The Bible is axiomatic...it is self-evident and undeniable. It explains itself. Comparing scripture with scripture is the key to unlocking the truths that are waiting to be uncovered. After all, we are the stewards of the mysteries that were delivered to Paul!
1 Corinthians 4:1-2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I thought it important to leave the statement above in the letter for one more week, so that we can give it a chance to sink in a little deeper as we study the Lord of the harvest, the laborers in the harvest, and now the harvests themselves. The parable of the sower found in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15, gives us a bird's eye view of the four types of spiritual ground that will be in the world during the time of Christ's absence in the false kingdom of heaven. Jesus spoke clearly of the kingdom and his position as the anointed Messiah of Israel up till Matthew 12. He was accused of doing miracles by Beelzebub in Matthew 9:34, and then again in Matthew 12:24. It was at this time his focus was clearly fixed on going to Jerusalem to fulfill the prophecies concerning the atonement. He now speaks in parables to hide the truth from unbelievers and reveal it to those who do believe.
Mark 4:11-12: And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
He told the religious leaders that an evil and adulterous generation looks for a sign, when they asked him for one. The sign of Jonah was the next sign for them all – his death, burial, and resurrection! Matthew 12:38-40
Two things happen: he leaves the house (the house of Israel), and goes and sits by the seaside (a picture of the gentile world). The Decapolis was an area of 10 Gentile cities situated around the sea of Galilee. Jesus was gazing upon the Gentiles! The cities are: Philadelphia / Amman, Gerasa / Jerash, Gadara, Pella, Dion, Raphana, Scythoplis / Beit She'an, Hippos, Canatha, and Damascus.
By default, we can look through the lens of the Mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory”, the dispensation of the grace of God, and see that the field (the world) we live in today clearly has these four different grounds – unreceptive / wayside ground, quickly receptive / stony ground, unfruitful receptive / thorny ground, fully receptive / good ground.
The STHA...Simple Treasure Historic Application is clear: Jesus was speaking of an immediate situation of unbelief that had come up, and how it was going to affect the ministry of the apostles in the near future.
The PTDA...Personal Treasure Devotional Application brings to light that even in this Dispensation of the grace of God, the four types of spiritual ground are present. Even though the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the kingdom of heaven are in “time out” mode, and will start back up after the rapture of the Church Age saints, we encounter the hard hearted, the easy believers, the carnally minded believers, and the devoted, faithful fruit bearing believers.
The DTDA...Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application focuses on the atmosphere of the world while the Messiah is seated on the right hand of throne of God, waiting for that linchpin moment of history where prophecy and current events will collide in the momentous return of Messiah King Jesus, with his vesture dipped in blood and the sword in his mouth, coming to purge the world of all wickedness! The false kingdom of heaven has been given 2,000 years to be deeply rooted in every aspect of this world. The Mystery will come to a close at the Rapture, and Daniel's 70th Week will commence revealing the wickedness of the religious, the political, and society. I am so glad we will be gone during this time of Jacob's trouble!
We will tackle the parables of the tares and the wheat, and the harvest of the good fish and bad fish this coming Sunday, which pertain to the 2nd Advent, not the rapture of the Church.
