“Through the Looking Glass” The Kingdom of Heaven as seen through the parables of Jesus
“For now we see through a glass…” – I Cor. 13:12
“Good Earth” (HAPPY EARTH DAY!) The Sower – Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23
13 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
The Truth of GOD’S KINGDOM is ALL OVER the earth!
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom…”
- NATURAL EVIDENCE
- SPOKEN WORDS
- CHANGED LIVES
The lies of OUR ENEMY are HARDENING the earth!
“…and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”
- GODLESS LOGIC
- PROACTIVE EFFORT
The REALITIES on this earth are JADING the earth!
20 “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
TROUBLES, “because of the word”
- STRUGGLES
- TEMPTATION
- PERSECUTION
The PRIORITIES of this earth are DISTRACTING the earth!
22 “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
- CONFUSED EMOTIONS
- EARTHLY PRIORITIES
The FAITHFUL on this earth are HARVESTING the earth!
23 “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
- HEARTS OPENED TO BELIEVE
- HEARTS CONSECRATED IN FAITH
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – #Jesus@matthew11.15