Gardening catalogues show the fruit and flowers and vegetables at their ideal state -- vibrant and colorful. Weeding is vital to successful gardening. When God created the Garden of Eden there were no weeds. We because of sin brought weeds and everything else evil into this world.
"Then God said, “Let the land produce plants. Let them produce their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that grow fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds.” And that’s exactly what happened. 12 So the land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. And the land produced trees that grew fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds. God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:11-12
"Jesus also said, “Here is what God’s kingdom is like. A farmer scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day the seed comes up and grows. It happens whether the farmer sleeps or gets up. He doesn’t know how it happens. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain. First the stalk comes up. Then the head appears. Finally, the full grain appears in the head. 29 Before long the grain ripens. So the farmer cuts it down, because the harvest is ready.'" Mark 4:26-29
God is the gardener.
We plant. God grows it. This year will be tough -- up front costs will be high.
"Jesus told the crowd another story. “Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like,” he said. “A man planted good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared. 27 “The owner’s slaves came to him. They said, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ 28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The slaves asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ 29 “ ‘No,’ the owner answered. ‘While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them." Matthew 13:24-29
"Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, “Explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who planted the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seed stands for the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is judgment day. And the workers are angels." Matthew 13:36-39
There are two kinds of people on this earth -- people who belong to God and people who belong to Satan.
The Harvest
“The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. That is how it will be on judgment day. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will weep and grind their teeth. 43 Then God’s people will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Whoever has ears should listen." Matthew 13:40-43
This is a warning. Jesus was talking to His disciples -- to Believers.
Why wait?
"First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 4 He wants all people to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth. 5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave himself to pay for the sins of all people. We have been told this message at just the right time." 1 Timothy 2:1-6
God doesn't want to lose anybody. He's giving us time to bring people to Him. He's giving people time to repent.
"But now God has shown us his saving power without the help of the law. But the Law and the Prophets tell us about this. 22 We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles. 23 Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. 24 The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. 25 God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived." Romans 3:21-25
We are all naturally weeds. Only through Christ can we become fruit-bearing plants.
Death and Salvation
"When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done." Romans 6:23
"You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.'" Acts 4:12
Your challenge:
1, Abide in the Vine (John 15)
2. Expect to be pruned.
3. Bear Fruit.
4. Ask yourself - are you listening to God or Satan and the wiorld?
Don't be afraid of the weeds.
"You will call out to me for help.
And I will answer you.
You will cry out.
And I will say, ‘Here I am.’
“Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down.
Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong.
Stop saying harmful things about them.
10 Work hard to feed hungry people.
Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed.
Then my blessing will light up your darkness.
And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.
11 I will always guide you.
I will satisfy your needs in a land baked by the sun.
I will make you stronger.
You will be like a garden that has plenty of water.
You will be like a spring whose water never runs dry." Isaiah 58:9-11
These verses are the perfect blueprint of how we need to live:
1. Call for help.
2. Do away with oppression
3. Don't point fingers at others and don't commit slander.
4. Take care of others.
5. Then our lights will shine.
6. The Lord will guide us always.
God is telling us something. God wants us to bear fruit. Bear enough to give it away.
Challenge: Get into the Word and see what God has to say to you.
"Then God said, “Let the land produce plants. Let them produce their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that grow fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds.” And that’s exactly what happened. 12 So the land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. And the land produced trees that grew fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds. God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:11-12
"Jesus also said, “Here is what God’s kingdom is like. A farmer scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day the seed comes up and grows. It happens whether the farmer sleeps or gets up. He doesn’t know how it happens. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain. First the stalk comes up. Then the head appears. Finally, the full grain appears in the head. 29 Before long the grain ripens. So the farmer cuts it down, because the harvest is ready.'" Mark 4:26-29
God is the gardener.
We plant. God grows it. This year will be tough -- up front costs will be high.
"Jesus told the crowd another story. “Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like,” he said. “A man planted good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared. 27 “The owner’s slaves came to him. They said, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ 28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The slaves asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ 29 “ ‘No,’ the owner answered. ‘While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them." Matthew 13:24-29
"Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, “Explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who planted the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seed stands for the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is judgment day. And the workers are angels." Matthew 13:36-39
There are two kinds of people on this earth -- people who belong to God and people who belong to Satan.
The Harvest
“The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. That is how it will be on judgment day. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will weep and grind their teeth. 43 Then God’s people will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Whoever has ears should listen." Matthew 13:40-43
This is a warning. Jesus was talking to His disciples -- to Believers.
Why wait?
"First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 4 He wants all people to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth. 5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave himself to pay for the sins of all people. We have been told this message at just the right time." 1 Timothy 2:1-6
God doesn't want to lose anybody. He's giving us time to bring people to Him. He's giving people time to repent.
"But now God has shown us his saving power without the help of the law. But the Law and the Prophets tell us about this. 22 We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles. 23 Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. 24 The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. 25 God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived." Romans 3:21-25
We are all naturally weeds. Only through Christ can we become fruit-bearing plants.
Death and Salvation
"When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done." Romans 6:23
"You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.'" Acts 4:12
Your challenge:
1, Abide in the Vine (John 15)
2. Expect to be pruned.
3. Bear Fruit.
4. Ask yourself - are you listening to God or Satan and the wiorld?
Don't be afraid of the weeds.
"You will call out to me for help.
And I will answer you.
You will cry out.
And I will say, ‘Here I am.’
“Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down.
Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong.
Stop saying harmful things about them.
10 Work hard to feed hungry people.
Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed.
Then my blessing will light up your darkness.
And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.
11 I will always guide you.
I will satisfy your needs in a land baked by the sun.
I will make you stronger.
You will be like a garden that has plenty of water.
You will be like a spring whose water never runs dry." Isaiah 58:9-11
These verses are the perfect blueprint of how we need to live:
1. Call for help.
2. Do away with oppression
3. Don't point fingers at others and don't commit slander.
4. Take care of others.
5. Then our lights will shine.
6. The Lord will guide us always.
God is telling us something. God wants us to bear fruit. Bear enough to give it away.
Challenge: Get into the Word and see what God has to say to you.
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