Living Manna

Jesus Christ uses the visible to explain the kingdom of God because to many it is not visible.

First parable – The parable of the sower

Some people call it the parable of the seed or soil. There are different names because this particular parable has many lessons. This parable is what many of us have preached many times. Even non-believers know this parable. By the help of the Holy Spirit, we will learn a new lesson today.

In the beginning of this parable, the first word that Jesus Christ uses is listen. In Greek, it is to hear and to listen, a command. He is emphasizing it is very important. I pray when we hear the Word of Jesus Christ that the sound does not just come into our ears and make vibration but an impact. If you listen carefully, the result is obedience done through our life and action.

In this parable, the sower is God and the seed is the Word. If God is such a good farmer, why isn’t he more careful in sowing the seeds? In olden days, sowing the seeds take place before they plough the ground. They had sacks of seeds and they just throw. The outcome of the farming is about 10 times. The sower is waiting to see if it is successful or not so successful. When our God sow the seed which is the Word, it is spread aboard. He gives the Word to those who are not interested in it, those reject it, those who persecute it. Jesus Christ is the Word. God sent Jesus to not only those who will accept him but to those who will persecute him. God sends the Word for different reasons and purposes and whether the person receive it or not, God’s purpose will be fulfilled. God says that His Word will not return to him void. Harvest is successful when it is 10%. When the seeds are just thrown by God, the result is 30, 60, 100 times and that is considered very successful. We are talking about God’s kingdom here. It is not about the seed itself, it is about God sowing, it Is the Word of God sowing the seed. Let us believe that the seed that God has sown in our lives will bear fruit.

Along the path

It is a road that is being stepped on. It is a heart that has turned so hard. It is a heart that says I have been there, I have done that and there are no surprises. There are birds in our church and lives that are trying to take away the Word. It can be called trouble, temptations, text messages that take away my mind, maybe it is my own thoughts and interest, the ground is too hard for the seed to come in.

Rocky ground

There are people who get inspired. They give confession I will give my life to you, they come up to altar calls, they make promises but after that when little thing happens, one family member that opposes you, hardship, their inspiration is no longer to be found. This is a person who confuses God’s grace with their own emotions. This is speaking about an unripen confession.

Sown among thorns

It is the daily lives and temptations that choked and leaks me. It is important to live with God. If we are not careful, it will become an obstacle to God’s Word. A superficial confession of faith is not sign of true redemption. Let us not be carnal Christians. They claim to be truly redeemed but the daily lives never bring forth fruit. It is struck in the same way. Their physical needs and wants come first. They attend church, they have titles but because they have failed to have the Word rooted down and because of thorns and thistles, they cannot bear fruit. That is why it is difficult for them to be consistent in church and in serving the Lord.

Good soil

This is the only ground that they bear fruit. We have to be very careful not to misunderstand. Many sermons end with let us be the good soil. We are not Christians because we are good soils. No one was a good soil to begin to. If you say I am the good soil, I receive the Word and I bear fruit, that means you did not really receive the Word. Jesus has been emphasizing until now the importance of receiving him as the Word. It is because of the birds and thorns and they are the result of the fall, we fallen mankind all have thorns and thistles and birds. The seed is given to us and we receive the Holy Spirit through the Word. Even if I have a rock in my heart, as long as I receive the Word, it is Him who will take out the rock in me. Let us pray this personality of mine, these temptations, please remove it from me, our church. What makes the soil good? It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

The parable of the lamp

The term here is the lamp, not a lamp. It is a definite article. God gave the lamp to David and they are waiting for the lamp which is Jesus Christ. He is talking about seed and light. These 2 things are the 2 key points. God created light in the beginning and God created trees and plants with seeds. This is the important elements that will divide. There were plants with seeds and without seeds. The seed, the light represent Jesus Christ. When we receive him, there is separation taking place. What was happening? People was covering him. After the death of the John the Baptist, Jesus is running away. Are we trying to avoid that light? Are we trying to prevent the Word, avoiding light? We want to cover up and hide our shame. May we accept the truth of God’s Word.

As conclusion, the kingdom of God is like a man that cast seeds.

The seed is growing now, even if it is very small, he says smaller than any. Even if your faith, even if the Word you receive, it is so small, it will grow up, it will become a tree. The Word may not mean anything to you right now but it is God who makes it grow. A seed is something that have life in it, sometimes it is discouraging, how slow the Word is making a difference in me, but fear not, it will grow because you have received the Word and that is how God’s kingdom is built. When we listen, he is sowing the seed in us. One day that seed that is so small will give housing to many souls. The kingdom is God sowing the seed. Even if there are rocks, thorns and birds, he sowed the seeds, he will not leave it, he will make it grow.

AMEN.