Snapchat Scriptures - Wheat and Tares
Notes
Transcript
Last week we looked at the parable of the seed and the sower. We examined several soils and their need for being tilled, transplanted, weeded and prepared to receive soil. We talked about how we sometimes ignore being active in spreading the Gospel because we feel so many will not remain, but that is not our call - what is our responsibility is to work soils so they are more receptive to the Gospel!
Even when we have prepared the soil and sown a field for the harvest, not all are going to be healthy and fruitful.
Jesus goes on to share another parable of sowing and this time relates it to a healthy field that has weeds growing up amongst the healthy stalks.
In Israel there was a weed called Darnell - in its early stages it is virtually indistinguishable from the stalk of wheat. so to attempt to weed it could risk rooting out part of the good harvest.
There is a very distinct instruction the farmer gives to the servants who work the fields - dont pull them up! You may pull up what is good, but at the harvest they will be rooted out and destroyed.
We need to be aware in the church that there will be people amongst us that are not going to heaven! They are not even here by virtue of the Farmer which is God, but are actually sown by the influence of the devil to choke out good wheat! It is not our place to go around and label the weed from the wheat… God is aware of who they are. We have to use wisdom in choosing what we allow into our spirit, and mark the fruit of fellowship if it is leading us into what is Godly or what may be distracting to the things of God. Many deceptions try to work their way into the church and can even sound spiritual though they are not. The Darnell stalk often looked like it was a strong wheat stalk, but eventually the ugliness of its head shows itself and sometimes good wheat is destroyed.
2. God will deal with the weeds! Rest assured if you are there to sow discord, deceit, or take away from the discipleship and growth of the Kingdom, the Farmer is not ignorant and you will be dealt with at Harvest time. I think some of the weeds have convinced themselves they are wheat, but the lack of fruit in their lives is unapparent - and the issues they cause are more damaging. I am thankful I do not have to discern completely who God is going to weed out and who is genuine.
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
3. Being in the family are those that DO THE WILL OF GOD
If you recall from last week, we read about the true family of Christ in
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.
50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
Those who do the will of the Father are the true family!!!
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
to submit to God is to surrender to God’s will in your life. TO release the world and pursuit of friendship with the world, so you might draw close to knowing the Father.
Is this apparent in your life???