3 Stages of Christian life
Matthew 13:8
3 Stages of Christian life!
Matthew 13:8, But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 13:23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Matthew 13:37-38, He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
Matthew 13:31-32, Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Stage one
Receiver. Receive the word of God.
James 1:21, Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Accepting the word of God.
Romans 10:9-11, that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Salvation brings joy!
Jeremiah 15:16, Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Joy will overflow!
Isaiah 61:10-11, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride
adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Cleansed leper could not keep quiet.
Mark 1:40-45, Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Stage Two
Giver
Sent to the World. God has sent you into this world.
John 20:21, So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Assignment is the same
Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Jesus did not send you empty handed. Jesus had given His spirit. Authority, and Power.
Acts 1:8, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
You may have troubles and trials, but God will strengthen you to fulfil your assignment. Paul tells timothy to be ready always.
2 Timothy 4:1-2, I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
We live in this world with evil. We live in this world with sons of Satan. We live in a world the tares will oppress the wheat. We ought to influence not to judge the evil. Church has not given the mandate to judge now!
But how can we influence?
Stage Three
Living Sacrifice.
Why did God choose you?
John 15:16, You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Parable of the Sower
30-, 60-, and 100-fold produce. Normal is only 8 and 10-fold is bumper crop.
Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Both wheat and tares are growing together, and they are ready for harvest.
Parable of the Mustard seed
The tree become so big that all the birds came and made their home. We are saved to bring good fruits in our life.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
How would you produce good fruits?
John 12:24, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. Dying to self is the key to produce fruits in your life. As long as you remain yourself you will not produce any fruits. Times you will be buried.
God will water you. Beginning may be insignificant but God will make it significant. Jesus said categorically who can’t be His disciples.
Luke 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Will you surrender your life to Christ? Will you be ready to give up anything for Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:15, and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Many Christians will come up to stage 2.
But it is very challenging for many of us to come to stage 3! Water you boil it up to 99 degrees still it is boiling only. Only when it reaches 100 degrees it can move the mighty engine.
Will you?