PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE
PART 3

THE SON OF MAN
SHALL SEND FORTH HIS
ANGELS,
AND THEY SHALL
GATHER OUT OF HIS KINGDOM
ALL
WHO OFFEND AND THEM WHICH DO INIQUITY:
AND SHALL
CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE:

THERE SHALL BE WAILING AND
GNASHING OF TEETH
(AT THE END OF THIS WORLD)!

MATTHEW 13:41-42


KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:

THE ‘BE” ATTITUDES
and
THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

GOOD AND UPRIGHT IS THE LORD; THEREFORE HE TEACHES SINNERS IN THE WAY [of Salvation]. THE HUMBLE HE GUIDES IN JUSTICE, AND THE HUMBLE HE TEACHES HIS WAY.
PSALM 25:8-9 (NKJ)


"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal."
JOHN 6:22-27 (NAS)


“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS;
AND ALL THESE THINGS
SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.”
MATTHEW 6:33 (KJ)


If you really fulfill the royal law [of love] according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
JAMES 2:8-9 (NKJ)


“IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES,
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU:
BUT IF YOU FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES,
NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.” MATTHEW 6:14-15 (KJ)

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the LEAST in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them; the same shall be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven. (v20) FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES [HYPOCRITES], YOU SHALL IN NO CASE ENTER INTO
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 5:19-20

REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM [GOVERNMENT] OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND! Often men seem to stumble upon the gospel by accident in their great desperation and eagerness to find an answer to their desperate situation, but there are no accidents in GOD’S plan. Those who reject His salvation or put off thinking about it will not earnestly submit themselves to the King. Those who reject the King will find themselves in an awful place of torment…a field of thorns, heartaches, uncertainty and defeat, as they fall under ‘the Stone, Christ Jesus’ to destruction. But those who find His salvation to be a precious treasure will never give up the wonderful, exciting relationship they have found with their GOD, but they will ’sell all
they have’ by giving up all of their previous ways in order to embrace this new way of life. The believer will fall upon the ‘Rock of Christ Jesus’ and be broken and humbled in repentance to receive this new life…the treasure…His salvation…that has been hidden in Christ Jesus. As the new believer continues to learn line upon line, precept upon precept, he finds that his salvation has opened up “the kingdom of GOD within him. …his treasure…is forever his, as he lives in the kingdom of heaven with His GOD. While the TREASURE hid in a field is the salvation of a place, a person, a field, a nation, the PEARL of great price is the Church, whose members have committed all to Christ to build their strong, enduring character by having the “Be” attitudes of kingdom living. Those in covenant with CHRIST, the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, are blessed to understand how the kingdom of heaven and its laws operate now!


“BE” ATTITUDES or THE ATTITUDES OF BEING:
GOD IS A “BE-ER;” AND WE ARE HIS BEINGS.

Blessed means “spiritually prosperous.”

These spiritually prosperous attitudes of being are principles of conduct that are to become the very part of one’s character that are then translated into action & deeds according to the dictates of wisdom as required by the time and the occasion. The citizen of the kingdom of Heaven looks only to GOD as the basis for his motive and action, and looks only for the praise of God, not the praise of men.

“Blessed is the man (or woman) that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the LORD: and in His law does he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of [living] water, that brings forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

We all seek for ultimate satisfaction, recognition, and approval, but we should seek these thing in the right place, that is from GOD.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Those who are “poor in spirit” are those who are repentant before GOD with a humbleness and emptiness of spirit to receive from GOD His revelation knowledge of true wealth. A person must deny his own fleshly desires and empty himself of selfishness to be able to be filled with the things of GOD. Jesus emptied Himself of His divine attributes to take on human form to be made like unto us, His brethren. Natural man fell in a perfect environment revealing that mankind needs someone more powerful and wiser than himself to guide him in overcoming the problem of sin that destroys and brings death. Jesus, as a Man, obeyed His Father, and did only those things that He saw and heard the Father do. As He was baptized in water by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit of GOD came upon Jesus to anoint Him with power to accomplish the will of the Father, as a Man. As mere men, we also need to be filled with the Holy Ghost and be in communication with the Father in prayer to be able to be conformed to the godly, righteous image of Christ Jesus, in order to accomplish the will of the Father in our lives and in the world. We are conformed and sanctified unto holiness and righteousness little by little, from grace to grace, as we are able to empty our soul of selfishness by believing the Word, and take on the image of Christ Jesus in love, joy, gentleness, goodness, faith, patience, temperance (discipline), and meekness. Those poor in spirit have made room in their hearts to receive the disciplines, commands, and blessings of GOD’S law to be able to walk in His ways - in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

“Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.”
The kingdom of heaven has comfort for mourners, who repent after a godly manner and resolve to live for the King. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, as it clears any guilty thoughts and fears of repercussion, and gives one a vehement passion to serve loyally and faithfully the living GOD (2nd Corinthians 7:8-12). (Matthew 5:4)
Also those who mourn (in prayer) for the souls of the world and for the will of GOD to be done on earth, as it is in heaven, will be comforted as GOD shows them how to minister to the world that the world might know the Sound of His Coming and be born of the Spirit of GOD, receiving the healing of spirit, soul, and body that they long for.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”The kingdom of heaven has meek, humble saints, under the authority and dominion of King Jesus and His government, who inherit the earth to rule and reign with Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:5). Christians are called to pursue humility and meekness, fruits of the Spirit that build strength of character in the inner man. The inability to stand up for your beliefs and have real godly character is caused spinelessness. The intelligent willingness to submit yourself to GOD’S will in obedience to His Word and stand up for your beliefs and for Christ is called meek character. We must emulate Jesus, Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously” (1st Peter 1:23). Because meekness involves self-denial of fleshly interests, the Spirit-filled believer must not be easily offended but must follow an orderly pattern of living at peace with family members, church members, and with his government, where it is possible and still serve Jehovah GOD.

“Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1st Peter 1:3-4). The meek, under obedience to GOD, shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
The kingdom of heaven has saints filled with righteousness and truth that are no longer hungry, thirsty, or in need. (Matthew 5:6) Seek the LORD with all of your heart, and He will answer. “If you…seek…the LORD thy GOD, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the LORD, thy GOD, and shall be obedient unto His voice: (For the LORD your GOD is a merciful GOD;) He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers, which He sware unto them” (Deuteronomy 4:29-31). When you seek GOD first in all things, He orders your ways into an abundant living of blessings from Him.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
A person that sows mercy, love, and compassion to others will reap that same love, mercy, and compassion from the LORD. The LORD taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We must be merciful and willing to forgive our brother, our enemy, if we expect GOD to forgive us. Seed time and harvest is a pattern of how GOD deals with man. When you sow seeds of righteousness by forgiving others, you will receive a harvest, at the appointed time of the Father, to receive the harvest of forgiveness and righteousness that you need. It is better to give than to receive, for when you give you are always sowing for a new crop to harvest (and receive) to be able to give again.
The kingdom of heaven has merciful saints. (Matthew 5:7)

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see GOD.”
The pure in heart are those overcomers that come through the fire of persecution and tribulation and have endured by believing the truth and promises of GOD. The crime dramas on television all want to know “What is the motive for their action?” Just so GOD wants to know what is the motive of your heart that precedes your deed or action. Have you separated yourself unto Him in holiness? Have you taken your attitudes to Him by prayer and asked Him to show you the right attitude to have toward certain problems or people in your life? New believers are made perfect in “spirit” when GOD re-creates their new “spirit” in Him. Then the new believer has to renew his mind (soul, emotions) by believing the Word of GOD concerning his character, attitudes, and motives. This is called sanctification by the Word. It allows the believer to accept that he (or she) is the righteousness of GOD in Christ (a free gift given by Jesus to all believers in Him). The mind (soul, emotions) is where the battle between good and evil is held. The renewed mind ordered aright by the Word of GOD with pure attitudes and motives is the one that will be able to overcome all evil…by the help of the Holy Spirit, Who is our Comforter and Helper. The kingdom of heaven has overcoming saints with pure hearts that will see GOD and do great exploits that honor Him! (Matthew 5:8) Purity that comes from living by integrity and truth results in ‘a foundation’ built upon GOD that will stand sure, having this seal, The LORD knows them that are His. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the LORD out of a pure heart” (2nd Timothy 2:19-22).

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of GOD.”
The kingdom of heaven has peacemakers - the children of GOD (Matthew 5:9) Since GOD’S character is truthful, just, fair, righteous, and the GOD of peace, His children that imitate Him are peacemakers. Peace is defined as ‘law and order; harmony; agreement; serenity, calm, quiet, or freedom from war.’ Supernatural peace comes from knowing the wisdom of God. It is being emotionally stable, not upset by minor things, but calm understanding that the solution to a problem of strife or turmoil is available as one seeks GOD so that He can give the correct answer and control the path of the individual life. The overcomer who knows how to rule his own spirit by believing GOD’S word can also be the leader that helps others live in peace!

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10, 11, 12).
“I (the apostle Paul) endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (2nd Timothy 2:10-13). You are the salt of the earth to bring those that are lost to eternal hell into the kingdom of safety in Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:13). You are the light of the world (the kingdom of light has come within you), so
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and [recognize and] glorify your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-15). When you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, GOD comforts you with the fact that your reward in heaven is great! HE LOVES YOU. CONTINUE TO LOVE HIM.


THE SIXTH MYSTERY:
PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (MATTHEW 13:45-46).

The man in this parable, like the man in the other parables, is CHRIST JESUS. Christ is the merchant Man. Notice that the parable states that “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls.” It does not say “like unto pearls.” This merchantman is not limited to one city but was a traveler, who went about from country to country, nation to nation seeking goodly pearls. Christ, the merchant Man, is a specialist engaged in a certain kind of business…that of seeking goodly pearls. Every since the fall of man, He has been seeking…and continues to seek for goodly pearls of committed, faithful saints…precious jewels with which to fill His crown. The Merchant Man is an expert in business, able to distinguish between the genuine and the artificial. Down through the Old Testament dispensation He found many goodly pearls, but at length Christ came upon the pearl of great price, the Church of which all His saints are members. His plan of Redemption for saints under the Old Testament Covenant is that we, of the New Testament Covenant cannot be made perfect without the Old Testament saints. “And these [(Old Testament saints) all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: GOD having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). He knows them that belong to Him, and all saints are to be perfected in HIM together (Hebrews 9:15; 11:10-16; 13:14).

Being an expert, He searches with determination and discrimination to find the pearls of real quality to add them to His crown. While searching the avenues of GOD‘S Spirit, Jesus came upon the “pearl” of great price. What is this? It is the “pearl,” the great called-out company of the Church…a company of all peoples, tongues, and nations, who make up the true Temple of GOD. The Church is a precious gem…a product of life formed within Christ Jesus; as the pearl is a product of life formed within the oyster. As the pearl in the oyster is built gradually by many secretions thrown out by the oyster because of pain, so the Church has been built, one saint at a time…from the suffering Jesus, wounded in His purchase of the Church by His own blood. His blood…His own substance went into building the Church, which has literally become “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”

The word “sea” in prophecy, if not literally mentioned by a name, is usually the “sea of humanity.” A pearl comes from the sea as does the Church, the pearl of great price, comes out of every nation [out of the sea of humanity].
At present the true Church is hidden in the world, the wheat among the tares. One day very soon the true Church, a glorious gem surrounded by the glory of GOD, will arise to do the bidding of their King in His governing of the earth.

The pearl in the oyster will be marred if the shell is opened too soon. To get a “goodly” pearl, the oyster must be permitted to die a slow, painful death before the shell is opened. So Christ Jesus was allowed a painful, lingering death to make way for resurrection power that saints can be glorified in Him, goodly pearls. Just as the pearl is secured through the oyster’s death, the saints are secured by the death of Christ Jesus. We can do nothing without Him. We live and breathe and have our being in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ sold all that He had to purchase the pearl of great price, the Church. He gave up the glory that He had with the Father before the world was. He surrendered His divine prerogatives and attributes and came to earth to take upon Himself the form of a servant…He left His home in glory with all of its benefits to pay a price of obedience unto to death to ransom souls from the stolen captivity of the devil. Jesus Christ was willing to give His all that He might purchase the Pearl of great price, the Church. Our salvation is purchased with His precious blood that we, the Church, might be ONE with Him. “For as the body [the Church] is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1st Corinthians 12:12-13). He is still looking for goodly pearls to add to His family, the Church - the Temple made of living stones…precious gems of great value.

As Christians believing in a risen Christ, we cannot focus and be consumed with the treasures - money and material wealth - of this earth. We cannot base our actions on pleasing men, but rather we must endeavor to serve a righteous, holy God, knows the motives of man. It is dangerous to set the longing affections of our hearts upon riches and the pleasures of this world, seeing it is so easy to make them our gods. Those who are satisfied with the world and its enjoyments do not deny self and seek a contentment and satisfaction in the favor and blessings of God. Without question, the Lord came to give us Life abundantly with favor and blessing, which things can only truly be found in a “loyal” life wholly submitted to Him in truth.” Each generation has been given a message…the manna…the Living Word…for all to be overcomers by hearing what the Spirit of God has to say. It is the true believer that becomes the “overcomer” in Christ that lays hold of this message of the true Bread of Life. There is reserved for this day…this generation… “hidden manna” that can only be discovered in His Presence…and not in the world. He manifests once more the hidden manna of the Bread of Life…His birth, life, death, and resurrection…to the “loyal” hearts of those who seek the precious treasure of His salvation and redemption . “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches: To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows save he that receives it” (Revelation 2:17). A white stone of innocence of sin…a goodly pearl.


MESSAGE FROM THE FATHER:

“Hearken unto me, O children: for blessed are they that keep My ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that hears Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. For whoso finds Me finds life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sins against Me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
PROVERBS 8:32-36


REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IS
AT HAND!

Know Jesus Christ as LORD and SAVIOUR today, while it is still called “today” and not yet called “the Millennium,” when Jesus will visibly rule this world with a rod of iron to eliminate all rebels from His kingdom. After this, there will be a new heaven and a new earth …forevermore! And GOD will have a righteous family (those who have chosen HIM now) to love and serve HIM forever!
PRAISE GOD! FOREVERMORE!