MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM

1. The WORD is the EXCELLENCY of God and of His KINGDOM made known by divine revelation, for “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD” [John 1:1] Kingdom of God is a MYSTERY, neither subject to OBSERVATION nor IMAGINATION, “… The KINGDOM OF GOD COMETH NOT WITH OBSERVATION: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU” [Luke 17:20-21] The Kingdom of God is revealed WITHIN YOU by the HEARING of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, the WORD made FLESH, that He might  establish in you His Dominion, “And without controversy great is the MYSTERY of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH,…”[1 Timothy 3:16] Friend, the Kingdom of God is real but you cannot SEE it until you are BORN AGAIN “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE the kingdom of God” [John 3:3] Our EYES are opened by HEARING of the WORD of God, alas, not all who SEE inherit the Kingdom of God.

2.The WISDOM of God to make us JOINT-HEIRS of His INHERITANCE is a RIDDLE, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD OF GLORY” [2 Corinthians 2:8] Jesus Christ is the LORD OF GLORY, by whose death on the Cross the WAY was opened for us to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of the SON of God, “For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the IMAGE OF THE SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” [Romans 8:29] The SOWER, in Matthew 13:3-23, is Jesus Christ; the SEED is the WORD and the SOIL is your SOUL; the Parable is the MIRROR to examine our CONFORMITY with Christ. The STANDARD is not years spent in Church or titles, but FRUITS. Listen carefully, the same WORD fell on the WAYSIDE, STONEY GROUND, AMONG THORNS and GOOD SOIL but only the GOOD SOIL brought forth FRUITS, “Wherefore BY THEIR FRUITS ye shall know them” [Matthew 7:20] The WORD is the SEED sown in your HEART, and as with all seed must die to bring forth NEW LIFE, “… Except a corn of wheat FALL INTO THE GROUND and DIE, it abideth alone: but if it die, it BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT” [John 12:24] A man may HEAR and not RECEIVE the WORD, another may RECEIVE but fail to bring forth FRUIT, “For unto us was the GOSPEL preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED with FAITH in them that HEARD it” [Hebrews 4:2]

3. The WAYSIDE is the picture of a man whose HEART is a busy intersection of TRAFFIC, HEARING but incapable of UNDERSTANDING, “In whom the god of this world hath BLINDED THE MINDS of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” [2 Corinthians 4:4] Like a busy PATHWAY, the HEART is hardened by a babel of VOICES from hell, in so much there is no loose SOIL to RECEIVE the SEED, “… then cometh the DEVIL, and TAKETH AWAY THE WORD out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” [Luke 8:12] The STONEY GROUND has TOP SOIL, just enough to RECEIVE the WORD, and “… immediately RECEIVE IT with gladness; And have NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when AFFLICTION or PERSECUTION ariseth for the WORD’S SAKE, immediately they are OFFENDED”[Mark 4:16-17] Having no ROOT means there was no DEPTH of conviction to GERMINATE the WORD into NEW LIFE. These are they who BELIEVE, for a while join a local assembly and possibly make some positive changes. As the days go by, doubts set in; they COMPARE and MEASURE themselves with those outside the Kingdom. When AFFLICTIONS arise, they forsake wisdom and relapse into error, but we dare not “… compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, ARE NOT WISE” [2 Corinthians 10:12]

4. The SEED among THORNS is the tragic experience of some who HEARD, grew the SEED, but did not bring forth FRUIT. Listen closely, the SEED germinated and for a while there was NEW LIFE, which ended up “… choked with CARES and RICHES and PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE, and BRING NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION” [Luke 8:14] I am talking of some who for a while experienced NEW LIFE, but surrounded and CHOKED themselves with FRIENDS, FAMILY and INFLUENCES contrary to Christ. Such folks having tasted of the Kingdom have no chance of repentance, “If they shall FALL AWAY, to RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” [Hebrews 6:6] Brethren, we are the GOOD GROUND for whom God has prepared an INHERITANCE fit for kings and “… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1 Corinthians 2:9] Having HEARD the WORD, KEEP it with all diligence, it is the TREASURE of ENDLESS LIFE, as it is written: “But that on the GOOD GROUND are they, which in an honest and GOOD HEART, having HEARD the word, KEEP it, and BRING FORTH FRUITt with PATIENCE” [Luke 8:15] It is your duty to KEEP the WORD in an HONEST HEART, devoid of hypocrisy and with godly PATIENCE, give right of way to the HOLY SPIRIT to bring forth FRUIT in you; He alone does that, for we “… have this TREASURE  in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the POWER BE OF GOD, and not of us” [2Corinthians 4:7]