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BACKGROUND
PARABLES AND THEIR MEANINGS
THE DEVELOPMENT OF JEWISH SOCIETY - IN AND OUT OF ISRAEL
Nomadic Pastoral Farming
The First Gap
Settled Agriculture
The Second Gap
The Dispersion
JEWISH RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS – FOLLOWING THE CYCLE OF THE HARVEST
WHEAT AND BARLEY
Barley, Wheat
The Harvest
Threshing and Winnowing
GROWING THE BEST CROPS
The Best Seed
The Soil
Crop Care
Acts of God
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
PARABLE OF THE SOWER BACKGROUND
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Reading the Background is highly recommended to get the maximum benefit from this teaching. It's easy to understand.
This week's new teaching starts at APPLICATION TO THE CHURCH. |
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| THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
(Matthew 13:1-10) |
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 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 He who has ears, let him hear.”
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| THE EXPLANATION OF JESUS |
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Matthew 13:18-23
The most interesting thing about this explanation is not what was said, but what wasn’t! For Jesus clearly explains who enters the Kingdom of God as He describes the people illustrated by each soil type. Of course, all but the final group didn’t make it.
A man harvesting corn the traditional way, with a sickle. An early photograph.
While this explanation shows how people enter the Kingdom, Jesus did not explain the key last sentence, which is about the Kingdom working in us. This ‘punch line’, potentially the deepest and most important part of the parable to the Christian, that of the seed grown in the good soil, is unexplained, but left for each of us to discover and apply to our own life. He explains all about the soil, but ignores the seed! Amazing! He and His Word (which of course is Him!) are just so full of surprises, of revelation, of unexplained depths of meaning, deliberately left waiting for the Holy Spirit to reveal to us.
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| APPLICATION TO THE CHURCH |
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 Just as this parable applies to our individual lives, so it also relates to the pattern of God's church. This pattern was revealed 3,500 years ago in God's first church, the Tabernacle of Moses. Its design was provided in precise, minute detail, reflecting its huge importance in portraying God's plan, not only to the people of the time, but for His church ever since.
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The Tabernacle was a portable church, used by the Israelites during and after their 40 years of desert wanderings, as required by God when the people disobeyed His instructions to enter into the Holy Land after their miraculous escape from Egyptian captivity. Here dwelt the presence of God - literally. The whole structure could be dismantled, packed up and carried from place to place, as determined by the movement of the pillar of cloud by day or of fire by night.
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 A replica of the Tabernacle has been erected in Israel, as faithfully as possible to the building instructions provided to Moses on Mount Sinai.
It consisted of three parts, as illustrated below.
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 The pattern of the Tabernacle amazingly illustrates the development and restoration of God's church today.
HOLY OF HOLIES
'Tabernacle', 'Bride' (End Time) Church
Symbolized By: RIVER
HOLY PLACE
Pentecostal/Charismatic Church
Symbolized By: DOVE
OUTER COURT
Traditional/Evangelical Church
Symbolized By: CROSS
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| OUTER COURT CHURCHES |
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 The Outer Court consists of the open area inside the fence. After entering through the gate you come to the Brazen Altar which is symbolic of Jesus. It was on the Altar that the gory, bloody, sacrifices were made. Jesus was our final blood sacrifice.
The foundational truths established and built into the early New Testament Church were gradually lost from AD100 onwards, as form overtook substance. So much so, that the church finally became an organ of the Roman State in AD380, 30 years after the Emperor Constantine made Christianity the state religion.
The aptly named Dark Ages followed. It wasn't the time of the Reformation in the late 1500's that the first and greatest truth of salvation through the blood of Jesus, was restored and applied to the Traditional type churches This started with Martin Luther's revelation that 'the just shall live by faith'. So was formed the first traditional denomination, the Lutheran Church.
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 From the Altar we move to the Washing Basin where the priests cleansed themselves before carrying out their various functions. This is symbolic of the truth of Water Baptism, which along with the Altar of Sacrifice is the foundational basis of the Evangelical churches, starting with the Anna Baptists. Baptists baptise! By full immersion.
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 Typically, in Traditional and Evangelical churches you will see the symbolism of the Cross, representing the understanding of the truths of the Outer Court in which these believers walk.
Referring again to Revelation 12:11, generally speaking, these believers and churches are primarily those who walk in the Outer Court realm of "the blood of the Lamb." They produce a 30-fold crop. And God is happy with that.
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| HOLY PLACE CHURCHES |
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 Now we enter the tent. It has four covers, the outside one being made of animal skins, most likely those of the sea cow (manatee), which were common in the area at the time. The skin has a bluish tinge to it and is oily, the colour and the oil being representative of the Holy Spirit. Divided into two rooms separated by a curtain, the first area, the Holy Place, contains three items of furniture.
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 As you enter, you see the Table of Shewbread (Showbread) representing the underlying, revelatory Word of God. This illustrates the greater understanding God gives us of the Bible when we enter the tent through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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 Next, there is the Golden Lampstand, which speaks primarily of the gifts the Holy Spirit makes available to us when we enter.
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 Finally, there is the Altar of Incense, representing Thanksgiving, Praise, Worship and Prayer, our response to the Revelatory Word and Gifts the Holy Spirit has given us.
These three pieces of furniture then, represent the Holy Spirit truths that God restored to His church during the 20th Century, most publicly starting with the Welsh and Asuza Street (Los Angeles, US), revivals, through which the Pentecostal church was formed in the early 1900's. In the latter half of the century, this powerful move of the Holy Spirit spilled over into some Traditional and Evangelical churches in the form of the Charismatic movement.
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 This restoration of Holy Spirit power is symbolized by the dove, which you will see, along with the cross, in many Spirit filled churches.
The Holy Spirit empowers and motivates people to want to share "the word of their testimony" as described in Revelation 12:11. For our testimony comes out our mouth from the overflow of our heart, the seat of our faith and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. These ones produce a 60-fold crop. And God is happy with that.
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| HOLY OF HOLIES 'CHURCH' |
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 In the back third of the Tent behind the curtain, is found the Ark of the Covenant.
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 Here, on the Ark's cover, between 2 Cherubins with outstretched wings, the presence of God dwelt. As sinful man cannot live in the presence of a sinless God, this room could only be entered by the High Priest once a year, on the most holy Day of Atonement, to seek forgiveness for the sins of all the people of Israel. Yet even he, in order to enter and live, had to first purify himself in an elaborate ritual. (See A Revelation of… The Day of Atonement.)
The Ark of the Covenant represents God the Father, as He dwelt there over the period of the Tabernacles life, and subsequently, for a time in Solomon's Temple.
There are still people, although fewer now, in the Pentecostal movement, who make the mistake as their forbears in every church movement since the Reformation have done, in saying, "we have it all." The pattern of the Tabernacle, remembering that God works in threes, shows this is not the case. For there is one type of church, the end time 'Bride of Christ' still to come. Unlike previous revelations which resulted in the formation of new denominations, further splintering God's church, this is a movement of individuals who have sold out their lives 100% to the will of the Father, as Jesus did.
In terms of Revelation 12:11, "They loved not their lives so much as to shrink from death." This can only be an individual decision. No one church can lay claim to being 'the one' to belong to, to receive this 'gift'. For it is a 'sacrifice' of obedience to the Fathers will and direction in our lives. Only individually, can we commit to this, as Jesus did. As we submit to leading of the Holy Spirit in a greater way however, we will find our 'unity of purpose' growing, as we come closer to the will of God for each of us as individuals and as a church. It is only then that we will stand united as the overcoming church, which will finally defeat satan and see the return of Jesus.
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 A church movement symbolized by the River of God, through resting in which we will be able to approach (upstream!) His very throne, pure and holy in His sight. Yes, it is these obedient disciples who produce the 100-fold crop. The people of the church God is calling to Himself today. And with them, He is very pleased!
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| CONCLUSION |
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 The Parable of the Sower then, in relation to Christians, is all about the fruit we produce. While God is happy with those who live 30 fold and 60 fold crop lives, He is seeking today not only individuals, but a 'church' of those who are completely sold out to Him. These 100 fold Christians will fully participate in the fulfillment of God's Kingdom on earth, and see the overcoming of satan, in preparation for the glorious return of Jesus, which every committed believer deeply desires.
He is coming for His one, holy, pure, righteous bride. The one clothed in white.
Revelation 19:7-9
Do you wish to participate? Are you prepared to pay the price? I am!
A Jewish bride in a beautiful garment. A long veil of linen embroidered with silk of brilliant colours.. Beneath this is a close fitting bonnet from which is suspended a specially valuable gold piece, coins and jewels forming part of her dowry. An early photograph.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
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 Something really different for the New Year! An allegory of the experiences of two men who decide to run a marathon. Look out for this in your mailbox next week.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 To me, this is an amazing study, as it points the way God desires His church to develop in these end times. We need to take note if we desire to stay in His will.
As we come to the New Year, we know for sure that we are one year closer to the Lord's return! Doesn't even require a Word of Knowledge!
Kathy and I wish you a blessed 'new year' in the Lord.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
Unity of fellowship is spurned by the foolish, acknowledged by the wise, but sought by the godly.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
What We're All About: http://www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
PGIM! Weekly Encouragement Ezine : http://www.wwj.org.nz/wwword.php
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Eagles Fly High!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/eagle.php
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