Everything Concealed Will Be Brought Into the Open
Kingdom Principle: Seeds; Part XI
Locate in Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-25; Luke 8:4-19
I had the privilege to co-teach an Ephesians Sunday School class recently. As I was teaching I asked the group a question to make them think deeply about the passage we were studying. I was interested in hearing their answers and the reasoning behind it. My intent was to challenge them, however in that moment of waiting while they processed, the Lord imparted to me a new understanding of the scripture concerning the question I asked. It was a deeper revelation than the understanding I had when I walked into the room. It was like a light bulb turned on in my head. I was so excited that I could barely wait to get home and search the scriptures to confirm what He spoke to me. I desired to study it out to prove and solidify this new understanding of the passage. I spent the next couple days looking into it. God’s Word is progressive and He promises to bring us continually into a deeper understanding.
Whoever Has Will be Given More
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him” (Luke 8:16-18).
Throughout the entire teaching of the parable of the sower of the seed, Jesus explains foundational truth about the Kingdom. It operates on the principle of seeds and there is an individual responsibility in the harvest. We must plant the Word and we must cultivate the soil to see a good return otherwise neglect will negate the seeds effectiveness. That is the principle, this is the point, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open” (Luke 8:17). Jesus explained this amazing truth so when applied He could reveal mysteries hidden since the beginning of time.
Jesus spoke of this when teaching this parable, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17). Paul also taught this, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (I Corinthians 2:6-7).
Everything is meant to be revealed to the believer through the Holy Spirit. In fact, this is one of His functions. It is His job to teach us and bring understanding of the things of God (John 14:26; 15:26; I Corinthians 2:12-13; I John 2:20;27). Quoting from the Old Testament Paul said, “as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2:9). And most people stop there because in their thinking this is a beautiful sentiment. God has a lot planned for us but who can know or understand it? However, I believe the main point of referring to this Old Testament passage is the next statement, “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (I Corinthians 2:10-12). God’s desire is to reveal His entire character and truth to us however this knowledge is so great and so vast that He reveals it to us in stages. This is why we must train ourselves to be skilled in the Word of God, this is the primary way He imparts understanding of Himself to us. He confirmed this to the woman at the well, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). We can worship God in many ways but unless we know truth, we can get off into a ditch very easily.
This is an amazing incentive to studying the scriptures as God promises to continually reveal Himself and His will to us through them. This is a promise, Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Paul said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Consider Carefully How You Listen
“And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away [by force]” (Mark 4:24-25 AMP).
I am an early riser. I have found that if I get up very early when no one is awake I have the time and attention to focus on God’s Word formulating my thoughts into these blogs posts. I have been doing it for years. However, some mornings are harder than others to get up. It’s early and it’s dark and sometimes I long to sleep in until it is time to get ready for work. On those days, it is not unusual for the Lord to place a verse or a worship song in head before my alarm clock bellows. As I struggle whether to get up or not, the desire to meditate on the verse or song overpowers my desire to sleep in and I get up. This is because I know from experience that God always meets me in those early mornings. It is a precious time where He teaches me and I enjoy the fellowship. In fact I set a second alarm to notify me that I have to stop and get ready for work because in those moments it is easy to lose all track of time.
In this world, there are a lot of voices and we are inundated with many things. We have to know how to discern what is truth, even as we are flooded with the media, conversations and life in general. This is why Jesus said, “Consider carefully what you hear...” (Mark 4:24), and in another gospel it records, “consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). Because the measure you use is the standard. With the measure you give, it will be given back. Give a lot of attention to what you hear and listen to from God’s word and God will more than reward you for that. Give more attention to what you hear in the world, then the harder it will be to understand and receive the things of God.
The good news in all of this is that God honors and rewards those moments when we seek Him. His desire is to continually reveal spiritual truths to us. We have an amazing promise that can be applied to this principle as well as many other principles from God’s word, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). God is a creative God and if you make the initial investment He will guarantee the return!
Join me for the Part XII; 'The Parable of the Mustard Seed'.