-16, 1:14, Matt 9:35, 24:12-14,
Luke 4:18, 4:43, 24:47,
Acts 5:42, 10:42, 1 Cor
1:18
FBF Admin Staff, Bro Robert
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Time for Christ
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