July 2, 2015 by Pastor Kris Belfils

Parables: Discerning Wheat and Weeds

I love when Jesus explains the parable He just told, and in this case, He does just that.

This is a powerful parable. It is a truth seldom people want to hear. In the parable of the Wheat and the tares we see mixed growth: wheat vs. the tares. We can likened it to mixed character in the church or in this world and absolute separation of all people into two classes

Will everyone who attends Hope Fellowship make it? I would like to think that if the rapture occurred on a Sunday morning during our service, that the room would be completely emptied, but according to this parable that would be highly unlikely.

Tares: “an injurious weed resembling wheat when young” (Matt. 13:24–30) [google.com]]

The word translated “tares” in the King James Version is ζιζάνια (zizania), plural of ζιζάνιον (zizanion). This word is thought to mean darnel (Lolium temulentum), a ryegrass which looks much like wheat in its early stages of growth.

Roman law prohibited sowing darnel among the wheat of an enemy, suggesting that the scenario presented here is realistic. Many translations use “weeds” instead of “tares”.

Similar metaphors are wheat and chaff, replacing (growing) tares by (waste) chaff, and in other places in the Bible “wicked ones” are likened to chaff.

Tares look like wheat, but tares hinder the wheat. It makes for a lush look at harvest time but there is no fruit in a tare. They are weeds.

This parable and message is not an easy one, in fact this is a wake up call for everyone to see where they stand, either being a Wheat or a weed. We have to discern our own spiritual condition today hearing this parable.

We can go to church and sing the songs and even give in the offering but that doesn’t get you to heaven. It is a heart condition and a lifestyle, I believe, that will differentiate you from being wheat or weeds.

In the Parable of the Sower we looked at previous to this parable, the seed is the Word of God.

Luke 8:11 NKJV
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those who received that word into their hearts and proved it to be the transforming Word, are now “children of the kingdom.”

James 1:18 NKJV
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

This parable presents the problem of evil. The fact of the mingling of the evil with the good is a condition of things confronting us in all levels of society, all forms of government, in the home and in the church. No matter how we separate or look at it, seeds of corruption seem to find their home and grow to huge weeds in good fields.

The real and the counterfeit are ever with us. Good and evil are inextricably interwoven in our society.

In the Parable of the soils, there was one sower, one kind of seed, and several results. In the Parable of the Tares and Wheat there are two sowers, two kinds of seed, and two harvests: one good, and the other bad. In the first parable there are four kinds of soil; here the forth kind, the good soil is before us.

The Parable of the Tares (Weeds) and the Wheat

1. The Field.

Why does the field yield both wheat and tares? Some Bible commentaries have assumed because of the reference to “wheat” that our Lord taught the field to represent the Church or Christendom. It shows that the church today is an imperfect body. Jesus taught that the field is the world — His field.

Matthew 13:38 NKJV
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

It is safe to say the field is the world, and also the church. We can not deny that within the church or in the church as a whole, there are tares and wheat. We, as the church, need to be aware and wake up to this fact. Some of us will go to heaven and some will not. This is a hard saying. Also, the church is a light in this world. We have to shine brightly for the world to see the way. How brightly are you shinning for God’s Kingdom?

Note the expressions, His field, and Thy field, which assert that the Master is the Owner, Lord, Husbandman of this world of man.

Psalm 24: 1 – 2 NKJV
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.

This field is therefore a world that God loved, and yet the enemy catches away the good seed, and also sows tares.

John 3:16 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I want to have everlasting life! How about you?

2. The Two Sowers.

The audience receiving this further parable is the same as before, namely, the crowd assembled on the shore, as well as the disciples in the boat. To these Jesus described the two sowers so different in character and purpose.

a. The Householder. There was the “man” revealed as the “householder”, and as “the Son of Man” (Matthew 13:24, 27 and 37).

In the previous parable “the sower” stands for all proclaimers of the Gospel, even Jesus Himself. Here, “the sower” is Jesus only. As the Creator, He made man upright, created him in His own likeness, that is, planted within him holy principles and aspirations.

b. His enemy. The other sower is referred to as “his enemy,” or “an enemy,” and “the wicked one,” “The devil” (Matthew 13:25, 28, 38, 39).

Think about it, it was not long before Satan sowed tares in God’s wheat; Adam and Eve. The word Jesus used for His enemy was diabolos, the traducer (to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation), the liar, the one who is against all that is true, high and noble. This enemy is Christ’s enemy.

Jesus has always been the object of satan’s hatred. Jesus is the bright and morning star. He is the lily of the valley. He is more precious than anything in heaven or on earth. Satan hates Jesus and all that is good.

Throughout history the trinity of good and the trinity of evil stand opposed to one another:

*Father God and the world:

1 John 2:15 – 17 NKJV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

*The Spirit and the flesh:

Galatians 5:17 NKJV
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

*Christ and Satan

Genesis 3:15 NKJV
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between our seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

In this parable his enemy sowed in a field that was not his. In this world people think it is okay to do what they want, where they want, with whom and what they want to do it with. These are characteristics of Satan. In spite of prevailing evil in the world, it is still Christ’s world and when He returns to it as “the Prince of the kings of the earth,” it will be a purer world in which to live.

The cunning and scheming of the enemy is seen in his action of sowing his tares among the wheat while the servants slept. It wasn’t the fault of the servants who slept. They are not to blame. It was night time and people slept during this time. This really shows the cowardly nature of the devil, in choosing the darkness for his terrible work. Evil is sown secretly, and the enemy loves darkness because he is evil.

3. The Two Products.

The Son of Man sows wheat in His field and “his enemy” sows weeds among the wheat.” The enemy would never think of sowing the wicked among the wicked. He sows the wicked among the good, and the two together constitute Christendom, what are we to understand about the products in this parable?

a. The Tares (Weeds).

The devil’s action was motivated by pure malice, for tares, like weeds, have never been a marketable product. Tares are “darnel,” a seed scarcely distinguishable from wheat seed (and not until it is sprung up can the difference be detected).

Tares are not what we understand by the term but some obnoxious form of plant, or wild corn, and poisonous as food. Tares! The enemy is vigilant and unresting who has so many to sow; tares of fleshly wisdom, of pride, of procrastination, of sin, and the list goes on.

Because it is hard to tell the difference between tares and wheat when they are not mature, this gives us insight into Satan’s subtle working. His method or weapon here is “opposition by imitation.” The bad are sown among the good, and the difference is not always discernible. Many who are not the Lord’s yet resemble those who are: they go to church, pray, read the Bible like Christians, but are, Christless not Christlike.

Sowing tares among wheat is a form of revenge. The object of this revenge was to poison of some of the wheat, and much labor would have to happen to get rid of it. How wicked men become when they give way to revenge.

Tares are the children of the wicked one.

Matthew 13:38 NKJV
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

What a difference of nature between the “children of the kingdom” and “children of the wicked one.” The latter do not draw their origin from the wicked one, but many mould their character by his promptings, and are therefore called his children.

John 8:44 NKJV
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

These are the ones whom Satan sows among “the children of the kingdom.”

b. The Wheat.

“The good seed,” “the wheat,” “the children of the kingdom” all these represent the same thing. In the previous parable “the seed” was the word of the kingdom, here. “the good seed” is the product of that precious word received, understood and obeyed, namely, those who through such become “children of the kingdom.”

The Son of Man, as the sower or householder sows only good seed: lives transformed by, and embodying the word of truth. It is the Redeemer’s purpose to sow His redeemed ones in this world of sin and misery in order that there may be fruit for His glory and satisfaction for His travailed soul.

This is why He has sown you where you live and labor. As one bought with a price and born of His Spirit, and a new creation in Him and heir of eternal life, He expects you to bear fruit in the corner of the field of this world, in which he sowed you.

The two questions

The servants of the Householder or the owner of the field asked Him two general questions:

1. “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” (Matthew 13:27b NKJV)

The first question is in two parts, with the first part acknowledging that the field was the Householder’s and that He had done the sowing, and that He had sown only good seed.

The earth is the Lord’s. He also originated and first spread the Gospel, and nothing but the gospel. But the second part of the first question brings us to the deepest of all mysteries namely, the origin of evil and how it continues in the world.

This problem of the parable is as old as the human race. Why was Judas permitted to be counted among the twelve? Why was the early church almost wrecked by false brothers? Why does God allow the sin and sorrow blemishing His world today?

Jesus said, “An enemy has done this.” But why is the enemy so active, after almost two millenniums of Christianity, sowing more tares than ever in God’s field? This is one of the mysteries to be revealed. Christians should be mainly concerned with victory over evil rather than a full explanation of it. One of the main reasons is that the enemy knows his fate. He knows he will not win so he is trying to mess with God’s world and deceive as many people as he can before the end of the age. Don’t let it be you that he deceives.

2. The second question, “Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” (Matthew 13:28b NKJV)

Suggest that the servants were eager to rid the field of its obnoxious weeds at once. The Householder’s reply is in two parts:

First of all, he refers to the growth of the wheat and the darnel. In its unripe condition the wheat and the darnel looked alike, and to try and destroy the one, would be beyond the wisdom of servants.

The Second part of the answer is taken up with the final harvest. “Let both grow together until the harvest.” Not forever will the good seed and the tares be intermingled. The time of separation will come, when angels, and not men, will come, when angels, and not men will secure the wheat and burn the tares.

Mathew 13:39, 41 – 42 NKJV
The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels… The son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The Two Harvests.

Describing the time of harvest, Jesus said that the reapers will be able to distinguish between wheat and tares, and that the separation between them will be effected in this way: “First, gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30b NKJV)

Such a harvest of destruction for the tares/weeds is to take place at “the end of this world.”

The destruction of the tares are to be bound up in bundles. As the gathering together of the tares into bundles takes place in the field, it is interesting to watch how this process of binding the tares into bundles is very fast and speedily.

After the gathering and binding of the weeds, there comes their destruction by fire. The time of such a harvest is appointed a day in which he will judge the world.

Acts 17:31 NKJV
Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

We will be judged for all that we have done. No one will escape it.

As to the time the reapers obey the summons of the Householder to deal with the tares, Jesus said it would be at “the end of the world,” or age – the end of the Gentile age when Christ returns to earth as King and gathers out from His Kingdom all things that cause stumbling. The final judgment upon Satan, evil angels, and all who died outside of Christ.

Let’s look at Matthew 13:40 – 42 NKJV
Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

“Burned in the fire” is a most solemn phrase. As the “tares” symbolize all lost souls, we cannot make light of their future after such a declared fate. Jesus affirmed the utter destruction of the tares.

The “furnace of fire” and “wailing and gnashing of teeth” described the horrors of Hell, and of the final home of the wicked, the Lake of Fire. These words that describe hell are hard to contemplate and absorb.

Trust me it will be a quick thing for those who are not children of God to be thrown into the lake of fire.

The words, “cast” or “thrown” into the lake of fire has a deeper meaning. The flinging expresses indignation, abhorrence and contempt. God has given all of us numerous chances to change our lifestyle and thinking. He has wooed and drawn us with His lovingkindness and some of us are still resisting. When judgement comes, there will be no more mercy and grace. Judgement will happen quickly and speedily.

The “furnace of fire” denotes the fierceness of the torment: the “wailing” signifies the anguish this causes: while “the gnashing of teeth” is a graphic way of expressing the despair of all who go there.

Matthew 8:12 NKJV
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

They will be castaways with no one to rescue them because the judgement has come.

The doom of the wicked will be fearful!

Revelation 20:11 NKJV
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

What Jesus said about the bundles burning was not words to a parable but a solemn revelation and declaration of fate.

Hebrews 2:1 – 3 NKJV
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

But what a different harvest that waits the wheat, which is to be gathered into the divine barn. There will be no tares in that barn, just as there will be no wheat in the furnace of fire.

The question is, When will the gathering of the wheat of the Son of Man take place? When Jesus returns to the air then there will be gathered out all His wheat from the field of this world. What a gathering of the ransomed that will be!!!

1 Thessalonians 4:15 – 17 NKJV
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Is not His Father’s House the Barn He will gather us into?

John 14:1 – 3 NKJV
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

God’s chosen are gathered from the four winds are to be where He is!

Matthew 24:30 – 31 NKJV
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

What a glorious destination awaits the righteous, who are to shine as the stars forever. Exaltation and blessedness are to be theirs throughout eternity!

Matthew 13:43 NKJV
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

They have been called to God’s eternal glory in Christ!

1 Peter 5:10 NKJV
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

A ravishing prospect is the portion of all who have been saved by grace.

Daniel 12:1 – 3 NKJV
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

There is a further thought to stress as we come to the conclusion of looking at the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, namely, we still live in an age of grace when tares can become wheat, or sinners can become righteous. The parable doesn’t say there can’t be a change for those tares. By Jesus’ power the enemy can be defeated, and his enemies slaves made into God’s servants. Children of the devil, they can yet become children of the Kingdom, and thus be saved from the final, terrible judgment of the wicked.

Counterfeit members in the Church can be changed into genuine and profitable members. We have to remember that we are wheat and will be sifted by Satan. Jesus told Peter that he was wheat and that as such he was to be sifted by Satan, and that in the sifting the chaff, or tares, would disappear.

Luke 22:31 – 33 NKJV
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Let’s search the field of our heart and see whether the enemy has sown any tares in it. The more the Lord has of our heart, the less the devil will have. Today, turn from any worldly way of thinking and give your life fully over to Jesus. Walk in His ways and stay close to Him. Don’t be one of the tares at the end that will be bundled up and thrown into the furnace of fire for eternity!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.Wordpress.com

Resources: Pastor Kris Belfils and Herbert Lockyer “All the Parables of the Bible”

May 28, 2015 by Pastor Kris Belfils

Parables: “The Sower and the Four Soils”

One of Jesus’ favorite methods of revealing the secrets of God’s Kingdom to his followers is by telling stories called parables. He uses various illustrations from everyday life to communicate spiritual truths to this diverse audience. Jesus refers to farmers, fishermen, and merchants as he draws ideas from their occupations. Not everyone understood what he was teaching, and sometimes even his closets followers needed Jesus to explain the meaning of his parables.

What is a parable?

In the Greek the word means: “a similitude (“parable”), that is, (symbolically) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), parable, proverb.” (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions G3846)

The word parable is from the root word “paraballo” in the Greek. This compound word comes from “para” which means “to come along side or compare” and “ballo” which literally means “to throw” or “see” with.

The parables are used in giving one or more instructional lessons or principles and can be an allegory and may include inanimate objects (like trees, plants, or things) or people in various positions in society.

There is often a tension between good and evil or sinful and holy meaning that they can proclaim what is good versus what is bad and what is evil in contrast to what is holy or God-like.

A parable is often a significant comparison between two objects that may be used as a mirror image of a comparable object to teach a single concept or teaching. Some of the key words that Jesus usually concludes the parables with are phrases that alert the listener to pay close attention to what was just said and may include such words as “He who has ears, let him hear”or “Most assuredly I say to you,” and “How much more.”

Jesus wants the listeners to focus on what was just stated in the parable so that they will comprehend what Jesus is trying to teach them. (http://www.patheos.com)

A Sunday School definition would be: A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

There are over 40 parables in the New Testament, but did you know there are also many in the Old Testament too? Did you also know that 35% of Jesus teachings were parables?

Jesus clearly gives parables to hide the meaning from those whose hearts are hardened. Some of the parables are hard to understand but they frequently serve as object lessons that use experiences from life to clearly communicate a meaning for Jesus’ teachings.

Jesus quotes Isaiah the Prophet by saying:

Matthew 13:34 – 35 NKJV

All these Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

This is found in…

Psalm 78:2 NKJV

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old.

The Disciples questioned why Jesus spoke in parables when He talked to the people.

Matthew 13:11 – 15 NLT

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets (Greek: the mysteries) of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables.

For they look, but they don’t really see.

They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

When you hear what I say, you will not understand.

When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear,

and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cant see,

and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand,

and let me heal them.”

We are embarking on a new sermon series; Parables, from now to the end of Summer. We will be looking at powerful teachings from Jesus and applying them to our everyday life. You don’t want to miss a Sunday service during this series. Believing God will teach us mighty things to take us to a higher level in Him, Amen!

The Parable of the Sower and the Four Types of Soil

Jesus used common scenes from everyday life to teach new truths about the Kingdom of God. The amazing thing is that we can experience these truths here on earth to prepare us for that glorious day when Jesus comes to take His own to Heaven with Him. I am looking forward to that glorious day, are you?

Read Matthew 13:1 – 9 NKJV

Read Matthew 13:1 – 9 NLT

There are three elements to this parable: The sower, the seed, and the soils. I want to talk about all three elements in further detail to understand what Jesus was wanting the listener to understand.

1. The Sower.

In this parable the Sower is unknown. This story speaks simply of the fate of the seed sown, the different kinds of soil on which it fell, and the effect it produced. So who was Jesus talking about when He said, “Behold, the sower went forth to sow”? and in the New Living Translation we read, “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.” The words “Behold” or “Listen” implies we need to pay attention to what Jesus was about to say.

The Sower is…

a. God Himself.

Jeremiah 31:27 NKJV

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.

God is saying here that He will sow in the house of Israel and Judah seed to bring forth man and cattle. We have such a persistent and over abundant Sower we serve. He constantly sows/plants seeds in our lives to grow spiritually, physically, financially, and so much more. God’s character is to bring growth and good things. God knows full well that much seed He sows falls by the wayside and yet He knows a great harvest is going to come. Many will reject, and many will receive what God has to say.

b. Christ Jesus.

Jesus even announces Himself as the Sower in Matthew 13:37 NKJV, “Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.” He is constantly sowing seeds in our life. What type of soil do you have when He sows? Let us be people who readily receive what Jesus teaches and allowing it to sink down into our spirit and bring forth good fruit!

c. Holy Spirit.

He is the One who brings inspiration for the sower to sow the seed, and waters it. Holy Spirit is like the wind which blows as it wills and every breathe of that Spirit is the Word of God. Life giving! His language is unexpected and life changing in our life. We know what it is like to have our spirit touched and inspired to scatter seeds for God’s Kingdom. We see someone hurting or needs encouragement and we are compelled to go and talk to them. That is the Holy Spirit sowing seeds in our heart, and in return, we sow seeds in others. Which leads me to my next point.

d. Every Christian.

In Commissioning us, Jesus spoke of the hearts of men as the field, and His Gospel as the seed to be cast everywhere.

Matthew 28:19 – 20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:20 NKJV

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

What Jesus began to teach, His Apostles continued teaching. The Apostle Paul regarded his whole ministry as a sowing of spiritual things.

1 Corinthians 9:11 NKJV

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

Acts 9:15 NKJV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

From the time of his remarkable conversion, Paul knew that he was a chosen vessel for sowing the precious seed of the Gospel into the human hearts wherever an opening should appear among the Jews and Gentiles.

It is the privilege and obligation of all who are Christ’s to function as sowers. We are saved to serve and sow! Compared to the huge field of lost souls, the sowers are view.

God needs everyone of us to do our part to sow seeds into the hearts of those who do not know Him. We can do this by the spoken word, and also by our lifestyle. Is your lifestyle giving God a bad name or a good name? Are you sowing good seeds, or are they selfish, sinful seeds? The world is watching you. Be the best representative of Christ to your world!

Our heavenly Father, the Husbandman, exhorts us to pray that He would send more sowers into His field. Everyone! Not just the preachers and the teachers of God, but all of us should be sowing in God’s field.

The Greatest service any Christian can give is sowing the good seed of the Word. Words and works are seeds to drop in the soil of the hearts. We as Christians need to be sowing in season and out of season; devoted, yielded heartily, entirely and sincerely to this greatest of all tasks.

Sowing is hard work and may sometimes seem like fruitless work. Or it may seem like your works are wasted. But God’s Word promises us that we shall always reap the fruits of our seeds with Joy!

Psalms 126:5-6

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.

This is our Promise. No matter how fruitless our labor seems the Lord promises a joyous harvest. God is pretty much saying it is a done deal. Joy will come in the morning!

Remember that it is our job to be the sower. All the sower has to do is Sow. It is beyond our power to make the seed grow. The one obligation of the sower is to Sow, leaving the Holy Spirit to make well-prepared ground bring the fruit of the seed which we have sown.

We are responsible for sowing not for the growing. This has helped me throughout my years in ministry. It is not my responsibility to make you grow, only to sow the seeds and the rest is up to you and God. This frees me from stress and anxiety I can feel over the sheep in my care.

2. The Seed.

The seed to be sown is described in two ways. The seed is…

A. The word of the Kingdom.

B. The word of God.

All the seed must be sown. The whole counsel of God must be presented. The full Gospel is seed, that is, “the most vital form of the matter”

As to the nature of the seed we sow it is spoken of as being…

* Living and Incorruptible (1 Peter 1:22 – 25)

* Powerful and soul saving (Romans 1:16; 10:17)

* Heavenly and divine and will not return void (Isaiah 55:10 – 11)

* Immutable and everlasting (Isaiah 40:8)

* Engrafted and able to save. (James 1:17, 18. 21)

James 1:21 NKJV

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

As the “Word of God” is the seed and Christ came as the “Word of God” He himself is the seed. The seed we sow, then, is not only from Christ— It is Christ.

“The seed of the Kingdom is Himself the King.” He was consistent in representing Christ as the seed as well as the sower. He preached the Savior, and also was the Savior he preached. The Savior preached the Savior, Himself the Sower and Himself the Seed.

3. The Soil.

In this parable the attention is focused not on the sower or his seed, but on the soil and its reaction to the seed sown. Here we come to the importance of the parable, and importance we can not exaggerate.

This parable deals with the fundamental truth, namely the proclaiming of the Gospel to sinners, and being good soil to receive the seeds from the Word of life. Other parables deal with subsequent truths, and would not be understood without this one first.

Lets understand that these soils are different states of the heart and their reaction to the Gospel. Which one represents you?

Lets take a look at the different soils…

I. The Wayside Hearer .

Or the hearer with the closed mind. This condition of the heart receives the seed by ear, but no life comes from it. The seed is on the surface but not in.

The people represented here are the hard surfaced souls who are destitute of spiritual perception or understanding. These people may be “religious” and attend regular church but the truth they hear is never received into their hearts.

The truth takes no hold because the heart is like a highway; the surface is hard and nothing can make an impression on it. The seed can not penetrate: therefore the “Birds” which symbolizes the “Enemy” can snatch it way. The truth takes no hold, when the Word is understood and received in faith, it is beyond Satan’s reach.

II. The Stony Ground Hearer.

Or the hearer with and emotional mind. In this instance the seed is received but does not take root. The seed is on and in but not down.

“The root of the matter” is not in them. When temptations and persecution arise, they quickly backslide. Depth of faith, and surrendered character are lacking. Hard heart is connected with superficial faith and character. There is no place to increase or grow. Only surfacy character is present.

The first soil represents those who take “No Hold” and the second soil represents those who take a “Superficial hold.”

“Violent emotion is a sign of shallowness and never lasts; but the tender heart leans to moral thoughtfulness, and where that is, the feeling is permanent.”

The stony place was where there was only a shallow layer of earth beneath which was hard rock. Some churches have too many of these stony hearts. What a blessing they would be, if only they had depth!

III. The Thorny Ground Hearer.

Or the hearer with the wondering mind. Here the seed takes root but bears no fruit. The seed is on, in and down but, does not come up. It is choked and typifies the pre-occupied people. The too busy people. The truth takes hold, but the hold is a battle by three foes or forces. Forces in opposition to the nature of the seed are:

a. The Cares of the World.

Worry, worry, worry over the things of this life. An anxious, unrelaxing attention to the business of this present life chokes the seed. A variety of interests, legitimate in their place, are allowed to dominate one’s life, with your relationship with God as just another department of the already highly departmental life.

Where does the worry stop and the trust in God begin? It has to begin in our minds. Do you really believe God cares for you? Do you really believe God takes care of you? It is a faith walk everyday trusting in Jesus. We have to remember that if His eye is on the sparrow, we know God watches over us. This takes away the worry and anxiety and then the word of God, or the seeds God sows on our hearts will germinate and bring forth much fruit.

Too many Christians allow spiritual impressions to come to nothing because of their submission to influences other than God. They place their attention instead on entertainment and family business, and things that make them feel good, instead of allowing a closer relationship with Jesus. These people, like Martha, “cumbered with much serving,” miss the joy and privilege of sitting at the Master’s feet.

b. The Deceitfulness of Riches.

In itself, riches can be a blessing, but the value of them is decided. Money can buy houses and food, but will it set a man free from Hell, or set him free from pain or sorrow? No! This is false security. We can have riches one day (striving to be rich all our life), and the next day it all be taken.

In the Greek, “Deceitfulness” can be translated as “Delusion.” Having an unhealthy drive to get rich deceives us or deludes us to thinking it is the most important thing. When we think like this, it crowds out what truly is important in this life on earth: Our relationship with God.

It is a hard road for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Our riches will fail us. Don’t rely on false security, but trust in the name of the Lord your God!

Psalm 20:7 NKJV

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

On the road trying to obtain wealth people can reason and think mistakenly. They scheme to do this or that and it falls empty, or corrupts the owner of it.

c. The lust of other things.

A few other words for lust can be: longing, desire, or pleasures.

In the book of Mark we see his account of this parable. Mark adds; “the lust of other things” as another thorny ground element.

Mark 4:18 – 19 KJV

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The lust for other things can be translated as “The pleasures of this life.” Enjoyments, innocent in themselves, in which worldly prosperity enables one to indulge, smother the seed. So much of time is taken up for pleasure that only the dregs or the most worthless part of our energy and reasoning, remain for spiritual things. (Herbert Lockyer)

In the early stages of being a Christian there was growth and the promise of fruitfulness, but other things, or considerations prevented the fruit from ripening.

May the good Lord deliver us from becoming engrossed with earth and earthly things resulting in the neglect of the great realities of the soul and eternity. The rich young ruler wanted all of his possessions and he wanted eternal life. The reality is either Christ or potions, but not both. No man can serve two masters.

We have to be careful between the cares or worries of life, delusion of chasing riches, and having a lust for others things. They all can overtake us if we allow them too. Be aware and alert that you are not allowing them in your life when you are hearing the Word of God. Know the Word! Know God! Further, do everything in your power to protect your relationship with Him!

It is not saying that worrying or wealthy or lustful people are bad, or they don’t bear fruit. What it is saying is those who get caught up in all these things don’t bring forth the fruit to perfection or completion. The fruit is choked or crowded out by all three of these thorns.

IV. The Good Ground Hearer.

Or the hearer with the stedfast, understanding mind. Those who were open to God and the things of God, and were resolute in keeping it. Because there was deep root in this instance, there was much fruit!

The seed was on, in, down and up! The seed had taken full hold. It had entered the whole soul, filling mind, heart, conscience and will. The Word was received, understood and yielded to, then it produced faith that bound them to Christ, and service to Him that glorified God and benefitted others.

This last soil is really the reverse of all the other soils. The seed takes root, does not quickly lose the moisture which would take away the life producing plant. The good ground hearers were the positive of this pessimistic parable.

Jesus said the good ground hearers produced different degrees of fruitfulness.

*Thirty fold – is lowest degree of fruitfulness

*Sixty fold – is the intermediate degree of fruitfulness

*Hundred fold – is the highest degree

Interesting that the degrees of hearing are three:

The Wayside Hearer
The Stony Ground Hearer
The Thorny Ground Hearer

So is the abundance of fruit is three-fold as well. What amount of increase is your life yielding? Are you giving back thirty fold, a fair return; sixty fold, more heartening to the Sower than the former; or a hundred fold, a striking, wonderful and God-honoring return that is actually the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ?

Than the parable ends with, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” As we read the parable we must strive not only to be fruitful, but to abound in fruitfulness for the glory of God! We must give attention to how important it is to hear the Word of God and receive it for ourselves. Not only hearing and receiving, but understanding and obeying it if we want to be fruitful! How many of you want to produce good fruit?

A parable reveals truth to those accepting and appreciating it — concealing it from those resenting and abusing it.

One more thing about this parable: We are three times blessed, just like the Disciples were, in receiving and understanding and applying it. Let us be people who gladly and readily receive God’s word and His teachings with eager and hungry hearts: 30 fold, 60, and 100 fold, Amen!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com

www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com

www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

Sources: Pastor Kris Belfils, All the Parables of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer, and notes from The WayFind Bible NLT.

April 14, 2014 by Pastor Kris Belfils

Door of Hope

This year, 2014, is a year of open doors. People need hope. I believe we will walk into those low places with people who need Jesus, offering them the entrance to the door of hope whose name is Jesus Christ. As a Christian, we have the answer to all the world’s problems and we should be sharing it to all we meet.

Joel 3:14

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

There will be multitudes who need hope. They will make a decision to come to Christ and live passionately for Him.

I had a dream this past week. In the dream I was at a Presbyterian church in Spokane. First off, I am not Presbyterian and haven’t attended their churches or know their pastors. At this church one of the Leaders came up to me and offered for our church to use their facility and that they would like to give all their property to Hope Fellowship. I was amazed and blessed. They showed me their entire campus of buildings. In the main building there were sleeping quarters and my family and I spent the night from Saturday to Sunday. When we woke up on Sunday morning, I heard people and saw people coming in for Sunday School. I shouted for everyone to lock their sleeping quarters as I went to a side door where everyone was coming in. I looked outside and multitudes were coming into the building for Sunday School. It was snowing very hard outside. I quickly went to the Adult Sunday School class and realized there wasn’t enough room or chairs to accommodate such a large crowd. Then, after Sunday School, more people, by the multitude came into the Cathedral ceiling sanctuary. There was people everywhere. I asked where the pulpit was and it was in the middle of this huge rectangle size cathedral room. People sat all around the four walls. The Presbyterian leaders asked me to come to the pulpit and the crowd cheered. They stated; “We are handing over the keys and the microphone to you. This is all yours!” The crowd cheered. As I spoke my voice would cut out, but the crowd didn’t care, they were all just happy to be there and excited at this new beginning! I woke up shortly after that.

This dream has stayed in my spirit ever since I dreamt it. It brought me hope and joy. All I could see in this dream were open doors and people running in with high expectations of HOPE. I believe this is a prophetic dream of the world today. As much as there will be a great turning away, there will be a great harvest. Be alert and don’t be one who is lead astray by your own desires. Be one who helps bring in the harvest for God’s glory to build His Kingdom. Help people come to the open door of hope.

Today, people have put their hope in so many things and all of them have failed them. They are looking for the real deal. They want to see genuine people expressing living hope. They are attracted to that.

What Jesus did on the cross is everything. He died so that we might live. But He didn’t stay in the grave, No, He is risen. He is alive! It gives us hope for tomorrow.

Hope is the sustainer of life. It’s the motivator to action. It’s the promise of tomorrow. What each one of us needs more of is hope. What our country and world needs is hope.

What is hope? Often we use the word hope as a form of wish. “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” “I hope the Seahawks or Bulldogs win their next game.” However, hope in the Bible, has quite a different meaning.

Hope in the Bible is a “confident expectation of a divinely provided future.”

Biblical hope is a confidence and expectation that God has provided for a good future for you. This morning God wants to fill every person here with hope that God has a great future planned for you.

The opposite of hope is despair or hopelessness. We see examples of despair and hopelessness all around us.

”Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

I would like to add to this quote;

“Despair cannot drive out despair: only HOPE can do that.”

Pastor Kris Belfils

How many times do we try to drive out our own despair with more despair? This will never bring encouragement.

The word despair means: “A state in which all hope is lost or absent, The feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well, abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart. Other terms: Discouragement, disheartenment, dismay, hopelessness, pessimism, resignation, surrender.”

This happens to many people everyday. When a tragedy occurs or our expectations have not been met, we can fall into despair easily. We can fall into despair just by thinking wrong thoughts about our self and others.

There are really only two things you can have in life:

1. Despair

2. Hope

Hope in the dictionary means: “A general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled, grounds for feeling hopeful about the future, Someone, or something on which expectations are centered.”

Having hope is so essential to surviving in life. If we lose hope, we have lost the race.

Despair and hopelessness drives people to harm themselves or others in many ways. Hopelessness leads people to try to escape life’s despair through different kinds of addictions. Despair about your future saps the joy from life.

This is what the world is experiencing today. They have no hope. Some tried to put their hope in the Government or financial institutes, some in their education, some in what they buy or wear. All these things will leave you hopeless.

Psalms 42:11

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

This verse is telling us to put our hope in God and to praise Him for saving us from our trouble.

What are you thinking? Are you thinking despairing thoughts? Then you will be filled with despair! Despair and discouragement are dead end roads. They lead to no where!They don’t get anything done.

Discouragement leads to despair, despair leads to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, hopelessness leads to depression and suicidal thoughts, and suicidal thoughts leads down a path of total darkness.

If you are feeling despair, don’t jump to Satan’s illusions. Remind yourself that you are valuable and God has a plan for your life. Tell yourself that your current condition is not permanent. It will pass. Tell yourself you can stand in the midst of all the bad. Also distinguish the difference of something that is truth about you or your situation, or just a lie or illusion the enemy is trying to sabotage you with.

In the natural, darkness always makes us scared, but sunshine and light make us feel safe and happy. The doom and gloom go away instantly when light is put on the subject.

Light is the only thing that can drive out darkness. We sometimes wallow in self-pity or focus on the negative, thinking you will feel better, and the dark cloud will lift. This will never happen. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, and despair cannot drive out despair.

We have to guard against darkness in our hearts and minds. The best way is to focus on, and bring in the light.

Psalm 36:9 (NKJV)

“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

John 12:46 (NKJV)

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

1 Thess 5:5 (NKJV)

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.”

John 1:5 (NKJV)

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Isaiah 60:1

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

We have to set our minds on new things, and what God is capable of doing. We have to turn our thoughts from the bad and purposely set our thoughts on the good.

Jesus said this about our light:

Matthew 5:14 – 16 (NKJV)

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now let us take a look at Psalm 146 and see what the LORD is doing in our lives, which brings us much hope:

Psalm 146 (NKJV)

“PRAISE the LORD! (Hallelujah) Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust (hope) in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirt departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

To overcome Hopelessness we need to remind ourself who the LORD is in our life:

(Based on Psalm 146)

Praise the LORD! (Ps. 146:1 – 2)

Do not put your hope in princes or in man as they will perish (146:3 – 4)

Put your hope in the LORD – it will make you happy (Ps. 146:5)

The LORD made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them (Ps. 146:6)

The LORD is the keeper of truth forever (Ps. 146:6)

The LORD executes justice for the oppressed (146:7)

The LORD gives food to the hungry (146:7)

The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners (146:7)

The LORD watches over the strangers (146:8)

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind (146:8)

The LORD raises those who are bowed down (146:8)

The LORD loves the righteous (146:8)

The LORD watches over the strangers (146:9)

The LORD relieves the fatherless and widow (146:9)

The LORD turns the way of the wicked upside down (146:9)

The LORD shall reign forever, to all generations (146:10)

Psalm 27:14 (God’s Word)

“Wait with hope for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.

Yes, wait with hope for the LORD.”

We have to wait with hope for God. We have to be courageous and strong in our waiting. The word; “wait” was a bad four letter word to me. I hated waiting. Waiting made me feel I did something wrong. It made me feel I wasn’t ready. But, this is not why we have to wait at times. Waiting helps us to mature in Christ. Waiting burns out the impatience in us. Waiting is better then rushing into something without God’s wisdom and direction.

Human nature gives up easily when we pray and don’t see our prayers answered. We pray once, and no answer, so we give up, or think it is not God’s will. We have to be persistent in our prayers and in faith. God is looking for people who have their hope in Him and don’t give up when they don’t see an answer to their prayer.

A great example of praying and not giving up is Elijah. I am sure Elijah waited with hope as he prayed to God for rain to come.

Read 1 Kings 18:41 – 46

Elijah could have given up after the first time praying for rain and then sending his servant to go up mount Carmel to see if any clouds were forming. Elijah’s hope was in God and he believed God would come through. Again and again Elijah prayed without any answer to his prayer. He pressed in and continued to pray.

Elijah persevered and kept praying and believing God would come through. He was relentless! He didn’t stop praying until God gave him a sign. It was in a form of a cloud the size of a man’s hand. It was all he needed to move on in his life. God gives little clouds to spark hope in our hearts that He is working and bringing the answer.

We can learn from this great man of God. We too need to keep praying without giving up. We too need to believe God will answer in spite of our circumstances or what we see or don’t see happening.

The hope is knowing God is faithful! What He did before He will do again. He used men and women in the Bible to bring about His agenda and His Kingdom. He wants to use us too.

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Faith in action requires a time of waiting. The word “Hope” is interchanged with the word wait in the Bible. HOPE: Is the place between praying and answered prayer!

It can seem like God didn’t hear us or holds his answer from us.

Where can we get the hope that we need in life? …….Our hope comes from Jesus.

Matthew 12:21 (NIV)

“In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Some people put their hope in wrong things and they are disappointed. But everyone who puts their hope in Jesus will never be disappointed.

Hope for the multitudes to give them a door of hope in trying times is our heart here at Hope Fellowship!

Hope is the only thing that stands against fear. Having hope propels you to keep trying in the middle of your fears. This is the action or active part of hope. Hope helps us to stay focused. If we don’t have hope, we will fall into our fears and doubts and give up.

Let Hope arise in you today! The Hope of Jesus Christ is powerful. No one can take that away from you. Hope sustains you. Hope keeps you.

You might be living in a hard situation right now. It might seem hopeless, but remind yourself Who is living inside of you! Jesus, the conqueror of death! Jesus, the giver of new life and new beginnings!

Door of Hope

Hosea 2:15

“I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.”

This verse is for all who are facing trouble right now, be it financial trouble, family trouble, physical trouble. I don’t care what trouble you have, maybe emotional trouble? God will give you hope in the middle of your troubles.

“Her” is basically Israel, but can refer to all of us as God’s people today. “I will give her…” we are the bride of Christ! We are so blessed. We can be called “him” and “her;” the bride of Christ.

“I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.”

What a wonderful prophecy. Now, see the words, “door of hope?” In Hebrew; Pethach tiqvah. There is a Jewish Anthem entitled; “The Hope.” HATIKVAH it is sung to remember that as long as deep in the heart a Jewish soul yearns and looks to Zion our hope will not be lost.

Hope doesn’t mean; “I hope things will happen.” No, hope means it will happen. What you dream and believe in God will happen. God will meet the desires of your heart. God says, “Have hope!” Man says, “Don’t raise your hope.” God says, “Raise your hopes as high as the throne of God, hallelujah! Amen!” You have a God. Those other people who say, “Don’t raise your hope.” They don’t have a god. You have a God of grace, of goodness, of mercy!

Do you know where He puts this door of hope? Do you know where to find the door of hope? God says there’s no temptation, no testings, no trials that has come on you that God will not give you the strength, and will find the way of escape. There is a door in every test! There is a door. Where do you find this door of hope? In the Valley of Achor! What is the Valley of Achor? Listen this is a word for all of you!

The word Achor means: trouble in Hebrew (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionary).

It means trouble! Wow, in your valley of trouble. When you are in trouble you don’t feel like you are on the mountain, no you are in the valley. You may say, “Pastor Kris I have all these bills looming. I feel crushed.” God says, “In your valley of trouble I will open to you a door of hope!” “Pastor Kris, you don’t understand. The Doctors have given me some bad news.” You are going through a valley now and God is going to put the door of hope before you. And every time you open this door you step into life more abundantly (John 10:10). You will find pasture. God puts a door there.

Listen, don’t open other doors that man tries to put there. The Door is Jesus. When you open the Door you will find life, and life more abundantly!

So what trouble are you going through right now? God is putting right now, in your valley, a Door of hope. His name is Jesus, and what do you do with a door? Open it. Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” Once He comes in your sickness goes out! Once He comes in your lack goes out! Once He comes in, peace in the house. And by the way people forget that Jesus says, “I knock at the door” in Revelation 3:20. It is not written for sinners. It is written for the church. Okay, but He invites you to open the door. He will not break down the door. The door of grace has only one knob and it is not out side, the knob is inside. Jesus can only knock, you have to open the door and say, “Lord Jesus, come into my trouble, come into my mess. Lord, I don’t know what to do, my hands are off.” Then Jesus will say, “Come you will find pasture and life more abundant has come.”

Zacheous opened his door and said, “Come in,” and Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house!” Hallelujah! Amen! Let’s do that right now!

Your Pastor,

Kris Belfils

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