Church Leaders are being sifted along with the congregation.
What is a Parable?
Parable –
“a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.” DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2022
Why Did Jesus Use Parables?
The testimony given in Matthew 13:10-17 States,
10 The followers came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you use stories to teach the people?”
11 Jesus answered, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets. 12 Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. 14 So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true:
‘You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn. 15 For the minds of these people have become stubborn. They do not hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be healed.’ Isaiah 6:9–10
16 But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them. ~New Century Version
The Parable of the wheat and tares (darnels)
In Matthew Chapter 13, many parables are shared, filtering those who listen to understand and adjust themselves accordingly. I chose this parable to address the issues many Church Leaders are experiencing.
A Mixture of good standing and toxic individuals within the congregation. The unfortunate loss of righteous people as you cast out problematic persons.
Please read Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 13:36-43
Church Leaders with an Ear to Hear ~ Familiarize yourselves with this Parable
Focus on Jesus’ interpretation of this parable for His disciples (Matthew 13:36-43). Many of our leaders behind closed doors are struggling with the following questions:
The Questions:
Didn’t You plant good seed? Where did the Tares/ Darnels come from?
Do You want us to pluck up the Tares/ Darnels?
Darnel –
1. A species of ryegrass, Lolium temulentum, often found in wheat fields and often host to a fungus intoxicating to humans and animals.
"darnel" – WordSense Online Dictionary (12th May, 2022) URL: https://www.wordsense.eu/darnel/
Translation: (of the disciples’ questions)
Lord, didn’t You draw those You desired to be here? Where did these toxic people come from that are disturbing and running off the good members?
Lord, with Your permission, we will rebuke them out of here! (sorry, not a question)
God’s Answers to you:
Yes, My enemy sowed the Tares/ Darnels under the cover of darkness.
No, to pluck up the Tares/ Darnels before the Harvest will destroy the Wheat.
Translation: (of the Lord’s answer to the disciples)
Yes, I sent those to be a blessing and to be blessed, but Satan sent those to be accursed and intoxicating while you slept.
No, I have reserved the right of uprooting and casting them into fire to my Angels stand down.
The Strategy of God revealed
The Strategy:
Once the Harvest Time has come, I will order the Reapers first to pluck up and bind the Tares/ Darnels and throw them into the Fire.
Then the Reapers will gather the Wheat and place them in the Barn.
God allows them to grow and take root because life's troubles will distinguish the good from the bad. God, the judge, has placed a probationary period for all creation to mature and remove all doubt who CREATED and PLANTED them on earth.
The Test (troubles of life) is a paternity test
If God is not your Father, then…
~you are not accepted into His Kingdom (worthy of entering the Barn)
God has positioned leaders in the Church as Servants, not Reapers. I encourage Church leaders to reframe from acting out of your lane. The danger of disregarding your lane is you may unintentionally cause the fallout of gifts to the congregation.
Be encouraged. Be patient. Be compliant with the Lord.
~Your Brother in Christ 21 [A Session with your Brother] *No Stone, just a Lifeline