THE LAW OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD

Transcription

1 THE LAW OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD SOWING THE WORD OF GOD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016 REVISED MARCH 10, 2019 Luke 8:4-16 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. When He had said these things He cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Then His disciples asked Him, saying, What does this parable mean? 1

2 And He said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." So, the seed is the Word of God, and when God s Word falls into a noble and good heart, the fruit of the Seed, the Word of God, is brought forth. The fruit we produce are our works, therefore, the fruit of God s Word would be keeping the commandments of God Word as they are made manifest with lives, which bear witness of and glorify our Father in Heaven. Below I've copied this parable and its interpretation again, except I have inserted the phrase "THE WORD OF GOD" or GOD S WORD in all caps for clarity, so we can more plainly understand this message throughout. He spoke by a parable: A sower went out to sow THE WORD OF GOD. And as he sowed, some of GOD S WORD 2

3 fell by the wayside; and GOD S WORD was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured GOD S WORD. Some of THE WORD OF GOD fell on rock; and as soon as GOD S WORD sprang up, GOD S WORD withered away because GOD S WORD lacked moisture. And some of THE WORD OF GOD fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with GOD S WORD and choked GOD S WORD. But THE WORD OF GOD fell on good ground, THE WORD OF GOD sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. The explanation: Now the parable is this: The seed is THE WORD OF GOD. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear THE WORD OF GOD; then the devil comes and takes away THE WORD OF GOD out of their hearts, lest they should believe THE WORD OF GOD and be saved. But THE WORD OF GOD that fell on the rock are those who, when they hear THE WORD OF GOD, receive THE WORD OF GOD with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away FROM THE WORD OF GOD. Now the WORD OF GOD that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard THE WORD OF GOD, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit OF THE WORD OF GOD to maturity. But the WORD OF GOD that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard THE WORD OF GOD with a noble and good heart, keep it and BEAR FRUIT OF THE WORD OF GOD with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." After telling this parable and explaining its meaning privately 3

4 to His disciples, Messiah immediately puts forth another parable about light. Why? Well, what is THE WORD OF GOD? Can we bear the fruit of God s Word or shine its light if we don t understand what God s Word is? God's Word is His written instruction given to teach His people, but it is His Spirit that must water that Word within us in order to give us true spiritual understanding of it. The Hebrew word Torah means instruction, or teaching. However, this Hebrew word is most often translated as "Law" in our Bibles. The Torah is also referred to as "Moses." Yehoshua Messiah came in the flesh to restore this Word to us, and He died for our sin and rose again in order to restore the Holy Spirit which gives life to those who believe. What many do not realize is that the Word of God and the Torah (Law) of God are the same thing; they are equivalent terms. The Word of God is the Torah, and the Torah is the Word of God. How do we know this? We need only look to the Scriptures for proof. Let's look at some the Scriptures that teach us that the Torah (Law) of God and the Word of God are equal terms. Isaiah 1:10 HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, You rulers of Sodom; GIVE EAR TO THE LAW (Torah) OF OUR GOD, You people of Gomorrah: Isaiah 2:3 Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to 4

5 the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. For OUT OF ZION SHALL GO FORTH THE LAW (Torah), AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have CAST AWAY THE LAW (Torah) OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND DESPISED THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people The fruit of their thoughts, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HEEDED MY WORDS NOR MY LAW (Torah), BUT REJECTED IT. Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: FOR THE LAW (Torah) SHALL GO FORTH OF ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. Mark 7:9-13 He said to them, All too well YOU REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, that you may keep your tradition. FOR MOSES SAID, Honor your father and your mother ; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put 5

6 to death. But you say, If a man says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, MAKING THE WORD OF GOD OF NO EFFECT through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do. Another confirmation that the Word of God is the Torah of God lies in something we ve already read. Remember what Messiah said right after explaining the parable of the sower. "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." What does light have to do with the parable of the Sower? What does bearing fruit have to do with bearing light? Well, here are two more Scriptures that equate the Word of God with the Law (Torah) of God to help answer that question. Psalm 119:105 YOUR WORD IS A LAMP to my feet AND A LIGHT to my path. Proverbs 6:23 For THE COMMANDMENT IS A LAMP, AND THE LAW (Torah) A LIGHT; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life In other words: For the commandment (THE WORD OF GOD) is a lamp, And 6

7 the Law (THE WORD OF GOD) a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. So, what was Messiah telling us? The same thing He was telling us with the parable of the sower. "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, (DO NOT HIDE MY TORAH / MY WORD) but sets it on a lampstand (AS A WITNESS TO THE NATIONS), that those who enter may see the light (THE TORAH /THE WORD OF GOD)." Hear My Words and do them, so all men may see your GOOD WORKS which are the FRUIT of the GOOD SEED that fell into the GOOD GROUND of YOUR HEART. Matthew 5:14-18 YOU ARE THE LIGHT of the world. A CITY THAT IS SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN. Nor do they LIGHT A LAMP and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and IT GIVES LIGHT to all who are in the house. Let YOUR LIGHT so shine before men, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO DESTROY THE LAW (TORAH) OR THE PROPHETS. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law (Torah) till all is fulfilled. You are the LIGHT of this world. You are the TORAH of this world. No one LIGHTS A LAMP to hide THE LIGHT, neither should we who have received THE WORD OF GOD hide it, 7

8 but make it known to all men. How? By letting them SEE THE GOOD WORKS OF THE GOOD WORD THAT IS IN US. Why? In order to TEACH THEM THE WAYS OF GOD. In order to MAKE THE TORAH / WORD OF GOD GO FORTH from within us. Remember this Scripture? Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: FOR THE LAW (Torah) SHALL GO FORTH OF ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. This is future tense. This is prophesy. The Law (Torah) SHALL go forth out of Zion (which another name for Jerusalem), and the Word of Yehovah SHALL go forth from Jerusalem The spiritual city set on a hill that Messiah spoke of. GOD S PEOPLE, THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIS WORD ON GOOD GROUND are a city set on the hill that cannot be hidden. The Torah of Yehovah shall go forth out of His people. Now, I ask you, when YOU HEARD me say that THE WORD OF GOD IS THE TORAH (LAW) OF GOD, and this is THE WORD that we must HEAR AND DO, what kind of GROUND did THIS WORD fall into? The ground by the wayside? "I don't BELIEVE that." 8

9 The ground in the rocks? "Wow! That makes sense! I BELIEVE that God s people should be keeping His Law! I m going to keep reading my Bible so I can learn more! I can't wait to share this with my family and friends! Well when I told my friends and family what I learned they were really upset. They don t believe that because that s not what we ve been taught. They accused me of being in a cult, and didn t want me to talk to them about it anymore. They told me I should go talk to our pastor. I asked my pastor and he said we don't believe that. He said that the Law is a burden, and we don t have to keep it now because Jesus freed us from it. He said we're under grace now, and if I try to keep the Law I m trying to earn my salvation. I haven't gone to Bible college like he has, so he must be right." The Ground in the thorns? "Oh yeah, I BELIEVE in God Oh hang on I ve got to respond to this Tweet I almost forgot the game is coming on! No way I m missing that! I need more money so I can buy more stuff! I m having a party Friday night, you coming? I have to work late tonight....my friends keep telling me to loosen up, I suppose it wouldn t hurt to have a few drinks with them tonight! Or did this Word fall on Good ground? If the Law was done away with, why did Messiah say until heaven earth passes away not one jot or tittle will pass from it? Heaven and earth are still here (Matt. 5:17-18) God, will You help me understand this? If Your Law is too hard for us, like everyone says, why 9

10 does Moses say it's not too difficult? (Deut. 30:10-11) Will You show me what he meant by that? If we re not supposed to keep Your Law anymore because of grace through our faith, why does Paul say we should establish Your Law because of our faith? (Romans 3:11) Will You help me understand? If it doesn t please you anymore for Your people to keep your Laws, why did Paul say that those who don't obey Your Law cannot please You? (Romans 8:7-8) I want to be pleasing to You. Please show me how. Why does David write in Psalm 119 about how important Your Law is to him and to You? Is it still important to You? God, if Your Word tells me that this Law is for me, then I WANT TO KEEP IT AND DO IT, because I want to what YOU want me to do. I want to keep Your word in my heart and DO what is pleasing to You. I want the world to see You in me. I'll do Your will no matter what others may say, no matter what persecution or ridicule I may receive, no matter what I may have to give up, no matter what changes I need to make, because I know Your Word is good for me! I don t want to do this because someone told me to, but because YOU told me to, and I know You are faithful and true. I don't want to do it my way anymore, or my friend's way, or my family s way, or my pastor's way, or the world s way. I want to do it YOUR WAY! I want to know THE TRUTH! In the name of Your Son, whom You sent to save me, please help me understand! Ask and you shall receive. Luke 11:

11 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If A SON asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Proverbs 2:1-8 MY SON, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, IF you 11

12 abide IN MY WORD, you are My disciples indeed. And YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free. John 17:15-19 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them BY YOUR TRUTH. YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be SANCTIFIED BY THE TRUTH. Psalms 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And YOUR LAW (Torah) IS TRUTH. 12