On this occasion, Pastor Rares, had a really good message for us. God spoke to us, through him, about the similar ways in which God manifests His Kingdom, in the life of an individual as well as in the life of the Church.
(Luke 12:32)
„"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
God is pleased to give us the Kingdom, but in order to receive it, a good soil is needed, or better said a good heart, a pure heart, one that lacks any form of corruption and impurities. This is essential for an individual in the Body as well for the Church in general.
The sower's parable (Mathew 13:3-23), the weeds parable (Matthew 13:24-25), the mustard seed and yeast parables (Matthew 13:31-33), they all aim at the same point, which is that one has to have a clean heart, in order for it to bring fruit.
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
Mark 4:26
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
2 Corinthians 9:10
„Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.“
Things that we must be aware of :
- If we don't understand God's will for us and the vision He gave us as a Church, then the evil one comes and steals the things that have been sowed in our hearts. We must know the purpose of our existence as a Church, and that is to see born again Orthodox Christians, to see people growing in the knowledge of what God is for their lives, and for us to be servants of the Kingdom of God, through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 13:19)
- We might get too excited too soon about what God is doing, failing to see that it might not be real. Without solid foundation, the building won't last, and if the Church doesn't have a solid foundation, at the smallest sign of disagreement, the Church falls apart. (Matthew 13:20-21)
- We might be blinded by a sudden financial success (a Church building sooner than it's time) or something that Satan could use to distract us from the really important things and make us into slaves of comfort. (Matthew 13:22)
- We have to be careful, because although we sow in Spirit, there are people that come and sow in the flesh. These are people that have nothing to do with our Church people that don't care about the welfare of our Church, but they come and through words, or false doctrines, or religiosity in our midst, thus trying to change things that is not for them to change. (Matthew 13:25)
- We must try and please God, not the people
„Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.“ (Colossians 3:22)
- Our job is to know God and understand His will for us. To sow the seeds that He gives us (good seed) and He will take care of the fruits. (Matthew 13:23)
- As a Church we must make an effort to be a good soil, that God can use and through which God can show His glory.
„(they were) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.“ (Acts 2:47)
- It is better for us to be like the yeast that grows in secret, but before you know it can not be contained. Or as the mustard seed that stays hidden in a secret place i the ground and although you can't see it, it grows, and before you know it, it's a strong plant.
„Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."”(Acts 5:38-39)
- Jesus didn't use his disciples for his own interests, but to build the Kingdom of God. Our interest should be the same. We should care more about the people than for the institution itself. You are the Church, every individual. Just like Jesus said to Peter, so too He says to you 'You are a living stone and on this rock I will build my Church'. Not on the name of any denomination, but on the New Name that Jesus gave you in Him. He is building a Church on sons and daughters. And if the gates of hell can't have victory over your life, it can't have victory over Christ's Church either.
(1 Peter 2:5) „you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.“
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