A few years ago I took five months to preach verse by verse through the [Mathew 13] what you have in this blog is what I taught from this single verse [Matthew 13:26].
The point that I drove home in conjunction with the rest of the chapter was[When God created the universe and man He thought of everything…]
So Be Patient…God Has Got “It” Covered—Whatever Your “It” Is.
So Be Patient…God Has Got “It” Covered—Whatever Your “It” Is.
Opening Statement:
I want to begin this one verse sermon by saying that, “All of the basic entities of the universe and life are all covered by God.” From thermodynamics, matter, time and space, [which include the atmosphere and hydrosphere, the solar system] to the complexities of order, and biological systems, plants, animals, and human life itself [I want you to know that God has it all covered!] Including the marvels of the reproductive process, and the almost-infinite complexity of the genetic systems of plants and animals [I want you to know that God has it all covered!].
When God created the universe and man God thought of everything.
When God created the universe and man God thought of everything.
So the next time anything challenges your faith, remember that, “When God created the universe and you He thought of everything…
Regardless if anyone ever admits it or not, we are a people who like to fix things on our own…
When we run into trouble, or experience things that threaten us—we almost always try and fix things on our own…
And I don’t think in every case and situation it’s not that we don’t trust God, sometimes I think it’s that we don’t want to trouble God with things we think that we can handle…
But God wants us to take everything to Him [especially those things that threatens our walk with Him].
God is not concerned with the color of socks we walk around in, but He is concerned with our walk with Him…
So, if there is anything that threatens our walk with Him, He wants us to know that is worthy of us letting Him handled it… God is not surprised or threaten by anything that threatens us, and He wants us to know not only has He thought of everything, but He has everything covered that would seek to cripple our walk with Him…
When we run into trouble, or experience things that threaten us—we almost always try and fix things on our own…
And I don’t think in every case and situation it’s not that we don’t trust God, sometimes I think it’s that we don’t want to trouble God with things we think that we can handle…
But God wants us to take everything to Him [especially those things that threatens our walk with Him].
God is not concerned with the color of socks we walk around in, but He is concerned with our walk with Him…
So, if there is anything that threatens our walk with Him, He wants us to know that is worthy of us letting Him handled it… God is not surprised or threaten by anything that threatens us, and He wants us to know not only has He thought of everything, but He has everything covered that would seek to cripple our walk with Him…
When I think about God in creation and the attention that He gave to every detail to make sure that everything He planned for man, animals, and nature was covered, I can only conclude that our God is God…
When I think of the cycle of life, how the seas are contained, how the earth is preserved, how the solar system and the stars protect our way of life and give us constant information, along with navigational directions, it’s very easy for me to admit that when God created the earth He thought of everything…
When I think about how some bugs are food for some animals that become food for humans, I am more than impressed with God; I am humbled to know that I serve a God who has thought of everything…
When I consider that since the initial creation of everything that God hasn’t had to redo anything, because He thought of everything, it makes my being submissive and surrendered to Him and His will very easy to do.
When I read the prophecies and the promises within the Bible and see how each and everyone has come to pass just as God said, I not only know that God has everything covered, I know that things yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled, because God has “it” covered as well.
*So my best advice to everyone about God, is to “Be Patient” not only has God got your “it” covered, He has thought of everything, and He is in control of everything—even the things you might be tempted to think that He can’t control. God’s sovereignty tells us and proves to us, that He is not only in charge of everything but that He has thought of everything before hand as well…
Context:
In this parable about weeds and wheat earlier we saw that the devil had sown in weeds/tares that looked like wheat, so that this particular farmer’s field of crop would either be completely destroyed, or at least very devalued…
In explaining this parable I have communicated that the symbols represented in this parable were...
In explaining this parable I have communicated that the symbols represented in this parable were...
The man is Christ (v.37).
The seed is believers, children of the kingdom (v.38).
The seed is believers, children of the kingdom (v.38).
The field is the world (v.38).
The enemy is the devil (v.39).
And the tares or weeds are the children of the devil (v.40).
And the tares or weeds are the children of the devil (v.40).
So when we put all of that together what we can conclude is the work of the sower/the man which is [Christ] has been counter-worked by his enemy [the devil], by comingling his weeds which initially looks like wheat but is eventually discovered to be weeds.
Observation: [READ VERSE and 24-25…]
Being a Christian is not automatic—Christians are the growth of seeds sown by Christ in the world…And Christ is not satisfied with Christians having ideas about God, or having the ability to teach/talk about God, His aim is what it has always been—growing souls… And what a harvest of crops looks like to Christ is not just thoughts, philosophy, and doctrines—but men and women of God.
With that being true, then bad men are like tares/weeds sown by the devil that manifest their mischief by living wicked amongst the righteous crop with the intent of not only crippling them, but corrupting them as well.
With that being true, then bad men are like tares/weeds sown by the devil that manifest their mischief by living wicked amongst the righteous crop with the intent of not only crippling them, but corrupting them as well.
It is obvious by the language here that there were a whole lot of weeds that had been sown in amongst the wheat. Actually what the enemy did was over-sow the weeds with the wheat. And this wasn’t an accident; the amount of weeds the enemy sowed was deliberate. So, the enemy [the devil] was not trying to just threaten the farmer’s crop, he was not trying to just reduce the farmer’s crop. This enemy wanted to destroy the farmer’s crop… This wasn’t just a sick joke; this was intentional deliberate sabotage…
From this parable we see the personality of the devil and his complete hostility towards God…
This parable teaches us so many things that I probably shouldn’t attempt to number them, but for the sake of order—and interest let’s see look at—at least 12 things today—knowing full well that we won’t cover or consider them all…
- …That evil will be present in the kingdom of heaven [which includes the church].
- … That evil has a source and a duration [a specified time limit and then it must come to an end].
- … That trying to forcibly expel evil is dangerous. Evil will be finally/fully exterminated one day.
- … That the devil is patient when it comes to ruining us—why can’t we be patient when it comes to God preserving us?
- … That every truth has a counterfeit. And the extreme length to which the devil goes to provide it.
- … That there must be some distinguishing factors between us [the wheat] and them [the weeds]. This is not conclusive, but if the wheat won’t show it—then it will be hard for the world to know it.
- … That when something of value is visible it exposes that which has no value at all.
- …That weeds won’t be exposed if the wheat never grows or matures.
- … That the enemies work won’t be seen immediately, but it will be seen eventually.
- … That evil can only be discerned by spiritual judgment and expelled only by spiritual power.
- … That the kingdom of heaven and the church universal and local has 2 kinds of imperfections………………
(a.) the personal defects of the un-regenerated, (b.) the membership of un-regenerated people. - … That God’s people have to do something—so that it will be evident that the devil’s people are doing nothing…
Here are some examples of what God’s people have to do…
We who are “wheat” must show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…etc.
Because as we the “wheat” demonstrate these things that there is no law against, we make evident the deeds of the “weed” which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these…
Because as we the “wheat” demonstrate these things that there is no law against, we make evident the deeds of the “weed” which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these…
Let me try and say that another way: [using the “when” and “then”] found in this verse.
As I have said on many occasions; “You can’t have a “then” if there has be no prior “when.”
The “then” means it wasn’t until “now” [after the “when-ness” of the wheat’s sprouting and baring grain] that the “weeds” were exposed. Before this “then” – “when” the “weeds” were so much like the young immature “wheat” it was hard to tell the difference-between the “weeds and the young immature wheat.”
So, this tells us that both truth and falsehoods [weeds and wheat] are not known by mere professions [in other words by their green blades or leaves], but the way that truth and falsehoods are discovered is by the flower or fruit…
Recently I was having a discussion with an elderly gentleman who still plants a garden every year, and he told me something that I had never considered although I had always saw it. He told me, “It doesn’t matter what you plant if it is a fruit or a vegetable that grows above ground—when it first breaks the dirt/soil, it’s going to come out as two green blades.”
Did you get that?
As I have said on many occasions; “You can’t have a “then” if there has be no prior “when.”
The “then” means it wasn’t until “now” [after the “when-ness” of the wheat’s sprouting and baring grain] that the “weeds” were exposed. Before this “then” – “when” the “weeds” were so much like the young immature “wheat” it was hard to tell the difference-between the “weeds and the young immature wheat.”
So, this tells us that both truth and falsehoods [weeds and wheat] are not known by mere professions [in other words by their green blades or leaves], but the way that truth and falsehoods are discovered is by the flower or fruit…
Recently I was having a discussion with an elderly gentleman who still plants a garden every year, and he told me something that I had never considered although I had always saw it. He told me, “It doesn’t matter what you plant if it is a fruit or a vegetable that grows above ground—when it first breaks the dirt/soil, it’s going to come out as two green blades.”
Did you get that?
Initially everything looks the same [that’s the when-ness of it], but eventually as it grows and matures, it will be obvious to what it is [that’s the then-ness of it]. Watch this!He told me that’s is why when you plant something you take the empty package that the seeds came out of and put it on a stick in the garden so you’ll know what it is before it matures…
When I say that God thought of everything/that God has us covered… I am speaking of just like with the “weed” and the “wheat” God thought of everything—God put something in us who are “wheat” that in not in those who are “weeds.”
Guess what that something is? THE HOLY SPIRIT….
Guess what that something is? THE HOLY SPIRIT….
The words evident also: they mean that God sees to it that the world knows what “wheat” is and how beneficial it is to them.
As well, God sees to it that the world knows what “weeds” are and how detrimental they are to any crop.
“When” wheat is doing what God designed it to do,
“Then” the weeds will be exposed for what they can’t do…
As well, God sees to it that the world knows what “weeds” are and how detrimental they are to any crop.
“When” wheat is doing what God designed it to do,
“Then” the weeds will be exposed for what they can’t do…
When I say that God has it covered that means that nothing is impossible with God….
Although in the natural world “weeds” can never become “wheat.” I am just glad that my God is not limited to the natural world…
But in the spiritual world we who once belonged to the dark world of “weeds” [can by the grace of God] be transplanted [if you will] into the bright kingdom of God, it a monumental task but God can do it without ruining us...Let me talk about how “weeds” and “wheat” get tied at the roots…When “weeds” are sown in with “wheat” it’s not long before they are inextricably mingled together
Although in the natural world “weeds” can never become “wheat.” I am just glad that my God is not limited to the natural world…
But in the spiritual world we who once belonged to the dark world of “weeds” [can by the grace of God] be transplanted [if you will] into the bright kingdom of God, it a monumental task but God can do it without ruining us...Let me talk about how “weeds” and “wheat” get tied at the roots…When “weeds” are sown in with “wheat” it’s not long before they are inextricably mingled together
Even the closet scrutiny will often fail to detect the difference between the “weeds” and the “wheat.”
When both are young or less developed…
When “wheat” is not developed it’s not that it looks like “weeds”, it’s that “weeds” look like young/immature “wheat.”
In other words, there are many in the field who are not the Lord’s, yet they resemble those who are…
They go to church regularly, they pray, they read the Bible, just like Christians—but they are not wheat yet!
Some folk are shaped like a Christian, they have the make-up like a Christian, and they talk like a Christian, they hang out with Christians, they function like a Christian—but the fruit/grain, the substance of what makes them Christian is not there…
The failure and success of the seed is known by the quality of its fruit bearing…
No one can know someone’s heart until we can see their response to the gospel…
If the gospel produces in you holiness and love towards God and mankind “then we know” that there is good soil in you, but if a person only looks promising, but never performs—“then we know” that their soil is stony.
When both are young or less developed…
When “wheat” is not developed it’s not that it looks like “weeds”, it’s that “weeds” look like young/immature “wheat.”
In other words, there are many in the field who are not the Lord’s, yet they resemble those who are…
They go to church regularly, they pray, they read the Bible, just like Christians—but they are not wheat yet!
Some folk are shaped like a Christian, they have the make-up like a Christian, and they talk like a Christian, they hang out with Christians, they function like a Christian—but the fruit/grain, the substance of what makes them Christian is not there…
The failure and success of the seed is known by the quality of its fruit bearing…
No one can know someone’s heart until we can see their response to the gospel…
If the gospel produces in you holiness and love towards God and mankind “then we know” that there is good soil in you, but if a person only looks promising, but never performs—“then we know” that their soil is stony.
Summation:
So, Be Patient… *Patience is proven when you are in no rush to remedy or change your situation.
Be Patient… Sometimes we’re too quick to want to remedy/change our situation.
Be Patient… You don’t have to pull it, God will expose it, and then everyone will know what to expect from it [them].
Be Patient… It will work out—after awhile.
Be Patient… Trouble sometimes matures us.
Be Patient… Weeds can’t change the nature of wheat.
Be Patient… The weeds will be exposed—one day soon.
Be Patient… Counterfeit members even in the church can be changed into genuine and profitable members.
Be Patient… And careful in your discriminating—it’s hard to tell the difference between weeds and young wheat.
Conclusion:
So, Be Patient… *Patience is proven when you are in no rush to remedy or change your situation.
Be Patient… Sometimes we’re too quick to want to remedy/change our situation.
Be Patient… You don’t have to pull it, God will expose it, and then everyone will know what to expect from it [them].
Be Patient… It will work out—after awhile.
Be Patient… Trouble sometimes matures us.
Be Patient… Weeds can’t change the nature of wheat.
Be Patient… The weeds will be exposed—one day soon.
Be Patient… Counterfeit members even in the church can be changed into genuine and profitable members.
Be Patient… And careful in your discriminating—it’s hard to tell the difference between weeds and young wheat.
Conclusion:
Closing with Luke 22:31…Peter being sifted as wheat by Satan…
There was an occasion when presumptuous Peter wasn’t being patient, he must have thought that God had missed something, he must have thought that God didn’t have everything covered, because when Jesus was discussing His betrayal and His soon death, Peter shouted that—that would never happen, Peter also said, if he had to fight, go to prison, or die—no one would ever mistreat Jesus…
But, do you remember what Jesus, said to Peter, “He said, Simon, Simon the devil has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you…”
Listen, if you going to be used by God, you need to know that the devil is going to oppose whatever you do, but know this God has “It” covered, whatever it is…But, do you remember what Jesus, said to Peter, “He said, Simon, Simon the devil has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you…”
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