The Kingdom of Heaven is Like? II
Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Last week we learned that God has made us a promise that His desire is to meet the needs of His people.
But we must also understand that there are 2 types of promises found within the word of God.
- Unconditional – Promise with no condition
- Conditional – Promises that come with a condition
Matt 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
The interpretation of the parable is found in Matt 13:37-43.
The good man is Jesus
The field is the world
The good seed is the message of Christ The bad seed is the deception of Satan The harvest is the end of time
The enemy takes advantage of dark times
Matt 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. - Dark times
Pay attention to what is dominating our thought life. Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
II Cor 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. - Spiritual slumber
Not only does the enemy take advantage of people while they are in ark times,
but also will people fall into a spiritual slumber.
25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
This reminds me of one of the Old Testament prophets Eli. I Sam 1-2
He started his walk with God fervent and diligent, but throughout time he fell into a spiritual slumber and no longer would deal with the things that were in his household.
II. The enemy uses bad people to corrupt good character
Matt 13:27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest.
As we can see from this scripture is that as we serve the Lord we will be in constant contact with people that are being influenced by the enemy, and as the enemy is influencing them he will also try and use them to influence us. - Identify – they shall be know by their fruit
Matt 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
• •
Learn to practice spiritual warfare
Divisive Gossipy
Gal 6 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted
III. We must run our race until the end
‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
here we see that the true believer must endure until the end with the weeds that have been planted amongst us.
Matt 13:37
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
What is the lesson of the kingdom?
Guard our lives on the journey from dark times. Don’t fall into a spiritual slumber and be careful who we allow to have an influential role within our lives.
No respect for spiritual authority
2. Create boundaries