I was led to read the parable of the sower tonight. But as I read the following passages, God began to show me something.
From Matthew 13:10-17
From Matthew 13:10-17
Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (Why? Because they see, hear and understand --see v.16)
12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. (Whoever understands what is said to them will be given more. Whoever disregards what they hear and see, these people won't understand and therefore the knowledge or word from God they received will be ignored. If you turn away from what the Lord is trying to tell you, don't expect another warning to reach you.)
13This is why I speak to them in parables:
‘Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: (A reference to Isaiah 6:9-10 When Isaiah told the Lord to send him - he was then told to go the people of Israel and tell them these words until the land was totally forsaken. -- judgement.)
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people’s heart has grown callous;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
(This was the mindset of Israel at that time and is the mindset of our world now -- Especially America. This is what God was showing me. This is part of the problem with this country and the church also. They fail to see with their eyes that the sword is coming -- those that celebrated the eclipse; they didn't see it as a final warning for our country and the church. Because of this they did what they wanted and ignored the knowledge God was sending to them through his people. So when judgement hits them, they are overwhelmed, emotional by the chaos and confusion and wonder where God was the whole time. He was right there where they left Him, sending His people to warn them with His word/knowledge.
For example Hurricane Harvey - when it hit Houston the people were unprepared despite the warning from the Governor. But did you notice something strange - the mayor of Houston told the people not to evacuate. He told them the complete opposite. Knowing full well that this hurricane would bring a lot of flooding and destruction. Isn't that what the enemy does? Steps in with the wrong advice and because we don't feel like the situation is a threat, we take it as gospel. This is the seed that was sown on the road that the birds ate v.3. This could also be the seed that was sown in the thorns - as it grew it was choked. )
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.’b (This is what the Lord wants to do in our lives. He wants us to confront our sin, confess it, ask Jesus to be apart of our lives and for the Holy Spirit to help us get through what is coming. If God's people would all get on their knees and repent - turn away from their sin and look to God for everything, He would move mountains for them. He wants to hear from us what we are going through. He wants to hear us acknowledge Him as Father and King. He also wants to hear from those who don't know Jesus but desperately want a better life. He wants you to repent, turn away from your sins and ask Jesus into your life. He wants us to seek him, study His word and in turn He will bless us with understanding.)
16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (But at the end the Lord tells his disciples that they are blessed because they see, hear and understand what the prophets and righteous men have always longed for. This is a blessing to those of us who are awake in the church. This represents the seed that was sown in good soil that took root in a solid foundation - the word of God - and grew strong.)
What's your take? Please comment below and let me know.
