We read from the Old Testament and to the New Testament because
we know that it gives us a proper view of the redemptive
history that the Lord has done for all of us.
So we read from the Isaiah book the prophet Isaiah wrote in
chapter 6 versus 9 to 10. Let's read Isaiah chapter 6
verses 9 to 10. And he said, go and say to the
people, keep on hearing but do not understand, Keep on seeing
but do not perceive. Make the heart of these people
dull and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes, lest they see
that their eyes with their eyes, and they hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.
And that is from the Old Testament.
For the New Testament reading, which is the basis of our
preaching. For this Lord's Day Morning will
come from the book of Matthew. The Gospel Book chapter 13 will
be studying the whole one all the way to 20 three.
But I'll just be reading. For this text, reading from 18,
let's hear the Word of the Lord, then hear the parable of the
sober. When anyone hears the word of
the Kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil One
comes, And it's not just away what has been sown in his heart.
This is what was sown along the path.
But As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one
who hears the Word and immediately receives it with
joy. And yet he has no root in
himself, but endures for a while.
And when tribulation, persecution arises on the
account of the Word, immediately he falls away.
As for what was sown among the thorns, this is the one who
hears the Word. But the cares of the world and
the deceitfulness of richness choke the Word, and it is proved
unfruitful. But As for what was shown on the
good oil, good soil, this is the one who hears the Word,
understands it. He indeed bears fruit, and
yields in one case 100 fold, in another 60, and in another 30.
Let us bless the Lord for the reading of His Word.
Let us all sit down. There is this popular meme that
I keep on seeing when I'm watching Facebook videos.
So can you hear me? The Superman feeling like the
double anyway, so but you can hear me clearly alright, so I
encountered this meme and it has become a popular hash tag today.
Expectation versus reality. So hash tag expectation versus
reality. So among all these points in the
poem, popular one. OK, so every poem Matan daddy
toy. Don't major younger.
Dito older. OK so there was this, I remember
pandemic known as a Bai Lanka, meaning after this parang, a new
gadget back then 19 and Ion. It's a robot vacuum.
And for those who do not know me, I am an engineer by
profession. I like electronics.
I'm I'm that's part of what I do.
When I don't I have free time for those who have free time.
So I'm very happy to see this parang vacuum quality goyo magva
vacuum for yourself make catamaran Lang no pero at least
Indiana parang Wallace we're not going to vacuum very good
mentioned docking station and then it draws out clean water.
And then based on SAP Nilagay mo which area?
Mosha Patata, Bohen, Pupunta Shadow Galing Maji, Future
Pathi, Pagluluto, Pati Pati Pali Lego Nagasawa Naaso Silana
Gagawi. Pero, this time it's a robot.
But I was amazed in video. Now it goes to the kitchen and
embarrass Champaran 22 circular young vacuum and sorry, not a
vacuum. It's really a cleaner vacuum.
So there's water, there's bottom mop mop, mopper.
So me could show me is the Dansha wanna basa mamaya mera
nansa born yeah no no hearings 90 positions said it was so
amazing and if you know Facebook may not position and you don't
know search so Lalabasan malami nahanap more so there's in
advertising that popped up and I was amazed to see the video Ohh
1000 long young robot vacuum 1000 buy one take one buy one
take one. So if you buy buy now buy now
you'll have two of that robot. So sad because again total
number while I'm longing by billing and nothing and so I
took care bye do many things about hiring Ian and I was so
patient expectation was so una so my lucky name expectation
could do many things about high. No one thinks about high.
I was expecting a doctor and a box lunch.
So Parang remote control RC not Coche the floor English.
But you know you mean illegal. So little because I was
expecting something that would clean the house for me.
Paula Maglilinis parang Lara Allam Palayan.
Don't kangaroo parang parang asuna gumaganun ganun now
Illinois I was so disappointed and my my sons were actually
mocking me saying to me ohh and dad must come first time kyon
nanas comes online purchases and it brought it brought me to
thinking a lot of things about my life.
So, you know, might be because, you know, reflection is a boy.
There are things that you expect.
But then it turns out the reality will always be
different. There are things that you
expect, but in reality, things to be in reality different from
what you expect. So when I was young, there are
things in my life, specifically when I started being in church,
being in the ministry, starting out in a very, very optimistic
mindset, feeling quite was so idealistic in my life, which
oftentimes I share with my son Eli.
Every time that he shares to me some of his idealisms in his
life, I often now learn that as you grow, there are things that
you were expecting, ideally when you were young, when you were
still not that much sure yet, not saying immature.
I was selective so much? Not yet much, sure.
And it turns out it only needs some time for you to realise
that much of our idealised expectation we were young will
always needs to be met with realistic expectations as you
grow old. However in mid age Newport
Online so Major and indeed I would expect 16.
Kenyan army, my younger but senior citizen Napolitano Denial
in denial. Shah, the senior national.
So yeah, my senior in Aditi expect OK, but I how I but when
I finally am growing up I have a I have a family and I have sons.
Now I realise also that much the man of the realism that I have
experienced also turns out to be more pessimistic in my
understanding of life. Now young Daiso Machado, nagging
Realist, Machado Indiana Pupunta Savala I in de la hat lahat my
Papa Punta samale a Hindi lahat umasa people will disappoint
you. And I came to that point in life
wherein it felt, it felt not my thinking.
The thinking is strong enough now.
By God's grace, parang Hindi sumasabay singam damini, you
demand more. And it felt for me at some point
that I have come to appoint the man that there is so much
pessimism that I have forgot that there is always hope in the
life of Christians and in the life of the church.
And I think much of our expectations as a church, while
varied, will always need to be met with the spiritual realities
that has been said in our churches today.
And sympathy pupunta. If we want our mindset, our
expectation be met with the spiritual realities of the world
or the church, we go to the world MacBook Pro.
Pero, if we want to be molded, you expectations nothing based
on the spiritual reality of how God wants us to live our lives.
We go to scripture, which is why we begin our new year with the
new sermon there is. As I personally meditate on the
nature of the Church. That's actually what drove me in
my pessimism in life. I wanted again to be refreshed
by how God made the Church. What is the nature of the
Church? The problem there is we all have
expectations in the Church and no one, and let me tell you in
advance, no one can satisfy your humanistic expectations of the
Church. Let me again restate that fact
even though bata Kappa to mandana Maasai single caparina
ngayon. Ouch.
Pastor. Single parent No, I don't single
Parino. So yes, I know.
Single parent Namatayan, Kanazawa, Black Brodner, and
Ahit and Punctuation. Let me tell you plainly and
clearly, all your humanistic expectations of the Church will
never be met with the spiritual realities that you should learn
how God wants the church to grow, how God wants the church
to be nurtured, and how God wants to be the Church to be the
church. So I was drawn to the inside of
some of the theological words of Zakarius Orcinus.
If you have time and if your leaders have time, you can read
it from his own commentary. But at the same time, I've also
read some of the parts, and the only book that I have read now
Systematically Theology is from Lewis Berkoff.
If you have time, you can read through that.
There are things that are actually insightful with regard
to the nature of the Church, But Pinagusapan nature we're talking
about its essence, which talking about its being, it's talking
about to the things that makes the church church.
Now while those things are important, I think what is
fruitful for every Lord's day is to come to an understanding, to
be shaped by, to be shaped in our perspective, Not coming just
from the the things that theologians wrote.
But more importantly the doctrine of the Church must come
out from the profound teachings of Jesus which particularly we
have to learn from the parables that Jesus himself spoke about
and the the His disciples wrote about concerning the Kingdom of
God. Arena Bryan So Saturday Alright
so the Kingdom of God is actually central to the teaching
of our Lord Jesus Christ. It finds its expression in
Matthew 13 which is why we have to focus on that.
Although you can go through a broader study of all of the
parables. There are 49 in collection as
far as someone counted. Yes someone counted.
Robert Stein said it's 49. So you can go through his book
the principles or the beginnings of learning the parables.
I can I can send out the another references but it says there's
49 but we'll just focus on the seven from Matthew 13 and from
Matthew 13. We we can learn that in this
narratives though they are diverse converging to a common
theme of God's Kingdom and what does it mean.
It means that God is the one sovereignly ruling over his
church and the effect of it on those who receives it.
Will you think about if you talk about the the parables we talk
about the Kingdom of God it's solely teaches us that God is
sovereignly rolling over his church and he is the one
enabling them to receive it That in our teaching today we'll
focus on a particular one and and Jesus called it and the the
the disciples call it the parable of the shower.
Now before we dive through the center or the heart of the
series it's still important for you to 1st and for me to have
with you a common understanding of what a parable is.
What is a parable? Well, a parable or parables are
often misunderstood, full stop. Yes, it's often misunderstood.
It's often likened to a morals of more parang tale or a story.
A good story that often you tell in Sunday School.
Now it's illustrative of earthly stories with great spiritual,
moral truth that needs to teach, often perceive as tales.
These stories are employed by many of the pictures today,
spiritualising the parable without understanding its
central message first. Which is why throughout Jesus's
ministry, when he used the parable, he used it for a
specific purpose and it is actually to serve as windows to
the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.
This means that the parables themselves, while they are
stories that may be paralleling or not, parallel so many other
things. Nakikita.
Nothing in our everyday lives. However, these are real stories,
spiritual stories about how God rules his people, the Kingdom of
God. It provides for us a way to
perceive the unseen reality of God's reign over his people.
However, specifically for the parable of the sober, it will be
shedding light naman to the nature of the church as a
community bounded by regenerate hearts.
OK, so that's the summary already of what we'll be
discussing. Yes, Nagkakaron, Palampur Tayan
introduction. So this parable, an important
centerpiece in Jesus teaching, unveils for us layers of meaning
that beyond the surface of ordinary elements, a narrative
actually showing us how varied the response of the human heart
to the proclamation of the gospel message of our Lord Jesus
Christ. That in this parable we will
learn that the fertile soil of regenerate hearts, where the
seed of God's word takes root, is the one that flourishes, the
one that yields abundant fruit. And the Church as a Kingdom
collective regenerate hearts, mirrors that represent the
reciprocity of the soil in the soldiers field.
And that as members of this community, our role then as
healers of this word is to continue being nurtured by this
transformative power of God's Word as a living testament to
the red generative work of the Holy Spirit within us.
So our preaching this morning will cover 3 points.
Spirit. Roth, Spiritual. 3, Second Grace
Bestowed Election third Faith Grounded.
Holiness, You still Ohh yeah, it's at the back A so it's
there. So before we begin, let us all
bow our heads and ask the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Let us pray. Lord God, help us know your
ways. Teach us your path.
Lead us in your truth and teach us.
For you are the God of our salvation.
For you we wait all day long through Christ our Lord.
Amen. So let us begin with Matthew 13.
One to nine Now I've sent out, I believe I've sent out the
manuscript in my feed. If you're able to read through
it, then Welland good. If not, then just follow through
with the preaching and then later on if you have time you
can read through it. Now let's just go through with
the the, the parts. Now we have a structure here
that is narrative and Jesus is the one living the house and
choosing the seashore as a teaching setting.
It gives us an idea that where he is right now is not
conducive. Supposedly such teaching, OK,
teaching, habit teaching happens in synagogues.
But at this point what is peculiar 19 Napapansin is why is
he in the seashore? And even though he was in the
seashore there are multitudes of men and women following them.
OK, so that makes you understand.
OK, there are some things that people are expecting and Jesus
needs to again reiterate to them the reality of God's rule.
And that is why the boat is then became the pulpit, and which is
why it says that stage for the deliverance of the parable of
the shower now. For context, the preceding
chapter, Matthew 12, OK, Jesus was primarily already preaching
in Galilee. He's from Nazareth, it's north
of Jerusalem, meaning he is growing near to where the
Samaritans are living. And you have to understand that
if Jesus is there bordering to the enemies, quote UN quote
paganist, paganist, they're still Jewish, but then they're
no longer faithful that the Torah, the Samaritans, are
unclean based on what they perceive they are themselves to
be, then Jesus is already going through the mission of the
Kingdom. So that is why, when he was
there, the reception of the message were mixed.
Some of the fantasies from the South are going up north are
thinking preacher NATO is he going to be in the line with
where the sun and dream which is where the palaces were part of
are going to implement Indonesian.
So at some point, if you see Mama, very religious and indeed
adherence of the Torah, there are religious Jewish people
there in Galilee Nazareth, including Jesus own family, but
they are not at the centre of power.
And there are also those who are leaders at that point, looking
at hearing, at trying to investigate what's happening in
this phenomenon called Jesus himself.
So they were amazed, some of them.
But there are also those who are opposing his authority,
particularly the religious leaders opposing him, which are
the Pharisees. Now, in this particular point,
Jesus was accused of performing miracles by the power of the
devil. OK, so they're already casting
Jesus in a bad light. Gas lighting point.
Our grandma Gina Gaslight guy so parang ganon po dito so parents
Jesus is already being painted in a bad light so that Cameron
patient has a bee and he loses credibility and towel put on so
so debate is at home my name you're trying to put down the
person not the argument so in this point you see that already
there's a mix mix response to Jesus and some of the leaders
are already saying that he came out from the demon rather than
the divine authority of whom he really possessed.
This opposition grows a marked a growing tension in the reception
of Jesus Mary message during that time so NASA midway
inapposite Tina Matthew 28 Natapos 2928 so at that .13 at
tayo so structured and Matthew so 13 pop up pagkatapos neto
opposition the name so NASA north part pusher OK so at this
point Jesus is preaching now in parables but so did he preach
clearly before without any parabus as I got you when he was
teaching spiritual truths already but not in a sense that
they he will be intentionally veiling some of the things that
needs to be veiled in order for those who do not understand to
grow in the hardening of their hearts.
So at this point, yes, he is already he has already taught
them the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 567 Mama So 567891012
male position 13 Tio. So he began teaching them a
parable, and in this case the parable of the shower, in
response to the opposition that is made.
This message has been receiving from the viruses and the leaders
of his day. Now, as a historical context,
Israel as a nation has already suffered a kind of dissonance.
Alamein Kopaka Meron Come daughter.
My certain expectation K the mind is actually the harder to
adapt. So you feelings must immediate
young reaction feeling scene OK nay.
Hippo barrio may sirpur nito Rajan OK so Naramdaman Mama they
must Matagal Poyen Kapatid and Udaipur Bhagalpur mati bag.
It takes some years in order to change known by nature Matigas
put talaga ang ulo naten Hindi halata.
Will you think Kapoor Hindi lampu no.
See you ohh bedimo acclaim Nino so in painting, but I guess all
the more in the Mulan alarm or that would be sad when the
alarm. But you should know Matigas Utak
or Madeleine Ohh. So in this case, Marina kind of
dissonance and bombing Israel and even its leader, where in
the expectation of the Kingdom of God do not match with the
reality that Jesus is showing them, namely his a lowly
Carpenter. Secondly, he did not come from
the leadership of the church, he only came from Joseph, a
Carpenter. So Valana, young, pedigree,
Whelan, status, OK and his teaching do not resonate with
the kind of glorious expectation that the Kingdom of God of the
Old Testament is drawing out from.
According to their interpretation, the Old
Testament themes cause, particularly drawing from the
agriculture, agricultural imagery found in the prophetic
literature such as Asia. Use the the sober and the seed
that aligns to a kind of glorious expectation that the
nation will now be under God's rule, but at the same time
ruling over all Pagan nations. Only think about So no time
Nayon Jamie darating the Messiah and the Messiah will rule over
the nation one. Secondly, he will be ruling all
of the nations OK and Jesus is not meeting the expectation.
So Jesus Sermon on the Mount took case the to give a case on
the point. OK preaches blessedness despite
suffering and even persecution, which made an earth to the to
the leaders of the time. Why?
What and yaman? Yaman and Amen leaders.
Guiseley sabi Mullah. Another cheek.
What another while mine? What if it's a behind all of us?
Being this, the Messiah will have to undergo more persecution
that our parents have suffered already.
So the leaders of the day are questioning the authority and
power of Christ. But Jesus teaches the Kingdom of
God will come with a common message, but will be perceived
differently by its hearers. So Sabine gonna more or less
what? I don't know.
They could probably be long. So you gonna come side though?
So less than 100. So less than 100 Tire para mejor
magandang Annette Madeley. So half of five 100 is what
people they OK, Betty 14925, the Pero at this point painting
multitude silly. And I'm not really like Jesus.
And yet Jesus is saying that not all while hearing a common
message will actually respond and hear it with understanding.
And it's a very important point. Contrary to the expectation, he
proclaims a message of conversion not by civil force,
but an unseen spiritual reality of regeneration.
Political contrary to expectation, he proclaims a
message of conversion. Not by civil force, not by
because they took a pinata emos. Not because.
Not because we like an choice in that side and choice.
No, that's sad. You don't go there.
No long long choice. You always have a choice.
OK, so we Armenian always have a choice anyway, so always have.
But no, OK, it's not by force, it will always be by spiritual
regeneration. The use of the agricultural
metaphor seems to point out a kind of harvest that will happen
in the future. Now, while it points out that it
will be a land young choice need Jesus to choose the agricultural
metaphor have literalistic interpretations to ite, some
people will actually understand that he's talking about a
literal land. Why?
Because Israel is a nation wherein they took out the land.
Tambah. So Singapore one England Grabber
way controversial. OK, Wagner.
So Diva, they took the land, OK? That's why they're very
conscious of losing the land and that the agricultural metaphor
that it is a soil, a land messed up with the kind of
understanding that Jesus intentionally planted in them.
Because while it is a land that they are actually expecting,
contrary to what they're expecting, the land is actually
pointing out to the hearts of individual people who will hear
the message. This parable reflects a
continuity of biblical themes illustrating the the the divine
transformative power of God's revelation in line with the
prophetic traditions of the old. So it means now, while the
Jewish community will have the Old Testament and interpret it
differently, the Christian has the Old Testament as well.
But interpret it in light of the New Testament revelation in
Christ. Which is why as the parable
unfolds, which is the parable itself is the mold wherein we
view the Old Testament unfolds as a vivid metaphorical
description of varied soil types representing different responses
to divine message. There were four kinds of
conditions. The first one is the path, the
second one is the rocky ground, the third one is the thorns, and
the last one is the good soil. Now to summarise, the 1st 3
yields negative results. That's it.
And that would be 100 Poyang seed contact Lupuyo and Elan
porciento puon one over. I'm sorry, 3 / 3 / 4 Three over
4 union. So and yet 3/4 of the response
is actually negative so 100 put a young Andito.
That's literalistic understanding.
You don't do that. I don't know how you will
actually perceive the message. OK, so so that's why it did the
negative result with only one Fort bringing the fruit.
The point is clear. Not all who receive the message
of the Kingdom of God, like the seed landing on different kinds
of soil, will accept its message and become its disciple.
The only thing about not all the imperative is to preach
indiscriminately the gospel message of Christ, but it does
not guarantee that those who here will accept and receive it.
That is the reality that the scripture wants us to understand
that Jesus wants to drive to his disciples.
That is why they were not bothered if they will be
received or not because that is not their care.
So at this point one 3/4 are already rejecting OK, but only
1/4 is clearly accepting and becoming its disciple.
Jesus here is trying to make the disciples understand that
churches on its ground as its nature will require always
spiritual discernment, emphasising on our here to
attentive hearing and understanding receiving the
message of the Kingdom. The gospel message about Christ
atoning work only happens before or after.
What do you think about receiving the message of the
Kingdom? The gospel message about Christ?
Does it happen before or after regeneration?
After regeneration, regeneration often refers to us being born
again. It's spiritually birth.
It's a transformation of the heart brought about by the
Spirit. This spiritual awakening allows
a person now to perceive now, to respond now to live the life
that the the Word demands, including the gospel message
about Christ returning work. Let me again reemphasise the
tenant of why we are reformed in the 1st place.
That regeneration precedes fate. Regeneration precedes fate,
meaning that your faith, not my faith, is the cause of our
regeneration. You are not regenerated simply
because you walk the aisle, you raise your hand and you accepted
Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, good and well for you.
If you did that, probably because of some motivation I
don't know about, but the Scripture is clear.
That is not the cause of your spiritual life.
The cause of your spiritual life will always be the spirits work
of regenerating your heart so that you will be able to receive
it by faith. This is because faith is always
a gift from God. It is not a product of your
effort nor your intellect. It is the result of the holy
spirits work within us, enabling us to believe and trust in
Christ. This is what we meant by spirit
through faith. A faith born out of and
sustained by the regenerating work of the Spirit.
Let's move to the second part. Grace bestowed election.
Now moving to Matthew 13, now 10 to 16, the disciples now are
approaching Jesus with a query concerning his use of the
parables in his teaching. In response, Jesus now begins to
unveil to them. Actually, curiously, could Jesus
just teach the parable and not explain to the disciples as I
got this? No actually because the the
point of the the point of the parable is so that the hearer if
they are regenerated, we'll seek out understanding from it.
Relating couple When you think about the moment Nang isang Tao
in regenerate Hindi. Pusha Tumitigil, Hangat India
Indian password Indignant in the hand.
WhatsApp Alan Mohammed in the Hani it doesn't not understand
negatively stated it needs and it will as a statement of fact
will understand. Which is why when the disciples
approach Jesus, Jesus knows now that the disciples are truly
being regenerated by the work of the Spirit, except one, Amaba.
So you see who does OK behind you, I said.
Judas Debar OK, so deleted them. So Jesus begins unveiling to
them the purpose for using the parable.
The mysteries of the Kingdom are now disclosed to the Kingdom.
Those intimately connected to him will now have the unveiled
message of the Kingdom. Which is why and which is why,
by consequence, Olet so concerned disciples in Europol.
Young unveiling, logically speaking and upon Kabalikat
unveiling, concealing. So when you Pastoria veiling
what part of fancy concealing? Alright so concealing.
So logically speaking he is now unveiling unveiled unveiling to
the disciples. But that moment that when he
unveiled it, he now concealed it.
Okay to those who are outside. And what is the reality that is
being spoken of that God rules by election and reprobation.
And this is where, while I do understand, none of us can know.
I do not know if your elect or not.
I don't know if it you are reprobate kahit nagging papanan
church. I don't care if you are
electronix, I wouldn't know. OK can only perceive your
actions, but at the same time I know for a fact that God elects.
I know for a fact that when he elects, as a consequence those
who are not elect are reprobates.
Verse 11 clearly records Jesus saying Jesus was not able to
write his gospels for himself, but rather it was written by his
disciples, attesting to the fact that we are now holding a
written record of the divine revelation that Jesus himself
has said to them that he said that the Kingdom.
It's given to them. And since I've been a Jesus
White Bucket parable poem, I know I'm getting you and the
Richard Parable. Because instability, Jesus.
Because the Kingdom of God has been given to you, given to you.
This means that it is passive, meaning Wala silang, innovate
amaba. They are receptors to it and it
is a statement of fact. They did not earn the Kingdom.
Would you think about no one earns the Kingdom back.
I think about you know Kingdom king treacherous mobileiron.
No, you do not earn the Kingdom. The Kingdom is only given to you
and to me and it is given only to those who are elected and it
is passive. It is never in a sense going to
be merited by you. Jesus makes no room for
misinterpretation. OK.
The message of the Kingdom, the secret understanding.
It comes with a divine prerogative Alabama, but it will
give prerogative funny, Thai Mcfarling Hindi videos.
So please learn it's not within your right.
So at case in point when it is given to you, you accept it
because it's a gift, OK? And when you accept it, it is
because you received it by faith and it is a by the regenerating
work of the spirit. So both regeneration and your
conversion are grounded solely upon the grace of God.
It is by divine election, without any condition or any
qualification on the recipient, wherein you are now converted
and regenerated by the Spirit. This initiation into the secrets
of the Kingdom is crucial to the aspects of understanding how
Jesus thought. Conveying profound truths
through this narrative, such as selective discourse, underscores
for us the exclusivity of the nature of the spiritual
understanding. Again, even if Masayo Porotito
whatever, you may expect something presentation and
entertainment value. Apple, Apple, Imaging Artista
OK, Walla Walla APU and kinakaya Melampau is Sabin poyo mean Sai
acting nampo angry? Ception no, congregation OK.
Which is why the selective discourse is only grant and the
exclusive nature of the understanding of this and
spiritual understanding or discourse is only given to those
who seek actively to comprehend the teachings of Christ.
However, the message in of itself is actually not confusing
or obscured. Kasha Nakaka, Insulto See one of
my sons. Wagner Lam stood at the story.
So one of my sons were saying to me.
Anna Bumass Action and Math. So and I was hurt.
Why? Because I love math.
What? What?
Sorry you love math? Ohh I say that's what part of my
profession. That's why I became an engineer
and we said no. Ohh Hindi manasa gotan Sabina
indigo casinos, sagutan quadratic formula psycho.
What quadratic Lang. So quadratic landing went in the
end. You and Sabrina, you're talking
about me, right? Okay.
So yeah. And that is that is coming from
out from Donsa. Why?
Because I like math. I have learned math.
Not everyone understands math. Amaba.
Then the pastor not Ditto. Accountants are engineer.
Sorry, Cajun. Exception to the rule, teacher.
Poor Sorica. Alright, so yes, I understand
that. But there are people who doesn't
understand them. And Penny, but in the end
December the Mahira, but not with the gospel message of
Christ. Hindi sha mahira intindihin.
If mahirap Shan intindihan, you're not doing your job Kum
boringa, then that's part of your I know that's part of your
delivery. That's part of your fault
actually. As a as a preacher teacher, go
and clear cut. Then you have to make sure that
you present your ideas clearly. Public speaking is hard.
Then you have to practice. But the end of the day, the
message itself is not unclear. Even a child can understand it.
So in contrast, the message itself is plain and clear.
The problem lies not on the message but on its hearers.
The Nehru S yeah, the purpose of parables, according to Jesus,
extends beyond mere storytelling.
Everybody understands the agricultural metaphor.
No one would say ohh OK, but but you know.
Indeed, while I'm Mysterio done, he what he's saying is that this
will now become a litmus test. If the message is clear, then it
clearly speaks that how you receive it and how you respond
to it makes all the difference in the world.
In verses 12 to 15, Jesus expounds on the dual function of
the parables. The first one is to enlighten
and to deepen understanding of those who are genuinely seeking
the truth, and conversely, obscuring and confounding and
hardening the hearts of those who are close in their hearts.
And I enjoy preaching with attentive listeners, but I've
noticed that it's a luxury. Indeed.
Lahat Napapijri Chanto will always have attentive ears.
But even if let's say happy now on a Kalahati Dito Mallikas de
Jong and of course I need to you and the boy joke music, ohh no.
So while happy now when a majority listens, I cannot base
my own, my own ministry on that kind of receptivity because no
one knows the hearts of men and Jesus is telling the disciples.
Come on man, you'll be doing yourselves most of the in your
life disappointments if you do not learn this now.
Because the reality of the Kingdom, not everyone will hear
and understand and live in it. So this, the electrical dia
meaning parejas aspect of Jesus teaching method aligns with the
discernment of Wisdom literature found in the Old Testament
wherein Solomon will always ask his Prince the the the young men
and women of his courts seek wisdom learn to understand that
is what Wisdom is all about, which is how Proverbs portrayed
to us. That wisdom is like a hidden
treasure discernible only to those who seek it.
The insightful linkage between Jesus words and the prophet
Isaiah. So Isaiah 69 to 10, you've been
that's what that was actually the beginning of the ministry of
Isaiah. And if you place them in
redemptive history, his pray exilic or post exilic profit Is
Isaiah prayer exilic or post exilic?
Prophet pray so says pray. He is anticipating tama that no
one in Jerusalem will survive. Alright so by quoting Isaiah
Jesus was a position, his teaching.
We're in the broader prophetic tradition which is emphasising
on the unbelief and spiritual blindness among the people of
God that are not unforeseen but are part of the divine plan of
unfolding throughout history. I don't know why people do not
believe. Actually I do understand that
there will be those who don't believe, they will be those who
seems to be believing but in reality are actually not really
understanding. So I don't know okay.
However, we do know for a fact that this is the reality that
actually is included in the divine plan of God and the
concluding statement of verse 16.
Jesus pronounces a blessing upon the disciple, so it was a
blessing. So it was a confirmation at that
point. OK, sorry.
Does it mean banana? If let's say I got converted, I
will never anymore be an apostate.
You will still be. If you are generally converted
then your regenerated Logically then if you are regenerated then
you're elected. But if let's say you still
apostasy size after your conversion, does it mean Banai
will go to hell? No.
It follows that if you're elect then on any apostasy happening
will only be temporarily only thing.
That's a good point, right? Let's not give unrealistic
expectations to a lot of people. A lot of people will still
become apostate after OK conversion.
Jesus was affirming the conversion of the disciples at
that point. But then who fell again after
that to apostasy? Did anyone fall?
I know batting average in my Disciples software.
See. No nightfall, lahat that so late
Cilla. Nightfall.
They were restored, yes, but they all failed.
They did not know. They did not actually Pinaka.
Shameful. Young Peter, Peter.
Generally speaking, all of them actually are did.
They did. They ran.
They turned their backs on Christ.
That's part of the divine plan. So at this bit, but at this
point the blessings upon the disciples affirming their
privileged status as recipients of divine revelation, we now
understand that we, as disciples of God's Kingdom, are all
included in this because of divine ordination by election,
being part of God's elect ruled by His divine sovereignty, it is
the blessed status of believers. You are blessed not because you
did something, but despite of not doing something.
You're given the blessedness of the Kingdom.
In this manner, Matthew 1310 to 16 not only provides insight of
God's electing unconditional love, but it also grounds that
the blessing itself is divinely bestowed.
Now, by way of application we are reminded about the
importance of seeking and embracing divine wisdom with an
open heart. As disciples of God's Kingdom,
we are called to seek actively understanding and discernment,
recognising that these are the gifts that God provides solely
to the elect of God, solely by His grace.
The parable serves not only as a narrative, but as a mirror
reflecting our own receptivity of the truth.
They challenge us to examine our own hearts and our own minds, to
ensure that we are not merely hearers of the Word, but doors
of it as well. That we do not just hear and
forget. We hear, we understand, accept,
and we do That. As we persevere to the end, let
us remember that our understanding and enlightenment
are that we are bestowed are all but gifts of grace.
They are not by our own making. Now this realization should
humble us, since it is not guaranteed that not anyone will
apostate. What is guaranteed is the
forgiveness that God provides to those who repent.
When you think about part nasion, namanya is Christian
life. Is Hindi magara anti after your
conversion? Langit Nam Punta mo in your
Mamma paran. OK, Dubai, Congo Senior after
conversion Lang ITNA Membrane K OK, it picks up in Hindi
painting after the convert car way more after some time.
Linda thank you Lord. Guessing you don't have to leave
anymore the redirection and sanctification to glorification,
Okay by by Providence that Fatima Buhari.
So in that case, we know for a fact that parent me mangata
oparin mahulog yeah. Magnetic castigate sanam posso
passar pragmatic gas bampus unimpeding.
Gavin pasar pragmatic solanum padinga win.
Yeah, say pampu super matigas and a paki nagawa one.
OK. So parallel, Okay.
So they were Apollo and Peter. If you think about it, at some
point between conversion and glorification there goes your
sanctification. God still provided for all of us
away to be restored. And what is that path?
That is still dependence. Forgiveness is given to those
who seek them. OK, so that's why whatever we
are actually going through as Christians today, thinking
through these things should and ought to make us humble.
Okay. Making us quick to repent.
Mamangu. Slow to repent better.
That is not what maturity is all about.
The passing tomato Pato Matanda Naramdaman and nagging sensitive
Napala Casino Kenola Nilabhan. Don't just take a second
bandana, Monaco. So there is so much my bum from
county. Different ways but Cassini
Palano so you 101 hundred long 100 so 100 and 100 long or
passing baby money sunset traffic light.
Emma Gannon So that your Karen then what, No leaking sensitive
gas. So at some point you quickness
more of repentance. Now back to Hun Young
acknowledgement Mona Malika. Because of somethings that you
have gone through in life, either success, some occasional
celebrations, you're spoiled now because of the things that you
have been experiencing. You have now forgotten that what
you are called for during this period is to quickly repent.
You repent not slowly. You're bent quickly so reminding
us that our dependence will always be on God's sovereignty
leading us, that in our life between conversion in and
glorification will always be gratitude, humbled obedience,
and profound blessedness. As recipients of God's electing
love, we strive to reflect His grace in our interactions with
others serving, assault, enlightened this Kingdom here on
earth. Which finally leads us to the
last point. We come to the explanation of
the parable. This goes to prove that the
mystery of the Kingdom lies not on the message itself, but on
its hers. So the seed now corresponds to
the message of the Kingdom which Jesus preach.
While the type of the soil now shows the different ways the
message is received, the metaphor is plain.
The seed that landed in the path.
Here's the word, but do not understand it.
Unbelievers now fall on this category, for they hear the
message of the gospel without any distinction, but when there
is no faith, bills to anything but conversion.
So painting alongside Mamaroneck, alongside Memahami
Kanakota and Kasama Natin Angayan, and yet you don't see
any signs of conversion. That is the path they remain
unbelievers, Skype, and if they become members of the church.
But still, if you do not see the seeking and the hungering for
God's word, that is still unbelief.
What do you think about Kahit Ppo chapoy Nakatanga Nang?
Perfect attendance membership in this church?
OK, we don't care. As long as they are not seeking
and panting over God's word, that is not conversion.
OK, so it will never yield to anything.
Then the seed, that landing on the rocky ground is also a
failure because it cannot grow without any root.
And that's where election comes in.
Ruthless Christians make professions of faith, but they
will never possess through and saving faith the initial
acceptance, even though it is marked by joy I have shared.
The joy of of I have shared the joy of receiving membership
throughout the years of my life. And it is a glad It is a joyous
occasion. Don't make I don't.
I don't deny that it is joyful to welcome members, but that is
not what conversion is all about.
Ruthless Christians make those kinds of professions, but they
will never live through a kind of true and saving faith, OK?
Because even though they make joyous acceptance of the word,
they cannot sustain themselves because they are forced
professors relying on false assurances, Pupunta Church Casey
Sinai India Hobby began. Number on Quindell Magsimba.
I hope we're gonna put it in be another one.
Allowance very mixed Behind the bar Human Tabata, Yamanaka,
Magana, Krishna, Puntahan, Bonka, Magana Paula and Sabini
Ate Nanda God Church Quinta Sir Young Honing Kyun, anyone?
I don't know corruption. Palaya, no Lagai, no Lagayan.
Actually putting them more because none of those things can
generate conversion. And if you are here primarily
because you have a relative that is here, we welcome you.
But let it be clear that is not conversion.
Being with a person because they are there only means
companionship Tamapa. But it doesn't mean conversion.
OK, as John 1218 says, they went out from us, but they were not
of us. So for if they have been with
us, they would have continued with us, but they went out that
they might become plain that they are not of us.
Singapore, Mesa Binon Sujanpur of Asia.
The point? No on going indeed.
Amantola Gasila mug pepper surveyor.
In the end they are not elected to begin with because those who
persevere in the end are truly the elect of God and next to see
the first try on the thorny grounds, eventually Paris
because it has been barren. In the end it did not grow any
fruit. Jesus explains that the word was
fully understood and this is where I'm very empathetic as a
teacher and a pastor which drains out the time of the
ministry because if the learning curve is like that, well among
learning curve the Gumaganon, Ganon, haha and learning curve
curve, so it goes up in the lakes exponential pedal, it
still goes up in an exponential way.
So learning curve on task assist attorney ground is for you to
accompany people who are very, very inquisitive.
Now the differentiating the band in your if inquisitive, long, or
really, truly, truly seeking truth.
OK actually I I I have well ohh I think I I I think it's
discernable. Not on the way they received the
Intellect Covenant Theology anyway.
Will Magaral nang whatever course the pedicure tenant
Church history painting alone true believer or note young
enthusiasm to seek out that but singling along eventually which
didn't along Mikita by the fruit Kapag now fend Manasila with
some sin or whatever they are quickly going to fall away.
Indigo intentionally offend portrayal had today OK agenda.
The agenda is to exhort with the word but then there are things
that are offending after some point and if it is now offending
then it becomes a vehicle for the for not accepting okay and
that is what it is right now. Understanding check.
But then accepting Corrections X, then torn neon.
OK, Marina, Okay, so, so because there is no fruit.
K Jesus explains. And what is the fruit?
Mahaba? The fruit is holiness.
A holy Christian will always be always be humbled and accepting.
In any case, whatever mistake and seen they have committed,
there is no unpenitent Christian entering heaven.
Walaupun in and and penitent or impenitent anyway.
A penitent meaning impenitent, indeed, penitent.
Shagalot, the penitent you humbled in prayer, That's
penitent indeed, compared diplomatic and penitent
independent, in this case holiness.
So, and indeed, Nikita, you Baroness, is holiness, while I'm
fruit, but now people while I'm fruit.
Way to be clear on fruit is holiness.
Godly living. Jesus explains that the word was
fully understood upon its first hearing, but when it failed to
grow any fruit, it failed because it was not lived out.
Okay, faith must result in holiness.
Political poor faith must result in holiness.
Pastor Pedi Baku McLean, Amefika.
And I'm not giving living holy life.
I would say I cannot judge whether or not that's true cause
I How would I know less? You're in our house, in the
back. But definitely the path to
sanctification is holiness. It is none negotiable.
Holiness, if it is to be true, must be grounded in faith.
This relationship is vital. OK to Christian piety.
Cause now that we have heard the three types negatives list
speaking let's take it positively what leads to
holiness. There are three things you hear
you understand and you live Will you think about.
That's the basics And a BC of Christian life my friend.
There's none that can be searched out in this life that
would give you more mysteries. Understanding of the Christian
life. That's it.
You hear you seek out understand and you leave it out.
That's it. Well Apple.
Mr. Redon pupunta because that is very important.
Holiness must comes from faith. The reason why the fruit of
holiness is by faith because the root of faith is Christ.
Christ will never grow out. Bad fruit.
Politico Independent Cristo willing to go at Laman OK, so
Canyon resurrected by the Walang Tutu Boombang panic by the
Holiness walang tutubo. Hindi banal.
Will you think about impossibly that an unholy fruit will come
out from a holy root, impossibly poyo.
And ultimately, Because if you think about it, Megan Summer is
gonna put and saying that Jesus himself.
Ultimately, I'm not saying now I am.
This is the breakable. It's not a literalistic reading
of the text. So I'm saying ultimately,
redemptive, historic Jesus is the only good ground upon which
we are all united through faith. Jesus himself, not you, not me,
not this church, not your leaders, not your come Agana,
not even your boss. No one except Christ.
No one comes to the Father except by Him, he said.
And that is it. It is an exclusive path.
You cannot go to God without Him.
Jesus is the only ground upon which we are all united through
faith that His body is the only immortal seed that has been
sown, and with the overflowing water of the Spirit gives life
to the body of the Church. I'm your bot Matadana poco para
Miguel Rico on church poor I'm afraid Or Hindi.
I worry before but I'm not worried anymore because it is
only Christ who gives life to his church, Not me, not you, not
anyone else. So whenever God's word is
preached, the gospel is heard and receive.
We all draw the life giving power from the Spirit.
Therefore the hearing of the word ultimately means that when
we understand it, we apply it in our lives.
Hearing leads to doing so. How can we hear and do well?
Is this something that we can generate ourselves again?
Here we come to Forest Hill kill public.
We are pero full circular tyre. Why?
Fruit, when grounded in faith, can only comes from a spirit
through faith, okay, holiness. It presupposes election,
regeneration and conversion. Holiness is by grace and not by
scolding. Annoying scolding Alan Pardew
Important clamour in Assam Okay Opposed by posing reserve Japan.
Tahimik Pero Nagar, Pozabi. Ohh well Anderson, anyone?
Mind you, you're gonna actually to buy cause see like like
pregnancy knowingly. Panino Diba People in Monaco,
yeah. And then and then and then and
it's Senor senor liquid, so nagging and scolding.
Tagalog is nagging danger, scolding I or and better
scolding meaning laggy Campina Pakalitha and laggy consignee
Sita. OK.
Anton, Daniel, Ohh, the Maple Bar.
What do you think that Dabba ohh ohh entertain Daniel now Petapa
OK Hello. That and my leaders, you know,
actually Chance. Yeah, you're Nanini, Taka,
Casita, you work on the monitor, not principal.
So in principle, Panico, sorry. So you do not, you do not
generate holiness by scolding. It is often tempting that for
most leaders and teachers in this church and even our
churches today, to assume that holiness is produced by
inspiration, something you know, something that would inspire you
or accounting prespiration. Gallo Gallo, New Year What are
Electron Razor? And that is by perspiration.
But motivational speech itself. Health proteins cannot generate
a single drop of holiness apart from the work of the Holy
Spirit. It only comes to us by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ. So let us pray, and let us
continue to ask God for all these spiritual blessings
individually to believe in Christians and corporately as a
corporate church community as a whole.