Jesus also told this parable. The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. Matthew 13:24-26
The parable of the sower and the weeds may be baffling to a lot of us. When we really think about it, there are many ways in which this parable could be interpreted; but I am sure that Jesus could have made this plain for us, but like all of his teachings in the Bible, we must apply them to our own lives. I have a few questions for you this morning. Are you sowing good seeds in God’s field? Who is planting tares among your wheat? How do you plan to separate the wheat from the tares in your life? My brothers and sisters in Christ, Scripture is for our learning, for edification; but we must use these resources rightly.
“My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, O let me from this day, be wholly thine!”
“May thy rich grace impart, strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire! As thou hast died for me, O may my love to thee, pure, warm, and changeless be, living fire! When life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread, be thou my guide, bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away, nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.” Help me Lord!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe. This is what the Lord says, ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches; but let the one who boasts boast about this, that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
For though He was crucified in weakness, yet, He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God. 2 Corinthians 13:4
My brothers and sisters in Christ, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you are disqualified? But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified; for we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and You are strong.”
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Lord, you know the things that keeps us up at night, you are aware of our strengths and our weaknesses, you have given us all gifts according to your measure, help us to understand your limits, and know that nothing could be added or taken away from what you have predestined for us. Help us Lord, not to judge others because of their ability or inability, but to accept them as they are; because your word reminds us, that Your strength is made perfect in weakness, that there is nothing that you are not able to do, therefore, when we are inadequate, let us praise You, because You are adequate. Amen!
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and beg his forgiveness.’ Luke 15 17
The prodigal son found himself in a situation, but knew in his heart, that no matter what he had done, he could go home to his father. My brothers and sisters in Christ, too many of us have wandered far from home, we have found ourselves in situations where we were lost, and had time to think, knew without a doubt that we could go home, but were still afraid to come home. I say this to my children all the time, no matter where you go in this world, no matter what you have done, know that you could always come home. The same rings true for us with our heavenly father, no matter where we have been or what we have done, we could always come home. Thank you, Lord!
Return to your own house and tell what great things God has done for you. Luke 8:39
God does so many wonderful things for us, but how many of us forget to tell our story, of what God has done for us? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be like the blind beggar who was healed, we must be like Legion who was possessed by demons, we must be like the woman at the well, or the woman with the issue of blood; eager to tell others of what God has done for us. When God delivers us, let us go and proclaim throughout the whole world, what great things God has done for us.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ Therefore, he was called Edom. Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So, he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34
My brothers and sisters in Christ, how many of you have sold your birthright because of hunger or rebellion? Too many of us fail to understand what our birthright means to us, and therefore, are quick to sell off our birthright. But know that before God created us, he predestined for us a spiritual inheritance, our royal birthright; it is ours for the taking, but we reject this gift every time we deny God, every time we fail to acknowledge his greatness, every time we refuse to meditate on his word. But I am here to remind you, that, if you despise your birthright like Esau, you despise your eternal inheritance.
“To God be the glory, great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son, who yielded His life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.” What a wonderful Savior!
“Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, give Him the glory, great things He has done. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God, the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.” I Believe!
“I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord, no tender voice like Thine, can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee, O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.”
“I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby, temptations lose their power, when Thou art nigh, I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain, come quickly and abide, or life is vain. I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee, O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee, O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.”