June 11th 2017
You Can Have All This World – Give Me Jesus!
Matthew 13:28-30 (NIV)
"‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. "The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ "‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’"
In this cursed world, there are only evil people, as we all share the curse caused by the Fall of Man! No, do not stop reading yet! As we all come into this world, we have a sinful nature that we inherited from the fall into sin of our original father Adam. However, there is a way we can be saved from this awful beginning. As there is one God, there is also only one way that the evil members of mankind can be saved. Jesus told us about this when He walked on this world as the Son of Man. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7). Here Jesus is telling all the world that He is the only Savior, and He is also making sure we also know that He is the Son of God!
So, evil people are born into this evil world, and then, there is Satan and the other fallen angels who were cast onto this world, after Satan tricked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit in the Garde of Eden. This act brought sin and death into this then perfect world, and here we reside today. In the selected verses, Jesus is telling His disciples, and us today, about part of this process of how once you have been saved, you must remain in this evil world, until you pass into the afterlife, and proceed to either heaven or hell. The selected verses were taken from The Parable of the Weeds, see Matthew 13:24-30. It is true this world is still a wonderful place to live, but it is difficult to imagine how wonderful heaven is, and this perfect place awaits all those who accept the salvation plan offered by the perfect sacrifice accomplished by Jesus!
For the complete reading of The Parable of the Weeds, see Matthew 13:24-30. Then read The Parable of the Weeds Explained Matthew 13:36-43.
On another occasion Jesus told His disciples that we must remain attached through Him to the Father in order that we can offer the joy of salvation to other members of mankind, who have not yet understood about this wonderful salvation plan. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:5-6). Jesus is again informing us, His disciples, about the requirement of remaining attached to Him during this lifetime to gain the joys of heaven, when we leave this cursed world. Notice here the requirement of this attachment to Jesus, else, you are headed to hell, when you leave this lifetime.
Paul wrote about a struggle he experienced in his lifetime, where he was tormented by something Paul called “a thorn in my flesh.” To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. This weakness, as Paul termed it, seems to be a method Jesus used to help Paul remain humble, and thus, cause him to know that the power of God, should be his strength, not Paul’s self-reliance to accomplish the tasks Jesus had for him to accomplish in his lifetime.
Paul also wrote about the wonderful results of attaining this reliance on Jesus for the power he needed to accomplish the tasks Jesus desired Paul to accomplish. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul was a very accomplished person, and thus, he could have depended upon his own abilities instead of depending on the Holy Spirit. Paul recognized his need for direction from the Holy Spirit to guide his efforts instead of continuing his self-reliant persona. We should learn this desire to start everything we do with the guidance from the Holy Spirit too, instead of going to the Lord in prayer for help, when we see our attempts are failing!
Many people seem to deny having any of the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, and maybe it is just a cop-out on their part to avoid the need to witness to someone. Our world seems to be missing out on having these fruits of the Spirit, but try to imagine a world where everyone possesses these fruits, because such a world would be a wonderful place. If you have accepted the Lord’s salvation, then you should possess the fruits of the Spirit. Those fruits are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” As Paul put it, “Against such things there is no law.” In other words, in such a world there would be no need for any laws, everyone would always do the right thing, every time!
Paul wrote to Timothy about this idea of turning away from wickedness, when you turn toward the Lord and repent of your sins. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2 Timothy 2:19). Have you turned away from wickedness? Think about this question, it is important, as it indicates evidence of your salvation, being true. If your outlook on life did not change for the better, when you accepted Jesus into your life, then maybe you have not yet repented of your sinful nature! Repentance causes you to change directs from listening to the sinful nature to listening for the voice of Jesus.
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:23, NLT). As a member of the body of Christ you cannot miss the call of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to direct your thinking and planning away from your sinful nature, and toward Jesus. We must live in this world for a lifetime, but we must already be looking forward to ending up with Jesus! Then you can sing, “You can have all this world – give me Jesus!” Jesus already gave everything for you, can you tell someone how different your life is now with Jesus in it?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 13:28-30 (NIV)
"‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. "The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ "‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’"
In this cursed world, there are only evil people, as we all share the curse caused by the Fall of Man! No, do not stop reading yet! As we all come into this world, we have a sinful nature that we inherited from the fall into sin of our original father Adam. However, there is a way we can be saved from this awful beginning. As there is one God, there is also only one way that the evil members of mankind can be saved. Jesus told us about this when He walked on this world as the Son of Man. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7). Here Jesus is telling all the world that He is the only Savior, and He is also making sure we also know that He is the Son of God!
So, evil people are born into this evil world, and then, there is Satan and the other fallen angels who were cast onto this world, after Satan tricked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit in the Garde of Eden. This act brought sin and death into this then perfect world, and here we reside today. In the selected verses, Jesus is telling His disciples, and us today, about part of this process of how once you have been saved, you must remain in this evil world, until you pass into the afterlife, and proceed to either heaven or hell. The selected verses were taken from The Parable of the Weeds, see Matthew 13:24-30. It is true this world is still a wonderful place to live, but it is difficult to imagine how wonderful heaven is, and this perfect place awaits all those who accept the salvation plan offered by the perfect sacrifice accomplished by Jesus!
For the complete reading of The Parable of the Weeds, see Matthew 13:24-30. Then read The Parable of the Weeds Explained Matthew 13:36-43.
On another occasion Jesus told His disciples that we must remain attached through Him to the Father in order that we can offer the joy of salvation to other members of mankind, who have not yet understood about this wonderful salvation plan. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:5-6). Jesus is again informing us, His disciples, about the requirement of remaining attached to Him during this lifetime to gain the joys of heaven, when we leave this cursed world. Notice here the requirement of this attachment to Jesus, else, you are headed to hell, when you leave this lifetime.
Paul wrote about a struggle he experienced in his lifetime, where he was tormented by something Paul called “a thorn in my flesh.” To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. This weakness, as Paul termed it, seems to be a method Jesus used to help Paul remain humble, and thus, cause him to know that the power of God, should be his strength, not Paul’s self-reliance to accomplish the tasks Jesus had for him to accomplish in his lifetime.
Paul also wrote about the wonderful results of attaining this reliance on Jesus for the power he needed to accomplish the tasks Jesus desired Paul to accomplish. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul was a very accomplished person, and thus, he could have depended upon his own abilities instead of depending on the Holy Spirit. Paul recognized his need for direction from the Holy Spirit to guide his efforts instead of continuing his self-reliant persona. We should learn this desire to start everything we do with the guidance from the Holy Spirit too, instead of going to the Lord in prayer for help, when we see our attempts are failing!
Many people seem to deny having any of the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, and maybe it is just a cop-out on their part to avoid the need to witness to someone. Our world seems to be missing out on having these fruits of the Spirit, but try to imagine a world where everyone possesses these fruits, because such a world would be a wonderful place. If you have accepted the Lord’s salvation, then you should possess the fruits of the Spirit. Those fruits are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” As Paul put it, “Against such things there is no law.” In other words, in such a world there would be no need for any laws, everyone would always do the right thing, every time!
Paul wrote to Timothy about this idea of turning away from wickedness, when you turn toward the Lord and repent of your sins. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2 Timothy 2:19). Have you turned away from wickedness? Think about this question, it is important, as it indicates evidence of your salvation, being true. If your outlook on life did not change for the better, when you accepted Jesus into your life, then maybe you have not yet repented of your sinful nature! Repentance causes you to change directs from listening to the sinful nature to listening for the voice of Jesus.
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:23, NLT). As a member of the body of Christ you cannot miss the call of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to direct your thinking and planning away from your sinful nature, and toward Jesus. We must live in this world for a lifetime, but we must already be looking forward to ending up with Jesus! Then you can sing, “You can have all this world – give me Jesus!” Jesus already gave everything for you, can you tell someone how different your life is now with Jesus in it?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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