Are you willing to give the most precious thing you could for the cause of Christ—that being your life? Are you living and standing for the truth no matter the consequences? As believers living in a foreign place, we must not choose the easy way.

We continue looking at the rest of the Kingdom Parables as we finish up Matthew 13. We’ll look at the last 4 of these Kingdom Parables today and we see with the first 3 that the kingdom will be made up of 3 groups of people: Israel, the Church, and Gentile nations.

These are Kingdom Parables because they’re revealing insights into this interim period between Jesus’ first coming and second coming. Many believed that when the Messiah came, then the Kingdom would obviously accompany Him. But Jesus is teaching that things are going to look very different than what was expected.

Chapter 13 sets out to show the mystery of the Kingdom of God through these parables. He’s revealing a mystery – something that was once concealed but is now revealed. And the mystery is that Jesus is going to be at work during this interim period, this postponement of the kingdom, and it’s going to look very different than what people may have previously imagined.

Seeking after and relying on signs to build your faith is shaky ground. Our faith doesn’t rely on these things. It relies on the solid, lasting Word of God which will keep you balanced and secure.

Every sin is forgivable except the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit. This is a passage that has caused much fear, but Pastor Brent shares that this should not be the case for the Christian. We dive into the correct understanding of this passage that should bring much peace in the heart of Christians.

The world and the devil would have us work even while we rest. Jesus would have us rest, even while we work. That’s how we can live out the Sabbath today. In all we do, rest in the work completed by Jesus, rest in the grace provided by Jesus, and experience the blessing of Sabbath.

Christians are called to yoke themselves to Jesus. It’s not always going to be easy, we’re not promised a life of comfort. But we’re to learn of Him and see that life with Him is far greater than anything apart from Him.

There are times we can begin doubting who Jesus is because we’re basing our conclusions on our own experiences when things aren’t going our way. We have an unhealthy expectation of what we think Jesus should be doing for us. But as you put your faith in Him, you will experience His goodness and life-giving grace.