Parables of God's Love

PARABLES OF GOD’S LOVE
 
Sunday (9/24), gather with your church family as we turn our attention to Matthew 13:44-58. Jesus, facing increasing opposition from the spiritual leaders of Israel, began speaking to the vast multitudes following Him in parables.
 
What is a parable? It is a story from everyday life that points to or illustrates a spiritual truth. Their purpose? They are told to provide understanding to those who seek a relationship with Jesus and, simultaneously, hide the truth from those who have hardened their heart.
In the first parable (13:1-9), Jesus shared the Sower and the Seed parable. He is the Sower, and the Seed is the Word of God. As Jesus and His followers proclaim the gospel, those who hear will respond differently. According to His interpretation, only one out of four comes to saving faith.

In the following three parables (13:24-33), Jesus described the hostile and deteriorating conditions that His followers will endure as they proclaim the gospel, first to their families and then everywhere He sends them.
In the final three parables (13-44-58), Jesus shared with His disciples what motivated Him to leave heaven and come to earth, in the form of a servant, to give His life a ransom to save those who are lost.

What was it that moved Jesus to do what He did? Love for sinful man. A love that moved God to send His one and only begotten Son. A love that was undeserving and unwanted.
 
Yet, God sent Jesus anyway. And because He did, sinful man was provided hope that if they placed their faith in Him, they would be guaranteed everlasting life with Him in heaven.
Jesus’ motive in explaining the parables to His followers was multi-faceted. First, parables are easy to remember, as they are simple stories from everyday life with a single point.
Second, parables can bridge the Old and New Testaments in that they are prophesied in the Old and fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry in the New.
 
Third, they are a clarion call to His followers to be alert and aware of satan’s tactics in trying to resist the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
 
Fourth, parables equip His followers to share and defend the gospel and conduct the good fight of faith in their war against the flesh, world, and satan.
I look forward to our time together. Please pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the entire Calvary Chapel family.
 
There are several opportunities for worship. On-campus (10:00 am), drive-in church (92.1fm), and online (Facebook, YouTube: Calvary Inverness); (website: calvaryinv.com
In His Strong Love,
Pastor

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