Parables Of Jesus

Part 3

 

 

The Repeated Parables

How many times do Parents need to tell their children the same thing, over and over again?  The Holy Spirit repeats Himself for the same 3 reasons. 
A. Warning: Whenever God repeats Himself, you can always see a certain danger; He is trying to protect us!  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, John 10. 

B. Priorities: God is the author of peace, not confusion. 1st Corinthians 14:33. He is orderly in His wisdom and laws. 

C. Love: From the abundance of the heart a man speaks and we are made in His image. God, who is love, speaks most about what He loves most.  1st John 4:8.
New Cloth & New Wine, Matthew 9:15-17, Mark 2:19-22, Luke 5:33-39.  God warns us against the foolishness of expecting new disciples to do what mature disciples can accomplish. Babes in Christ should be nurtured, not starved or over-worked.  New Christians need training for the warfare; they should not be put on the front line. Carefully and bravely, restore the weaker members, Galatians 6:1.  Later on, they too will grow and behave as spiritually mature members, joining prayer with fasting, making great sacrifices to lay up treasures in Heaven, and multiplying their talents to accomplish God’s will in their life.
The Sower: Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:2-20, Luke 8:5-15. We are personally responsible for receiving God’s word (hearing) into our heart.  Letting the eyes of our inner person be enlightened. This is what Paul prayed for, Ephesians 1:18.  What can we do for ourselves, to make our heart (soil) a better environment for God’s word (seed) to grow? 
A. Invest in God’s word. We can soften our hard hearts to bury the word deep into our conscience, (Hebrews 3:13) so Satan can not steal it away from our thinking with criticism and distractions. Buy the truth and sell it not, Proverbs 23:23. Do we value the price He paid?
B. Throw out the stones. Trials & persecution can come upon us, because of our acceptance of God’s word.  When it does; pray about the real Tempter (Mt. 4:3 & 1st Th. 3:5) behind the trial. Prepare your heart for the battle; cover it with the breast-plate of righteousness and the shield of faith, Ephesians, 6:13-17.
C. Root out the thorns. If we are lusting after worldly success or taking pride in our possessions, we are choking God’s word with those thorns, root them out.  Set your priorities to care for Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last, making for a J.O.Y.ful life.  John 10:10. This will ensure our heart is rejoicing in the word and produce the Spirit’s fruit, Galatians 5:22-23. The result is a good grounded heart, able to receive more of the word and yearly produce repeated harvests, because God gives the increase, if we co-operate.
The Mustard Seed & Leaven, Matthew 13: 31-33, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-21. Christians start with small, humble beginnings, but grow to have huge effects.  We must take faith in the truth of God; using insignificant people to do significant things. The mustard seed is showing God’s influence on the world publicly.  The leaven shows God’s influence from within the Christian personally. Jesus is the bread of life; we are in Christ, John 6:48-51.
The Wicked Vinedressers, Matthew 21:33-45, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19, God only wanted the renters to pay rent, “receive it’s fruit” Mt.21:34, but they wouldn’t.  God sent His Son to people who tortured & killed the prophets, knowing what they would do to Jesus, because He sees your true value.  The fruit is worth His sacrifice. Galatians 5:22-23. He continues to suffer with us, Colossians 1:24, to produce the fruit.
The Fig Tree, Matthew 24:32-36, Mark 13:28-33, Luke 21:29-33, The destruction of the Temple is paramount for the introduction of a new temple, our bodies, 1st Corinthians 6:19. His 12 apostles would see the earth-shattering changes of the covenants, from old to new. When Jesus comes again, it will be earth-ending with no “fig tree warning”. Are you ready right now!?! If not, it’s already too late to look for a ripening fig tree, trust & obey Him now!