A kingdom is ruled by a king. The king is clearly "the Son of Man," an expression Jesus repeatedly used of himself. This world is described as "his field," that is, He's the legal owner. Remember, Christ has been given all authority "in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18. Note that His authority includes earth.

The devil may be the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4), that is, over this present evil world order, but Christ is far above him. Remember that God "... set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Eph. 1:20-23.

Christ's authority over all things is "to the church," that is, God's people and their welfare are the focus of His rule. That's the same focus in the parable: He's raising a crop of wheat. He even refrains from prematurely separating the wheat from the tares lest the wheat be uprooted.

When a farmer buys land for farming he's not interested merely in owning pretty fields. His interest is in the crops he'll be able to raise in those fields. Christ has no interest in this present world, especially in the condition it's in, other than to fulfill the sovereign commission of His Father: there's a crop to plant and raise.

This parable encompasses a time frame from the beginning of the preaching of the gospel all the way to the beginning of eternity to come. It describes in simple terms the nature, purpose, and result of the reign of Christ with respect to this earth. When the parable ends, the wicked are gone and only a glorious kingdom remains.

Multitudes today have been taught a concept of a future Messianic age---a concept borrowed from apostate Judaism---in which Christ will reign bodily from Jerusalem over the nations of this world. Wicked men will be forced by various means to live in peace and righteousness. A world that has refused the gospel will supposedly then be given the opportunity to "believe" in a Christ they can see and touch who reigns in manifest glory. Don't believe it!

The only opportunity men will ever have is to repent and believe the gospel during this present age. Men must bow the knee to Christ here and now if they're to have any hope of the world to come. And what a hope it is: "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ"! Rom. 8:17.

It's difficult for one who has much exposure to the Messianic Age doctrine to conceive of the reign of Christ in any terms other than a visible and bodily reign. Consider the devil: the Bible calls him the god of this world. As such he reigns over the kingdom of darkness, yet he lives in no earthly palace and can neither be seen nor touched. He indeed rules, yet he rules from the unseen realm. His kingdom consists of the demonic host--- and the world of lost mankind who blindly cooperate with and submit to his rule.

Christ's rule is just as real. He has at his disposal "an innumerable company of angels," "the spirits of just men made perfect," as well as "the church which is his body." Heb. 12:22-23, Eph. 1:22-23. The kingdom Christ is building is not for the purpose of reigning politically over the nations of this world, but of gathering God's elect out of this world and preparing them for eternity.

The Gospel

Much has been said about the power of the gospel. It's "the power of God unto salvation." By it, millions have been redeemed and cheered and comforted and inspired. Others have been warned in tones of thunder to awakened consciences. It's been the greatest civilizer known. But however great its power and influences, however wonderful its accomplishments, there are conditions under which, it's pitifully helpless, under which it can do nothing to help the perishing masses. We may take our Bible into a heathen land or to a race of another language, and though all its truth, its promises and warnings, its light and glory, are within its lids, yet it's dumb---It speaks not to them. They perish all around it. They remain in darkness, when light is there, heavenly, glorious light. Not a ray reaches them. It's helpless. It's voiceless; it speaks not to them its story of love. In our own home it may lie closed and silent. Visitors come and go, but it helps us not. Our children hear not its voice. Our neighbors receive not its counsel, warnings, nor promises. How helpless it is! Oh the many dumb Bibles in our land! If they only had tongues, what messages they would speak to the people! We have a tongue. Do we not often use it in a way that's of little profit either to us or to others? The Bible has no tongue to use. Let's lend it ours? Let's let it speak its message with our tongue? Must our neighbors be lost because our Bible has no voice? Let's let our Bible be no longer dumb. Let's give it a tongue. There's hearts all around us needing its truth. Will we speak for it? A silent and voiceless Bible---what can be more helpless?

Again, if a tongue were lent it and its message be spoken and repeated again and again, what can it do if it's not believed? It's the power of God in this world only to "them that believe." If we don't believe it, it can do us no good. It can't save or comfort or heal unless it's believed. Will we give it a believing heart? Unless we do, it's absolutely powerless to help us. Oh, how helpless is an unbelieved Bible!

The Tabernacle Of David

James confirmed what Peter had said about God visiting the Gentiles, "to take out of them a people for his name." In verses 15-17 he quotes from the prophets: "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."

I am drawing attention to this passage for a reason: Scofield's notes on it begin with the following statement: "Dispensationally, this is the most important passage in the N.T. It gives the divine purpose for this age, and for the beginning of the next." Does it?

This is a perfect example of how "religious glasses" can cause someone to twist the meaning of scripture. In Scofield's mind, when James said, "after this" he meant after the church age. He thought of the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David as a future restoration of the Jews. Is that what James meant?

James was quoting the prophets to support what he had said. To make his quotation apply to the distant future makes it totally irrelevant to the discussion they were having! He was talking about Gentiles being saved right then! He said, "... to this agree the words of the prophets ...." How else can we understand his quotation of the prophets except that he was applying their words to that day?

The "after this" refers to a time that was yet future to the prophets, not to James. James was saying that what God was doing right then was the fulfillment. "After this" was then! The establishment of the church was the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David, David's tabernacle being a type of what was to come through Christ.

The result of this rebuilding was the outreach to the residue of the Gentiles -- exactly what the council was discussing! I have a lot more confidence in James' interpretation of the prophets than I have in Scofield's! James' interpretation was inspired of God. Where did Scofield's come from?

The interpretation by James is in perfect harmony with Peter's words in I Peter 1:10-12. The message of the prophets centered in "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

The Silversmith

Some time ago, a few ladies met to read the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse. "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to her friends what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the objective of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured." The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials don't come at random. The very hairs of our head are all numbered. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had something further to mention: that he only knows when the process of purifying is complete by seeing his own image reflected in the silver. Beautiful example! When Christ shall see His own image in His people, His work of purifying will be accomplished.

Disturbed?

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you."
(John 14:27)

There's times when our peace is based upon ignorance, but when we awaken to the facts of life, inner peace is impossible unless it's received from Jesus. When Our Lord speaks peace, He makes peace, His words are ever "spirit and life." Have we ever received what Jesus speaks? "My peace I give unto you"---it's a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His undisturbedness.

Are we painfully disturbed just now, distracted by the waves and billows of God's providential permission, and having, as it were, turned over the boulders of our belief, are we still finding no well of peace or joy or comfort; is all barren? Then let's look up and receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus. Reflected peace is the proof that we're right with God because we're at liberty to turn our mind to Him. If we're not right with God, we can never turn our mind anywhere but on ourselves. If we allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from us, we're either disturbed or we have a false security.

Are we looking unto Jesus now, in the immediate matter that's pressing and receiving from Him peace? If so, He'll be a gracious benediction of peace in and through us. But if we try to worry it out, we obliterate Him and deserve all we get (frown). We get disturbed because we haven't been considering Him. When one confers with Jesus Christ, the perplexity goes, because He has no perplexity, and our only concern is to abide in Him. Let's lay it all out before Him, and in the face of difficulty, bereavement and sorrow, hear Him say,
"Let not your heart be troubled."

Spiritual Authority

The scribes and Pharisees may have sat in Moses' seat, but they didn't have the same spirit Moses had. There are only two realms from which spiritual authority can derive: God's kingdom and the devil's. When the Jews ceased to let God rule over them and set up their own religious system, they fell under the dominion of demons.

Their delusion was such that they could kill God's prophets and believe that they were faithfully serving God. That's the curse of religion. It blinds and deludes its victims.

"Babylon" is a symbolic name for the world system. It's a system of government by men and devils. It's a substitute for the rightful rule of God and of His Son. Psalm 2.

The name comes from what happened when men tried to build the tower of Babel. Genesis 11:4 reveals the motive and spirit behind their effort: "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven: and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."

It's easy to see the spirit of pride, self-seeking and self-preservation that was manifest in their words and actions. God was not a part of their plans. He didn't tell them to build a city and a tower. Their plans reflected a spirit of rebellious independence and self-exaltation.

God intervened by confusing their language so they couldn't understand one another. As a result they were, in fact, scattered and divided. For this reason, the word "Babylon" also conveys the idea of confusion --- an apt picture of religion, especially in our day.

Faith

"And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."
(Mark 2:4)

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before Him. If we can't get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties. Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us! Let's seek it for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and let's try today to perform some gallant act...for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.

The world's constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: isn't the Lord among us now? Have we seen His face for ourselves today? Have we felt His healing power in our own souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let's breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching Thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Witnessing at the Doctor's Office
[ Selected ]

My wife 'n I first met Michelle at one of only two certified chiropractors in Guatemala. Michelle's specialty is a type of massage therapy that prepares a patient for the doctor's adjustment. That particular afternoon, as I accompanied my wife, it was Michelle's second or third time to help her. We'd noticed before that she seemed very open to the scriptures, so while Michelle worked on my wife I nudged her heart's door open a little more with a verse or two; then my wife picked up the conversation from there.

Soon the flood door opened and the therapist shared he past story of rape and rejection. She'd tried to commit suicide and even take her two young daughters with her to death, but God had intervened. After praying with her and sharing the good news of God's love and grace to whosoever has been abused, she responded, with tears in her eyes, that she had a new hope now in her heart that she had never had before. Life for Michelle is now worth living, thanks to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Self-Righteousness

I. Self-righteous People

__1. Justify themselves before men.

____Luke 10:29. "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"

____Luke 16:15. "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

__2. Try to make a fair show while full of iniquity.

____Mat. 23:27, 28. 28, Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

____29, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

__3. Love to be seen of men.

____Mat. 6:2. "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

__4. Reject the righteousness of God.

____Rom. 10:3. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

__5. Condemn others.

____Luke 7:39. "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner."

__6. Consider their own ways right.

____Prov. 21:2. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

__7. Despise others.

____Isa. 65:5. "Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day."

____Luke 18:9. "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"

__8. Proclaim their own goodness.

____Prov. 20:6. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

__9. Are pure in their own eyes.

____Prov. 30:12. "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."

__10. Are abominable before God.

____Isa. 65:2-6. 2, I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

____3, A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

____4, Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

____5, Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

____6, Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

II. Our Righteousness Won't Save Us Because

__1. It's simply external.

____Luke 11:42-44. 42, But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

____43, Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

____44, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

__2. It's in God's sight as filthy rags.

____Isa. 64:6. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

__3. It's unprofitable.

____Isa. 57:12. "I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee."

__4. It'll debar us from the kingdom of God.

____Mat. 5:20. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

__5. It's hatful to God.

____Luke 16:15. "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

Steadfastness

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him."
(Luke 9:51-52)

In view of His suffering to come, Jesus had a definite destination, and he knew what it held for Him. It meant Jerusalem with its sorrow, Gethsemane with its travail, the judgment hall with its injustice and shame, the cross with its anguish, and even the hiding of the Father's face.

For Jesus, there was no royal road to the throne of Israel. For Him the only path lay by Jerusalem and Calvary. It was a long and weary road, but Jesus took every step.

He was tempted to turn aside from His goal, to be sure, and He was tempted in His sufferings. His friends wished to draw Him aside from His sufferings. Peter rebuked Him when He spoke of them. Satan tried to perplex Him, and His own soul trembled when the time for His crucifixion came. Yet, He knew that He had reached the point of no return, and He proceeded in the midst of the storms of sin and doubt about Him to go toward the cross where He would be victor once and for all.

In looking at Jesus' life, one thing that should impress us is His steadiness. He was never shifting, or even driven about. The throb of His life was constant and perfect.

His example of steadfastness, given to us through Word and sacrament, should portray our lives today as we serve an Almighty God in our daily walk. When others see us, do they see Jesus?

The Christian Walk

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."
(1 Thes. 2:12)

In a time when many are disparaging the need for a Christian to display a godly lifestyle, we find the Thessalonians being admonished to "walk worthy of God" who called them to his kingdom and glory. Why is a godly sin-free life style so unpopular? Why will many accept any kind of sin in the life of a man or woman when the Bible clearly teaches us that we must "live soberly, righteously, and godly,"? (Titus 2:12)

In our walk with the Lord, we have Christ as our example. He promises us if we walk after His example, He will be with us and keep us and guide us. This's not referring to some work or walk that makes us eligible or worthy to be saved, but it's addressing the way a child of God must walk after His Salvation. Our outward walk must reflect the inward work or we and none of His. Many of us struggle to maintain our confidence in Christ. We're beset with doubts and often question even the idea of Salvation from Sin. If we've cast aside the concept of "walking worthy of God" we have opened the door for Satan's onslaught. He can easily and quite honestly come and whisper to us, "Are you really sure you can be saved?" We open the door for temptations and trials that might not happen to us, if we weren't lax in our walk.

Let's seek to be all that God would have us be. Let's lay aside the "sins that so easily beset us," and the things that keep us from "walking worthy" and grasp the power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to walk in righteousness. The wonderful news is: that we're not constrained to do this in our own power. We merely must make the determination that we will walk in complete obedience, then the Spirit of the Lord steps in and gives us the power to do what the Father has asked of us. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." ( Romans 15: 13) Once we've decided to obey God, no matter how difficult the task, then the God of hope will fill us with joy and peace and hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

We need not be bowed down with hidden and secret doubts. We need not struggle to continue feeling saved. We have the assurance that confidence and security flow abundantly from the Hand of God to those who walk worthy!

Where's Your Treasure?

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
(Proverbs 4:23)

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

What we feel and believe are the truly precious and meaningful things in our lives. If we don't commit ourselves to what is good and right, then we are empty. Moral poverty occurs when we place "things" above relationships.

Christ sent His disciples out into the world without possessions, but no one in history has known more wealth than those chosen men who walked with Him. It is when we choose to walk with Jesus that we can find out what true riches are.

In today's world, it is easy to get distracted by so many things. Lifestyles that seem so appealing are presented in magazines and on television. The so-called "good life" requires money, good looks, nice clothes, the right car, the perfect house, and the right mate. At least that's what we're suppose to believe.

But it is only when we can free ourselves from the pursuit of such things that we can begin to enjoy life the way God intended it. Money cannot buy happiness, nor can it bring us life. Christ brings us life, and He brings it abundantly! He is the real treasure, and as long as our hearts remain with Him, our lives will truly be rich.

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.. I wanted to quit My life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I didn't quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. Again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I didn't quit on the bamboo".

He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I wouldn't quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I wouldn't quit."

He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I wouldn't give any of my creation a challenge it couldn't handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you've been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I wouldn't quit on the bamboo. I'll never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you........

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you Happiness.

Bad days give you Experiences.

Both are essential to life.

Keep going...

Happiness keeps you Sweet,

Trials keep you Strong,

Sorrows keep you Human,

Failures keep you Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God keeps You Going!

Have a great day! The "Son " is shining!!

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.

Back To Our Index Page