2019-07-21-LIVE OAKS

We are continuing this morning in The Parables of Jesus series that I've just called if you get it you get it which is of a paraphrase by Pastor Francis Chan of Jesus's words he who has ears let him hear so we're primarily going to be in Matthew Chapter 13 in this series and we're continuing where we left off last week. Starting in first 24 so you can just put a finger there if you'd like cuz that's where we will begin here in a moment. This this series is going to be taken kind of your one Parable at a time and I'm not going to have to recap every week what you missed last week, but I do want to reiterate a little bit of of How and why Jesus's is teaching and preaching the way he is and it's why this the series is called what it is. If you get it you get it those words that Jesus says he who has ears let him hear. Why is Jesus teaching in Parables? Why is it important? What is that telling us? What's that? What that is telling us is that Jesus is actually speaking intentionally in in confusing enigmatic kind of veiled language cheese. He's intentionally skewing The message now, why would Jesus do that? Why would Jesus intentionally make the message a bit more complicated. The best shorthand for it is is every time you hear the word Parable just think puzzle in your mind of riddle in your mind. Why is he doing this? Why is he teaching intentionally and analogies and riddles will the first thing we we we want to look at here in Matthew chapter 13 verses 34 and 35 in in I am kind of skipping ahead a little bit. We'll come back to it in a moment, but it says here all these things. Jesus said to the crowds in Parables indeed took us out. He said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet. I will open my mouth in Parables. I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. Jesus is speaking in puzzling terms. Why is that previously in Matthew in Matthew chapter 7 verse 6. Jesus says this I do not give dogs. What is Holy? And do not throw in and do not throw your pearls before pigs heard. The expression Pearls Before Swine comes right from your words of Jesus lest. They trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. The trews of the Kingdom the secrets of the Kingdom the awesome realities of God's heart and character nature and his plan that have been the same from the foundations of the earth. And since I can before the foundations of the earth, these are precious to him. And he's not going to cast. Jesus is not going to cast these Pearls of Truth before those who just trample them under foot. Who just discard them as trash? So he speaks these shrews and kind of puzzling terms so that those who wanted to receive them wanted to know more would draw closer to Jesus and say Jesus teacher. I don't quite get it teach me more.

Right. I mean I like I like antiques. I like a old radios. I like old tools especially and sometimes I see an object. I see a tool I there's even this nerdy tool blog that I follow in the guy post like hey, everybody wants this and it's some obscure tool and no one knows what it is and it's like a contest to see what it is like. Oh, well that was you know, that was so round off the the blood nuts of a wagon up something you see something and in your you're intrigued by it. You don't actually time quite know what it is. But you want to know more truths of the Kingdom to the Sheep to the disciples to the soft fertile soil. They don't necessarily get them immediately, but they know that they're important and they know that they're there should be they should be treasured and they want to draw closer to this teacher to learn more. Jesus is simply not casting. Pearls Before Swine and in this is what's amazing. This this occurred to me for the first time in in studying for this sermon. Imagine Jesus having the full knowledge and understanding of God. He can see and he can know who's going to receive and who's going to reject what he's about to say. I mean he seems perfectly who is the soft soil and and who is who is the sidewalk?

What must have been like? You can you can imagine just the tears and frustration that Jesus had like when when Jesus wept over Jerusalem, oh how I would gather you like a like I can gather search expect but you but you won't come. He sang. I know that you won't. He's got a crowd of thousands in front of him, and he knows they're not going to listen.

And even if you spoke plainly they would still reject it. So he speaks and these failed riddles that those who were soft. Those whose ears have been opened would draw near to him. The word of caution we don't have that same vision. That's not ours site to have we don't know who's going to receive and who's going to reject. So, you know in the in the parable of the sower, it's a little odd because Jesus is the cellar but we also know as as people who know and believe and understand the gospel and are tasked with telling me it was sharing the gospel with making the gospel known if we don't know who's going to receiver who's not going to receive it. So we so we're kind of like that idiot farmer just check and see it everywhere. Yeah, it kind of flies in the face of the idea of like The Parables were spoken to Farmers because they get it. Kind of sense. Would it make if the stories like so there's a farmer and he was cast in seat on the parking lot. Open bra crop. The listeners then would go that doesn't make any sense who who doesn't know that c does it come from asphalt but that's kind of a weird kind of disorder with this beautiful gospel and we cast it indiscriminate lie to everybody cuz we don't know who Mike here. I'm just I'm just struck with Jesus knowing before he utters a word who's going to receive it and who is not. Not for us to decide between hostile and fertile soil we show to every nation and tongue and tribe and we see what God grows. That's our job not to judge not to discern but the Castor seed. Just take two cast to any ground. That may be found fertile. Okay, let's go back into our Parable Kieran and Matthew 13 during the first 24. I'm going to read quite a bit here as usual stop and go back. This is continuing with another parable about crops and growing. It's called a parable of the weeds and Matthew 13 starting at 24. He put another Parable before them saying the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a Man Who Sold The Good Seed in his field but while his men were sleeping his enemy came and so the weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and board grain, then the weeds of yours also and the Servants of the Master of the House came and said to him Master. Did you not sow good seed in your field how then does it have weeds. He said to them an enemy has done this. So the servants said to him. All right. And what do you want us to do? Do you want you want us to go and gather them? When you want to cut down the weeds, but he said no less than Gathering the weeds you rude up the wheat along with them let both grow together until the Harvest at Harvest time. I will tell the Reapers gather the weeds first and buying them in bundles to be burned The Gather the wheat into my barn you put another pair of before then say it the Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sold in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds but when it has grown, it is larger that all the garden plants becomes a tree so that the birds of the air, and make nests and its branches. He told him another pair of all the Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven. That a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was leavened. Okay now here is where I begin to struggle a little bit in and reading through this and preparing. Right here in this moment. I'm starting to struggle. That's a y How many of you all have heard? people say well one thing we know for sure. Jesus was a really good teacher. Hourly, I don't know about him being God or Lord or savior Son of God or any of that. I don't know about that, but I think we can all agree. He was a really great teacher. Was he? Is it really? He's God. You think God would make a pretty good teacher. But you look at what he does here and he breaks all of the rules. What makes a good teacher like forgive me for a little paraphrase hear a melodrama that I made up a paraphrase of the of the of the of the goings-on here. So Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the ends with if you get it you get it and then let's just say to Peter Peter kind of tugs on his clothes are in the boat with him and Jesus like Peter says Jesus. I have a dumb question. And then Jesus says Peter there are no dumb questions just dumb people. What is it?

And it goes like I don't get it.

And in Jesus is okay. Alright, like you imagined like you're in a boat is the crowds all on the on the shore news about Jesus come to terms and he speaks directly to the disciples who were with them, you know, like at as an aside and then I was like, okay. Alright. Yes, I get it. Okay, that's great in Jesus turns around and tells another Parable and then before even explaining it to the crowd or the disciples. He tells another Parable and there's also another Parable in the last Parabola goes like this once upon a time. There was a woman who made bread. And it became bread. Did you get any good? I have a good story. Let me look at it. I don't think I'm being ridiculous here in verse 33 says the Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all 11. There's a woman she put some beast in some go. indigo rose

so Is Jesus a quote-unquote good teacher?

No, he's a sovereign teacher. He doesn't have to be a good teacher because people are born again not because they heard the most convincing argument. People did not become born again because they learned that the theory of evolution is absolute.

garbage cuz it is but that's that's not what causes men and women to be born. Again. Jesus is a sovereign teacher. Who speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit and those who have ears to hear hear and understand? Jesus breaks all the rules because Jesus makes the rules. any kin

he was a sovereign teacher. So after those three Parables then he departs from that crowd. Okay, and we can pick up in verse 34 and in verse 34 and 35. This is an aside that Matthew puts in for our benefit. Take in in. This is what Matthew says parenthetically about. This exchange says all these things. Jesus said to the crowds in Parables indeed. You said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fill was spoken by the prophet. I will open my mouth in Parables. I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world because the reader of this gospel at this point, what in the world

like if if these Parables can be understood by explaining them what isn't just start with the explanation. Why does he leave it out there? You never even explains the thing about the woman making the bread. He just leave that out there. Why does he do this? Matthew tells us then the narrative continues them the story continues and verse 36 so follow along here to

Then he left the crowds and went into the house and his disciples came to him saying okay. Alright again, Jesus. Can you explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field? Some of us have some ideas, but let's just hear it straight from you. I added that part for 37. He answered the one who sews The Good Seed is the son of man. The field is the world and the good seed is the sons of the Kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. And the enemy who sold them is the devil. The Harvest is the close of the age and the reapers are angels just as the weeds are gathered in burned with fire. So will it be at the close of the age? The son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of shin and all lawbreakers and throw them into the fiery furnace and that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun and the kingdom of their father. If you get it you get it.

Okay, so here's where my struggle continues.

This is Jesus's explanation of the parable of the weeds. So as a preacher. Do I even have the right to add anything to this? We've already read Jesus's explanation. Do I need to explain the explanation of Jesus? Am I doing something wrong? I'm just asking but I'm literally this is not like a rhetorical thing, right? Cuz I break a lot of rules to I guess.

I mean should this just be the arm in and leave it here?

Samuel looking at the clock. Maybe wish I would.

Here's what I want to do. I don't I don't want to add anything to Jesus's words nor do I want to try to fix Jesus's strategy. Jesus Jesus Jesus lucky, right that is not the right spot and in and look your explanation is like I need to fill in a little bit there and you really left us hanging with the whole woman and the bread baking think so, maybe I can finish that one out for you. Give it a good singer or something. All I want to do is maybe just underline. the trews of his explanation It's all I want to do and to do that. We need to we need to read some more Bible. I mean, I guess if the Lord is going to judge my preaching I I'd like to hear Tommy. You just read too much Bible.

MN Okay, so let me underline some truths of this Parable in Jesus's explanation of the parable number one. The field is the world. Take the field is the world. Jesus said it the world belongs to Jesus. Now I know there is some verses referring to Satan as being the god a little G God of this world little G God of this age. It's because Jesus has him on a short leash and allows him to think that he's free and to think that he has Authority and power he does not. the Earth belongs to Jesus the Earth belongs to Jesus very simply in Matthew 28 verse 18 Jesus says this right before his Ascension and he says this to his disciples in Matthew 28:18, all of the word ET in heaven and on Earth has been given to me. This field in which seeds were sown. This field is the world in the world belongs to Jesus k Checking out second underlined number to Jesus is the sower in his field. and the Hand of the sower is the voice of the church. Jesus is the sower in his field but but the hand of the sword casting out the see the hand of Jesus is the proclaiming voice of the church. The work of the Evangelist Steve the work of the pastor no matter what country in every country that's afraid he ran in elsewhere. The spoken word of God is the hand of the sower casting seed. Jesus again breaking rules. He keep he mixes metaphors all the time. Okay. So and in that metaphor, he's a seller in the Gospel of John. He's mostly referred to as a Shepherd. So in John 10 starting at verse 14, we we we hear this from Jesus. He says I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own in my own know me just as the father knows me and I know the father and I Lay My Life down for the Sheep check this out and I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I have Haitian sheep and Canadian. She can Brazilian sheep in Paraguay and sheep in Fijian sheep in Chinese Chapin Russian ship. I got the Sheep everywhere. I am the Good Shepherd and I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice so there will be one flock and one Shepherd. So I said as as The Proclaimers of the truth that the hand of the sword that Jesus is casting seed through the proclaimed word of God. In every nation tongue and tribe today yesterday tomorrow until he returns.

Back and Matthew 28 continuing with what we know as the the Great Commission Jesus establishes. His authority is not just making this up. He has to get through ready to declare that she says in Matthew 28:18 and in forward all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me go there for seed in the hand go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I Am With You Always to the end of the age. And then Romans 10 Paul just breaks it down. Paul can be very confusing sometimes but here in these few verses of Romans 10. He makes it very very clear. Romans chapter 10 beginning and verse 13

everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Amen. Let me hear amen. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How then will they call on him and whom they have not believed and how are they don't believe in him of whom they have never heard and how are they to hear without someone preaching and how are they to preach unless they are sent. as it is written how beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news or how beautiful are the seed cast from the source and

This Harvest is this a harvest is this a harvest? Proclaim that truth and then we wait how did judgement put in patients?

Have any of your children ever ever come home from preschool or kindergarten with little Styrofoam cup will soil with instructions to put a few drops of water set it in there on the windowsill. Write in a little caught a little can you drink next morning next morning next morning. waiting wondering

I grew up in a different era a different age before cell phones and whatnot and my parents trusted me probably more than they should but I I didn't really have a curfew that sounds weird.

And I would come home and there is a chain lock on the door of the kitchen the side door where we come in and every night where I would come home late the chain lock would not be on the door. Because my dad patiently wait for his son to return every day. I would never lock the chain of the door. Those who go who are waiting for that little seed to sprout in the Cup by the window you face believe little medicine dropper water. Make sure it stayed in the sun. You look every morning. Keep praying. Keep praying keep waiting patiently. Don't don't put the lock on the door. See I'm mixing metaphors to Jesus taught me how

Weight be patient. You never know. You never know.

All right.

underline number three there will be one Harvest that gathers to crops kb1 Harvest that gathers to crops. The two props are sons of the Kingdom which means sons of the promise sons of righteousness sons of Grace. Those Born Again those who have received forgiveness and Absolution and righteousness. The other Harvest is the sons of the devil sons of rebellion and sin hard-heartedness in treason.

Who are the sons of the Kingdom sons of the devil it is as of a beautiful terrifying stark contrast that Jesus makes between these to harvest Riesling to harvest. Right sons of the Kingdom sons of the devil. There's no middle ground. There's no like well, you know that you saved you just doesn't really have anything to do with Jesus.

And I'll like we make some terrible choices and harms pretty much everybody around him, but he's got a good heart. are to harvest at the End of the Age sons of the kingdom and Sons of the devil this 2

son sees two lines these two lineages lineages. Two family tree two branches of the family tree. It goes all the way back to Genesis 3 and the the the man of the men's bible study man. We've been chewing on this for how many weeks time.

We take about six or seven more weeks. It'll be about my pace. Read this when God pronounces judgments and punishments on Satan on the woman on the man. But when he was when he was

Pronouncing curse over the serpent. He says this in verse 15 of Genesis 3. I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your Offspring and her offspring. He shall bruise your head. And you will bruise his heel or or let me let me again, let me allow me a little poetic license. He will crush your skull and you shall nipple his heel. preacher donkey Thank you bow.

Got us declaring that there are two Family Lines from here moving forward. There are sons of Grace and righteousness and truth and there are sons of Disobedience treason and the devil and you can trace it all the way through. I mean you look just on you don't even flip a page looking Genesis for who you do flip a patience is 425 + Cain killed Abel number the first two sons of man and woman the first two sons of Adam and Eve and and Cain killed Abel and then God gave Eve another son named Seth Genesis 4:25. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth for she said God has appointed me for me another offspring. God has appointed for me another Offspring instead of Abel for Cain killed him. descendants of Cain descendants of sack you see all through scripture that says beautiful is to the beautiful ribbon funset terrific literally, like terrible ribbon that runs through all of history and what we find at the end of all things is you're either in one family or the other you're either a son of Grace and righteousness are some of the devil and Jesus puts it in very start terms as well and John 8 when he's speaking to the to the proud in the self-righteous religious leaders and all he got a mad. He really I mean you just really hope to Hornet's Nest here. But looking John ate again breaking the rules of a good teacher John 8 starting at verse 39. He says this

they answered a religious self-righteous folks. They answered him. Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them if you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did but now you seek to kill me a man who was told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did you were doing the works your father did they said him? You're not born a sexual immorality. We have one father. Even God. Jesus said to them. If God were your father you would love me. Try came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me but you not understand what I say. Let me answer it for you. It's because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil. And your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth because there is no truth in him when he lies. He speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of Lies.

Because I tell you the truth you do not believe me. Which one are you convinced me of sin. I tell you the truth. If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God the reason why you do not hear them is it you are not of God.

Your son of the devil and that's how every single one of us is born. a son of the devil inheriting wrath just wrath of God, but for those of us who have been given open ears and open eyes by the grace by the unmerited favor of God.

We hear the voice of the shepherd.

A crop is grown from the soft soil of our hearts. And we find ourselves to be sons of the Kingdom a harvest is coming. You're going to be of two different crops. There is no third choice.

And I underline number for this Harvest will happen at the end. K there will be an end. There will be a harvest. We have a tendency as people to just imagine that everything's going to continue the way it is right now. We just think you're okay. You know if things are terrible we would have a tendency to fall into faithlessness and say it's always going to be terrible. If things are going great, we fall into the sin of arrogance and and think of course everything's great. I mean look what I did. I mean, I'm pretty fantastic. Anyway, I mean what could go wrong?

One day all this is going to end one day is going to be our great gettin up morning the trumpets going to sound and yeah, we can we can we can debate argue and make pie graphs and line chart so we can talk about Wendy's New Mexico before the traffic gets sucked up in the clouds. Are they going to come over when the Thousand-Year Reign and when you can sit on the throne was going to argue about all that but here's the truth. It's going to end. Jesus will be king. He's coming to harvest.

When is this going to happen Jesus? What is it going to happen? Matthew 24 starting at verse 3 as he sat on the Mount of all of the disciples came to him privately singtel us. When will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age and Jesus answered them see that? No one leads you astray for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and they will lead me astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of War going to have to say that he's Jesus.

Someone has to claim to be Jesus. He's not okay.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars see that you are not alarmed for this must take place. But the end is not yet for nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginnings of the birth pains.

And they will deliver you up to tribulation. And sticks a pin in that whole Prosperity Gospel thing to knit.

Deliver you up to tribulation in and put you to death.

every week do you mind if we scroll through Facebook like I do I should stop that.

the news reports of Martyrs every day every week people dying My response is why aren't why aren't we dying to?

Is it the grace of God or are we doing are we not faithful like they are.

The delivery of the tribulation and put you to death and you will be hated by All Nations for my namesake. We're not going to be popular and there are we trying to matter how we try to Market it no matter what changes we make with the music or changes we make with proclamation of the word. We will be hated.

And many will fall away and betray one another and hate one. Another many false prophets will arise and leave Ministry and because lawlessness will be increased the love of many will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end. Will be saved.

This Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to All Nations, and then the end will come. It's coming. Adeline number five the Harvest is the pouring out of Wrath Injustice and all sin that wasn't satisfied on the cross of Christ. I could go on a one-way long skirts. He's here but this is just a simple underline. Jesus has already declared that you do not cast Pearls Before Swine you don't you don't you don't toss away what is precious and treasured what is more precious and treasured than the righteous spilled blood of Jesus.

Not a drop that atoning blood was wasted. Not one drop was lost. What is precious is not wasted.

You're either under? That precious spilled perfect blood of the Lamb or you will be under the sword of the Lion.

This is this was a puzzle to me for so long. It's like why why? Okay, so if Jesus is suffering on the cross for sin, but yet Jesus returns in judgment on sin. It didn't it didn't square with me. I didn't make sense to me. I thought Jesus died for all sin on the cross. Every drop of his blood is accounted for on the hearts of the Saints. Jesus died to win a bride. Not to make a bride possible, but for his bride for his children. For those who would balcony and be born again?

That's that's the difference in the two harvests is who is covered by that blood. number 6 There is a coming a new Eternal Kingdom prepared for those who are his.

All the metaphors that means the weed of the Harvest and sheep of the Good Shepherd the adopted Sons and Daughters of God. There is a kingdom prepared. for us

Matthew 25 starting in verse 31

When the son of man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious Throne before him will be gathered all the nations and he will separate people one from another as a Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats and he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left then the king will say to those on his right come you who are blessed by my father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And Ustick the goats are separated from the Sheep. I just wanted to end on that forgive me. I just wanted to end on that. There is a kingdom prepared for those who are his for those who are covered in that blood of Christ with those who were the who were planted in that soft soil for those whose ears were open whose eyes were opened? For those who were harvested a harvest of righteousness and Grace. Did you get it you get it? Let's pray.

Again, father. I'm I'm asking that if if you are at work in And someone's heart here this morning Holy Spirit if you were at work.

And someone's heart this morning.

Got it. Don't allow them to leave it there.

They come forward and and pray with with an elder.

I don't know what you're doing. I know what it's all going to add up to.

Redemption 2 making new of all things making right of all wrongs the expulsion of all sin and Brokenness and darkness and death and intimidation and and Corruption all that's going away. All that is is weed. It's all weeds. Right now we're just we're in the middle of a time of growth of the wheat is growing among the weeds. And I by the by Your Grace by your grace. May I be counted Amongst the Wheat? so when your Harvest comes Sophia Grace I can be brought into an eternal Kingdom with you. That that is a work of your hands not mine. So you're at work here this morning. I know you are.

Maybe four brand new life. Maybe you're calling right now for someone to say my ears are Open My Eyes Are Open. I bow my knee before you.

Praise You for for planting the seed of Truth in the heart that you made soft. Thank you for proclaiming the Gospel Holy Spirit into the ears that you opened. Thank you for giving me the air that you breathe into my dead lungs.

I don't know exactly what you're doing. The goddamn asking that you would do it. It's working Grace work of righteousness. sovereignty patience Mercy

Thank you, Jesus.

moving continue to move we ask your precious name. I'm in Spanish coming up in singing again. Is that happening? I don't know. Yes, please come on up in and out as it was last week. If the Lord's move in just just come forward or go backwards find someone in in prey. And we'll see what God does other words are going to be up. So I'd invite everyone to sing this.