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The Prophecy Revealed In Matthew
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Lesson Thirty-Three: by turtle
Follow the River a historical novel by James Alexander Thom 1755 Mary Ingles was kidnap by indians from her Virginian settlement and follow the
Ohio river home. In the book she and a friend that came with her went through many hardship unprepared for the climate. They got separated on their
journey by the river, yet her friend was still able to wave at her across the river. The women were starving and barely surviving and one day her friend
laid down as dead. The black birds circled her to eat her bones and when they landed the old woman caught the bird that was trying to eat her and had
him for lunch instead. The word of God is like that it feeds many birds, but when it comes down to it does the word catch the bird eventually. The word
is strong it is digestible, but it sometimes sweet and sometimes bitter. As the bird eats it is taken in to his heart and their it must remain to either grow or
to kill
God does a lot of planting in His garden, however what He plants takes root. What we plant the birds swallow. So if we are sowing seed fit for the
master use, then that seed not going to come back void. However if we sow seed and it buried deep so it can produce in a person life, God is covering
that seed in the heart and soul of man, for man to take and to bear fruit. We sow seed by preaching and speaking the word. The word we speak does
not always bring about fertile growth. Yet when God speaks it produces unless it is snatched away by the devil. Even the devil has to digest it. Sooner or
later the word of God will destroy the devil.
Today before going to the story of the sower I have chosen to go to a few books of prophecy speaking of the harvest as the planting.
Isaiah 55:10-13 KJV
(10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it
may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
(11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
(12) For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the
field shall clap their hands.
(13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an
everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Sower puts forth the word but without rain it has no ability to grow. Whatever God declares it goes forth out of His mouth it will not come back void.
Briars do not grow from the word of God. In fact God will destroy the briars by the word of God.
Isaiah 5:6-8 KJV
(6) And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no
rain upon it.
(7) For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold
oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
(8) Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
God is going to cut down that which is evil. That which is good is going to remain. Well what does have to do with our study on Matthew. The story in
Matthew thirteen is on the sower.
Matthew 13:1-9 KJV
(1) The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
(2) And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
(3) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
(4) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
(5) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
(6) And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
(7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
(8) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
(9) Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
This seem in contrast to what written in the old testament concerning God’s word. God’s word will not come back void, yet we see the word of God
fall in some places it can not grow. The birds eat it. Every time a farmer plants certain number of seeds are eaten by the birds. Birds are those that want
to destroy the word of God. They rip the word right from the heart of man with lies. However the word of God does not come back void.
Proverbs 16:21-27 KJV
(21) The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
(22) Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
(23) The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
(24) Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
(25) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
(26) He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
(27) An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Proverbs 23:1-12 KJV
(1) When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
(2) And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
(3) Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
(4) Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
(5) Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
(6) Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
(7) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
(8) The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
(9) Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
(10) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
(11) For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
(12) Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Something to note in the Proverbs is that seed/word in good places makes one soul prosper, but it warns against using words among those who do evil.
Warning against casting your pearls before swine. God word is precious it not to be taken lightly or cast among those who wish to destroy it. That is
why God takes the rain from the briar patch. However in the story of the sower the seed is sown not necessarily in all good places. This is going to
happen no matter what you do, however you can rest assured that God’s word no matter where it is sown will not come back void. The word will
destroy the enemy or it will build the army of God. Let us continue in Matthew of what Jesus says concerning the explanation of the sower to His
disciples.
Matthew 13:10-23 KJV
(10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
(11) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
(12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he
hath.
(13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
(14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive:
(15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
(16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
(17) For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to
hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
(18) Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
(19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in
his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
(20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
(21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the
word, and he becometh unfruitful.
(23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some
an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
It is easy to understand that not all that hear the word of God takes it to heart. However God says something about those that hide the word in their
heart.
Psalms 119:11 KJV
(11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
When a seed is buried in the earth the seed is placed in a safe spot so it can grow. The word of God hidden in the heart will grow there and will keep a
person from sinning. If one hears the word and it never gets to the heart, it can not and will not grow except maybe for a short time. It has no roots in the
ears or even mind for that matter. It has to grow at the heart of man. Good example is that Sunday school teacher that encourages the student to
memorize verses for a prize. Every child in the class will no doubt memorize for the prize if they remember to do so. However you ask the children a
month later about the verse they had to memorize they might not remember. Why because it has not taken root to the meaning of the words. I can learn
what 2+2 means but I can also memorize the answer to have no meaning. The memorization has not good without meaning. How many lessons in school
did you learn only for the sake of having to pass that class. Unless you really wanted to learn or take interest in it, it has no meaning beyond the surface.
It like the latest fad, everyone wants that latest thing a ma jig, but in two months no one cares about it. Word is God is like that to some people. It is a
fad and never taken to the heart and soul. No real change was made, but when God plants that seed in the depth of the soul and it takes root then
something occurs extraordinary, life begins to flow. Life that is everlasting flows into a person’s life. The word of God becomes more distinct, more
understandable, yet there time that some of God’s word still lands on our deaf ears. However God does not want us to just hear to be hearing. He
wants us to take the word to our heart core and believe. That word we only half hear the devil comes by only to snatch away from us. However one day
that devil going to swoop down to find himself destroyed in the person’s life. The word when it is planted in the heart bears fruit and prospers. Let us
look back at verse fourteen.
Matthew 13:14-15 KJV
(14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive:
(15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Where did Isaiah say it?
Isaiah 6:8-10 KJV
(8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
(9) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
(10) Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Healing of the soul can not come without the heart receiving the word of God. Plain and simple, yet few understand that the heart is where things
blossom and grow. Love can not grow without it beginning in the heart, otherwise it is only surface deep. A harlot then can still the man away from the
bride to be if there is no love but at the surface. One has to hear one has to hide the word of God in their heart so it can grow.
Matthew 13:24-30 KJV
(24) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
(25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
(26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
(27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
(28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
(29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
(30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in
bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
One of the reason Christ came was to set example how to live in this world. God calls His people to be separate from the heathen, yet requires us to live
among them. I had a garden with morning glories decide to over take the vegetables, however as long as I left the morning glories alone, the plants were
still able to produce, however to cut them out was to destroy those vegetables that were producing. God sent Israel among the heathens of Egypt during
a famine, He could of provided for them, but instead sent them to Egypt and provided through offspring of Jacob use name was Joseph, who because of
his wisdom from God saved more then just his family. The word of God came to Pharaoh at that time. God desires for all people to know His love for
them, however we look at disasters and quakes around the world and say where is God’s love in this. Yet God word declares these things must come
to past it part of creation and it time for us as Christians to show more love then we can muster. If all we can do is pray, then pray. If you can give
money give money, if you can go yourself and you can get there go and help, bu make sure you do not become part of the problem, but part of the
solution. Our own nation has been faced with tragedy and because of it, perhaps has learn how best to help people from their own mistakes.
We have to allow all types of people to remain among us despite our disagreements and despite evil ways that want to choke the life out of those things
which are good. God’s way will win. The farmer will gather the bad stuff out of the garden to then gather the wheat. The wheat then can be stored and
used as needed for bread and other things. When we reach maturity, God cuts us done to be used in another way. We have to ripen to be used of God.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV
(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Isaiah 61:1-11 KJV
(1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
(3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
(4) And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many
generations.
(5) And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
(6) But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory
shall ye boast yourselves.
(7) For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double:
everlasting joy shall be unto them.
(8) For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with
them.
(9) And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the
seed which the LORD hath blessed.
(10) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
(11) For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause
righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
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