Ever wonder why the tree of life was placed in the garden?

Wow more insight on a part of Scripture I thought I had figured out!

Gen 2 ....The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

.....15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.16And the Lord17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat [fn] of it you shall surely die."

Ever wonder why God put the tree of life there to begin with? The only other time it is mentioned in this portion of Scripture is after they sin....

22Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”23therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

I think God knew what Satan had in mind so He casted Adam and Eve out of the Garden for their sakes. The tree of life, what an interesting tree....we know all life comes from God so why did He put it there? Well, we must first notice where it is placed. It is placed with the Tree of knowledge of good and evil! When God created man His initial plan was to have perfect communion with them and have them multiply into a race of men and women who would worship Him and enjoy perfect fellowship with their Creator. But sin distorted His plan.....

So do you think God didn't know? Of course He did! I believe that is why He placed the tree of life there in sight of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life was a continual picture to them of who God is and the tree of knowledge of good and evil was a picture of all Satan is. In essence Satan was giving them the lowdown of what comes out of this tree..."You will be like gods..." he says. Making it enticing and flatout lying to them, this tree embodies the root of all sin which is pride and self-worship. It is a life that lives on it's own terms and prides in their own abilities and knowledge. It's very roots echo the blasphemous words of Lucifer in Ezekial..."I will make myself to be like God"

Ez 28, "“Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods,
in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god— 3you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; 4by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
5by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth—

And isn't this the case with all sin? When we fail to look at the "tree of life" we are left to be captivated and then ensnared by the life that we are anyone without God? Where were Eve's eyes?

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate,

Notice the three snares that overtook her?

1)...when the woman saw the tree was good = lust of the flesh

2)....and that it was a delight to the eyes = the lust of the eyes

3) ...and that the tree was desired to make one wise = pride of life

1 John 2:16 warns us..."for all that [is] in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

Why did God put the tree of life there? It was to be a constant reminder to them of God's pressence!  It was their way of escape when temptaion would come to disobey Him!

1 Cr 10:13 reminds us..."No temptations has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God had provided a way of escape! But Adam and Eve willingly chose to disobey God...they willing chose to sin....therefore now sin and all it's ugliness has plauged mankind. What was meant for perfect fellowship between God and man has now created a new chasm between them. COuld you imagine going from perfect to tainted in a matter of minutes from a choice you foolishly made? Oh sure I am sure all of us sinners can relate!

So we messed up, and yet again we see God's character seconds after the deed was done....for even though God knew man had willingly chosen to sin against Him, it is God Himself, who seeks man out again.

Luk 19:10

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

8And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.9But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Gen 3

The one thing that continues to amaze me about God is His willingness to make things right between us, even when it is all my fault! To be honest once I am hurt I put a wall between me and my offender and most often will wait for them to plead for mercy! God chooses not to do this, but waits until they both have eaten the fruit, before He enters the stage with a tone of a Father who loves His own...."Where are you?"

No matter how many times my son chooses to disobey me, I will always seek him out for the purpose of restoration. God sought to restore what man has destroyed. His reaching out litterally reaches out thorughout the pages of Scripture to a recording in John, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!" when His Son hung "bruised by our iniquities" on the cross. I believe the tree of life is also the symbol of what God uses to restore mankind back into perfect communion with God! It is the picture of the cross for Christ HImself was hung on a tree and when our eyes gaze upon the One who breathed life into Adam and Eve do we not also resist the temptations of the evil one?

THis is why the author of Hebrews 12 writes, "1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

What does that mean today...obviously we don't live in the garden of Eden anymore and don't have the constant reminder of the physical tree of life before us.....but that is because now we have "walking trees of life"....what I mean by that is we have men and women who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit walking this world as a symbol of God's remaining pressence in this world that has been held captive by the snare of the devil!  As I look back in my life before I knew Christ I am reminded of the Christians (outspoken and silent) that God surrounded me with.  And if I would have just listened to what they had to say or even glanced at their obedient lifestyle maybe the I would have known better at an earlier age that the tree of knowledge of good and evil really wasn't good for me.  Maybe I would have known the sinful lifestyle I was living really wasn't living at all, but rather a delusion.  Even now I am reminded of the young women I have had the privilige to minister the gospel to and in the little town I live in the LORD is still gracious to put them into my paths from time to time...they notice me, they acknowledge my existence, and then move on.  All the while my heart prays for them to stop running and begin repenting.....oh Christian do we realize wherever we are we MUST exude the pressence of Christ?  So that as Jesus has said, "When the Son of Man be lifted up, then I shall draw all men to Myself!"

Keep your eyes on Jesus Beloved! When temptations begin to incaptivate you, turn your eyes, flee to the nearest closet if you have to and look unto Jesus to be Author and Perfector of your faith!

The automatic response when eyes are lifted up to their Savior hanging on a "tree" is being drawn to God!

Jhn 12:32

"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

So beloved, where are your eyes today? Look up to your Savior, He draws nigh......

What once was dropped from the sky, came down to dine with man!

More treasure from the LORD!

 John 6

1After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.11Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.12And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”13So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do..The Lord knew what He would do, so then why did He ask Philip?  Jesus was just about to perform an amazing miracle, making something out of nothing to feed over 5,000 people!  I have heard this message used to encourage people, Jesus will provide all you need and more.  And yes I do believe that is true, I found this particular message shares much more about another attribute of God...communion with man.

If you were a Jew then you would have been very familiar with the story from OT when God's people were in the desert hungry for bread and God poured manna from the sky to feed them.  
Psalm 78 reminds:   

22because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
25Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
27he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
29And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.

Philip would have remembered that God had done for His people...if he (and the 11) had truly believed Jesus was God in the flesh, wouldn't he have answered, "Well, yeah Jesus you can feed them!  You've done it before!"  But no Philip's response was that of a unbelieving heart.  Jesus was still a man them them.  

That is why I believe this miracle was to refine their faith in Him and intended to reveal to them yet again His divinity.  What once was poured from the sky because man's sin was so great God could not fellowship with man, now was standing among them (the Bread of Life) handing them their "manna" and "meat"!  Isn't that amazing?  To a Jew that knew OT, they should have seen this, having heard the story so many times in their youth!

He had His disciples feed over 5,000 people...must have took a lot of time and a lot of walking back to Jesus.  The farther out they walked to the people, the farther they had to walk back to Jesus.....Could you imagine what faith it took for them to keep coming to the LORD and wondering if there would still even be enough and finding each time there He was with a basket of food waiting to be taken to the people!  Oh how this reminds me of the times I have forgotten God's goodness to us before and when life hits me with a similar circumstance how quick I am to wonder if God would again be so gracious to us!  Forgive me LORD!

Another amazing truth here is that notice there are only 12 baskets left over....where was the basket for Jesus? 

Mat 20:28

"even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

 I am reminded of when I serve my family a meal...often I will neglect to make a plate for myself until they have all eaten.  ANd in a more greater example we see Jesus Himself lowering His own needs before others.  Then we see Jesus withdrawing Himself from them to pray to God....why didn't He have His own basket of food?

Jhn 4:34	Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

He was teaching His disciples who He was:  GOD, PROVIDER, FATHER, SERVER, and FINISHER.
He was God in the flesh providing the needs of the people, He was Father as He Himself handed out the food to the people, as Server when He put other's needs above His own, and Finisher for His food (what drove Him) was fullfilling the will of His Father! 

Remember what Jesus says to those who want to be His disciples?  Come and FOLLOW ME.   To follow means to imitate....to be like your teacher.  I don't know about you, but I want to be like Jesus!  

Lord help me to serve, rather than to be served...help me to grow in my faith in your provision and direction....make finishing your will in my life be what drives me to obedience....and make me more like You!
For the glory of Your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Here are my notes for a study I am teaching on Saturday....thought it was so wonderfully given by God I would like to share it with you!

My Goal:
I want you to love your faithful high priest Jesus (whom Samuel was just a picture of Him in the old testament)

I want you to realize you can’t do hard things without the Spirit of God within you.

I want you to know how to listen to the Word of the LORD and when to act on it.

I want you to gaze upon the faithful High Priest’s perfect obedience on the cross as your example of doing hard things.


Do hard things.....


Samuel: Here I am

Recall the story of Hannah and the birth of Samuel from 1 Samuel 1 and 2?

Read aloud: 1Samuel 2:11-17

12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.13The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,14and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.15Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”16And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

Why were the sons of Eli corrupt?
What was the purpose of the Sacrifice? Leviticus 7:29-34
“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings.30His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord.31The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.

What were Hophni and Phineas doing with the Sacrifice?
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Isaiah 56:11 Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

a Flesh-hook=a many-pronged fork used in the sacrificial services ( 1 Samuel 2:13 1 Samuel 2:14 ; Exodus 27:3 ; 38:3 ) by the priest in drawing away the flesh. The fat of the sacrifice, together with the breast and shoulder ( Leviticus 7:29-34 ), were presented by the worshipper to the priest. The fat was burned on the alter ( 3:3-5 ), and the breast and shoulder became the portion of the priests. But Hophni and Phinehas, not content with this, sent a servant to seize with a flesh-hook a further portion.


How did God feel about this? Isaiah 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
Do not think that the profanity of the false pious will be overlooked by God?

How did the young men react to the son’s profanity? Verse 17
Now do you see why it angered the LORD?
Was Priest Eli ignorant of this? How did he deal with it? Verse 22-25

But Samuel ministered (served) before the LORD,
even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.



Could you imagine...year after year Samuel watched Eli’s sons do wickedness without receiving correction or any consequence for their sins! When Samuel was weaned he must have still been very young....maybe even 3 or 4 years of age? And when the LORD spoke to him it was over 10 years later! But I want you to notice what Samuel continued to do within the 10 years....”he ministered before the LORD....the child Samuel grew before the LORD...and the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men....” While Eli’s son’s grew more worthless, young Samuel grew more valuable before God.
Now read Eli’s first warning..... 1 Samuel 2:27-29 , 31-34 , and 35
From verse 29 what does God say Eli and his son’s wickedness has done to his offering? And who did Eli honor more than God?
What was God’s judgement on Eli? Verse 31-34
Who is this faithful priest God will raise up in verse 35?
35And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.36And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”’
I think he is speaking of Samuel and his anointed refers to the coming king David, but I also believe He speaks prophetically because he says forever....He is the faithful high priest spoken in Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (NIV)
Jesus, for through David’s lineage would be born this faithful high priest!

Mchenry writes: .....Notwithstanding the degeneracy we see and lament in many families, God will secure to Himself a succession. If some grow worse than their ancestors, others, to balance that, shall grow better. It has its full accomplishment in the priesthood of Christ, that merciful and faithful high priest whom God raised up when the Levitical priesthood was thrown off, who in all things did his father’s mind, and for whom God will build a sure house, build it on a rock, so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
This is a HARD message to give...especially to a “holy man of authority”. It’s like you going up to your pastor and saying, “Sir the Lord says....and your family will be no more.” Could you do it? Or the more important thing to ask would be...Would you do it? What would be at risk for you to do such a hard thing?
Now remember Samuel? Scholars believe he may be around 13 years old by now....some of you are a little older than that and God calls him to do a similar hard thing. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-3 and tell me what is going on in Isreal’s temple around Samuel?
1. The word of the LORD was rare Amos 8:11 (Not a good thing)
2. Eli’s eyes were growing dim (a outward picture of his spiritual state growing dim)
3. Lamp of God was just about to go out (the lamp of God symbolized God’s presence)
When it seemed as if all hope was lost, God calls a child. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, 1 Cr 1:28 If you reject to obey God’s instruction, He will choose another and it will shame you.
Read on 1 Samuel 3:4-14
How did Eli tell Samuel to address himself before the LORD in verse 9? When you desire to listen to the instruction of the LORD you are chosen weak and foolish by world’s standards and always foremost deemed His servant and not your own master.
What did God tell Samuel to tell Eli? Verse 11-14
Pretty hard stuff....imagine now how would you feel?
Read 1 Samuel 3:15-18
How did Samuel feel? Verse 15 What made Him tell Eli? Verse 17 How did Eli respond? Verse 18
We don’t know exactly how long it had been between the time Samuel told Eli God’s judgement and when it actually happened....but it is understood, there was a pretty hefty length of time in between, because in verse 19-21 it says Samuel grew....could you imagine telling a Pastor or anyone older that and then waiting for it to be fulfilled? How would your relationship change? Would you start to doubt as time dragged on and there seemed to be no hint of it being fulfilled? Would you be angry when it wouldn’t happen as quickly as you had thought?
Now that Samuel had done everything the LORD called him to do at that moment, how did he respond to the waiting? Read verses 19-21
He grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
Whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season.-Mchenry
Pslam 1 1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
This prosperity do not be mistaken...it’s not like Samuel got rich and drove the fanciest chariots around town all the days of his life. The prosperity I believe he lived was far greater than that! He was deemed as a true prophet of God....when he spoke for God the people believed him because it came true! According to Jeremiah 14 there was serious punishments for those who claimed to speak for God and were not!
How was Samuel able to maintain this spiritual growth? Verse 19....and the LORD was with him. Let me tell you that you can do nothing hard or difficult unless the LORD first calls you to do it, unless you submit to His authority as Master and you His servant, and lastly unless He is with you all the way.
You won’t grow unless He is with you, you won’t mature unless He is with you, and you certainly will make no difference unless God is with YOU!
The question that now stands is: Do you even hear Him?
Jhn 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Jhn 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Evidence of His true followers is obedience. Remember the words Samuel used when God first called him? “Here I am....” He was in essence saying, “yes LORD I am here to do your will no matter the cost...I am your servant.”
How can you discern His voice from others?
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 Amp version: 2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
How do you renew your mind, your attitude? Remember Psalm 1?
2but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
What is your delight? What wakes you up in the morning? Or are your days heavy, dull, overwhelming? Have your ears been silent to the Father’s gentle calls in the middle of the night to dine with you, His precious son? Have you neglected reading His word with that once eagerness you had when you first realized these words were your Father’s words to comfort you and His promises to keep you? Do you pass your time being renewed by the lies of this world that says, “Live for the moment! Enjoy yourself! It’ll be a while before Jesus returns, life your life now!” Do you realize God is speaking to you right now....what will you do with what He says? Are you even listening?
I am reminded of my friend’s daughter who is a few months younger than LiLi and the other day she was out playing in the park with all the older kids. Her mother was watching her from a distance and noticed that she was starting to look frightened and anxiously looking for her mother. Seeing her daughter distraught she gently calls out to her and waves to get her attention reminding her “mama’s right here sweetheart!” Do you daily hear your heavenly Father doing the same?
I had mentioned before that in 1 Samuel there already was prophecy of Jesus as our perfect and faithful high priest and that Samuel was merely a foreshadow of what was to come. The amazing news is that even when we mess up and are unfaithful....He always is faithful.
2 Tim 2: 11The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13if we are faithless, He remains faithful—
for He cannot deny himself.
If by this message your examine yourselves and say, “I have forgotten Him” realize this is only God’s call to turn you back to Himself. He has HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU! He LOVES YOU! He gave HIS SON so that you can be obedient like Samuel! He gave HIS SON so that you can be obedient like HIM!

Which heart are you?

The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9He who has ears, [fn1] let him hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables
10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
15For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.17Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained
18“Hear then the parable of the sower:19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. [fn2] 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.23As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”


What a privilige to be given the "secrets of the kingdom of heaven"! The One who created the heavens and the earth, Who breathed life into the nostrils of man, The One who controls the winds and the waves sat before them unveiling the mysteries of the human heart! Who but God alone who made the heart would know it's own decietfullness and fraility. As we read in this next parable, entitled in most bibles as the parable of the sower, we see four types of hearts respond to the Word of the Kingdom of God.

Just as Jesus says, He uses parables because the hearts of the people have grown dull. What makes a heart dull? Sin.
Lam 5: 15The joy of our hearts has ceased;
our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16The crown has fallen from our head;
woe to us, for we have sinned!17For this our heart has become sick,
for these things our eyes have grown dim,

Sin has marred the once perfect heart that was created to worship Him alone. But now because sin has entered the human heart, man's only inclination is evil and self-worship. Therefore, Jesus speaks to them in parables knowing full well He is speaking to four types of hearts as described in the parable....The one with no understanding...The one with no foundation....The one with no love for God.....and the one hears and understands.

Notice all three have had the opportunity to hear the Word of the Kingdom. They have heard God's magnificent plan for man's salvation in HIs Son Jesus Christ. The first one heard and did not understand...and with no time to waste the devil snaches out the Good Seed from his heart so that he persists in responding hostile towards God for he is bound to his folly and ignorant of his destruction. Imagine years of rejection towards the Word of the Kingdom, and eventually the heart grows all the more dull and cold towards it.
Luk 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

THe next two soils to me seem similar in that they both listened to the Word and received it, and for a short while looked like they were growing until something happened to cause them to turn away.

The seed that fell on rocky ground was one with no depth of soil.

Soils that are deep, well-drained, and have desirable texture and structure are suitable for the production of most garden or landscape plants. Deep soils can hold more plant nutrients and water than can shallow soils with similar textures. Depth of soil and its capacity for nutrients and water frequently determine the yield from a crop, particularly annual crops that are grown with little or no irrigation. Plants growing on shallow soils also have less mechanical support than those growing in deep soils. Trees growing in shallow soils are more easily blown over by wind than are those growing in deep soils. (http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/soils/depth.html)

What does that mean then? What kind of a heart is He speaking about..."with no depth of soil?" How is deep soil attained?
Luk 6:49 "But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."


This man hears the word of the Kingdom, but chooses not to do what is asked. He just simply rejects it. Now it seems as though he is a receiver of the world when the seed is sown as it immediately springs forth from the ground (Jesus uses the word JOY which I percieve may have been an emotional conversion experience), but when certain tribulation and persectuion arrizes on account of the Word, just as quickly as he had grown, he quikcly falls away from the faith.

Last year I met a woman who for a time attended church, and recieved the Word with joy probably at first. But then when calamity struck she questioned why God would allow her to suffer, and she when I had asked her about her faith she replied she no longer loved God. This woman is suffering in hell now for several months later her life ended in a car wreck. She was soil with no depth.

The next heart was a heart that reflects many people in my own life. These hearts love their lives...love this world. The cares of the world and the lies of riches produces unfruitfullness. 1 John says, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father, but is of the world." What terrible bait that Satan uses to trap vunerable hearts...."I will give you this....if you will bow down and serve me...." The very words that he used to tempt our dear LORD in the desert. Often it takes a terrible thing to occur to open the eyes of a person to their own depravity and hopelessness.

As for myself, it was easier for me to seek God when I had lost love, friends, and financial stability. I believe that is why Jesus says in all three gospels:

Mat 19:24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Mar 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Luk 18:25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

Lastly there is the fourth response, the good soil. From 2 chr 7:14 I came up with what a heart looks like in comparison to good soil, and it is this: humility, brokeness, seeking God, and TRUE repentance. John says, "we litterally become sons of God" when we recieve Him. This is the soil that produces grain, some a hudnredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Even Job had to realize this when he lost everything all at once...."5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

This is true repentance...and it is ONLY the broken heart that makes good soil. Think about the actually physcial process real soil has to go through in order to make it useful to the sower! Likewise for us our hearts must be absolutely shattered when we hear the Word of the Kingdom in order that the sower, The Great Physician may as Israel cried out in Lamentations...Restore us to yourself, O Lord , that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old-- .

Psa 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Rom 4:7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

What sin has marred, Christ has restored. Blessed be to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Alleluiah!

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Matthew 12:24-30

YOUR BEST LIFE IS NOT RIGHT NOW!!!!!

24He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’29But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matt 13
What are tares you may ask? Tares are weedy plants that are unwelcomed and objectionable elements. In this parable the Lord revealed a great truth to me that I hope will encourage you too. Upon reading this I had several questions, each one so faithfully answered by Jesus Himself in verses 36 - 43
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Who is the man? The Son of Man...Jesus.
Whom are the good seed? The sons of the kingdom
Who are the tares? The sons of the wicked one.
Who is the enemy who sowed them? The devil.
What day is the harvest? At the end of the age.
Who are the servants (reapers)? His angels.
Whom is the field? The world.
So then if the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom, then what of the wheat that sprouts forth from it?
In John Jesus tells His disciples, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
The wheat that sprout out from the good seed represents the fruitful life that was produced from the death of the broken seed! Notice that the good seed has no choice on where it will land in the field (the world) and that it is the sower (Jesus) who appoints where it lands. Yet it is the good seed (son of the Kingdom) that has the choice to die.
What does this mean? Jesus says quite plainly in John 12 verse 25...”He who loves his life will lose it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Do you see what Jesus is saying? All of us have a picture of how we want our life. And naturally we desire less tribulation and more ease. We want more pleasure and less persecution. We want instant rewards over longsuffering. Yet when a man gets what he wants (and loves his life) Jesus says he will eventually lose it. (Did not Solomon once describe mans life is but a shadow?). Oh but the man who hates his life (never seems to get what he wants, always has to climb a little higher than everyone else, always seems to get the shorter end of the stick, is always seeming to be last in line........) IT IS THIS MAN WHO when all his desires eventually die (when Jesus increases and we decrease to almost nothing) that a bountiful stalk of wheat is produced. And yet we know it does not occur quickly but slowly and gradually it is produced....and the reward?
Jesus says in verse 26, “26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Jesus says, “THE FATHER will HONOR him!” There is another parable about three men whom a master entrusted certain talents to. And to the faithful stewards the masters words always echo in my ears, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
(Notice that in the parable in Matt 12, during the time of harvest, that the wheat is gathered and brought into his barn.)
Be mindful that it is the enemy who had sown tares (sons of the wicked one) among the wheat, so that explains the battle of the life of the sons of the kingdom verse the sons of the wicked one. Yet we know to the one that is yielded to Jesus (Abiding in Him) he shall bear much fruit...it is promised.

Are you willing to die to your ideal life?

My new years resolution is.....

2To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This year I want to do something I am ashamed to admit...but here goes. I am going to make a goal and attempt to accomplish it this year. I am not sure if it will take me a whole year, nor am I sure if it may even take longer. All I know is that I want to begin a new chapter in my life that involves a beginning and an end. So my goal is to understand the parables of Jesus written in Scripture. The Bible is a goldmind to those who dive into it and seek it out. And so here I begin my journey through the precious pages of God's word to find wisdom and instruction!