A Spiritual Battle in a Physical World
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
All around us, there are people speaking out, claiming the existence of vastly different realities. There are evolutionists who take their faith to its logical end, and claim that no god exists. There are “theistic evolutionists,” claiming that a distant, inattentive god created everything and has since neglected his creation. There are spiritists of every kind, believing in spiritual life, but claiming all manner of things as to its existence and behavior. Thankfully the Bible is very clear, teaching us that there is one Creator God, who is infinitely powerful, infinitely holy, and infinitely good. He loves His creation with a perfect love, and desires that all of mankind meet Him personally, so that we may be forgiven of our sins, gain eternal life, and grow closer to Him each day.
This personal relationship with God is possible because of God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came down from His throne in Heaven to be born as a baby, grow up as one of us, and lay down His sinless, innocent life to pay for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV 1900)
For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
It’s likely that you have heard these things before, and they are familiar to you. Perhaps there are some listening this morning who have never heard this before. But whether you have heard it or not, it is good for us to hear it again! Most people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ multiple times before they accept it. Some people hear it hundreds of times, and never accept it. Those of us who have already accepted it are helped to hear it again, for at least two reasons: 1) As the only source of salvation for all mankind, it is our message to give! We need to be reminded of its importance. 2) It reminds us of God’s proven love for us. Forgiven or not, we are all sinners, and we need God’s perfect love every day of our lives!
God’s love is unfathomable. Nothing you do can make Him love you less, and nothing you can do can make Him love you more. His love is perfect, and He proved it by sending His Son.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
“God” - Do you fear God? Proverbs 1:7 is clear that fearing God is crucial. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” You cannot comprehend truth if you refuse to fear God. This is The Almighty that we’re talking about!
“Loved” - true love is acted upon!
“So” - He loved much, to THIS extent!
“He gave” - not sold, not traded, not “conditionally offered.” A true gift cannot be retracted. The sacrifice of Christ is still extended to sinners! All that’s missing is it to be accepted.
“His ONLY begotten Son” - He had nothing else to give. God could not have done more for your salvation!
“Whosoever” - This is open to all—it is unconditional in that way. But because He loves us enough to make it unconditional, fewer than “all” is still worth it. You alone would have been worth it! That is perfect love.
“Believeth in him” - Christ is the only way of salvation. Believing in anything else will never bring salvation. Without Christ, you are hopelessly lost.
“Should not perish” - In Christ is life. Without Christ is certain death. All the lost WILL perish.
“Everlasting life” - This isn’t a passing benefit or blessing. It is permanent. The only “expiration date” that is involved is the invitation that God is extending to you. If you refuse to believe on Christ alone for your salvation, your opportunity will eventually expire. Once you have repented of your sins and believed on Christ alone, your life in Christ will never expire. It is everlasting.
Friend, this view of the world is true. We are all sinners, but we needn’t die that way. We are all guilty, but we needn’t be punished. Our pardon is available in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. But it will only come if we agree with God about our sin and condemnation, and come to Him, surrendering all of ourselves, and believing in only Christ. Whosoever does this WILL be saved!
When Jesus Christ lived on this earth, He taught these truths in many ways. One teaching method that He often employed was a parable, which is a story of earthly life, that communicates truths about spiritual life. We’re going to spend some time this morning examining the parable that Jesus taught about the tares and the wheat.
I. The Parable — Matt. 13:24-30
I. The Parable — Matt. 13:24-30
I’m not sure any of us here today are career farmers, but I think we all still understand the problem of having weeds mixed in with the crops. Farmers spend a good deal of time and money trying to keep their crops free of unwanted plants that will compete for nutrients, moisture and space in the field. The act of harvesting is much easier and simpler if weeds are not present. One sign of farming success is the absence of weeds.
However, the farmer in this parable had an enemy. This unscrupulous enemy engaged in sabotage, to ruin the farmer’s success. He intended only destruction.
The farmer was wise, and understood what the enemy had in mind. He also understood how to limit the damage, and he instructed his servants accordingly.
II. The Explanation — Matt. 13:36-43
II. The Explanation — Matt. 13:36-43
When asked, Jesus explained the parable’s meaning.
The farmer = Jesus Christ
He is the Son of man! Luke 19:10 — “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The field = the world
The seed = saved sinners, children of God’s kingdom
How is one saved? John 3:3 — “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The tares = lost sinners, children of the wicked one
We are all sinners; there is no difference there. Only Christ makes a difference between us. Romans 10:12 — “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
The enemy = the devil
It’s not flattering to be called a child of the devil, but Jesus Christ calls unbelievers that. John 8:44 — “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
The reapers = the angels
The harvest = the end of the world
Which will come first: the end of your life, or the end of the world? We don’t know, but one of them will begin your judgment. Heb. 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
With this explanation in place, I want us to observe a few things about this parable.
III. Observations
III. Observations
There are some eternal truths that we find in this parable that are visible, but not specifically addressed.
The source of life is Christ
Notice that only the Son of man sows good seed. Many try to get into the kingdom of heaven their own way, but Jesus Christ says in John 14:6, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Acts 4:10-12 Only Christ can bring you into the kingdom of Heaven.
The source of destruction is the devil and his children
Many try to accuse God of wickedness and hatred and cruelty, but Satan and sinful man are the sources of these and all evils. Are we experiencing true evil in our lives? We begin finding the source by looking in the mirror. God is the only solution!
Christ sees the problem
It’s interesting that verse 24 describes “a man,” and verse 25 says, “While men slept, his enemy...” When we see this parable explained, we understand that the devil thinks he goes unnoticed, and he does, to most of us. But God knows exactly who wrought the evil, and He knows exactly who are tares, and who are wheat. Satan can’t catch Him sleeping!
Is your name written in the book of life? God knows the answer to that. If your name isn’t found there, you can’t hide from that reality.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Unbeliever, you may fool me, and you may fool many others. But you can’t fool God. He knows what your heart condition is, and He knows if your name is written in His book of life. I urge you to make sure that it is!!
Christ is first concerned for the “wheat.”
It should comfort the saints to know that our Heavenly Father is ALWAYS doing what is best for us!
Christ has already solved the problem
I said earlier that weeds mixed in with the crop is a problem. Farmers must take corrective measures when they encounter that in their fields. But Jesus Christ has a solution for this spiritual problem, and the end of the world has not yet come! He is in complete control. This world is a mess, but the King of kings still reigns from His throne. One day, He will “bring in the harvest,” and will avenge every wrong, and correct every error.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
We must come to Christ and believe on Him while we may!
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Do you know Jesus Christ personally? You probably know about Him…but do you KNOW Him? Do you walk with Him? Do you fellowship with Him in private time in the Word of God? Does He speak to your heart, comforting and strengthening and convicting you? If you cannot answer readily and honestly to this, it may be because you have never been forgiven of your sins; you may still be a child of the devil, bound for Hell and judgment. But the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, was sent just for you! He shed His sinless blood, so that you wouldn’t have to die for your sins. He already knows your condition; you cannot fool Him. But you may believe on Him.
Many people have their opinions about what is reality and what is fantasy. But Scripture tells us that spiritual things are the true reality, and the appearance of physical things usually is fantasy. There is a real Satan and a real Hell, and he is fighting to take you there. But Christ died so that you may have everlasting life. There is a spiritual battle going on in this physical world, and it is for the souls of men. Has Christ saved your soul? He loves you, and gave Himself for you. Won’t you believe on Him today?
