St Matthew, Chapter 14, verse: 31, The Test of Heart: The Admonition from Christ.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter walks on the water) Part 4.  

The heart was elated.  The heart was filled with joy.  The heart was in Christ and Christ was in Peter.  For Peter walked on water.  There was no doubt in this fact.  It happened.  He experienced it within himself, within his heart, within his being, within his mind, within his soul.  And his heart was elated.  His heart was overjoyed.  But he allowed something to happen.  He allowed the world to come in.  He allowed the wind and the waves to change his heart.  He allowed what was happening around him to take the focus from his heart to his mind and the mind brought in the world.  How is this happening?  How am I walking on water?  How is the water supporting me that I can step as though I was on solid ground?  These and other questions came to mind and invaded the heart to push Christ out.  

The joy of the miracle was gone.  The elation of the heart was gone.  The light of the spirit left and in came doubt.  And with doubt the miracle faded and Peter began to sink in the water.  The more he allowed doubt to come the more he sank and with the sinking came fear.  He was loosing the power of the spirit.  He was experiencing the loss of faith in Christ.  For it was through Christ the the miracle began.  Christ said, "Come."  And Peter came.  Christ said walk on water and Peter walked on water.  Christ said behold all things are possible within me and the possibility of walking on water became true with Peter.  Yet just as the miracle happened, the miracle stopped happening when the heart stopped believing, the mind took over, and fear came in.   But seeing the wind was strong, he was afraid; and as he began to sink he cried out saying, "Lord, save me!"

It is hard to imagine something that we have not seen before.  It is difficult to believe in something that has not happened before.  For history has not recorded anything like man walking on water.  History has not given us any recollection of such happening that man can explain.  So we do not believe.  Our minds do not allow us to believe that such is possible.  And thus we maintain a sense of skepticism, a degree of doubt and disbelief.  If someone told us that we could be healed just by our belief in Christ, we would naturally doubt the assertion because there is little to no evidence of that fact.  It is not established in the world by facts that we can intelligently believe.  Yet it is this same doubt and disbelief that separates us from the opportunity to receive the healing powers of the spirit.   And Jesus at once stretched forth his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? "

The kingdom of God is within our midst, if we believe.  The kingdom of heaven is upon us, if we open our hearts to the power of the spirit.  Christ told Peter to come.  Christ tells us today that we can, we are, and we will.  Do you believe?  Do you know?  Can you seek?  Will you find?  Will it be opened to you to see the power of Almighty God?  Imagine what Peter felt walking on the water!  Imagine what you will feel receiving your miracle!  The world will hold on to you.  The world will resist allowing you to make your transformation.  The world will tell you that you are loosing reality, that we are not sane.  The world will do everything to keep you from believing, but belief in Christ and his healing power requires that you let go of reality. 

Belief in Christ and the things that are possible through him requires that you leave reality and the world behind.  Belief in Christ requires that you take on a new reality in Christ and the kingdom of heaven.  Only through this transformation will you be able to step into the kingdom and look back upon the world as another place.  Come, experience the miracle of rebirth!  You are not of the world.  You are of the kingdom of heaven, only in the world to do the bidding of Christ, only to be his witness to the things that are.  Your treasures are in heaven and not of this world.  Discover the treasure in you and you will know the joy and peace of who you are.  The world does not want you to know.  The world wants to steal your treasure.  The world wants you to sleep and be deceived about who you are in Christ.  Peter was in Christ and Christ was in Peter as he walked on the water.  Imagine what miracles you will experience when Christ is in you and you are in Christ.  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one in Christ.  How strong is your desire?   

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 50, The Kingdom of Heaven: The Scribe's Instructions.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Conclusion of the parables) Part 2.  

School is out.  The disciples have been given their instructions on the kingdom of heaven.  They have been tested and the scores are in.  Did they learn from their instructions, Christ asked?  Did they understand all that was taught?  Did they perceive the truths that were given by Christ?  All said yes.  All understood.  All  received the truths of the kingdom of heaven.  The disciples are ready to go forth.  The disciples are ready to carry the message.  The disciples are ready to become teachers as Christ has taught them.

So there is nothing further to teach them.  They have learned their lessons.  Christ prepares to move onward to the final destination require for his mission here on earth.  He has given his disciples principles.  He has given his disciples wisdom of the kingdom.  He has passed on to them his knowledge.  He has prepared them for their journey.  He gives them these last instructions.  He says,  "So then, every Scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings forth from his storeroom things new and old." 

They are the historians of the kingdom.  They are the scribes that will take the spoken word and put it to the future.  They will write the lessons as given by Christ.  For they are the scribes of the future.  They will carry the message.  They have been instructed in the kingdom of heaven.  And they will become the teachers of tomorrow.  The disciples have been tested in their instructions.  They have indicated that they understand all that was taught.  So they are prepared and ready to go forth with the message of the kingdom of heaven.

Those who are the scribes of today, will carry the message of the kingdom.  They will be instructed in the truths of the kingdom of heaven.  For the Holy Spirit, the great teacher,  will teach all things to them.  The Holy Spirit will come and dwell in those who are chosen and teach them the things that were hidden since the foundation of the world.  The Holy Spirit will come and live with those who seek him.  The Holy Spirit will come and be with those who desire to know him.  The Holy Spirit will come and abide with those who love him and love the Lord God. 

Many will say that they have received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized, but only a few will know.  Many will say that they have received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized, but only a few will perceive the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Many will say that they have received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized, but only a few will see his presence.  He is open to all but only a few will truly seek him and know him.  Are you ready to receive the Holy Spirit?  Are you ready to become a scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven?  The Holy Spirit awaits your call. 

The Holy Spirit awaits your desire to know him.  The Holy Spirit awaits to know your love for him.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you.  Ask and it shall be given to you.  Are you ready?  Your life will be transformed and you will not be the same person again.  Are you ready for the transformation?  For you cannot be transformed and remain the same person.  One must come and the other must go.  One must live and the other must die.  One life must be sacrificed and the other will be raised from the dead.  For you will become one in Christ and he will lift you up.  Come!  Be transformed in Christ. 

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 51, The Kingdom of Heaven: Understanding.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Conclusion of the parables) Part 1.   

The kingdom of heaven is like.  This is the message that Christ has given to his disciples.  He wants them to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like.  He wants them to know the truth of the kingdom.  He wants them to have wisdom of the kingdom.  He wants them to perceive the wisdom of his words that they may convey to others the message of the kingdom.  For they will be the messengers.  They will be the healers.  They will be the miracle workers after Christ has finished his work here on earth.  Theirs is the task of being the teachers to all the world through the message of Christ.

The disciples, therefore must have understanding.  The disciples, therefore must have knowledge.  The disciples, therefore must have wisdom before Christ leaves this earth.  So he gives them stories.  He gives them parables.  He gives them sayings that they may be filled with his knowledge.  He gives them the memories that they may remember his words for all eternity.  Then comes the test.  Will they remember?  Will they reply?  Will they convey the message as it was given to them?  So he asks his disciples, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes."  

And this is our question today.  Have we understood all these things?  Have we understood the meaning of the sower?  Have we understood the meaning of the weeds?  Have we understood the meaning of the net?  Have we understood the meaning of the pearl of great value?  Have we understood the meaning of the treasure hidden in the field?  Christ asks us to understand.  Christ asks us to hear.  Christ asks us know that we know.  For in these parables lies the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  In these parables lies the knowledge of Christ.  In these parables lies the door to our joy and our peace hear on earth.

Christ watched the people as he preached to them.   He saw the state of their minds as he sought to free them from the oppression of the evil.  Yet many were lost.  Many would not perceive.  Many could not understand.  For they had closed their eyes that they may not see.  They had made them deaf that they may not hear.  They had captured their hearts that they were lost in the world and lost to the kingdom of heaven.  Are we the same today?  Are we lost in the world?  Does the world have our eyes blinded, our ears closed, our hearts sealed to the message of the kingdom? 

We are so unaware of the ease with which we are drawn into the world.  We have no understanding of the need to protect our eyes, to protect our ears, to shield our hearts to the attractions of the  world.  We go to movies, we listen to music, we feel in our hearts the things that are given to us that make us feel.  We are drawn into the world without having any understanding of the need to resist.  We have no understanding of the safeguards that must be placed upon our souls to keep the evil one out and to allow the Holy One in.  We are wide open to all that the world offers without any safeguards.  Christ came to give us safeguards.  He came to give us the knowledge of the kingdom that we may have protections for that which is most precious and dear, our souls. 

Yet the world presents an almost irresistible attraction that most will not resist, most will not protect, most will not understand the need to guard against.  And once we travel down the wide path, the door is closed that we may not return to that which we have lost.  The door is closed so that we fall into the dream of the world and are trapped into an eternity of damnation.  Wake up from the world!!  Guard your souls!  Protect what is precious and shut out the evil one from your life that he may not trick you to take the wide path that leads to destruction.  Christ is here for you.  Christ is waiting for you.  The Holy Spirit will walk with you, if you only let him.  Come!  Walk the narrow road and take back what is yours!

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 49-50, The Kingdom of Heaven: The coming Separation of the Wicked and the Just

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the net) Part 2. 

The net will gather all.  The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and when it is full it is taken up and the fish are separated.  The good fish are kept and the bad fish are cast away.  All are captured in the net.  All are brought to shore.  All are separated.  This is the parable that Christ tells his disciples that they may understand the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the separation that will take place.  The wicked will be separated from the just.  The workers of iniquity will be separated from the those who do good.  The fruit will be separated from the weeds and all will be judged according to their works.

Christ tell his disciples that they may know and understand the truth of the kingdom.  He tells them stories and parables that they may have the wisdom of the kingdom.  He gives them knowledge that they may be able to past their knowledge upon those who will follow them.  For they will be the new shepherds.  They will be the new leaders.  They will be the messengers of Christ after his work is finished.  So, he wants them to have clear understanding and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. 

He concludes his parable by telling the disciples of the end times.  He says, "So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.

The prophecy has been spoken.  Time will reveal the truth of its making.  The angels will come and separate but the net will capture all.  Will you be among the just or will you be among the wicked?  The furnace of fire awaits the separation.  Our God is a loving God.  He wants all to be separated into the just.  He wants no one to be put into the furnace of fire.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may understand.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may know.  This is the why of the prophecy that is given to us today that we may have the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  Will you heed the message?  Will you take action today to receive the kingdom?  Find your treasure.  Find your pearl of great value.  Be the good seed that Christ has planted in you.  They all await your search.  They all await your finding.  They all await you receiving that you may have joy and peace here and now, today, on this earth.  For the advodcate waits at your door.  Open and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 47 - 48, The Kingdom of Heaven: Like a Net.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the net) Part 1. 

Christ continues his comparisons of the kingdom of heaven.  He gives his disciples many examples that they may understand the truth of the kingdom.  For they will be the messengers.  They will be the teachers.  They will be the miracle workers, the healers, the ones who cast out demons.  So, he continues to give them truths of the kingdom of heaven.  He tells them stories.  He tells them parables.  He tells them of things that are hidden since the foundation of the world.  Some will understand.  Some will comprehend.  Some will be lost.  Let he who has ears, hear.

Christ tells them of another parable.  This time he talks of fishing, something that the disciples understand since they were already fishermen.  They came from a background of fishing, because this is how they made their living before he called them.  They cast their nets into the sea and caught fish.  Sometimes they caught great fish.  Sometimes they caught small fish.  Sometimes they caught fish that they did not want.  But their lives revolved around fishing. 

Christ says to them,  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that gathered in fish of every kind.  When it was filled, they hauled it out, and sitting on the beach, they gathered the good fish into vessels, but threw away the bad."

All are gathered for the harvest, Christ tells his disciples.  All are taken in by the net, he wants them to know.  And the separation begins, where the just are separated from the unjust, the good from the evil, those who practice justice from those who practice iniquity.  The net will bring all to judgement.  The weeds will be gathered with the good seeds and the bundles will be set.  For the furnace of fire awaits the weeds and the barns of heaven await the good seed that produced fruit.  Where do you stand?  The net will gather all.  Be aware!  Live not for today!  Live not in this world!  For the net will bring all to judgement.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 45 - 46, The Kingdom of Heaven: The search of Fine Pearls.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the pearl of great price)  

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ continues to tell the disciples about the kingdom of heaven that they may understand truth.  He continues to educate his disciples that they may know the kingdom, that they may see the kingdom, that they may have the wisdom of heaven within themselves to teach others.  For one does not teach what one does not know and Christ wants his disciples to know.  Christ wants his disciples to believe.  Christ wants his disciples to see.  Christ wants his disciples to have wisdom.  For they will carry the message of the kingdom.  They will be the light to shine forth to men.  They will battle the evil in the world and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

The weeds have already been planted and are growing.  The weeds are growing among the good seeds of the kingdom.  The weeds are wrapping themselves around the fruit of the kingdom and choking the life from the fruit.  But Christ brings life to the seeds.  Christ brings nurturing to the good seeds.  Christ brings love to the good seed that they may know truth in the kingdom.  For the good seed searches for truth.  The good seed seeks to know.  The good seed desires to possess the kingdom that is buried deep within them.  Christ tells another parable about the kingdom.  He says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.   When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." 

The kingdom of heaven is like.  The good seed seeks the fine pearls.  The good seed seeks the treasure in the field.  The good seed seeks the truth.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks love.  The good seed seeks peace.  The good seed seeks happiness.  The good seed seeks patience.  The good seed seeks humility.  The good seed seeks the wisdom of the kingdom of heaven.  The good seed seeks all that is Christ.  The good seed seeks faith.  The good seed seeks hope.  The good seed seeks justice.  The good seed seeks the riches of the kingdom of heaven.  What do you seek?

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ has given us parables to live by today.  He has given us comparisons.  He has given us a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.  The kingdom is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.  We all seek something in this physical world.  Some seek wealth.  Some seek truth.  Some seek knowledge.  Some seek understanding.  Some seek peace.  Some seek love.  Some seek those things that would satisfy their inner needs and cravings. 

We think that if we just had the good things of life that we would be happy.  So, we seek those things that we think will bring us happiness, i.e., more money, fine clothes, beauty, physical prowess, marketable talents, a loving mate, the typical family, power, influence, etc.  All these things we seek to fulfill our inner needs that we believe will satisfy us.  So, in many ways we too are like merchants seeking fine pearls.  When we find our desired worldly pearls we sell everything to own it.  We sell ourselves to own that which we seek, be it a  well paid position, wealth, power, influence.  All the things that our hearts desire, we sell ourselves to them that we may own them. 

Yet these things are worldly and satisfy only temporarily.  They are like the mist that evaporates when the sun comes out.  Wealth and money buy things but do not buy permanence.  Power and influence are of this world and last as long as we are in it.  All these things are here today and gone tomorrow.  Yet these are the things that we seek to fill our inner needs.  The kingdom of heaven is like.  What pearls do you seek?  Do you seek the pearls of the kingdom or do you seek the pearls of the world?  Do you give all to own the pearls of the world or would you sell all to own the pearls of the kingdom?   Which do you value?

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 43, The Kingdom of Heaven: The Just will shine like the Sun.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds explained) Part 4. 

The prophecy has been made.  The disciples have heard.  The day of the harvest is forecast.  And the weeds will be gathered up and burned in the furnace of fire.  Christ has given the disciples his knowledge, his wisdom and his understanding of the parable of the weeds that they may understand.  He has opened their eyes and their minds so that they may see and perceive the kingdom of heaven.  He has given them a glimpse of the kingdom by his comparisons of things hear on earth that they may know.  They are the messengers.  They will be the tellers of the parables after Christ has finished.  They will be the ones who will carry the torch of new life to the ends of the earth.

Christ finishes the parable by telling them what happens at the very end of the harvest.  There will be rejoicing.  There will be happiness.  There will be great merriment at the coming of the Lord of the harvest.  For he will clean the fields.  He will burn the weeds.  And he will collect the wheat into the barns of his house that there may be a great feast.  For Christ tells them,  Then the just will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  

The just will shine at the end of the harvest.  The darkness will be removed at the end of the harvest.  The weeds will be burned at the end of the harvest.  All the just will rejoice at the end of the harvest for the time of the Lord of the harvest has come.  Christ tells his disciples that they may see.  Christ tells his disciples that they may know.  Christ tells his disciples that they may have the understanding of his wisdom and knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a field.  The field is the earth.  The good seeds that are sown are the sons of the kingdom of heaven.  Can you see the kingdom?  Do you understand the kingdom?  The kingdom of heaven is like a sower who goes out and plants good seed in his field.  The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which when planted grows to be the tallest plant in the garden.  The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which when placed in three parts all become leavened.  Do you hear the message?  Do you have the knowledge of the parable of the weeds?  Can you perceive the kingdom of heaven?  It is at hand.  It is near you.  It is in you.  It is part of you.  See the light that shines forth for at the harvest of the just will shine forth like the sun.  And there will be no darkness.  And Christ said,  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 34 - 35, The Kingdom of Heaven: Things Hidden

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the leaven) Part 2. 

The kingdom of heaven is like.  Christ has compared it to the good seed planted by the sower.  He has compared it to the mustard seed which, when planted, grows to be the tallest herb in the garden.  He has compared the kingdom of heaven to leaven, which, when placed with three parts flour, combines to mix with all parts until  all is leavened.  All speak of growth.  Growth of the seed, growth of the mustard seed, growth of the leaven.  The kingdom of heaven seeks growth.  It seeks to expand.  It seeks to become the tallest, highest, greatest thing in the garden, in God's garden.  

All parables.  All mysteries.  All unclear.  What do these parables mean?  What is Christ telling us about the place that we seek to live out eternity?  The disciples listen to the parables.  The people listen to the parables.  All are bewildered.  All do not understand why he speaks of these things in such a manner that does not allow for clear understanding.   And it was said,  All these
things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and without parables he did not speak to them; that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled,  "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world."  


Since the foundation of the world these things have been.  Since the foundation of the world these truths have been.  Since the foundation of the world this knowledge has been hidden from the wise and the prudent but only revealed to the little ones.  He who has ears let him hear.  He seeks knowledge let him know that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit all things will be revealed.  He who desires understanding let him meditate on the things that are spoken of since the foundation of the world and more will be revealed.  For it is though the awakening of the spirit and the planting of the seeds of wisdom that one understands.  Human knowledge will not open the doors of understanding.  Human knowledge will not enlighten one to the message of the kingdom.  Through faith in Christ, one begins to know the truths of the Father of all truth.

Christ has given us today a taste of what lies before us.  He has given us in these parables a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.  All reveal growth.  All parables speak of plantings.  We are planted in the world that we live in and so also are the weeds.  Do we grow in the spirit?  Or do we grow in the earth?  Spiritual growth produces fruit.  Spiritual growth affects others as does leaven.  Spiritual growth increases until it becomes the tallest plant in the garden.  And the angels come to dwell in its branches.  Do you have the life of Christ within you?  Or do you have the life of the world in you?  The life of Christ is inclined towards eternal life.  The life of the world is inclined towards death.  There is no middle ground.  Where do you stand?  Where are you planted?

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 31 - 32, The Kingdom of Heaven: Like a Mustard Seed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the mustard seed) Part 1. 

Christ continues to reveal information about the kingdom of heaven.  He has spoken about the kingdom of heaven as a field that is planted with the good seed.  Now he speaks in another parable about the kingdom of heaven being like a mustard seed.  A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds.  Yet the plant the comes forth from this seed becomes a giant tree.  Other produce fruit.  The mustard seed produces a giant tree that birds make their nest in. 

Christ tells the crowd and his disciples,  "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.   This indeed is the smallest of all the seeds; but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches." 

The kingdom of heaven is likened to a seed.  It is like the good seed that a man plants in his field.  It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his field.  The kingdom of heaven is a seed that is planted within us.  It grows just as a seed grows.  It produces fruit just as the seeds of a fruit tree  or the seed of grain grows to produce fruit.  The kingdom of heaven like an herb that is planted in a garden.  The herb seed grows to produce an herb.  Some are small.  Some are medium sized, but the mustard seed is the the largest herb in the garden.  For when it grows up, it produces a tree that is greater than any other herb in the garden.

Christ speaks to us in a language of planting.  He tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a seed.  It is planted within us.  And we are the soil that brings forth the life of the seed.  We can bring forth the life of the kingdom.  We can produce the fruit of the kingdom.  In some cases we can produce 30% of the time, or 60% of the time or 100% of the time if the seed is planted in good soil that will nurture the seed and bring forth growth. 

Christ tells us further that the kingdom of heaven is like the seed of a mustard plant.  When planted and grows up it brings forth a tree that is greater than any other herb in the garden.  So now we have two choices of what is in the kingdom of heaven.  We have fruit or grain and we have an herb that produces a giant tree.  Which type of seed are you today?  Are you the result of a fruit seed or are you the result of a mustard seed?  One grows tall and strong where the birds of the air come to rest.  The other produces fruit of the kingdom.  Both are in the kingdom of heaven.  Come, let us prepare our soil for the planting of the seeds from the kingdom of heaven!