Kingdom of heaven -

Born of Water and Spirit

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:5

Are you born of water and spirit? Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born of water and spirit. If he is not born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the rule of the sovereign God over all creatures and things. Many do not accept this rulership of God. Some do not even think about the rulership of God over their own life even though the new birth brings them eternal life through Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world [see John 18:36]. The Kingdom of God is God’s sovereign rule and authority. Do we believe in His rule and authority over our own life?

The Kingdom of God is like a woman with leaven who took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened [see Luke 13:21]. This means that the leaven uses an agent to make the dough rise. That agent is yeast, which is the Holy Spirit in the Bible. We must have the Holy Spirit in our life in order to grow and expand. This growth will produce fruit into our life. The fruit comes when we follow God’s will and not our own. The Holy Spirit will always point to Christ for He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is also our foundation in which we stand [see 1 Corinthians 3:11]. Are you standing on a firm foundation?

The only foundation that is a sure one is when we have Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. We believe that Jesus came in the flesh and that He is the son of God. We are assured that with Jesus as our foundation, we cannot go astray. It is Jesus who opens the door into heaven. It is Jesus who atones for our sins. It is Jesus who saves us from Satan. It is Jesus who gives us the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who was baptized in the Jordan river.

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22

Baptism is full immersion in water. Baptism in water speaks to conversion from heathenism to God. Conversion of the old nature with its lusts to walking in the character of Christ. It is the washing away the dirt of sin and the selfish life to the life of Christ. It is the washing of regeneration as stated in Titus chapter 3, verse 5. John the Baptist preached for people to repent and be baptized. He also exclaimed that one would come after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, [see Luke 3:16]. If we have been baptized into Christ by water, we have in faith put on the character of Christ.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27

Born of water and spirit is to follow Jesus through baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit. This is the condition to which we can enter into the Kingdom of God. A person asked Jesus the question if there are few that are saved? Jesus answered and said, “strive to enter in at the narrow gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able,” [Luke 13:24]. In Matthew chapter 7, verse 13 explains that the gate is wide that leads to destruction, and many are going in that way. Many are going in a different way instead of following Jesus.

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.”
John 14:6

There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul told the Corinthains that he preached Christ crucified. It is Christ crucified who became the power of God [see 1st Corinthians 1:23-24]. If we can see this truth, we will be standing on a firm foundation. The power comes from Jesus being crucified on the cross for all mankind. Being born of the water and spirit means that we have become a new creation in Christ Jesus and the old things that we have been, are now passed away. Jesus became sin who knew no sin for our sakes. The father was pleased that Christ became the final sacrifice for all mankind’s sins. This is why we have the word and the ministry of reconciliation.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
2nd Corinthians 5:19

Pray that you enter in through Christ. Pray for the Spirit to come and fill you with living water so that you may not thirst any longer.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:38

Do you have rivers of living water flowing in your life? Now is the time for the living waters to flow into your life. Jesus prayed to the Father to give you the Holy Spirit of comfort. Ask for the Holy Spirit of comfort to come. Pray for the love of Jesus to flow into your heart and soul. Remember that Jesus said, “the wind blows, and we may hear it and not know where it comes from, or where it goes,” [John 3:8]. This is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Remember also that the Spirit will testify of Jesus [see John 15:26]. Without Jesus we can do nothing on our own, but with Jesus we can say with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me,” [Philippians 4:13]. To follow Jesus, we first must be born of water and spirit. Be baptized in the water and in the Holy Spirit.

The Pearl of Great Price

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man seeking fine pearls.”
Matthew 13:45

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking to fine beautiful pearls. A child of God is worth the price of a pearl. So much is a child of God loved that a beautiful place is prepared for all those who have faith in Christ Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is also the rulership over the earth. God having rejected the burned offerings for sin instead established the preaching of the gospel. This preaching is the cross of Christ where his son gave of himself for the remission of sins. Christ was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed, states Isaiah 53:7. This familiar verse is quoted, but if you read further, you will find in this verse 10 how it pleased the Lord to bruise him. Can you imagine that? I find it hard to believe, but for the sake of saving us from ourselves, Christ became our sacrifice for our sins.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
Isaiah 53:10

How astonishing to read how it pleased the Lord to bruise his own son. He was bruised for our iniquities. As a parent myself, I would only want the best for my child, and many parents do believe that their children are good and would not do evil things. Iniquities meaning immoral or grossly unfair behavior. What mother believes that their children would be immoral or have extreme unfair behavior? Yet, God sent his son to be our sacrifice for the remission of sins and the promise of inheritance. That as His children we would not be immoral or have extreme unfair behavior. God provided humanity a way out of gross behavior through his own son. If we can have a little understanding about our relationship with the father God through Jesus Christ, our hearts would know the genuine meaning of His love for us. This is the kingdom of heaven at hand. The kingdom of heaven where a man is seeking to fine beautiful pearls. Who are the fine pearls stated in Matthew 13, verse 45? The pearl is the true church of God.

The pearl becomes the illustration of the church, who are those that are called out to be the body of Christ. This is the body of believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and live under His authority. The body of Christ is the church to whom Christ gave of himself, for the church and fulfilled the promise of the seed. The church being the pearl of great price is a mystery in itself. How is a pearl formed? It is formed by accretion, the process of growth or increase by gradual accumulation of additional layers of matter. Additional layers of matter are the individual members of the body of Christ who make up the church. The true ministry of Christ is done through the manifestation of the Spirit. The apostle Paul describes the body as being one in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit where we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13

By one Spirit where we all baptized into one body. That body are those who believe in Christ as the son of God. It does not matter what race you belong to; God has set the members in the body as it hath pleased him, [1 Corinthians 12:18]. It is God who has tempered the body together, see verse 24 of 1 Corinthians 12. How amazing this is and something that we rarely think about. In the church we should be influenced by the Spirit of Christ and be tempered into His love. This is the reason for the ministry of reconciliation to continue within the body where God has set in the church apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, [1 Corinthians 12:28]. The key to these gifts is love, for love never fails us when we truly understand the purpose and will of God.

The church is subject to Christ for he has given himself for it. Love is the key to the ministry of reconciliation. Our speech should always be with grace and seasoned with salt. The body lifting up Christ and submitting to each other in love that the church not having spot or wrinkle should be holy and without blemish to become the great pearl. I have wondered about the twelve gates that were twelve pearls in Revelation chapter 21, verse 21. Each gate was one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold as transparent glass. When you read verse 24 of chapter 21 of Revelation, it states that the nations of them who are saved shall walk in the light of it. Nations of people who are saved shall walk in the light of the glory of God. This is the new heaven and earth. The body of believers grafted into the branch of Christ to represent the Church, the pearl of great prize. Christ is coming for the bride, which is the church, the body we have been baptized into, the body of believer’s who are the pearl of great prize.

Tares Among the Wheat

While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”
Matthew 13:25

Parables in the bible are the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. I have often wondered why there are mysteries written in the word of God. The lord has given specific people the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, while others are blinded to the fact of the mysteries. This may ring the bell to only those whom the spirit of God falls upon for the revelations and understanding of what is being reveled such as those who prophesy in the Spirit. Those who will have an ear to hear and do the will of God. In the beginning of Matthew chapter 13 we read about the “Sower of the Seeds” and the different types of soil the seed is sown in. The first nine verses of Matthew chapter 13 explain the different soils and what happens to the seed grown in those types of soils. Only the seed that falls in good soil brings forth fruit. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” states Matthew in chapter 13, verse 9. The importance of the seed and how it is grown is vital for the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. The seed is the word of God that produces fruit in good soil while in other soils it will die. This parable portrays those who are following the will of God as children of the light and not of darkness. The analogy of the tares among the wheat is worth noting and is rarely mentioned in church due to the fact that it may cause some to flee the church if they knew that there are tares among the wheat in the body of Christ.

The parable in Matthew chapter 13, versus 24 to 30 is conveying what happens to those who are the tares in the field where the seed has been planted. In the body of Christ, it is the seed, which is the word of God that produces fruit within the individual’s life. The word “tares” in Hebrew is the darnel, which means weeds that is grown among the wheat. According to Jewish virtual library the darnel seeds that have been ground into flour is poisonous and gives a bitter taste to bread. It is said that the wheat and darnel do not constitute with each other. In otherwards they may look like each other, but who they are in character is not made of the same form. If they are not of the same form, that means that there is no cross breeding of the seed. The problem of the weeds is that they appear even when only the good seed was planted in the good soil.

What was the answer that Jesus gave to the question of where did the “Tares” come from? In verse 28 of Matthew chapter 13, Jesus said, “An enemy hath done this.” Who is the enemy? Satan is the enemy, and the tares are the children of the wicked one [see Matthew 13:38-39]. Satan is the one who deceives. It is Jesus who warns about those who are false prophets and show great signs and wonders in order to deceive the very elect, [see Matthew 24:24]. The apostle Paul warns Christians in Ephesians chapter four, verse fourteen, that they are not to be children tossed to and from and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the scheme, or plan of men that lie in wait to deceive many. It is important that no one causes you to leave the basic knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. Without Christ our faith is in vain since He is the author and finisher of our faith, [Hebrew 12:2].

Who sows the good seed? It is the Son of man, Jesus, the Son of David, the representative Man, the Son of God. [see Matthew 13:37]. Now look at the next verse, 38.

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one.”
Matthew 13:38

Are you the children of the kingdom, or are you the children of the wicked one? Have you ever asked this question of yourself? There are many who profess that they are the children of the kingdom, and in outward appearances it looks like they are, but only God really knows the truth about an individual’s heart condition. Appearances can be so deceiving that only the angels will separate those who belong to the children of the kingdom, and those who belong to the children of the wicked one, [see Matthew 13:37-43]. I find this astonishing. I have often wondered how pastors view their congregation and make assumptions about the flock they feed. For those who are sitting on the fence with one foot in the world and the other foot in pretending to be a good Christian, this is the division within the heart of man. James said, “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, [James 1:8]. A double minded man is wavering and tossed upon the waves of the sea. These are those who are wavering in indecision. The field must be cultivated in order for the seed to grow. This means fertilizing and watering the seed. To fertilize is to grow into or develop into a new individual in Christ. The water is the washing of water by the word of God. What kind of seed will you be is a question we should all ask ourselves. Remember the promise made to Abraham? Who is the seed?

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Galatians 3:16

Christ is the seed that is planted into each individual’s heart. Our first concern is to see that Christ is the foundational seed, and that seed is made into a new creation in Christ Jesus. This is why the apostle Paul stated, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, [see 2 Corinthians 5:17]. Remember that only the seed that is planted in good soil will bring forth fruit. The heart of man has different soils. The body of Christ must come to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. That is why God sends out by the Holy Spirit apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the work of ministry and edifying the body of Christ until we all come in the unity of the faith, [see Ephesians 4:11-13]. Let us consider our own heart and if it is seeded in Christ. Are we growing into the image of Christ. Has our soil weakened to where Christ is no longer the head in our life. Ask God to change your heart to the heart of Christ. Be willing to change into the image of Christ. Be willing to be fertilize and watered by the word of God. Remember it takes time and patience for the seed to grow in the garden, and this is true in your own life. Be patient with yourself and the situation you are in. You will see God move in your situation and in yourself.

Jesus allows the tares and the wheat to grow together until the time of harvest.

Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Matthew 13:30

We are children of the light where Christ is the head of every man and women. We have become the children of the kingdom of God and not of Satan. When the harvest comes, it is the reapers, who are the angels that will gather the tares and the wheat. Have you ever wondered why the tares are allowed to grow with the wheat? I had not envisioned this in my own mind, but I have seen and witnessed the tares and the wheat within congregations, and I wanted to run away from it because of fear, because of association with evil. This could be a contradiction of scripture, but only to those who are immature in Christ. We must wait to receive the full revelations by the Spirit of God until we have gained understanding. That is why we must pray and ask God to give us understanding. God is kind to the unthankful and to the evil . . . Wow! Listen to what Jesus said in Luke.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful.”
Luke 6:35-36

We are to love our enemies and do good and lend to them, without receiving anything back from them. We are to be merciful as our “Father God” is merciful. If you feel this is grinding against a stone within your heart, do not feel bad, but rejoice, for this is a revelation and God wants you to grow into the image of Christ. Remember the random acts of kindness day last month on February 17th, 2023. You may have missed it, but everyday can be a random act of kindness. Let us stand firm in Christ and allow His love to flow out of our hearts towards others. Pray to God to show you the way to random acts of kindness and to be merciful as your Father God is merciful. We may not know who the tares are, but we can know our own heart and how it needs changing into the image of Christ. Let us continue to grow in good soil and produce good fruit. the fruit of love, joy, peace, and kindness. Jesus said that your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest and not of the tares.